Trinity County News - Breakout

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The year 2023 was a good, bad, and ugly year for the whole world. The weather, COVID, flu, wars, and politics dominated the last couple of months and the same conflicts will probably abound for the next coming months.

I am going to bury my head in the ground and report only upcoming new, happy events.

By the time this issue arrives in your mailbox, decorations, and lights probably will all be gone. New Year parties and resolutions will be a thing of the past, but dieting will be the main goal of most people over 40 in the next few months.

I am hoping the weather will not be like last year and we will not have to put up with no electricity this winter. However, no worries today — it’s blackeye peas, cabbage and sausage day. Happy New Year everyone.

I do not mind the cold weather if the sun shines and the outside does not look dreary. I understand that we do have to have some frost to kill the pesky insects that bite us in the spring, but I still don’t like cold and wet weather. Kudos to whoever invented OFF.

•January and February usually are quiet months of entertainment, but Trinity County does have an abundance of activities in the city, schools and surrounding areas, so get ready for winter sports, blood drives, Valentine events, and 2024 galas.

The Trinity High School boys and girls varsity soccer team players have been listed on Facebook and I will be listing the schedule soon.

TISD winter break is over Jan. 4. Students return to school to attend classes on Monday at their regular time on each campus. The following week the students are on holiday for MLK’s birthday on Jan. 15.

•The first meeting for the Trinity Lions Club in 2024 is Wednesday at the Chamber building on Stadium Street at noon. For more information, please call Charles Payne at (281) 705-7675.

•VFW Post 6899 will host the Ed and Maxie Dance on Saturday from noon until 4 p.m. Following the dance, there is a poker tournament at 5 p.m. For more information, please call Marilyn Barnes at (281) 782-8309.

•The Trinity Historical Society meeting for the 2024 new year is Jan. 15, at 2 p.m., held at the Trinity Peninsula Chamber of Commerce Building on Stadium Street. Renew a membership and make plans for celebrating Trinity’s heritage in 2024. For more information, call Daina Baker at (936) 581-1478.

•First Methodist Church of Trinity hosts its month Family Dinner with Friends on the third Tuesday of the month, Jan. 21, from 4-7 p.m. Music, food, games, and fun all for a donation at 131 N. Elm St. in the Fellowship Hall. For more information call Laura at (936) 594-3826.

•The Trinity County Crime Stoppers Gala is the next major fundraiser to be held from 5-6:30 p.m. Jan. 27 at the Trinity Community Center. The 13th Annual Cowboy Mardi Gras hosted by the TCCS invites the public to attend a ribeye steak dinner provided by Ray Goodrum and his chuckwagon staff; BYOB and dance to the music of Kevin Carter and Friends from 8 p.m.-midnight.

The cost is $25 per person. Tickets are on sale now, and for more information, call Larry Grant at (936) 662-1502 or Rick Villarreal at (936) 577-4383. The doors open at 4:30 p.m. and the silent auction begins at 5 p.m. and ends when the live auction starts at 7 p.m. Auctioneer is Rick Villarreal.

•At VFW Post 6899 on Caroline Street Feb. 2, a drawing will be held for a portable generator before the Bingo session that starts that night at 7 p.m. Raffle tickets are on sale now. The raffle tickets are $1 each or 6 for $5. For more information, call Marilyn Barnes at (281) 782-8309.

•The Boys and Girls Club of Trinity will announce plans for the Fifth Annual February Valentine’s Day Dinner and Dance next week. Watch this space for details.

This event will take place Feb. 10, the same weekend as the Lovelady Fest. The Lovelady Love Fest takes place Feb. 9-10. You can attend both events, 15 minutes away, and savor a whole weekend for love and entertainment, supporting your community and our children in both counties. For more information, please call David Lavassaur at (936) 594-0778.

The Boys and Girls Club event runs from 5-9 p.m. Feb. 10 at Trinity Community Center. Tickets will go on sale shortly and the cost is the same as last year, $50, which provides dinner, music, door prizes, live auction, silent auction, cake auction and beverages. Tables for you and 8 friends are $400 to dine and wine. Julia McMichael is taking reservations for tables currently. Call (936) 537-8171 to RSVP.

•The first quarter blood drive for the community is pending and sponsored by the Knights of Columbus of Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church which is always held in the parking lot of Brookshire Brothers. Look at this space for time and date.

