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Photo contributed by GCBO
Horned lark observed feeding in the dunes along Matagorda Peninsula. The photo was taken March 3.
Contributed photo by Taylor Bennett
Nature Notes: Female horned larks do all the work for nesting
We at Gulf Coast Bird Observatory are surveying for non-breeding shorebirds along Matagorda Beach, Bryan Beach, Quintana Beach, Surfside Beach and Follet’s Island.
After one more month of this, we will begin surveying for beach nesting birds.
Our target species are piping plover, snowy plover, red knot, black skimmer and American oystercatcher. Along with these species, we often come across other bird species as well. This past week while surveying on Matagorda Beach, we spotted a couple of horned lark feeding along the beach.
Shorebirds are not the only ones that utilize the beach for food and shelter. Small songbirds like horned lark are typically observed year-round here on the shores of Upper Texas Coast. They can also be found in prairies and heavily grazed pastures. We mainly observe them feeding on seeds and insects along the dunes of Matagorda Peninsula.
There are over 40 subspecies of horned lark based on their plumage and size. The subspecies that we observe here is Eremophila alpestris giraudi. It is classified as being slightly smaller and having a browner back and a pale-yellow throat compared to the other subspecies. They have a lightly spotted white-yellowish belly, black collar, black legs, and small black bill. Their head is bright yellow with an eyebrow stripe and broad black stripes along the eyes making it appear to have a mustache when looking directly toward you. Their namesake comes from feather tufts that stick out like horns from their heads, though that feature only appears on the males during the breeding season. They breed along the Texas coast from mid-February to mid-July.
Like the Wilson’s plover, they are also ground nesters and nest along the dunes near vegetation. In the horned lark world, the female does all the work with little to no help from her male counterpart. She picks the site, builds the nest, incubates the eggs and takes care of the chicks. The male does help with feeding, but that’s about it.
The female either finds a natural depression in the sand or makes one herself using her bill and feet. She then collects pebbles, clods, corncobs, etc. and places them on the excavated area. These pavings are believed to prevent the material of the nest from blowing away. She then weaves a nest out of grass or other plant materials and lines the nest with down, feathers, fur, etc.
Horned larks can lay two to five camouflaged eggs per brood and can have one to three broods a year. The female incubates the nest up to 12 days. Even though they are ground nesters, the chicks are born blind and covered in down like typical songbirds. It takes up to four days for them to gain sight and they are able to leave the nest around 12 days. At that point, they are able to move around and feed on small insects; however, mom and dad still take care of them until they are ready to fly at 27 days of age.
As with all birds on the beach, please be cautious and give the horned larks plenty of space. Please also keep dogs on leash and keep the beaches cleaner than you found them. On behalf of Gulf Coast Bird Observatory, thanks for reading.
Taylor Bennett graduated from Old Dominion University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology concentrating in Marine Biology, and performs shorebird surveys along the upper Texas Coast. The GCBO is a non-profit organization dedicated to saving the birds and their habitats along the entire Gulf Coast, and beyond into their Central and South America wintering grounds.
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2022-03-17T22:03:19Z
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www.victoriaadvocate.com
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Nature Notes: Female horned larks do all the work for nesting | Local News | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/local/nature-notes-female-horned-larks-do-all-the-work-for-nesting/article_edd47cea-a3df-11ec-b423-6b1726fb40f4.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/local/nature-notes-female-horned-larks-do-all-the-work-for-nesting/article_edd47cea-a3df-11ec-b423-6b1726fb40f4.html
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Livingston man dies in crash near Bloomington
A Livingston man was killed in a two-car head-on collision early Monday morning on Farm-to-Market Road 616 near East King Road.
Paul Edwin Heefner, 45, was driving a 1998 Toyota 4-Runner north on the farm road at 5:09 a.m., when for an unknown reason his vehicle crossed the center line and struck a 2015 GMC Sierra 2500 pick up driven by Gustavo Rodriguez, 35, of Angleton, said Texas Department of Public Safety Sgt. Ruben San Miguel. Rodriguez was traveling south.
Heefner's vehicle continued to travel north and came to rest in a ditch on the east side of the road, he said.
Rodriguez's truck continued to travel south and came to rest in a ditch on the west side of the road, he said.
Rodriguez was flown by Citizens Medical Center's medical helicopter to the San Antonio Medical Center. He remain hospitalized Thursday in stable condition, San Miguel said.
Heefner was pronounced dead at the scene by Victoria County Justice of the Peace Rodney Durham. He ordered an autopsy be performed by the Travis County Medical Examiner's Office to determine the cause of death.
The road was closed for about three hours Monday morning, San Miguel said.
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2022-03-18T00:20:13Z
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www.victoriaadvocate.com
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Livingston man dies in crash near Bloomington | Local News | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/local/livingston-man-dies-in-crash-near-bloomington/article_571ea05c-a630-11ec-9388-33ee4c65f1a8.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/local/livingston-man-dies-in-crash-near-bloomington/article_571ea05c-a630-11ec-9388-33ee4c65f1a8.html
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Kay Johnson holds up a copy of “Willie & Lee,” a book written by Neeka Jones Rhodes, of Victoria.
Neeka Jones Rhodes’ father, William Jones, third on the left, is seen in an old photograph.
Victoria woman's novella tells father's story of overcoming polio
Her hands shook slightly and her brown eyes seemed distant as Neeka Jones Rhodes, 90, of Victoria, took a mental walk into the past to talk about her father.
Her skin was a beautiful translucent color, and her hair a cloud of white gloss. She had a quiet strength about her that was unmistakable, despite the hospital bed and the machines that surrounded her.
Fifty years ago, those very same hands wrote a poignant novella about her father William "Willie" Crane Jones and his brother Lee Jones as they navigated the hard plains of Texas in Cherokee County with little to their name but their family, land and their willingness to work it.
The short novella, which is titled “Willie & Lee," is only 45 pages and gives warnings of the peril that was alive and well in that day and age and the guts it took to survive. Miraculously, Rhodes' father lived to tell his tale of strength and determination and what it meant to have a sibling, like his brother, at his side.
And it taught his daughter lessons of life she would otherwise never have known, she said.
In 1894, Rhodes' father fell ill at the age of 8 with infantile paralysis, which is now known as polio. With the help of his brother, William Jones did not let this slow him down. The story, recounted by Rhodes, tells how he turned what could have been a disadvantage, with polio leaving him damaged for life, into one that gave him a strength, not just outwardly, but inwardly, as he never gave up on living life on life’s terms.
Rhodes had a love for telling her two children, their children, and their friends tall, but mostly, true stories of her family, past, and sometimes wild imagination. Storytelling was one of her favorite pastimes.
But there was one that always stood out to Rhodes’ niece, Peggy Jones. It was the story of Rhodes' father.
“I showed the story to a contact I had made in the world of publishing,” said Jones. “They loved it and even asked if there were more, so they could make a series out of it ... I just stressed how important it was to get it published quickly, so Neeka could hold it in her hands. That was my primary goal.”
The tears in her aunt’s eyes were all the gratitude Jones needed to make her efforts worthwhile as Rhodes, her father, and her uncle leave a legacy for all to read.
Polio was first described clinically in 1789, but the first outbreak in the United States occurred over a century later in 1894, ironically, the very same year William Jones was struck with polio, according to the UTA Libraries website.
Even now, polio has no known cure although vaccines have eradicated it in the western hemisphere. Even COVID-19 has shown its effects on the world's efforts to eradicate polio.
According to a recent report in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 37 countries reported 44 outbreaks of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus from January 2020 through June.
According to an article in the medical news website Healio, the outbreaks resulted in 1,335 paralyzed children. The COVID-19 pandemic "could be quite damaging" to efforts to end polio and other diseases, according to the article.
Not only did Jones survive, he flourished with his eight siblings — four sisters and four brothers. He eventually went to Rusk College to be an accountant and his brother went on to be a teacher. They lived a block from each other and remained close until Jones' brother died of a stroke.
Jones and his wife, Nora Roberts, had four children who died at the age of 4 from scarlet fever, and Neeka.
Like her father, Rhodes has lived her life the way she always wanted, without fear and with courage.
Family members — including daughter Danna Baker, who is a 68-year-old registered nurse, and Rhode — were always writing stories, both as a child and as an adult. She could be constantly seen with a pencil in her hand and a notepad in her lap, jotting down stories to be told later, or sometimes, not at all.
"Neeka was my inspiration to go into journalism. I even later co-wrote a small series of true crime stories, "'The Evil I Have Seen, '" Peggy Jones said. "I didn’t have Neeka’s way with the written word, but my penchant for storytelling and making a career in journalism as a newscaster at KTXS-TV definitely came from my aunt."
And, although Rhodes moved to Victoria when she was 4, she visited Cherokee County often. She met Marie Whitehead, the owner of the local newspaper, the Cherokeean Herald, and wrote several historical articles and columns from 1993-2006 about area activities and what it was like growing up in the country.
Although Rhodes was born in Cherokee County, she lived most of her life in Victoria. Her heart will always be home, deep in the woods of Cherokee County.
"Willie & Lee" by Neeka Jones Rhodes
Available in paperback and Kindle from Amazon. To buy the book, visit shorturl.at/bopP6 or click here.
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2022-03-18T00:20:25Z
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www.victoriaadvocate.com
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Victoria woman's novella tells father's story of overcoming polio | Premium | victoriaadvocate.com
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Bradley Allen Bowles
CUERO — Bradley Allen Bowles, 35, of Cuero entered into rest on Sunday, March 6, 2022. A funeral service will be held on Saturday March 19, 2022 at 1:00 p.m. at Grace Memorial Chapel, 8819 Hwy 87 N, Victoria, TX with the Rev. Lawrence Roy, Eulogist and Rev. Finnian Patton, Officiant. Burial to follow at Hillside Cemetery, Cuero, Tx. www.gracefuneralhome.net
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2022-03-18T06:28:55Z
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Bradley Allen Bowles | Death Notices | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/obituaries/death_notices/bradley-allen-bowles/article_e38510c2-11df-5bd3-bbdc-d18957ec734e.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/obituaries/death_notices/bradley-allen-bowles/article_e38510c2-11df-5bd3-bbdc-d18957ec734e.html
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Efrain Guerra, Sr.
SAN ANTONIO, FORMERLY OF BLOOMINGTON — Efrain Guerra, Sr, of San Antonio, formerly from Bloomington, Texas passed away peacefully at home on Tuesday, March 15, 2022. He was born in Kenedy, Texas on June 18, 1932, to Federico and Manuela Martinez Guerra. He is survived by his sons; Hector Guerra Sr. and Geronimo (Cathy)Guerra. He is also survived by his grandchildren; Nicholas T. Guerra of Victoria, Hector Guerra Jr.(Lynn) of Victoria, Efrain Guerra (Kevin) of San Diego, Erika Vermillion of Victoria, Louis W. Guerra, Jr. of San Antonio, Laurie (Christopher) LaCour of Kailua, Hawaii, Jenny (Clay) Hagendorf of San Antonio, Jonathan M. Guerra of San Antonio and 10 great grandchildren. He is also survived by his sisters; Tina (Edward) Moya, Cruz Cuellar, Rosa Sauceda, Linda Gonzales, Martha Aranda, Mary Guerra, brother Fred Guerra and stepmother Hortensia Guerra. He is preceded in death by his parents; his wife Mary Rubio Guerra, his daughter, Rachel and sons Efrain Guerra, Jr. and Louis W. Guerra, Sr, and daughter-in-law Norma Guerra; his sisters Olivia Arenal, Lisa Marie Morin, Conception Garza, Sylvia Gonzales and brother Harold Guerra, Sr.
