Tyler County News - Breakout

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The 2022 Pineywoods Nurse of the Year awards were announced last week in Southeast Texas. “Our nurses are very important to us. The award’s impact has brought an immense boost in confidence for the profession – aiding in retention, ” says Amanda Maggio, Hospice Consultant with AccentCare. The peer and clinician-driven awards were formed to elevate nurses and raise awareness of compassion fatigue and burnout. The nominees heard who won during a virtual ceremony on social media. Each Grand Prize winner will receive a trip donated by Elite Island Resorts, a charitable Caribbean resort organization in support of Pineywoods East Texas nurses.

With 15 Grand award winners, there were 30 total awards given out in three different categories: Home Care, Hospital and Facility.

Organizers hope the self-care-oriented gifts and trips will elevate and honor nurses nominated by their colleagues or leadership in communities that have shown resiliency, compassion in the hardest of times, and excellence in quality of care despite challenges faced. “These award winners are an inspiration to others,” said Maggio.

Home Care NOY awards went to Sandy Emin, Dee Dee Bollman, Jamie Gressler, Stacy Guerra, Sendy Sopchak, Katy Owens, Abbie Murphy and Alice McNiel.

“Congratulations to AccentCare’s nurses and the other recipients! This is an excellent way to show how valuable they are in the mission driven work that they do every day, “said Holly Titsworth, AccentCare PR Manager.

The Hospital division NOY awards recipients are Stephanie Crofford, Erin Medina, Jordan Small, Vu Huynh, Leila Rogers, Estee Cokenour, Shelby Gay, Halie Berry, Tristin Hancock, and Ronna Baker.

The Facility category NOY awards were given to Shanna Reynolds, Lori Cantrell, Danielle Simpson, Kamri Garrison, Mary Moore, Cindy Kendrick, Beverly Nelson, Jessica Stokley, Lashonda Carr, and Neil Dickens.

“The workforce is beaming. Overall, this region has improved, increasing the likelihood of maintaining resiliency; therefore, contributing directly to improved workplace environments. The compassion fatigue training scheduled will inevitably improve patient care for long term outcome,” said Amanda.

Many thanks go out to the award recipients for all the hard work and care they put in every day for their patients and families in Cleveland, Woodville, Shepherd, Corrigan, Groveton, Trinity and Huntsville.   

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By Chris Edwards

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DAM B – The Dam B Community Watch group will host the Sleep in Heavenly Peace Woodville chapter co-presidents Brian Smith and Stanley Cleberg on Thursday, Jan. 26.

The meeting, which will be the DBCW’s regular monthly meeting, will begin at 6 p.m. and take place at Hilltop Baptist Church in Dam B.

According to Glen Kenney, with DBCW, several members of the group have worked at SHP bed build events and have supported the organization in its efforts.

“We were impressed by their organization, but even more so by their commitment to their cause,” Kenney said.

SHP is a volunteer organization dedicated to building and delivering beds to children who do not have beds. The group’s motto is “No Kid Sleeps on the Floor in Our Town.”

Kenney said the DBCW group wanted to learn more about the organization and its cause and invited Smith and Cleberg to come and speak. The public is invited to come and learn about the organization, and the meeting will last about an hour.

Hilltop Baptist is located at 11472 US Highway 190, about a half-mile west of the four-way stop light in Dam B at the 190/FM 96 intersection.

DBCW is a non-political organization working to better the Dam B community and invites all community leaders and elected officials to come and visit and speak with the members.

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All-State Band member Faith Frazier. Photo courtesy of Ray Ramos

By Chris Edwards
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WARREN – Faith Frasier, who plays trombone in the Warren High School band, was named to the 2023 All-State Band.

According to a news release from the Association of Texas Small School Bands, more than 10,000 young musicians from across the state auditioned for a place in their respective all-region bands, from 22 different regions. The top chairs in each region advanced to one of the five area auditions held two weekends ago, and of those, 286 were selected for all-state honors.

Frasier, who is a student of Russell Hopkins and plays in the band under the direction of the Warren band’s Ray Ramos, lives in Village Mills and is the daughter of Warren and Tracey Frasier.

Along with trombone, Frazier also enjoys playing piano, shopping and petting cats at the Humane Society. Frazier is also a member of the National Honor Society and performs with the Off the Wall Jazz Band. She is also active in church activities at Bethel Baptist Church.

The All-State Bands will meet to rehearse in San Antonio in early February, and will perform in concert on Saturday, Feb. 11, starting at 8:30 a.m. in the Lila Cockrell Theatre, located at the Henry B. Gonzales Convention Center, downtown.

Dr. BJ Brooks, of West Texas State University, will be the clinician-conductor of the All-State Concert Band, and Dr. David Allen Waybright of the University of Florida, will give a clinic and conduct the All-State Symphonic Band.

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By Michael G. Maness

Lion Ken Jobe spoke at the Woodville Lions’ 75th anniversary meeting. Photo by Michael G. ManessWOODVILLE – Woodville Lions celebrated its monumental 75th birthday last Thursday, at the club’s monthly second Thursday evening meeting.

   The club chartered in 1947 and is still going strong. The Woodville Lions are one of the few in the state, even the nation, that has its own building. Past Lions President and District Governor Ken Jobe keynoted with nostalgic memories and key moments with some of the older hands chipping in tidbits.

   Jobe, who also serves as Pct. 2 Justice of the Peace, was recently made aware of Tyler County Courthouse cleaning spree that discovered boxes of old club documents; real treasures, like the original 1947 application and original minutes from the first years. Attendance hand recorded on old ledger sheets and minutes recorded by manual typewriters.

   Jobe recalled how the founder of Lions International, Melvin Jones of Chicago, never even held the office of international president. However, he was a secretary, and the Woodville club’s 1947 charter, which has a proud place in the club house, is signed by Melvin Jones.

   The highest honor in the Lionism is a Melvin Jones Fellowship, which the club purchases for select members, and Woodville has four, including recently deceased Tommy Weaver, a local accountant and retied WISD financial officer, who did the club’s taxes each year at no cost.

   Jobe recalled the many fundraisers the club sponsored that have raised hundreds of thousands over the decades. In the ancient past, they sold brooms and light bulbs, the old incandescents, and a few boxes are still in storage.

   Among the old hands still active is local insurance legend Steve Evans, a 40-plus year member, and who ramrodded the golf tournaments and rodeos.

   For many years, they sponsored softball tourneys.

   For a couple decades, they hired a couple of ladies who fixed the noon Thursday lunches and were quite famous for their fried chicken. Currently, they contract with WISD for lunches.

   Jobe and the club was especially proud of its community help.  Last year, they gave about $10,000 in scholarships for local students. They regularly pay for the exam and glasses for needy students. And from time to time, at the discretion of the board, they are known to just help others.

   Lions International helped clubs with marketing, and for decades “LIONS” stood for “Liberty Intelligence Our Nation’s Safety.”  That was shortened from 1940’s when “LIONISM” stood for “Loyalty Integrity Oneness Nobleness Initiative Success Merit.”

   A real honor, Lion Secretary Connie Gibson had special pins for all members marking the 75th year of the Woodville Lions Club. Members wear the pins on their signature yellow and blue vests, accumulating them as the years go by.

   They often have a program from local talent or governmental interest, and the club’s “Lions’ Den” is located just couple of miles east of town on 190.  They meet every Thursday at noon, with a meal, and guests are welcome, except on the second Thursday evenings, at 6:30 p.m.

   You can see a photo of the 1947 charter, complete with bullethole, and other historic markers at PreciousHeart.net/lions.