Trinity County News - Breakout

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By Tony Farkas

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GROVETON — Trinity County’s budget for the previous fiscal year showed almost a half-million dollar shortfall, largely due to expenses incurred by the jail.

County Auditor Bonnie Kennedy told the County Commissioners Court on Nov. 28 that the 2022-23 fiscal year didn’t end well and there will be a $450,000 difference between what was budgeted and what was spent.

There were additional costs due to housing prisoners in other counties’ facilities, as well as insurances costs. Kennedy stressed that there wasn’t enough money budgeted, but the county did have the funds to cover the costs.

However, Kennedy cautioned that eventually, the county’s coffers could run dry.

Commissioner Mike Loftin agreed, saying he was concerned that the overages will eat into the county’s savings.

She also said that the first month of the new fiscal year will look off because the new software is not posting all revenues, particularly from the Justice of the Peace departments, correctly.

Sheriff Woody Wallace said the trend will continue as a new agreement with Houston County saw jail prices rise from $35 to $75 per inmate per day. Additionally, the county in its first month of the new fiscal year was hit with almost $18,000 in medical costs for inmates, and only $34,000 was budgeted for the entire year.

In other business, the county:

•discussed refinancing trucks for another year as the company cannot provide replacements on a lease agreement;

•approved the Sheriff’s Office Trade School Scholarship Program guidelines and procedures;

•tabled approval of a contract for housing inmates with Houston County to allow for some negotiation; and

•approved accepting a $1,000 donation from the Republican Women of Trinity County for the Trinity County Community Center.

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The Trinity Peninsula Chamber of Commerce 26th Annual Christmas Show and Parade was awesome. Everything was perfect including the weather. The food, the gifts, the music, and the people of Trinity were very blessed for these activities that were held Saturday at the Trinity Community Center.

If you did not see the parade on Saturday night, you missed the best lighted Christmas parade we have had in a long time. I will list the six category winners, but you must know it was a tough decision for the judges to choose the first-place winners, because even second- and third-place winners were outstanding.

•Category 1 — Floats-River Pointe Rehab Center- The Polar Express

•Category 2 — Cars and Trucks-TISD Transportation-The Grinch

•Category 3 — Motorcycles/Four Wheelers- Jerry Wilder, Motorcycle

•Category 4 — Walkers-TISD Marching Band

•Category 5 — Emergency Vehicles-Trinity Volunteer Fire Department

•Students 6 — TISD Tigerettes

The youth of the community were the stars of our show. A special thank you goes to Joe Morales, TISD Band Director, and Margaret Campbell, Choir Director, for encouraging and supporting the students’ endeavors and participation in the 2023 Christmas Parade.

Higginbotham, Brookshire Brothers, Trinity County Crime Stoppers. All Around Electrical Services, The Trinity Volunteer Fire Department, the Trinity Police Department, the students of TISD, River Pointe of Trinity and many others were responsible for the success of this parade.

The Mayor of Trinity, Billy Goodin, welcomed the citizens of Trinity to the Tree Lighting Ceremony Saturday night, and he was so proud and overwhelmed by the generosity of the residents of Trinity for their participation and support of this 26th Annual Christmas Show. The decorations downtown and throughout the city were a labor of love for the Trinity Beautiful Committee, the City of Trinity, the students, the businesses and our Trinity local volunteers and their families.

A visitor from out of town was amazed to see stockings and s’mores given away free to the children of Trinity. He asked Jennifer Budsize why the community did this and he was shocked by her answer that the community and its residents were so generous and supportive of our youth. He said “God Bless her” as he moved on to the next activity.

He really was blown away when he heard about the generosity of the members of the Trinity County Crime Stoppers Association, who gave 100 gift bags to the children of Trinity when they visited Santa Claus Saturday afternoon at the show from 2-4 p.m.

Larry Grant, president of Trinity County Crime Stoppers, and the members assembled, fruit, candy, and pencils for the nursing homes, elderly centers, and the children of Trinity County for years. Kudos to this organization for supporting our county and winning an outstanding Texas Award for recovering lost or stolen items for our citizens of Trinity County for 2023.

Finally, the Trinity Peninsula Chamber of Commerce must thank the vendors of Trinity County for providing their time and money with booth items for sale that made this show worthwhile and such an outstanding event.

We had more than 55 vendors inside the Trinity Community Center Exhibit Hall, and over 35 booths set up outside for patronage. It was unbelievable that vendors were still asking for spaces for sell their wares on Saturday morning before the show opened.

A special donation was made by Higginbotham Brothers Store, a wagon cart all the vendors wanted. Only the vendors were the recipients of this prize for attending this event. Margie Little won this prize, and she was ecstatic.

Again, thank you to all the people who attended the 26th Annual Christmas Show and Parade. The venue change to the Trinity Community Center will probably become a permanent fixture in the future. People praised the new location. Lots of elbow room and parking.