Efrain was a man who was involved in many things which allowed so many to know him. From an early age he helped his father run his businesses in Kenedy. He was very active in organized sports and during his senior year at Kenedy High School, on a dare, tried out as a cheerleader and won! He was drafted into the Army and served his country well during the Korean conflict. On his return from Korea, he accepted a position from Union Carbide where he worked for 38 years as a supervisor. His work with Carbide included a three-year assignment in Puerto Rico. He became involved with local politicians in the 60’s for the Civil Rights movement. He attended summer sessions at the University of Texas to become an instructor and teach Adult Education. He also taught Catechism at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Bloomington. He coached teenage baseball team and woman’s softball. He also managed a musical group called “Los Bravos”. He and his wife Mary were always ready to help anyone in need. He enjoyed his final years by spending quality time at the Guerra family Ranchito in Goliad County where he loved enjoying the outdoors and watching the wildlife and hunting.
Pallbearers will be sons, grandsons and nephews.
Visitation for Efrain Guerra Sr. will be in Victoria, Texas at Rosewood Funeral Chapel on Friday, March 18, 2022, from 4-6 pm with the rosary beginning at 6 pm. The Mass will be at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church at 9:00 am on Saturday, March 19, 2022. The burial will be at Memorial Park Cemetery immediately following the Mass.
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2022-03-18T06:29:19Z
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Efrain Guerra, Sr. | Obituaries | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/obituaries/efrain-guerra-sr/article_571b4410-3bb9-5440-9cc2-5eafc6bc8e46.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/obituaries/efrain-guerra-sr/article_571b4410-3bb9-5440-9cc2-5eafc6bc8e46.html
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FRANCES ALLEENE "FRANCALENE" BOONE SLACK
FRANCES ALLEENE “FRANCALENE” BOONE SLACK
REFUGIO — The beautiful notes emanating from the small house in the old Quintana Camp were not the usual noises of the oilfield waking up to a new day. They were the sounds of Chopin, Liszt and Schubert played by a gifted young mother with magical hands on an upright Baldwin. For the next seven decades, that young mother, Frances Alleene “Francalene” Boone Slack, would give the gift of music in countless ways to her family, her students, and the Refugio community.
Francalene was one of the kindest and most caring people to walk planet Earth. She was a friend to all and never had an ill word for anyone. She frequently started the conversation with a new acquaintance with, “Are you related to…?”. She was generous to a fault and often took disadvantaged children and families clothing and necessities that she bought. When she practiced the organ, she would leave the church doors open for anyone who might wander in, and if was a person in need, she would often slip a $20 bill in their pocket. She had her own way of knowing who was in need and she never mentioned these good deeds and kept them private and to herself. Francalene was named Refugio County Citizen of the Year in 2010.
Visitation will be Friday March 18, 2022, at Moore Funeral Home, Refugio, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. The public is invited to a graveside service for Francelene at 1 p.m. on Saturday March 19 at Oakwood Cemetery between Refugio and Woodsboro.
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2022-03-18T06:29:25Z
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FRANCES ALLEENE "FRANCALENE" BOONE SLACK | Obituaries | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/obituaries/frances-alleene-francalene-boone-slack/article_134b1d87-17ef-52b5-8fac-afb9396e1174.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/obituaries/frances-alleene-francalene-boone-slack/article_134b1d87-17ef-52b5-8fac-afb9396e1174.html
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MICHAEL LEE OLIVAREZ
AUSTIN — Michael Lee Olivarez, 54 , of Austin, passed away on Monday, March 14, 2022. He grew up in Victoria and was a 1985 graduate of Stroman High School and 1989 graduate of the University of Texas. He was a scientist and inventor.
He is survived by his mother, Emma G. Olivarez, of Victoria; his spouse; and his eight siblings.
Visitation will be held from 4 - 7 p.m. on Sunday, March 20, 2022 at Cook-Walden/Capital Parks Funeral Home in Austin, 512-251-4118.
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2022-03-18T06:29:38Z
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MICHAEL LEE OLIVAREZ | Obituaries | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/obituaries/michael-lee-olivarez/article_d6cd907f-6623-505b-82f7-72328e8cb942.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/obituaries/michael-lee-olivarez/article_d6cd907f-6623-505b-82f7-72328e8cb942.html
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Some of the cast members from Mystery in the Garden pose for a portrait at the Victoria College’s Leo J. Welder Center for the Performing Arts.
Meaghan MacKenzie-Rolfe as “Maryann.”
Mary K. Rabe as “Shantelle Freebush.”
Carla Hanes as “Carolina Spalding.”
Emma Rose as “Annie Pawlson.”
Kelly Pierce as “Celia.”
Audience to partake in drama at Theatre Victoria murder-mystery fundraiser
There’s a killer on the loose at Theatre Victoria’s April fundraiser.
Visitors to the fundraiser will enjoy drinks, food and the beautiful grounds of the Victoria Educational Garden. All the while, they will work to solve a murder by interviewing suspects played by members of the theater company.
“That’s the fun — getting out and investigating, getting into your inner detective,” said Michael Teer, executive director for Theatre Victoria. “You’re getting the skinny on everyone.”
Mystery in the Garden is scheduled from 7- 10 p.m. or later on April 7. Tickets range from $50 for general admission to $70 for VIP admission.
The event marks the second mystery theater event ever put on by the theater company. The first was in the early 2000s, Teer said.
At the fundraiser, guests will enjoy live music, door prize games, catering as well as beer, wine, cocktails and nonalcoholic drinks.
Sponsor packages include a sit-down dinner party beginning at 6 p.m. and an open bar.
Although guests are free to simply relax, they also are welcome to figure out a carefully crafted whodunit during the evening.
About 7 p.m., the intrigue will begin with an announcement that a person has been found murdered at the party.
There will not be any discarded murder weapons, bloodstains or other evidence for guests to analyze. But they will have the opportunity to query all eight carefully crafted characters, each with their own detailed backstories. Those characters will be mingling throughout the party, just like the real-life guests there.
The guests, Teer said, will surely be in for a good time, but while doing so, they also will be benefiting an important local arts institution. Proceeds go to support Theatre Victoria, a Victoria theater company that traces it roots to the 1970s and is now in its 45th season.
“A thriving community needs a thriving artistic community,” Teer said. “And Victoria has that.”
The Victoria Advocate interviewed five of the eight suspect characters to be featured at the murder mystery. Although the characters will have much more to say at the event, we’ve provided a little teaser to give guests an early idea about who they will be grilling.
Carolina Spalding studied botany at the “finest university.” She has studied all manner of green and growing things, including those that are poisonous. Many of the other suspects said they learned of the garden party after receiving mysterious invitations with depictions of poisonous plants, but it’s unclear who sent them. Spalding also said many of the plants at the garden are indeed poisonous. “In combination, they can be very fatal. Just coming in contact with one of them can cause paralysis or cause your skin to burn,” she said.
Annie Pawlson is the “hired help” for the garden party. While serving guests, she will be free to answer questions about her past. She also will be wearing a pair of mysterious long, satin gloves given to her by a secret admirer. Specifically, she was asked to wear the gloves to the party. Pawlson works at the local library where she enjoys the peace and quiet. “I really like to enforce that,” she said. “It’s the only time I come out of my shell.” Lastly, she was raised in an orphanage.
Shantelle Freebush is a retired librarian who has long lived in the community. She “knows everyone” and uses a cane because of injuries she suffered in a terrible accident. “They told me I’d never walk again,” she said. “I’m a stubborn b---h, and so I said ‘Oh no, I will walk again. I’m entirely too busy.’”
Maryann Boles works at a local mental health facility. She said she was surprised to learn that her main charge from the facility also was invited to the party. Boles said she hopes the party will be good for her charge. “I just think she could use a bit of fresh air. Couldn’t we all?” she said. “We all need a change of scenery.”
Celia Barnes is a “mystery who left mysteriously.” Barnes left town years ago and became a powerful business executive in the big city, she said. She left town because of her family. “They were just foul — foul people,” she said. “They were horrible, so I left to make my way in the world.”
WHAT: Mystery in the Garden fundraiser for Theatre Victoria
WHEN: 7- 10 p.m. or later on April 7
WHERE: Victoria Educational Garden, Bachelor Drive, Victoria
For more information, visit facebook.com/TheatreVictoria or theatrevictoria.org.
Theatre Victoria
Michael Teer
Mystery In The Garden
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2022-03-24T03:57:39Z
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www.victoriaadvocate.com
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Audience to partake in drama at Theatre Victoria murder-mystery fundraiser | Get Out | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/361mag/audience-to-partake-in-drama-at-theatre-victoria-murder-mystery-fundraiser/article_60760988-aaf4-11ec-8836-8beb948f8d08.html
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Pozzi
By Bill Pozzi | Special to the Advocate
Editor’s note: Victoria resident Bill Pozzi was given an opportunity to travel to Poland to help Ukrainian refugees at a church. This is the fifth of his reports from Poland. Pozzi is a school teacher and Victoria County Republican Party chairman.
To get back into the United States, you must take a COVID-19 test within 24 hours of your departure.
I was sitting in the Warsaw airport testing space waiting for my results. The guy next to me had desert boots on, so I asked him if he was going to the Ukraine and help or fight with Ukrainians.
He said he had been trying to get hold of a volunteer organization in Ukraine that would take him to the fight. He was a paramedic in Dallas and wanted to help the wounded get back in the fight.
This man had seen an ad on the internet and figured he might be of assistance. He was told to be at the train station on the Polish side of the border at a certain time. He waited eight hours and no one showed.
In the meantime, he met two other Americans who were going to assist, but were told to go 10 miles into Ukraine and wait at a junction in the road to be picked up. They never made the connection.
Twenty-four hours later, his original source reappeared and set up a pick-up point on the Ukrainian side at a bus stop. The paramedic thought this was strange and wondered why this Ukrainian would not take him to the headquarters facility in Poland, why all the misinformation so he left and decided to go back to Texas.
There has been a number of rumors that Russian operatives have tricked international volunteers, kidnapped and killed them.
Faith Family Church of Victoria is collecting money, hats, gloves, coats and blankets for Ukrainians.
They are one of many churches, combined with Shoreline Church of Austin, who are supporting Shoreline Church in Poland.
Take donations to the church at 2002 E. Mockingbird Lane, Victoria.
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2022-03-24T03:58:16Z
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www.victoriaadvocate.com
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Airport soldier and misinformation | Premium | victoriaadvocate.com
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Palacios' Bryan Thomas won three gold medals at the Shark Relays on Thursday.
Palacios' Thomas displays speed, stamina at Shark Relays
PALACIOS — Palacios’ Bryan Thomas had a busy night at the Shark Relays.
But Thomas had no complaints.
“I try to stay hydrated when I’m getting ready to run,” he said. “I drink a lot of water. After I run the races, I keep moving and just get ready to run the other races and drink a lot of water.”
The short rest between the 400-meter and 200-meter dashes, and the 1,600-meter relay didn’t prevent Thomas from winning three gold medals Thursday night at Shark Stadium.
Thomas, a senior, also finished third in the long jump to bring his point total for 31 in his final meet on his home track.