First Methodist Church of Trinity hosts their month Family Dinner with Friends on the third Tuesday of the Month. The dinner this month is from 4-7 p.m. Jan. 21. Music, food, games, and fun all for a donation at 131 N. Elm St. in the fellowship hall. For more information call Laura at (936) 594-3826.

See you around town.

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By Tony Farkas
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GROVETON — The Trinity County Commissioners Court approved five new full-time positions for the jail, but not without concerns about the underlying costs.

At its regular meeting on Dec. 26, the court was informed that the jail was granted a variance to house up to 15 inmates instead of seven, which would help save money as the county would not have to pay to have them housed in other facilities.

However, with the additional prisoner count, the Sheriff’s Office needs an additional four jailers to meet state standards, which prompted Commissioner Neal Smith to say that any savings realized by moving inmates back to Groveton will be erased by the costs of hiring new employees.

Smith also said he was under the impression the jail only needed two additional employees.

“The only good thing to come from this is (Sheriff) Woody (Wallace) has four more people to boss around,” he said. “I don’t think all the costs are being considered. It will be a washout.”

During his monthly report, Wallace said the jail was averaging 54 inmates a day, and problems with court cases being reset keep the jail population up.

He also said that he has a problem sending Trinity County money to other counties.

“We are paying for other people’s jails,” Wallace said. “If we want to do the county a service, we need to be in the inmate business.”

Smith expressed his frustration with the court system, and even said the county should treat inmates like the governor does immigrants — ship them off to Austin and turn them loose.

However, Smith made the motion to approve the new positions.

“I want it said we won’t save any money,” he said. “Woody, you got your way again.”

In other business, the county:

•tabled action on selling Mack trucks and purchasing new vehicles for the Road and Bridge departments;

•approved applying for grants including homeowner reconstruction assistance, purchasing generators, and equipment for the Sheriff’s Office;

•approved an increase in the mileage reimbursement rate from 65.5 cents to 67 cents; and

•declared material from a demolished building as surplus to be sold.

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By Tony Farkas
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GROVETON — The Groveton City Council discussed the future of the city Police Department at its regular meeting on Dec. 18.

David Robison questioned the council about the department’s status and questioned the cost of having the Sheriff’s Department covering the City. He expressed concern that the town is not being patrolled.

Mayor Ralph Bennett pointed out that constables assist patrolling school zones and said the department will be staffed in the future.

Robison also said that residents are “suffering” under the weight of water bills, and suggested the council members voluntarily forego their compensation of a discounted water bill as well as the Mayor’s monthly compensation of $500, as an act of good faith to the residents.

The council, later in the meeting, renewed the annual compensation, but took no action on the police department..

In other business, the council:

•discussed a Black History Celebration in February 2024 with the Trinity County Historical Commission, to be held at the Groveton ISD Auditorium;

•approved payment of $6,661.13 to Inframark for water and wastewater services for November, and discussed the month’s operations;

•discussed a proposal from Larry Jones with Texas Rebuild LLC for a lead and copper service line inventory project at a cost $14,065;

•discussed the City Library’s annual stats, and the upcoming move to its new facility;

•approved a municipal maintenance agreement between the Texas Department of Transportation and the City of Groveton;

•renewed the annual compensation for the Mayor and council members for 2024;

•discussed developments at the Fiscal Planning Committee meeting held on Dec. 11; and

•discussed the impending retirement of City Secretary Donna Dial, which will be effective Feb. 9, 2024, after 22 years of service.

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By Tony Farkas
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GROVETON — The Groveton ISD Board of Trustees got good financial news from its annual audit, but the benefits might be temporary.

Superintendent Jim Dillard said that on Dec. 18, the board accepted the financial audit by Axley & Rode, which came with an unmodified opinion and showed additional money in its fund balance because of ESSER grants.

However, since ESSER funds run out at the end of the year, Dillard said that districts may go through what is called the ESSER effect.

“Schools raised pay and did other items with those funds, but when that runs out, what will be the effect?” Dillard asked. “We’re curious to see how that plays out.”

In other business, the board:

•approved an order of election for May 4 for the positions held currently by Mark Folds and Benny Abshier. Filing will be held between Jan. 17 and Feb. 16, and early voting will be held April 22-30;

•held a second hearing on a policy update, which contains a provision about using chaplains for counseling;

•approved extending Dillard’s contract for a year following an evaluation;

•discussed celebrating Board Appreciation Month in January; and

•discussed the recent district UIL competition held at the Elementary School campus, which the Groveton students won first for the first time since 2004.