Thank you to all the participants for decorating the Christmas Show areas early, and to the special list of people who need to be recognized in order for the Christmas Show to be performed are Trinity City Council and Mayor; Trinity Police Department; Trinity Fire Department; Trinity Public Works Department; Trinity Independent School District; Trinity Community Fair Association; Trinity Peninsula Chamber of Commerce; Trinity County News-Standard; Trinity County Crime Stoppers; Trinity Lions Club; First Methodist Church of Trinity; Chicas’ Coffee Shop; Becky Girouard; All Around Electric Services; Asset Marketing Pros LLC; Blanche K. Werner Public Library; John Holcomb; Liberty Christian Center; River Pointe of Trinity;  Calvary Tabernacle Pentecostal Church; State Farm — Rich Scott; and the Haley Burk Scholarship foundation.

If I missed anyone, please forgive me.

•Now, some other events are happening in December.

For the parents this weekend, several events will be held for the children’s enjoyment and parental shopping.

First, need a babysitter? The Liberty Christian Center will babysit children from ages 5- 12 for you to go Christmas shopping for two days, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., free, and there will be a program for the children entitled “Chosen,” a VBS Blitz. They are located at 101 W. Main St., and for more information please contact the Church at (936) 355-3309.

Second, come meet Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus on Saturday, from 4:30-6 p.m. at the River Pointe Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center at 1410 S. Robb St. and take pictures with the Clauses. The pictures will be taken by a professional photographer.

A movie will be shown outdoors entitled “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” and this event is a free event for families. Activities include a hot chocolate bar, cookie decorating, letters to Santa, a reindeer food making station, popcorn, and a blanket provided for the movie. For more information, please call Essie at (936) 594-7521.

•The Knights of Columbus are hosting their last blood drive of 2023 on Sunday at Brookshire Brothers’ Parking lot in Trinity from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. Please, if you can, donate. Trinity County needs to support this worthwhile cause especially during this time of year.

•On Dec. 14, Liberty Christian Center has the Share Your Holiday Food Basket Giveaway from 10 a.m. to noon. The free boxes or baskets will be given away on this day only and hopefully will supply all who are in need.

•On Dec. 15, Liberty Christian Center will present its Christmas Play, “Frozen.” The play starts at 6 p.m. and all ages are welcome. Admission is free.

The next big event for the children of Trinity County is the Elf Station that will be held on Dec. 16 for children and parents to shop for one another. Call Sheran Casey or Flo Cleburn for appointments and information.

You need to call or text me your information regarding Christmas cantatas or candlelight services if you want people to attend your Church’s special services, and I will start advertising them now.

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Vehicles sported bright lights at the annual Christmas parade. PHOTOS BY TONY FARKAS

Vehicles sported bright lights at the annual Christmas parade. PHOTOS BY TONY FARKAS

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TCandy Cane Lane leads folks to Santa’s Workshop and Rolly the Reindeer, and even sports carolers from Sam Houston State University. PHOTOS BY TONY FARKUS

By Tony Farkas
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Lone Star Lights is a wonderland near Riverside.

Maybe not a wintery one, but one full of not only the Christmas spirit but the Holy Spirit as well, with 1.2 million LED lights creating a holiday glow.

Event Director Wes Armstrong said Lone Star Lights covers an area of approximately 17 acres just off of FM 980, and was created last year as an extension of Carolina Creek Christian Camp’s mission of bringing families closer to Christ.

Since the camps and retreat centers close down during the holiday season, Armstrong said Lone Star Lights was designed to allow the camp to reach people year-round in a family-centric and community-oriented way.

Following a large loop, there are eight themed areas for visitors to explore, all designed to make them feel as they won’t be “nickel and dimed” by the park.

One such is the Snow Zone, a place where three quarters of a million pounds of snow is created for the full winter experience. Armstrong said they truck in 30,000 to 60,000 pounds of ice daily, depending on the weather, which is then shredded on site.

There is Santa’s Workshop, where people and children can get their pictures taken with Santa, which is provided free in digital form to the patrons. Prints can be purchased if desired.

A hit with children is Rolly the Talking Reindeer, who is an animatronic animal that is interactive and will respond to questions, all the while cracking jokes.

Patrons can do crafts, decorate sugar cookies at Silver Bell Bakery, take horse rides through the park (led by attendants), ride a zip line over a river of lights or take on challenges in what Armstrong says is a hidden gem — the Adventure Park.

There are crate stacking challenges and bucking barrels for kids of all ages

There are daily acoustic musical acts, live bands, and in Halley Hall, community groups of all types, such as acting, dancing or even martial arts, can perform.

For a more immersive experience, the camp offers dinner theater, which includes a four-course meal and acts by the A.D. Players, or even overnight stays can be purchased, as the camp has 12 family cabins, each themed and decorated for the season, and 12 lodge rooms, all Christmas-centric.

Armstrong said it takes 135 people a night to staff the park, which includes full-time, seasonal and volunteer staff.

The park is open on select days beginning Nov. 24 and ending with a nine-day run to Dec. 24. Hours run from 5:30-10 p.m.

Armstrong said costs for adults is $35 and $22 for children; however, there are several discount nights where costs drop to $25 for adults and $15 for youth. The park closes at 9 p.m. those nights. Parking is free, and shuttles will ferry guests to the park.

For information or to purchase tickets or make reservations, call (936) 744-0134 or visit lonestarlights.org .