Thomas finished third in the long jump with a leap of 21 feet, 1 inch before turning his attention to the running events.
He won the 400 in a time of 50.21 seconds and came back to win the 200 in a time of 22.80.
Thomas then ran the anchor leg of the relay, which won in a time of 3:31.94.
“It’s just a matter of keep practicing and wanting to beat every time I get,” he said. “I don’t want to be satisfied with my times. I want to keep on breaking them.”
Palacios coach Joey Dominguez isn’t surprised with Thomas’ progress.
“He’s a hard worker,” Dominguez said. “He’s a kid who wants to be good. He pushes himself in practice. He doesn’t take any laps off.”
Thomas’ training has been hindered somewhat by the cold weather, but he has done his best to stay in shape.
“Honestly, I wasn’t prepared for the weather to be like this,” he said. “Sometimes, Coach will take us into the gym and we’ll practice. When the weather turns good, we’ll come out and practice.”
Thomas went to the state meet last year as part of the Sharks’ 800 relay team.
He hopes to be busier at this year’s state meet.
“I want to make it back to state,” he said, “and win all my events.”
Kila Rodas has been a workhorse for Edna during her track career.
This season is no different for Rodas, a senior.
Rodas has run the 200- and 400-meter dashes, the 800-meter run and legs on the Cowgirls’ relay teams.
“I’ll run whatever they tell me,” she said. “We practice in whatever the conditions are so we’re ready for the meets.”
Rodas ran the 800 and 400, and a leg on the 1,600 relay at the Shark Relays.
She won the 800 in a time of 2:06.09, and the 400 in a time of 1:02.13. The 1,600 relay finished second in a time of 4:20.20.
“I’d say the 800 is my best race,” Rodas said. “It’s a tough race. I try not to lead the pack because there’s a whole another lap you’ve got to kick on.”
Rodas hopes for another chance to run the 800 at the state meet, after struggling in the event at state last season.
“I want to do better than I did last year at state,” she said. “I ran the worst time ever so I want to go back and do better.”
El Campo’s Rueben Owens medaled in the long jump at last year’s state meet.
But the weather and other commitments kept Owens from jumping until the Shark Relays.
He made up for lost time by winning the event with a leap of 21-10.5.
Owens also won the 100 (11.13) and ran a leg on the winning 400 (42.84) and 800 (1:31.29) relay teams.
East Bernard sweep
East Bernard won the boys and girls team titles.
The Brahmas scored 170 points, El Campo was second with 140, and Palacios was third with 136.
The Lady Brahmas scored 225 points, Edna was second with 200, and El Campo was third with 83.
You can see the full results here.
Shark Relays
Kila Rodas
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2022-03-25T09:03:50Z
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Palacios' Thomas displays speed, stamina at Shark Relays | Advosports | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/advosports/palacios-thomas-displays-speed-stamina-at-shark-relays/article_7103cda0-ab33-11ec-8ec8-cb71f1faed85.html
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The old Edna Pentecostal Congregation sanctuary in 1994. The building was refurbished twice before it was replaced in 2021.
The newly constructed Edna Pentecostal Church sanctuary after it was completed in 2021.
The church's congregation stands outside its new sanctuary.
The Rev. Darrel Clark, right, with his wife Peggy Clark.
The inside of the new sanctuary at Edna Pentecostal Church.
Edna Pentecostal congregation outgrows church, looks to future
Edna's First Pentecostal Church has come a long way since its humble origins in a La Ward revival tent about 70 years ago.
Now, the church and its growing congregation is settling down in a recently completed sanctuary and has plans expand even further. With that major construction project behind them, the church is now looking to another — the conversion of its former sanctuary into an expansion for its Christian school, said Rev. Darrell Clark on Thursday.
The church also recently added a gymnasium, soccer field, softball diamond and walking track.
"It has been my vision for a long time," said Clark. "And the folks are behind it."
Completed in December, the new sanctuary took two years and plenty of donations to complete.
In 2015, a businessman gifted his restaurant to the church, which then sold the business. That sale enabled the church to begin working on the new sanctuary, said Darin Kazmir, church member, in an email.
After breaking ground in 2017, parishioners skilled in contracting, construction and other necessary skills donated their work to bring the vision to fruition.
Clark, a former electric contractor, donated his skills and labor as well, and with the help of parishioners, they completed the church's entire electrical system.
Parishioners, Clark said, not only gave what they could but also "gave beyond that."
Those donations were vital, and so is the church they helped build, he said.
The previous sanctuary had served the church since 1968 and despite being in good repair, the 100-member congregation had simply grown too large for it.
Despite a commonly held misconception, Pentecostalism is not a denomination of Christianity. It's a movement based on an experience, he said.
The first Pentecostals trace their origins to the first weeks after Jesus' death. In fact, the term Pentecost is derived from the 50 days that passed after the crucifixion. On the 50th day, the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles during the Feast of Weeks, a Jewish holiday.
That moment is described in the second chapter of Acts.
And the Holy Spirit is alive and well within the Edna church's congregation, Clark said.
"The Pentacost is pretty active," Clark said. "We need room for activities and music and worship."
With services, meetings and other events scheduled throughout the week, the church has plenty of need for the new facilities.
"There’s people (here) every day," Clark said. "Everybody comes in once a day to pray."
Chief among the improvement projects at the church is the transformation of the old sanctuary into a new school expansion for Edna Christian Academy, which has a national accreditation.
So far, the school has about 24 students, who are now housed in the fellowship hall.
The new school should be able to fit about 60 students. An open house is scheduled for April 7 to allow prospective students and their parents a chance to get an inside view. The event will also allow students to register.
Pentecostalism
First Pentecostal Church
Edna Christian Academy
Edna's First Pentecostal Church
Darin Kazmir
Darrell Clark
Christian Congregation
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2022-03-25T09:03:56Z
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Edna Pentecostal congregation outgrows church, looks to future | Faith | victoriaadvocate.com
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Stained-glass windows cast light patterns inside the chapel at the Catholic Diocese of Victoria chancery office. Bishop Brendan Cahill and parishes in the diocese will participate on Friday with Pope Francis in a worldwide Consecration of Russia and Ukraine.
Bishop Brendan Cahill.
Pope Francis met with students from across the Americas on Feb. 24. The pope will lead the Consecration of Russia and Ukraine, a global call for peace in the region, at 11 a.m. Friday.
Photo courtesy of the Catholic News Agency Facebook page
Catholics in Victoria and throughout the Crossroads will participate on Friday in a worldwide prayer simultaneously with Pope Francis in his call for peace between Russia and Ukraine.
The Consecration of Russia and Ukraine begins at 11 a.m. in Victoria, the same moment the pope offers the same prayer at 5 p.m. in the Vatican in Rome.
“Pope Francis has asked us to join him to consecrate Ukraine and Russia to the immaculate heart of Mary,” Diocese of Victoria spokeswoman Janet Jones said.
Bishop Brendan Cahill, who already was scheduled to be on a Lenten retreat, will perform the service away from the public, but parish priests throughout the Crossroads diocese will take part in the Consecration as well.
Donations of winter gear for Ukrainians now on the way to help victims of war
Jones said some schoolchildren also will recite the prayer lamenting conflict and war and calling for peace.
The pope’s Consecration will be livestreamed on the diocese’s Facebook page and website, victoriadiocese.org.
“This is worldwide,” Jones said. “It’s something powerful.”
In the Consecration, Pope Francis will note how the world has strayed from peace.
“We have forgotten the lesson learned from the tragedies of the last century, the sacrifice of the millions who fell in two world wars. We have disregarded the commitments we made as a community of nations. We have betrayed peoples’ dreams of peace and the hopes of the young.”
But he will call on Mary to help resolve the conflict. “You once trod the streets of our world; lead us now on the paths of peace,” he will pray.
Bishop Brendan Cahill
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2022-03-25T09:04:12Z
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Victoria Catholics to take part in worldwide prayer for Ukraine | News | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/victoria-catholics-to-take-part-in-worldwide-prayer-for-ukraine/article_6d5b5e92-ab8e-11ec-9960-33f959f2806f.html
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HOUSTON — Mr. Jack Alan Newman, 81, passed away Wednesday, March 23, 2022. He was born October 4, 1940 in Cuero to Cecil E. and Olga Klokau Newman. Graveside Services will be held Tuesday, March 29, 2022, 1:00 PM at Hillside Cemetery in Cuero. You may sign the guestbook or send condolences at www.freundfuneralhome.com, 361.275.2343.
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2022-03-25T09:04:30Z
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Jack Alan Newman | Death Notices | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/obituaries/death_notices/jack-alan-newman/article_35769140-4fb7-5061-90f6-6e84c7be99d6.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/obituaries/death_notices/jack-alan-newman/article_35769140-4fb7-5061-90f6-6e84c7be99d6.html
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Lupe Gutierrez
VICTORIA — Our beloved Lupe Gutierrez 86, returned to her heavenly Father on Wednesday, March 23, 2022. She was born on April 25, 1935, in McFaddin, Texas to the late Juan and Petra Olguin.
Lupe was a Godly woman of exceptional Faith and a devout Christian. She loved her family unconditionally and her legacy of character and Faith will forever be followed. She was a kind and giving person who selflessly devoted her time to volunteering and helping others. She loved travelling with her family and her trips abroad to Europe were forever memorable.
She is survived by her daughters, Mary Jane Brown of Houston, Mona Roberts (Ricky) of Houston and Rosalinda Smith (Stuart) of San Antonio; sons, David Gutierrez of Houston, and Eugene Gutierrez Sr. (Nora) of Victoria; brothers, Domingo Olguin Sr., and Ramon Olguin Sr.
She is also survived by 10 grandchildren, 9 great grandchildren, one great greatgrandchild and one great greatgrandchild on the way.
She is preceded in death by her parents, loving husband Simon Gutierrez, sisters Janie Garcia, Santos Rodriguez, Cecilia Padilla and Susie Gutierrez, and brother Pete Olguin.
Visitation will begin Friday, March 25, 2022, from 5 - 8pm with a Prayer Service to begin at 6pm at Angel Lucy’s Funeral Home in Victoria. A Chapel Service will begin Saturday, March 26, 2022, at 12:30pm at the funeral home. Burial to follow at Resurrection Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Joe S. Garcia, Eugene Gutierrez Sr., Eugene Gutierrez Jr., John Carlos, Stuart Smith, Ricky Roberts, and Noah Simon Gutierrez.
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2022-03-25T09:04:49Z
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Lupe Gutierrez | Obituaries | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/obituaries/lupe-gutierrez/article_4a53adc2-da4a-5b36-acfe-5d5851cdf2fb.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/obituaries/lupe-gutierrez/article_4a53adc2-da4a-5b36-acfe-5d5851cdf2fb.html
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Sabrina Marie Guillory
VICTORIA — Sabrina Marie Guillory, 54, of Victoria entered into rest on Sunday, March 20, 2022. She was born October 8, 1967 to the late Richard Joseph Guillory and Alice Faye Snell in Orange, Texas.
Sabrina leaves to mourn her mother Alice F. Snell, daughter Ashley Renae Guillory, son Darius James Guillory, her sister Sondi Snell, and her brothers Joseph Guillory, D. Wayne Snell, and D. Earl Snell. She is also survived by numerous aunts, uncles, and one grandchild Aaron Guillory.
In addition to her father, Sabrina is preceded in death by her stepfather David E. Snell, Sr.
