Tyler County News - Breakout

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Sergio Ramos is sworn-in by city secretary Terri Bible to begin serving as the temporary municipal judge for the City of Woodville. Ramos’s wife Susan is also shown, assisting him in his swearing-in. MOLLIE LA SALLE | TCB

By Mollie LaSalle
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WOODVILLE – Sergio Ramos was appointed temporary municipal judge at a special called meeting Monday evening.

Mayor Amy Bythewood put his name before council for the appointment, and he was unanimously approved to the position to replace long-serving magistrate Judith Haney.

Ramos is well-known in the community, having recently retired from a 55-year post as one of the winningest tennis coaches in Texas High School history. Ramos began his coaching/teaching career at Woodville ISD in 1967; becoming head coach in 1970. Ramos led the tennis teams to several district wins (26 years in a row) and state playoff appearances through the years. “When excellence and winning become a tradition, everything falls into place”, he has been quoted as saying.

Also, he added, “Remember who you are and remember who you represent.” He officially retired from coaching/teaching last year, after he was persuaded to join the staff at Colmesneil ISD a few years back, to help get their tennis team in winning form. Under his guidance, CISD’s tennis teams have won district honors.

His final “retirement” coincided with the unveiling of a new state of the art tennis facility at CISD in 2022.

Ramos was named the Texas 3A Tennis Coach of the Year in 1989 and was inducted into the Texas Tennis Coaches Hall of Fame in 2008. Ramos is a Stephen F. Austin State University alum, earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the university in the 1960’s. He married his wife Sue, in 1969, after they met a Baptist Student Union get-together while both were students at SFA. He became a naturalized United States citizen in 1970. Ramos and his wife are long time members of First Baptist Church in Woodville, and he led several mission trips to Peru.

Before Ramos was sworn into his new position, he was quoted as saying “the last time I took an oath on a Bible, was when I became a US citizen.”

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WOODVILLE – Pct. 1 Commissioner Joe Blacksher sent a memo out to all Tyler County senior citizens; that they are eligible to sign up for the countywide Senior Citizens Nutrition Meal Program. Seniors can walk-in to sign-up for the program on any day of operation. The program is expected to begin on Wednesday, Jan. 25 at 11:30 a.m.

The program is for seniors, aged 60 and up, to have a low to no-cost meal.

Blacksher said that if anyone needs additional information, they can contact him at 409-790-4149. Blacksher’s office location is at 205 North Charlton in Woodville.

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From Staff Reports

Ken UntiedtWOODVILLE – The annual membership meeting of the Tyler County Heritage Society (TCHS) is scheduled for Monday, Jan. 23.

The event will begin with dinner at 6 p.m., with the meeting particulars to follow at 7 p.m. It will take place at the Pickett House. The guest speaker for the event will be Dr. Kenneth Untiedt.

Untiedt’s program, titled “He Ain’t Hungry – Thoughts on F.E. (Ab) Abernethy’s Legacy” will focus on the legendary, late titular subject Abernethy, who was a folklorist, scholar, musician and writer (among many other things). In his career, Abernethy taught at Woodville High School, and later at Stephen F. Austin State University.

Untiedt’s scholarly interests include literature of the American West; Texas literature and folklore. He is the former secretary-editor of the Texas Folklore Society and edited a collection of essays written by Abernethy, the legendary East Texas folklorist and Untiedt’s predecessor in TFS.

Untiedt’s program will, along with providing information about Abernethy, speak to the importance of recognizing and appreciating folklore in our lives.

Untiedt currently serves as interim chair of the Department of English and Creative Writing at SFASU.

Along with Untiedt’s program, TCHS will vote on its slate of officers and directors for the organization’s new year; honor donors and volunteers and will announce the winner of the Big Woods Trail Photo Contest for 2022.

Anyone who attends the meeting can join TCHS, with dues priced at $20 for individuals; $30 for families and $60 for small businesses.

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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.