A visitation will be held for family and friends on Saturday, March 26, 2022 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. followed by a chapel service beginning at 11:00 a.m. at Grace Memorial Chapel, 8819 US Hwy 87N., Victoria, TX with Rev. Kevin Van Hook, officiating. Interment to follow at Resurrection Cemetery. To leave a comforting message, or to share a fond memory, please visit www.gracefunerahome.net.
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2022-03-25T09:04:55Z
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Sabrina Marie Guillory | Obituaries | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/obituaries/sabrina-marie-guillory/article_35f05438-9006-5cfa-8d2f-fe04cf861d7c.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/obituaries/sabrina-marie-guillory/article_35f05438-9006-5cfa-8d2f-fe04cf861d7c.html
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Hurricanes host Outlaws in home opener
The Victoria Hurricanes play their first Big South Football League home game of the season when they host the South Texas Outlaws at 6 p.m. Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
The Hurricanes (1-1) look to bounce back from an 8-0 loss to the South Texas Bills. The Outlaws suffered a 40-6 loss to the San Antonio Warriors.
Gates will open at 5 p.m. Tickets are $10 and those ages 12 and under will be admitted free of charge.
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2022-03-26T08:38:09Z
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Hurricanes host Outlaws in home opener | Advosports | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/advosports/hurricanes-host-outlaws-in-home-opener/article_7417d7be-aa22-11ec-9a76-c79362d72e49.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/advosports/hurricanes-host-outlaws-in-home-opener/article_7417d7be-aa22-11ec-9a76-c79362d72e49.html
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JANICEK, GARY, 68, of Victoria, passed away on Monday, March 21, 2022. Services are pending with Grace Funeral Home, 361-573-4341.
NICHOLS, ANGELA, 41, of Victoria, passed away on Wednesday, March 23, 2022. Services are pending with Grace Memorial Chapel, 361-578-3611.
ORTIZ, FRANK Q., 95, of Victoria, passed away on Tuesday, March 22, 2022. Services are pending with Colonial Funeral Home, 361-578-3535.
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2022-03-26T08:38:45Z
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March 26, 2022 | Death Notices | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/obituaries/death_notices/march-26-2022/article_04d6f4ad-6693-597b-b05e-3358df0daa11.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/obituaries/death_notices/march-26-2022/article_04d6f4ad-6693-597b-b05e-3358df0daa11.html
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PORT LAVACA — Nell Walker Lanfear of Port Lavaca, passed away on March 13, 2022, in Port Lavaca, TX. She was born in LaWard, TX in 1932 to Lolita Myers and Covey Kelly Walker. She moved to Newgulf, TX in 1938 and graduated from Boling High School in 1949. She was a member of the Newgulf Baptist Church. She attended Southwest Texas State University majoring in business, graduating in1952 with a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree. She started her career working as an accountant for TSC Motor Freight Line. She later moved to Newgulf, TX and went to work for Texas Gulf Sulfur Co. where she met and married her former husband, Bobby Lanfear. They moved to Port Lavaca, TX in 1960 where she started teaching for CCISD . She retired from teaching in 1994 and later worked for Calhoun Co. Sheriff’s Dept. for 16 years.
She was a loyal Sandies and Sandcrabs fan forever attending many home and away games for decades, loved riding her tricycle, and playing bridge with friends.
She was preceded in death by her mother and father, Lolita and Covey Walker.
She is survived by a son Larry Walker Lanfear (Beverly), daughter Lani Lanfear, grandchildren Madeleine Montgomery, Julia Montgomery, Covey Lanfear (Magen) and Paul Lanfear (Cady), great grandchildren Wyatt, Brenley, Brayden, Walker, and Weston Lanfear.
Graveside services will be on Monday, March 28 at 11:00 AM at the Port Lavaca Cemetery.
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2022-03-26T08:39:10Z
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Nell Walker Lanfear | Obituaries | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/obituaries/nell-walker-lanfear/article_f7d0472c-75c9-5adf-ba42-7996d1f138dc.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/obituaries/nell-walker-lanfear/article_f7d0472c-75c9-5adf-ba42-7996d1f138dc.html
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Melody Vecera prays before the start of Friday’s Act of Consecration service at St. Mary’s Catholic Church.
The Rev. Kristopher Fuchs, St. Mary’s pastor, begins Friday’s special service that was held in concert with the Vatican and other churches around the world.
Anne Martin sings hymns during Friday’s Act of Consecration service at St. Mary’s Catholic Church.
The Rev. Kristopher Fuchs gives his sermon before Friday’s Act of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary at St. Mary’s Catholic Church.
Congregation members sing hymns during the Act of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary service on Friday at St. Mary’s Catholic Church.
Anne Martin reads a pamphlet before the start of Friday’s Act of Consecration service at St. Mary’s Catholic Church.
The procession begins its way down to the altar to begin Friday’s special service to pray for peace between Russia and Ukraine at St. Mary’s Catholic Church.
Evelyn Dierlam, a life-long member of St. Mary's Catholic Church, took part in the special service on Friday to pray for peace.
Catherine Kohn / ckohn@vicad.com
Catherine Kohn | ckohn@vicad.com
The Feast of the Annunciation, a solemn and special day in the Roman Catholic faith held each on March 25, generally celebrates the day Mary accepted the task of becoming the mother of Jesus.
This year, it was celebrated in a unique way. Pope Francis in Rome called for an “Act of Consecration” to be held in unison around the world to invoke the “Immaculate Mary” to intercede for peace in the world, and in particular between Russia and Ukraine.
As he led the special prayer in Rome, Catholics around the world joined him at the same time, including those in Victoria.
Parishioners from St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Victoria joined in the simultaneous prayer for peace at 11 a.m. Also attending were Nazareth Academy students who quietly filled the front pews dressed neatly in their red and black school uniforms.
St. Mary’s parish priest the Rev. Kristopher Fuchs, called Father Kristopher by church members, explained the meaning of consecration as “a total surrender to God, of giving to God.” He said Christians are “giving the world, and in particular Russia and Ukraine, to God, to place it in his hands of mercy, his divine will.”
Fuchs said the focus on Mary is especially important because “Mary had the heart to say, ‘Yes,’ completely, totally, unconditionally. … A true handing over to God and His will. And so that’s why she’s so significant. She’s our perfect model on how to make a consecration, giving ourselves completely to God.”
Evelyn Dierlam was one of many participants at the consecration. She has spent her life as a member of St. Mary’s. Dierlam was baptized there in 1948 and had her first Holy Communion and Confirmation there. “I was married here and I’m sure I’ll be buried here,” she said.
Dierlam said the consecration made her “feel like we have a purpose.”
“Up to now we’ve just been drifting, now everybody’s involved, all the members of the church,” she said. “And it is awesome that all of us pray at the same time with the Pope. I find that very comforting.”
Before beginning the consecration Fuchs’ sermon spoke of how easy it is to respond to conflict with the desire for revenge. He told the congregation they were not calling for the destruction of Russia or for revenge against Russia, rather “we pray for peace … we are responding with an act of consecration.”
When asked about the impact on Catholics joining in prayer across the world, Fuchs said the consecration is a visible sign that “we’re connected to one another.”
He explained how the consecration is connected to the story of Our Lady of Fatima in which three children in 1917 saw visions of Mary and were given “secrets.” Part of those visions involved the need for the consecration of Russia “to her Immaculate Heart,” said Fuchs.
What was particularly unusual was Pope Francis directly speaking about Russia and Ukraine. “I think it was because of what’s going on now and how it’s happening, and in our age. We are very much immediately aware of this need — this very specific need — for peace in this very specific land.”
Although prayer may seem like a passive method to unite individuals, Fuchs emphasized that it is a form of action. “This is an act of consecration. It’s not a physical thing. It’s a spiritual action. We are uniting our hearts to Mary to plead to God.”
Dierlam said the unity of the consecration will help draw people’s attention to the war in a more personal way. “People will turn their heads around,” she said, quietly adding she has been disturbed by the “horrible things that have happened” and the damage being done by Russia. “We’re trying to pray to God to please bring peace to both countries.”
Text of the Act of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary prayer in unison with Pope Francis:
Yet we have strayed from that path of peace. We have forgotten the lesson learned from the tragedies of the last century, the sacrifice of the millions who fell in two world wars. We have disregarded the commitments we made as a community of nations. We have betrayed peoples’ dreams of peace and the hopes of the young. We grew sick with greed, we thought only of our own nations and their interests, we grew indifferent and caught up in our selfish needs and concerns. We chose to ignore God, to be satisfied with our illusions, to grow arrogant and aggressive, to suppress innocent lives and to stockpile weapons. We stopped being our neighbor's keepers and stewards of our common home. We have ravaged the garden of the earth with war and by our sins we have broken the heart of our heavenly Father, who desires us to be brothers and sisters. We grew indifferent to everyone and everything except ourselves. Now with shame we cry out: Forgive us, Lord!
Father Kristopher Fuchs
Evelyn Dierlam
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2022-03-26T08:39:22Z
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Catholics unite in prayer for peace between Russia and Ukraine | Premium | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/premium/catholics-unite-in-prayer-for-peace-between-russia-and-ukraine/article_8d6be55a-ac72-11ec-9ded-dba0849495cd.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/premium/catholics-unite-in-prayer-for-peace-between-russia-and-ukraine/article_8d6be55a-ac72-11ec-9ded-dba0849495cd.html
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AnnaHarris
A Victoria criminal justice advocate is facing charges accusing her of lying in court.
On March 17, Anna Harris, 39, was indicted on aggravated perjury, a third-degree felony, by a Victoria County grand jury, according to court records released Friday. On March 16, she also was charged with perjury, a Class A misdemeanor.
Her aggravated perjury charge stems from an accusation that she falsely testified “I have a bachelor’s in criminal justice and a master’s” on March 3, 2021, according to the indictment. Her perjury charge accuses her of making additional false statements about her degrees on Dec. 2, 2021, according to the charging document.
On Friday, Harris’ attorney Rueben Cartwright defended his client, saying the truth would eventually emerge.
“My client is not guilty of any of these charges, and we are looking forward to our day in court,” Cartwright said.
Victoria County District Attorney Constance Filley Johnson said in a statement she could not comment about the case’s specifics, but she added that the accusations are serious.
“Our office is committed to preserving the integrity of the criminal justice system in Victoria County,” Filley Johnson said in an email. “The bedrock of a court proceeding is the confidence we place in witnesses who swear that they will testify truthfully. Individuals who do not tell the truth under oath undermine the public’s confidence in our justice system and that cannot be tolerated.”
In her misdemeanor charge, Harris is accused of saying she holds a bachelor’s degree from “Tarleton” and a master’s degree in criminal justice from Texas A&M Kingsville.
Felony indictment for Anna Harris. The indictment accuses Harris of lying in court about her academic credentials at a March 2021 hearing. Contributed
But according to prosecutors, Harris does not have a bachelor’s degree or master’s degree in criminal justice, and she does not hold college degrees from either Tarleton State University or Texas A&M Kingsville.
Cartwright disputed those claims, saying Harris does in fact have bachelor’s and master’s degrees, but he declined to answer further questions about where she obtained the degrees.
“I don’t want to get into the specifics. We are going to argue those points,” he said.
At least some of the statements Harris’ is accused of lying about factored into decisions made by a court.
On March 3, 2021, a court used the statements about her credentials to determine whether she was suitable to transfer a defendant to a mental health facility. The court documents do not provide more details about the context relating to her misdemeanor perjury charge.
A court document accusing Anna Harris of misdemeanor perjury. Contributed
Harris is the executive director and founder of JUST-US Participatory Defense, according to its website. She had said she started the organization after a close friend was charged with manslaughter in Bastrop County.
Harris previously told the Victoria Advocate that she had a master’s degree in criminal justice for a story published in September.
In July, she filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against Sheriff Justin Marr, Filley Johnson and an unidentified Victoria County deputy.
Filley Johnson said local law enforcement officers began looking into Harris’ background “long before the situation that gave rise to the federal lawsuit.” Filley Johnson declined to discuss when authorities began the investigation.
After the lawsuit was filed, the investigation was referred to the Texas Rangers to avoid the appearance of impropriety, she said.
That federal lawsuit came after Harris was temporarily banned from the Victoria County Courthouse by District Judge Eli Garza after she made a Tik-Tok video in an upstairs courtroom. On the same day she filed the lawsuit, Harris was arrested on a misdemeanor traffic charge, which was later dismissed.
The lawsuit since been settled.
Constance Filley Johnson
Criminal Justice Advocate
Rosemary Bazan Mar 25, 2022 8:54pm
“Preserve the integrity of the criminal justice system of Victoria County”. I’m sorry but THAT is a joke! ALL My encounters with the court system have been bias and unjust not only to my but my children and the court system that is supposed to be fair just was exactly just the opposite. Is Anna the real criminal or perhaps the judges and lawyers in this game they play? And I do add, I have NEVER had a criminal history but was treated like I did. I say clean house and get rid of them all if you want to preserve the integrity of the justice system!
George Schwarz Mar 25, 2022 6:00pm
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2022-03-26T08:39:34Z
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Updated: Victoria criminal justice advocate lied in court about credentials, court documents say | Premium | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/premium/updated-victoria-criminal-justice-advocate-lied-in-court-about-credentials-court-documents-say/article_3d786572-ac6e-11ec-b1f9-2f97536b8584.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/premium/updated-victoria-criminal-justice-advocate-lied-in-court-about-credentials-court-documents-say/article_3d786572-ac6e-11ec-b1f9-2f97536b8584.html
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UHV vs. St. Edwards University, 6 p.m.
UHV at Jarvis Christian College, 12 p.m.
UHV at Our Lady of the Lake University, 1 p.m.
UHV at Our Lady of the Lake University, after Game 1
UHV vs. Texas A&M-Texarkana, 1 p.m.
UHV vs. Texas A&M-Texarkana, after Game 1
UHV vs. LSU-Alexandria, 12 p.m.
UHV vs. LSU-Alexandria, after Game 1
UHV men, women at Concordia University Texas Invite
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2022-03-27T03:46:28Z
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College Schedule for the week of April 2 | Advosports | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/advosports/college-schedule-for-the-week-of-april-2/article_ab2af4a6-ad4d-11ec-8439-a30c066e6370.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/advosports/college-schedule-for-the-week-of-april-2/article_ab2af4a6-ad4d-11ec-8439-a30c066e6370.html
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El Campo’s Hendrick Hundl finished seventh in the boys Division I 110-meter hurdles at the Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays on Saturday at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin. Hundl, a senior, had a time of 14.92 seconds.
Contributed Photo by Shawn Price
AUSTIN — Cutler Zamzow was a member of the Texas A&M’s distance-medley relay that broke the school record at the Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays.
Zamzow, a Goliad graduate, was part of the team that had a time of 9 minutes, 43.43 seconds Friday at Mike A. Myers Stadium. The previous record was 9:51.79.
Zamzow ran the 400-meter leg in a time of 46.69 seconds.
Texas A&M’s Conner Schulman, a Rice Consolidated graduate, finished eighth in the 110-meter hurdles Saturday in a time of 13.94 seconds.
El Campo’s Hendrick Hundl was seventh in the boys Division I 110-meter hurdles Saturday in a time of 14.92 seconds.
The Wharton 1,600-meter relay team of Michael Okuchaba, JaCorric Allen, Kelon Jackson and Kameron Mitchell finished eighth in boys Division I in a time of 3:29.27.
Cutler Zamzow
Connor Schulman
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2022-03-27T03:46:36Z
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Goliad graduate part of Aggies' record-setting relay team | Advosports | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/advosports/goliad-graduate-part-of-aggies-record-setting-relay-team/article_34de7b6a-acc6-11ec-8c96-a395f93548d6.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/advosports/goliad-graduate-part-of-aggies-record-setting-relay-team/article_34de7b6a-acc6-11ec-8c96-a395f93548d6.html
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Adam Baucom
Limiting the IRS’s impact on your business
By Adam Baucom
Most self-employed people know the impact the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) can have on your business. They can often be an unwanted partner, sharing in your profits at rates over 50%.
For many, it seems the harder they work, the harder the IRS wants to squeeze. For this reason, I would like to share a few tips to keep more of your money in your pocket, and out of the hands of the IRS.
The first strategy I want to mention is proper entity election. I spoke in a previous article about the different types of entities available to the self-employed. Current tax law allows most small businesses to make an S election and be taxed as an S Corporation. After taking a “reasonable wage” for your services provided to your business, the remaining profits from the S Corporation avoid the 15.3% self-employment tax. In addition, you need to determine if your participation and investment in the business is material enough to be considered non-passive.
Or, are you simply a passive investor. If your passive income is defined as such by the IRS, then it is not subject to self-employment tax.
On the flip side, losses from passive activity may be suspended but can be used to offset income in future years.
A second strategy is to offer a retirement plan. There are an array of retirement plan options available to self-employed people and small businesses. For the most part, you will have to offer a plan to your employees if you want to participate in a retirement plan through your business. Contributions on behalf of your employees, and certain funds contributed to yourself through the proper entity, are a business deduction and can reduce your taxable income for both income and self-employment tax.
If you have no other employees, you still have retirement plan options available to you. Depending on your entity and income, you can contribute upwards of $60,000 into a retirement plan each year. That $60K contribution is a deduction on your tax return, and limits the IRS’s impact on your business and profits.
The retirement plan contribution goes into an account that can be invested and used for your future retirement. Withdrawing from the retirement account will be taxable, but with proper planning, the tax affect will be much less severe in retirement. Think of retirement contributions from self-employed income as a way to park profits in an investment account, out of the hands of the IRS, until the time comes that you will need the funds.
The final strategy to mention is for self-employed parents. Instead of giving your able-bodied offspring free money, make them work for it. While the IRS does not have any age restrictions, your child must be providing a service for your business to count as an employee. If your child is under the age of 18, no FICA taxes will have to be withheld from their wages.
The 2022 standard deduction is $12,950. This means if you were to pay your child less than $12,950 to perform services for your business (and they had no other income), no taxes would be owed on their wages.
In addition, your business will receive the deduction reducing both taxable income and self-employed earnings. This will open the ability for your child to invest in IRAs.
The wages can also be managed in a savings or UTMA account to plan for your child’s future, college or otherwise.
In summary, be aware that there are many opportunities to limit the IRS’s impact on your hard-earned money, while also planning for your future and the future of those you love. As always, I recommend speaking to your attorney, CPA and CFP to make sure you are selecting all the right options for yourself and your business.
Adam Baucom, CPA/CFP is a Senior Tax Manager for Keller & Associates CPAs, PLLC and an Associate Advisor for KMH Wealth Management, LLC.
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2022-03-27T03:47:38Z
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Limiting the IRS’s impact on your business | Business | victoriaadvocate.com
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Small business owners should invest in themselves
As a Certified Business Advisor for the University of Houston-Victoria Small Business Development Center, I have had the honor and pleasure of working with small business owners in our 11 county region.
Having worked for UHV-SBDC for the last 10 years, a few things all small business owners have in common are their passion, their dedication, and their work ethic for their businesses.
I see time and time again that small business owners are investing in new equipment, new products and services to provide their customers, and new marketing strategies, to give some examples. When asking a business owner why they chose to invest in these items mentioned, one common answer is because they had to or they needed to, in order to grow their business or to stay competitive with competitors. Although, this is a valid answer for the reason they decided to make that investment, one question still remains. Why aren’t small business owners investing in themselves?
I began to really think about the question of investing in ourselves as business owners, after working to build my own business, I was neglecting myself and my health to work and grow my business. I finally told myself I am no good to anyone if I don’t make a change. With that being said, investment in yourself can come in different forms.
For me, I decided to invest in myself to better my health. As business owners we always think of investments being something that produces income, like real estate for example. But, if you think about it you also produce income, based on the product or service you provide and the knowledge you possess. Investment in yourself can be investing in your health, investing in your own professional development, investing time in your family, investing time to set goals, and investing in your own happiness. These are just a few examples of investing in yourself to think about, as there are other self- investments as well.
Investing in yourself as a business owner is something, I believe many business owners neglect or just simply don’t think about during the life of their business. One reason is that business owners are working hard to build and grow their business or to stay afloat. Investment in yourself creates happiness and confidence that will spill over to your employees, your customers, your family, your community and will generate a greater return than not taking that time to invest in yourself. If you haven’t already, take the time to invest in yourself for a better you and a better tomorrow for everyone.
UHV-SBDC provides no cost advising and trainings to our 11 county region. For more information, contact the UHV-SBDC at 361-485-4485, or sbdc@uhv.edu. Mark Martinez, MS-EDE is a Senior Certified Business Advisor with the UHV- SBDC and can be contacted at martinezma9@uhv.edu.
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2022-03-27T03:48:02Z
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www.victoriaadvocate.com
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Small business owners should invest in themselves | Business | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/business/small-business-owners-should-invest-in-themselves/article_bfd033de-aaf1-11ec-8624-7363e1795318.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/business/small-business-owners-should-invest-in-themselves/article_bfd033de-aaf1-11ec-8624-7363e1795318.html
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100, 75, 50 and 25 years ago: 1947, Frank Wagner presented with 50-year jewel by Odd Fellow's Lodge
MARCH 27 – The city’s repair forces have centered their operations on South Bridge Street and when they get through that much-traveled thoroughfare, it will be in much better shape than it has been in many a day.
The Victoria Choral Club, under direction of David Griffin, is rounding out its third season. A concert in Edna, under auspices of the Civic Club, has been arranged for the near future.
John H., the little five year old son of Mr. and Mrs. John H. Clegg, barely escaped a serious accident this morning while playing on the street in front of the Clegg home on North Vine St., when he was knocked down by a passing automobile.
MARCH 31 – Arthur Seydler, a sensational right handed pitcher for the West Texas Military Academy, who gained his baseball experience in Victoria, has been acquired by the New York Giants.
At a regular meeting of the Bronte Club held Wednesday in the home of Mrs. Charles Easton, it was announced that Mrs. J.F. Welder, State Chair of Parks and Playgrounds, Mrs. L.G. Kreisle, District Chair of Art, and Mrs. Howard Stoltzfus, delegate from the Bronte Club, will leave Monday for Laredo, where they will attend the annual meeting of the Fifth District of Texas Federated Women’s Clubs.
MARCH 28 – Frank Wagner, well known hardware and implement dealer, will be presented a 50-year jewel emblematic of 50 years of faithful service in the Odd Fellow’s Lodge at a ceremony tonight at the hall. The 50-year jewel will be the first presented here in many years. The presentation, incidentally, will be made on Mr. Wagner’s 84th birthday anniversary. Carl Hiller, a member for 25 years, also will be presented a veteran jewel.
A well-filled theatre greeted the Rumanian String Quartet sponsored by the Victoria Fine Arts Association Thursday night at the Victoria Theatre.
APRIL 2 – Five teams — Sport Shop, Just Friends, Tennessee Gas, Supply and VFW — definitely entered the City Baseball League at an organization meeting held at the Recreation Center and called by Ed Shinn. Three more teams will be sought to make the circuit an eight-team affair. Elected officers of the league are Hank Evans, president; Leonard Kovar, vice-president; and W.S. Cattan, secretary-treasurer.
MARCH 29 – Four specialists in the field of tourism will be featured Wednesday at a tourist seminar sponsored by the tourist and convention committee of Victoria Chamber of Commerce. Fred Armstrong, chairman, said that all person interested in tourism are invited to attend the meeting.
Dan T. Kamin of Victoria has been presented the Silver Key Award from the law student division of American Bar Association. The award, made to four students from the Texas-Louisiana-Arkansas division, was presented in New Orleans Saturday evening. Kamin, son of Mr. and Mrs. Morris Kamin, is vice-president of the Student Bar Association at St. Mary’s School of Law in San Antonio.
MARCH – For the first time in Victoria’s history 18-year-old residents will be voting in an election and observers will be watching closely to determine what the effect the newly-enfranchised group will have on election results. Interest in the VISD race centers on the vote-getting ability of an 18-year-old candidate. Victor Castillo, 18, is a graduate of Stroman High School and is presently enrolled at Victoria College. He is opposing Lee L. Allbright for Place 3.
MARCH 29 – Candice Shockley, an 18-year-old senior at St. Joseph High School, made a perfect score on the verbal portion of the Scholastic Aptitude Test. That part of the college-entrance test deals with reading. “I have always enjoyed reading,” said Candice, the daughter of Michael and Judy Shockley. “My mother taught me to read by the time I was four.” Candice began reading with Dr. Seuss books and a collection of Sesame Street books her family had. Later, she read Nancy Drew books. “My favorite now is historical fiction. My favorite author is Jane Austen.” She took the SAT once before in seventh grade and scored high enough to earn a spot in Duke University’s Talent Identification Program. That earned her a college-level course in literature and writing at Southern Methodist University. All that reading paid off when she took her SAT in January.
MARCH 30 – Charlie Faupel, owner of Reeves Ranch, said about 2,500 people attended the Easter Egg Hunt. Every year, more people flock to the ranch, but he doesn’t mind. And he doesn’t place an age limit on the hunt. Pretty much, anyone can do it, he said. The hunt was made possible through a community effort, Faupel said. For example, the Boy Scouts helped dye eggs, Faupel’s neighbors hid them and businesses donated prizes. Some other volunteers were the Society of Creative Anachronisms, who helped park cars and Raisin firefighters, who helped serve stew.
Hospice of South Texas presented awards to its top 1996 volunteers during a luncheon at the Victoria Country Club. Honored were Pearl Gummelt, Rose Drost, Dr. Juan Posada.
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2022-03-27T03:48:08Z
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www.victoriaadvocate.com
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100, 75, 50 and 25 years ago: 1947, Frank Wagner presented with 50-year jewel by Odd Fellow's Lodge | Features | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/features/100-75-50-and-25-years-ago-1947-frank-wagner-presented-with-50-year-jewel/article_89d34dee-a636-11ec-8daf-e3063e1bb1dc.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/features/100-75-50-and-25-years-ago-1947-frank-wagner-presented-with-50-year-jewel/article_89d34dee-a636-11ec-8daf-e3063e1bb1dc.html
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Ashley Hunter: There are many new and intricate card games that people have invented online
I thought I was losing my mind trying to create more meaningful interactions with my children by playing a few little card games. It turns out that I’m not the only one. In my previous article, I recounted how bringing a pack of cards around in my purse changed the way we approached family outings. This eventually led to a bunny trail of all sorts of interesting new discoveries that I will share in this sequel.
It began with a stroll around Target. We came up to the toys section and took our traditional roaming around time where we would look at the latest toys and make our wish lists for Christmas, birthdays, gifts and other special occasions. I looked at the card game section. There were regular packs of cards, of course, but also other specialized games such as various forms of Uno, Go Fish, a card version of Catan, and even a portable Monopoly game. I honed in on one of the more popular ones. Most of the others were marketable copies of classic card games; Uno being an example as Crazy Eights is the original version. ‘I bet I could duplicate this using a standard 52 card deck,’ I thought. Naturally, as a millennial, my next thought was, ‘Perhaps someone has already thought of this idea online.’
Indeed, someone had thought of the idea, which led me to a whole community of card players who devote their time to not only playing classic games, but creating their own original ones. I took to YouTube and found so many videos and threads of game creators, most of them taking up this hobby since the pandemic. It seemed that many other people were thinking of ways to take technology breaks and focus on small, intimate group play in order to salvage their mental health and then share their experiences with the rest of the world. It inspired me to create my own versions of games to play with my children and family, so I started with their interests.
My kids are currently interested in a certain franchise that has a card game. How could I bring the fun of playing it to my kids without actually spending money on cards that they are too young to collect? Could I use a standard 52 deck of cards? With a little imagination, I found the answer to be a resounding, “yes.” I created my very own version of the game using a standard 52 deck, four dice, and paper and pencil. Now, it’s not perfect; it doesn’t yet include substitutes for every single aspect of the real game, but for a simple, rudimentary version, it allows for a lot of fun, strategy, and a little bit of luck which is the formula for every good card game.
If you want to get back into card games, but don’t want to play the old favorites, there are so many new and intricate games that people have invented online. Whatever the case, I hope we can all remember the importance of creativity and gathering together for a great game.
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2022-03-27T03:48:14Z
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www.victoriaadvocate.com
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Ashley Hunter: There are many new and intricate card games that people have invented online | Features | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/features/ashley-hunter-there-are-many-new-and-intricate-card-games-that-people-have-invented-online/article_80c6e234-a950-11ec-8efc-c72054e13b30.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/features/ashley-hunter-there-are-many-new-and-intricate-card-games-that-people-have-invented-online/article_80c6e234-a950-11ec-8efc-c72054e13b30.html
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Shana Bohac: Equine protozoal myeloencephalitis
Equine protozoal myeloencephalitis or EPM is an infection of the central nervous system with a protozoal parasite named Sarcocystis neurona. Infection causes inflammation of the brain and spinal cord.
EPM is one of the most common neurological diseases in horses. A large number of horses are exposed to EPM, however few actually develop clinical disease.
Clinical signs are similar to wobbler’s syndrome, spinal trauma, equine herpesvirus, Eastern or Western encephalitis, rabies and West Nile. Central nervous system signs can come on suddenly or gradually. Subtle signs can include atrophy of the rump and facial muscles. Neurologic signs may begin with an abnormal gait, incoordination, weakness, lameness, head tilt, stiffness, (ataxia) lack of voluntary coordination of muscle movement, and inability to stand or rise.
Horses from the age of 1 to 6 are more likely to be affected, however all ages of horses can be infected. The protozoon is spread from the opossum in feces.
The feces are then consumed by the horse by grazing on infected pasture, ingesting infected feed, or drinking contaminated water. The protozoon migrates from the intestinal tract to the blood and then infects the brain and spinal cord. Horses show signs pretty rapidly once exposed.
Testing can be done using either serum or cerebral spinal fluid. There are various tests available however none of the tests are 100%. Most of them only show exposure to the protozoa. Since no single test, whether performed off of blood or cerebral spinal fluid, is perfect it is best to interpret the results with clinical signs. Positive test results in the face of neurologic signs usually confirm a case of EPM. Negative test results can usually rule out an EPM infection. It is best to consult your veterinarian about which tests and samples would be best for your particular situation.
Without treatment EPM will progress to a debilitating and potentially deadly condition. Treatment comes in a pellet or paste form and must be given for at least 28 days. Most horses improve one neurological grade, meaning that horses that are severely affected will not recover completely. Horses mildly affected are more likely to recover completely or almost completely, therefore early diagnosis and treatment is imperative. Relapses have been found to occur in both mildly and severely affected horses. Stressors have been found to trigger these relapses to occur.
There are a few things you can do to prevent your horse from being exposed to EPM. Natural water sources such as ponds, creeks, and rivers are a great habitat for opossums. Preventing your horse from drinking out of these possibly contaminated water sources would be ideal. Secure feed and water sources from possible opossum fecal contamination.
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2022-03-27T03:48:33Z
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www.victoriaadvocate.com
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Shana Bohac: Equine protozoal myeloencephalitis | Local News | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/local/shana-bohac-equine-protozoal-myeloencephalitis/article_55efe64e-aad3-11ec-80d2-4b7f760caa0f.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/local/shana-bohac-equine-protozoal-myeloencephalitis/article_55efe64e-aad3-11ec-80d2-4b7f760caa0f.html
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Herath
UHV to host on-campus International Festival
After two years, the University of Houston-Victoria will once again host the International Festival and showcase the diversity of cultures and countries represented on UHV’s campus, including a flag parade, cuisine from different countries, a fashion show and traditional dances.
The International Festival will be at 5:30 p.m. April 8 in Pyramid Row, located behind UHV University Center, 3007 N. Ben Wilson St. The festival is free and open to all UHV students, faculty, staff and the community.
The fifth-annual festival is hosted by UHV International Programs staff and the UHV International Student Organization. The event was held virtually last year and was canceled in 2020 because of the pandemic. Previously, the event was held in Jaguar Hall. However, since the last in-person International Festival had more than 500 attendees, the event will now take place outdoors to accommodate more space for attendees and parking. There also will be a Facebook Live stream for those who are unable to attend.
“The goal for hosting the festival for free for our UHV faculty, staff, students and community is to showcase cultural diversity, bring global awareness and bring global competence to our students,” said Ludmi Herath, UHV International Programs director. “We have citizens from all around the world living in Victoria, and this event brings everyone together to celebrate cultures and have a day to travel around the world without leaving Victoria.”
The event will open with a flag processional featuring the flags of the more than 40 nations represented by UHV international students. There will be multiple tables and booths with displays and information about the countries with UHV international students available to talk about their home countries and cultures. There also will be more than 20 traditional food dishes of various countries for attendees to try.
Cassandra Ward, a graduate student from South Africa studying forensic psychology, is looking forward to her first in-person International Festival. Ward is the president of the UHV International Student Organization, and although she enjoyed the virtual event last year, she missed the opportunity to have a large, face-to-face event where students can celebrate and share their home countries. The student organization and International Programs have discussed the festival since the fall semester, Ward said.
She is excited for the UHV and Victoria community to attend the festival and is looking forward to all the food dishes students will be preparing for the event.
Ward plans to make a dessert dish of South African milk tart.
“I think it’s great that we get to share our culture with the community, and we encourage the Victoria-area community to come out and bring their families to the event,” Ward said. “This is a way to travel around the world without having to leave this area. It’s such a unique event, and all the UHV international students are happy to share what they love about their countries and cultures with everyone.”
Attendees can look forward to student performances, including a fashion show, belly dancing, and traditional dances from countries including Brazil and Sri Lanka. There will be a children’s booth with art activities and demonstrations of the different types of henna, including henna tattoos for attendees and henna wood carving. Kona Shaved Ice also will be on site.
The International Festival also will help UHV students meet and get to know each other, said Lorraine Yap, a graduate computer science student from Malaysia.
For the past couple of years, students have not had many opportunities to interact with each other in person. The International Festival also will bring the Victoria community to get to know the diverse UHV student population. Yap is the treasurer of the UHV International Student Organization.
Yap is looking forward to experiencing the various food dishes and seeing the cultural attire featured in the fashion show. She also will perform a dance with the student organization as well.
“We’re excited to have this event and encourage people to come by and talk to us and get to know us more,” Yap said.
To learn more about the festival, go to www.uhv.edu/international-festival.
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2022-03-27T03:48:39Z
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www.victoriaadvocate.com
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UHV to host on-campus International Festival | News | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/uhv-to-host-on-campus-international-festival/article_c77a61d4-aadf-11ec-87b1-fb25139fee35.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/uhv-to-host-on-campus-international-festival/article_c77a61d4-aadf-11ec-87b1-fb25139fee35.html
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Bible verse - Romans Rom.13:10-12; quote by Charles Dickens
Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
Charles John Huffam Dickens FRSA (1812-1870) was an English writer and social critic. He created some of the world’s best-known fictional characters and is regarded by many as the greatest novelist of the Victorian era.
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2022-03-27T03:48:51Z
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www.victoriaadvocate.com
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Bible verse - Romans Rom.13:10-12; quote by Charles Dickens | Opinion | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/opinion/bible-verse---romans-rom-13-10-12-quote-by-charles-dickens/article_534c436a-aabf-11ec-a855-4f4d785f0343.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/opinion/bible-verse---romans-rom-13-10-12-quote-by-charles-dickens/article_534c436a-aabf-11ec-a855-4f4d785f0343.html
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Victoria has a strong resource in its regional airport. It offers daily air service to Houston, provides general aviation services for private pilots, offers a place for military plane can touch down and take off as part of training and much more.
But it needs the public’s support to keep growing.
On March 11, SkyWest, which has the air service contract for Victoria, gave its 90-day notice that it intends to pull out of Victoria and 28 other cities, citing the industry-wide shortage of pilots.
The U.S. Department of Transportation denied the request. Under the law, SkyWest must continue to serve Victoria and the other cities until a new air service is in place. It could take more than 90 days to get a new service lined up and going.
In the meantime, the search has begun for new air service for the affected airports.
This is where the public can help. The airport needs the public to continue to use SkyWest, which has a codeshare agreement with United airlines.
The more use the airport receives during this time of looking for a new air service increases the airport’s chances of getting a quality air service.
Last year, 6,608 people flew out of Victoria to Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston. About the same number used the return service. In the first two months of this year, 941 people flew from Victoria.
Considering that travel in general was slow during 2021 because of the continued COVID-19 pandemic, the numbers are good, but higher numbers are needed.
If the airport can reach the 10,000 enplanements a year mark, it can trigger Federal Aviation Administration grants in the $1 million area. That in turn will trigger more opportunities for the airport’s growth.
The airport needs to reach that level of service to grow.
We often talk about the important economic development factor the airport offers. It is a well-established fact that when a business is looking to relocate to an area one amenity the business looks for is nearby air service. If an area does not offer such a service, the business will move on to another area that does have an airport taking with it employees and development opportunities.
Using the Victoria Regional Airport makes sense. You can buy your ticket through United. If you are connecting with a flight in Houston, you do not have to go through security again and your luggage is checked through to your destination.
If you fly from Victoria, you only have to be at the airport an hour early, instead of two at larger airports.
You can park for free in Victoria as opposed to paying to park in Houston.
With gas prices so high, you can also save a chunk of change by not driving to Houston.
If you are going to Houston for the day, again you can save gas and wear and tear on your car by flying to Houston. You will need to rent a car or use a taxi or Uber to get to your destination, but you can return home in the early evening and not have to worry about Houston traffic and construction on U.S. 59.
Using Sky West or whatever airline ends up serving Victoria only makes sense. You should give it a try.
Airport officials are also working to improve the airport by making repairs to pavement which cost about $4 million. It is also working on a nonaeronautical land development master plan to identify possible uses for land at the airport.
Improvements and development will also help increase the value and usability of the airport.
The airport is a valuable resource for the Crossroads, we need to use it to its fullest potential.
Flights into and out of Victoria Regional Airport will continue as scheduled through at least May, said Lenny Llerana, the airport’s executive…
New airport flight schedule eliminates morning flight
Victoria County Regional Airport will have a new flight schedule, eliminating the morning flight, starting Feb. 1, said airport director Lenny…
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2022-03-27T03:48:57Z
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www.victoriaadvocate.com
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Public needs to use the airport more | Opinion | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/opinion/public-needs-to-use-the-airport-more/article_b32fc7e8-ac5e-11ec-ab6c-1b47f9f4c6b7.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/opinion/public-needs-to-use-the-airport-more/article_b32fc7e8-ac5e-11ec-ab6c-1b47f9f4c6b7.html
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Syndicated column: Does the GOP still want to repeal Obamacare?
John L. Micek - Syndicated Column
While it had a troubled adolescence, the law has only grown in popularity, with a clear majority of Americans (55%) telling Kaiser Health they supported the law in 2020 as the U.S. Supreme Court took up a challenge to the law. That included Republicans who favored the preexisting condition ban.
Republican Sen. Ron Johnson, of Wisconsin, was forced to backtrack in the face of scorching criticism after he told Breitbart News that repealing the ACA should be a priority for Republicans if they won back Congress and the White House in 2024.
The head of the Senate Republicans’ campaign wing, Sen. Rick Scott, of Florida, already has rolled out a stupendously wrong-headed policy agenda that takes a sledgehammer to the nation’s social safety net, even as it raises taxes on the poorest Americans.
“We know that Pennsylvanians and all Americans need support, and that they want leaders who will work tirelessly to improve their lives,” Democratic Rep. Susan Wild, of Pennsylvania, whose seat is a takeover target for the GOP, said. "… A Republican majority would be devastating for Americans.”
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2022-03-27T03:49:09Z
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www.victoriaadvocate.com
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Syndicated column: Does the GOP still want to repeal Obamacare? | Opinion | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/opinion/syndicated-column-does-the-gop-still-want-to-repeal-obamacare/article_e9638c04-ac55-11ec-9164-2b4521a068a3.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/opinion/syndicated-column-does-the-gop-still-want-to-repeal-obamacare/article_e9638c04-ac55-11ec-9164-2b4521a068a3.html
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Ashley Fansher, assistant professor of criminal justice at UHV, looks at sexual assault case characteristics Friday at the Victoria Police Department.
Sexual assault case characteristics are pulled up on Ashley Fansher’s laptop Friday at the Victoria Police Department.
Ashley Fansher’s ID bage lies on her desk.
For many who survive sexual assault, it’s one of the worst days of their lives.
But with cultural changes in how victims are treated, more people are coming forward to share their story, and authorities are responding.
In the last year, Victoria has seen a dramatic 63.93% increase in reported sexual assaults. In response to that rise, Victoria Police Chief Roberto Arredondo Jr. is working with Ashley Fansher, University of Houston-Victoria criminal justice assistant professor, to research and understand the rise in sexual assault cases.
The aim of the research is to understand how it affects the community, craft a grassroots community information campaign and see where the department could be better, Arredondo said.
That work is getting a positive response from a nurse who examines sexual assault patients
“He’s an absolute rock star,” said Mara Beth Israel-Uebe, sexual assault nurse examiner coordinator for DeTar Hospital.
Israel-Uebe is familiar with the effects of being sexually assaulted. She and her mother are victims of sexual assault, she said.
Those who survive sexual assault are often in shock after it happens, trying to process it much like a person does after being shaken in a car accident, but the effects last much longer, Israel-Uebe said.
After the shock subsides, they can experience denial, shame and self-blame over the incident, mostly as a result of how society has historically blamed both male and female victims, she said.
“I usually tell people toward the end of their exams that this does not have to define you or define your life. You can take this experience and heal from it,” Israel-Uebe said. “First, you’re a victim. Then it’s something you survived. Then it becomes something that happened to you, and ... you can turn it into your superpower to help other people. And then, I look at them and smile and tell them about myself.”
It’s very important for survivors to hear there are other people who have experienced sexual assault and even though it takes time and work to heal, they can come out the other side and help others, she said.
Early results from research into the rise of reported sexual assaults have shown that many of the cases are family-related assaults, not strangers, and that many of the assaults happened in prior years, not just 2021 or 2020, Fansher said.
About 80% of sexual assault cases are committed by someone the victim knew, according to the Rape, Abuse, Incest National Network.
Possible factors that have contributed to the rise in reporting include the #Metoo movement that has made it more culturally accepting to come forward than in the past and people coming out of lockdown from the COVID-19 pandemic, she said.
This isn’t so much an increase in sexual assaults in Victoria, but more so that people are reporting it more, Arredondo said.
An additional factor is efforts from the Texas Legislature to better address sexual assault, including mandating formation of sexual assault response teams in communities during the 87th Texas Legislature in 2021, Israel-Uebe said.
A response team is a formalized response to a sexual assault that allows multidisciplinary professionals to coordinate and develop interagency responses to address sexual assault by providing wrap-around support and communication.
“Texas is leading the way for the country on sexual assault,” Israel-Uebe said.
The convergence of all these possible factors has created an environment where both men and women feel comfortable coming forward to report. They are feeling they are less likely to be judged and that authorities are capable of providing the resources they need, she said.
This tracks as Mid-Coast Family Services, which has advocate services for sexual assault survivors that aren’t required to report a sex assault, saw 96 sexual assault survivors in 2021, not counting dual reporting cases that included both sexual assault and domestic violence, said Beth Svetlik, Mid-Coast Family Services director of nonresidential and sexual assault services.
Mid-Coast hasn’t seen a notable increase in sexual assault cases, so the increased numbers for the police department are reflecting that more people are more comfortable reporting to authorities what happened to them, Svetlik said.
When Arredondo worked for the Dallas Police Department, it would often turn to university researchers to understand issues to improve how the department addresses them, he said.
“If we can take our data, have a researcher look at it, tell me what’s happening, why it’s happening, where it’s happening, I can create a grassroots campaign to help prevent people from being victims of sexual assault,” Arredondo said.
Fansher, who has previously helped the Kansas City Police Department with similar research, will conduct research at the police station, in addition to her duties as a professor, for six months and then make initial recommendations.
With most of the incidents being family related, it will be a difficult problem to solve. But with the community campaign and possibly update police procedures, it will hopefully address it, Arredondo said.
After the sexual assault research is completed, Arredondo wants to extend the research to aggravated assault in hope of looking at ways to reduce gun crimes in the area, he said.
“Yes, that (sexual assault) stat is there and I got to answer to that, but I’m very confident in the fact that our community supports us and they believe in us and they trust us,” Arredondo said. “They know that we take it very seriously and that even if they come to us at a later date that we are going to do what we need to do to bring those persons to justice.”
Israel-Uebe said if the infrastructure and culture that are in place today existed in 1964 when her mother was sexually assaulted, there would have been dramatically different results in the positive direction.
“We already see how it’s paying off now as sexual assault survivors are seeing much better outcomes,” she said.
Mara Beth Israel-uebe
Ashley Fansher
Roberto Arredondo
Kanas City Police Department
Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Detar Hospital
Beth Svetlik
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2022-03-27T03:49:34Z
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A vacant lot in Silver City, one of the neighborhoods Victoria is looking to revitalize with infill housing.
A vacant lot filled with rubble on Victoria’s Loma Vista Avenue.
A vacant lot in Queen City, one of the neighborhoods Victoria is seeking to revitalize with infill housing, sits empty and overgrown.
The only thing standing on a vacant lot in Victoria’s Silver City neighborhood is a pipe jutting high out of the ground. There’s a rectangular foundation covered in crumbling shale, and that’s it.
The lot is an eyesore, and it’s not the only one.
Across town, near the Queen City neighborhood, a lot on Loma Vista Avenue is nothing but a pile of rubble. The lot is the wreckage of a home, and it sits like a scar marring the face of one of Victoria’s older neighborhoods.
The City of Victoria is seeking to acquire lots like these across the city and transform them from eyesores into family homes.
“The intent is to to build single family homes on vacant lots in the neighborhoods that need to be revitalized, the neighborhoods that need a shot in the arm,” Victoria assistant manager Mike Etienne said.
The city has an infill housing plan to build affordable family housing on these lots, Etienne said. This is the city’s second phase of their affordable housing plan, which began with the Enchanted Gardens and Odem Street apartment complexes. The city will begin the project by acquiring a limited number of lots in some of Victoria’s older neighborhoods.
It’s important that the houses be concentrated to certain areas, said John Henneberger, co-director of the Texas Low Income Housing Information Service. For revitalization of a neighborhood, the city can also tackle projects aside from housing.
The lots the city is pursuing for the program may either be sold to the city or donated, Etienne said. If the landowners choose to donate their lots to the city, then the city will forgive the liens on the properties.
Many of these vacant lots have liens on them that are higher than the value of the property, which can make it difficult to sell, Etienne said. Because of that, owners often abandon the properties.
“They just leave it, and the city ends up spending thousands of dollars per year to maintain those properties because they’re abandoned,” he said.
The city has identified 10 vacant lots that they are pursuing for the pilot phase of the infill housing program, Etienne said.
If the goal of the program is revitalization, then the city needs to be careful place the homes in a concentrated area, Henneberger said.
“It has to be concentrated in a particular area, so it has the impact,” he said. “Putting one new house in a 20 square block area that hasn’t had any new housing for a long time, where there’s a lot of deteriorated housing conditions is not going to cause a sudden rebirth or reinvestment in that neighborhood. It’s just a one off deal.”
Etienne echoed Henneberger’s statement.
“The intent is not to find lots, it’s to find an area that has a significant number of vacant lots,” Etienne said. “The intent is not to do one here, do one there. We would like to build in a neighborhood that needs multiple lots to be filled.”
Once the city acquires the lots, they’ll accept bids from builders, and award the lots to the winner bidder for free, Etienne said. The builder will then construct, with their own money, affordable housing on the lots.
“We would prefer that (the homes) be at three (bedroom) two (bath),” Etienne said. “That’s more marketable.”
To keep the price of the home down for buyers, the homes can only be priced 10%-15% above construction costs, Etienne said. Because the builders will not have to pay the for the lot as well the construction costs, this can incentivize them to take on the projects.
Henneberger said it is important for the city to target people that truly need the assistance of affordable housing when searching for buyers.
“The last thing you want is for somebody to move into that house and then turn around a sell it to make a profit,” he said. “And then someone turns it into a rent house. That happens.”
To prevent this, the city will require the homebuyers to remain in the home for five years, Etienne said. If they choose to leave before the five years is up, then the homeowner will have to pay back the city the value of the lot.
The city will also help the builders find qualified home buyers, Etienne said. Moreover, they will aid home buyers with down payment and closing cost assistance.
“We know that the main reason why people or families do not buy a house is because of the lack of money for the down payment and closing costs,” he said.
Down payment and closing cost assistance will be funded using community development block grant funds, according to a news release. There are federal funds that must be used for community development and elimination of poverty in qualifying census tracts.
Other costs are “funded by the Victoria Housing Finance Corporation, which makes money on some of its projects through developer fees and bond issuance fees,” according to the news release. The VHFC will receive about $500,000 from the Enchanted Gardens apartments this fall, and its projects are estimated to earn $5 million over the next 17 years.
If this pilot phase of the program is successful, then the city will continue it, Etienne said.
For revitalization of an area, the city should look beyond just affordable housing in vacant lots, Henneberger said.
“It’s important, if you’re trying to revitalize the area, that the city makes sure that the streets are up the standard,” he said. “That the flood control and drainage systems are appropriate. That the sidewalks are present with adequate street lighting. There’s a lot the city can do with just the way that it provides public infrastructure, which can magnify the impact of producing some new affordable housing in the area.”
John Henneberger
Victoria Housing Finance Corporation
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2022-03-27T03:49:46Z
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GOLIAD - A contingent of Mexican soldiers marched a ragged, tired group of Texans out of Goliad's Presidio La Bahia. The procession was solemn and terminated in a wide open field blanketed by a sea of bluebonnets.
The unarmed Texans were positioned in a long line across from the Mexican squad. As the Mexican soldiers leveled their rifles at the Texans, cries of "What are you doing?" and "No!" rang out from the Texans' mouths and echoed across the field. A moment later, the whip-crack of rifle fire silenced the Texans, and they fell to earth.
"I ask that I be shot in the chest, not in the face, and to keep your men far enough away not to have my face scorched by the powder," Fannin said.
Fannin then say on a small wooden stool and a blindfold was tied around his face. Fannin could not see as a Mexican soldier stood just feet away from him and aimed a pistol him. The soldier squeezed down on the trigger, and the sound of gunfire boomed within the Presidio's stone walls. Fannin fell back off of the stool, dead from a gunshot to the head.
These executions, known as the Goliad Massacre, took place on March 27, 1836, but the events were recreated this weekend as part of the 36th annual Goliad Massacre & Living History Program.
Reenactments and living history are a good way to help children learn history by experiencing it, former history teacher and current re-enactor John Potter, 72, of Zorn, said. The annual reenactments of the Battle of Coleto Creek and the Massacre of Goliad are also a focus of Goliad's efforts to bring in tourism, said Cristy Billo, executive director of the Goliad chamber of commerce.
Children often don't associate what they read in history books with the reality of what happened, Potter said.
"If you do living history, you're putting it in their hands," he said. "That makes it a tactile experience and makes them connect to it a lot more."
At one point, a group of children surrounded one of Potter's cannons and bombarded him with questions about the weapon. How far can it fire? What does this do? How does it work? Potter answered all the questions gracefully and informatively.
"You can either read about 'cannon go boom' or you can see a cannon go boom," he said after. "Which is more exciting?"
"The more people we pull to Goliad, the more hotel motel tax (we get)," she said. "Everybody gets more business that way."
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2022-03-27T19:26:07Z
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Goliad Massacre reenactment a chance to experience tactile history | | victoriaadvocate.com
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Angela Marie Nichols
VICTORIA — It is with extreme sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved, Angela Marie Nichols. She was one of the most kind-hearted women to grace this earth with her presence.
Angela-Ang or Angie to those closest to her-was born September 4, 1980, in the small town of Goshen, Indiana. She attended Goshen High School, where she excelled in not only academics but in music. She began her musical endeavors in the sixth grade as a trumpet player and after many years, made the transition to playing the French horn. She was active in jazz band, pep band, concert band and marching band. Angie received many accolades in high school and chose to complete her undergraduate studies at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana.
After receiving her business degree in 2003, she spent a short time in Indiana before moving to Victoria, Texas, where she made a seamless transition into teaching business classes to the students of V.I.S.D. from 2004-2014. During that time, she continued her own education and received her master’s degree in educational leadership and administration in 2013 from the University of Houston-Victoria. In 2014, Angie began teaching at Cuero, I.S.D., where she became their multimedia educator to students and colleagues alike.
Angie was a fun-loving lady, an animal lover and all-around special person. She was kind, determined and adventurous. She loved her family, her dogs and turtles, photography and birds, karaoke and traveling. She used words like “goober” and “cool beans”. Her smile was as infectious as her energy.
Angie was diagnosed with cervical cancer in March of 2020. She fought and beat it in June 2020. Unfortunately, by November 2021 the cancer returned and had become metastatic.
Angie is survived by her husband Randall Nichols; her parents Samuel and Janice Pearson; siblings Ira Pearson and Shara (Rebekah) Hardeson; and six children, Cullen Ardner, Kaley Ardner, Scott (Christie) Nichols, Sarah Nichols, Seth Nichols, and Riley Nichols; as well as her two beautiful grandchildren Hannah and Kaleb Nichols. She is also survived by her uncles and aunts, Steve (Mavis) Miller, Dave Miller, Randy (Sue) Miller and Scott (Mary) Pearson.
There will never be a sweeter soul to walk this earth. We are all blessed to have had her in our lives, and for that, she will be forever missed.
A visitation for family and friends will be held on Tuesday, March 29, 2022 from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. followed by a chapel service beginning at 2:00 p.m. at Grace Memorial Chapel, 8819 US Hwy 87N, Victoria, TX. Interment to follow at Memory Gardens Cemetery. To leave a comforting message, or to share a fond memory, please visit www.gracefuneralhome.net.
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2022-03-27T19:26:07Z
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Angela Marie Nichols | Obituaries | victoriaadvocate.com
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Carl "Ray" Castell Jr.
Carl “Ray” Castell Jr.
YOAKUM — Carl “Ray” Castell, Jr., age 60, passed away Wednesday, March 23, 2022. He was born January 20, 1962 in Yoakum to Carl Raymond Castell, Sr. and Rebecca Munson Castell.
He worked for offshore drilling companies, was a commercial fisherman and a chef. He liked to fish, cook, visit with friends, his dogs and drink Dr. Pepper. Ray was able to fulfill his dream of traveling to Rome Italy to visit the homeland of his paternal grandmother, Phyllis Caroppo Castell. He continued on his travels to France and England. He also traveled to Hawaii.
Survived by: mother, Rebecca Munson Castell; wife, Paula Bradford Castell; sister, Marlene Castell Urban along with numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.
Preceded in death by his father, Carl Castell.
Memorial contributions may be given to St. Jude Children’s Research, Hope Methodist Church or Progress Baptist Church.
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2022-03-27T19:26:08Z
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Carl "Ray" Castell Jr. | Obituaries | victoriaadvocate.com
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CYPRESS — Mr. Jack Alan Newman, 81, of Houston passed away Wednesday, March 23, 2022. He was born October 4, 1940 in Cuero to Cecil E. and Olga Klokau Newman. Graveside Services will be held Tuesday, March 29, 2022, 1:00 PM at Hillside Cemetery in Cuero. You may sign the guestbook or send condolences at www.freundfuneralhome.com, 361.275.2343.
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2022-03-27T19:26:38Z
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Jack Alan Newman | Death Notices | victoriaadvocate.com
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Dorothy "Dottie" Mae Gibbs
Dorothy “Dottie” Mae Gibbs
PORT LAVACA —
November 23, 1927 ~
March 9, 2022 (94 years)
Dottie Gibbs (Granny, GGma, Aunt Dottie) went home to be with the Lord on March 9, 2022.
Dottie was born on November 23, 1927, in Houston, TX to Gerhardt and Margaret Schoenbohm. She grew up in Cuero, Texas, and graduated from Cuero High School. She met a handsome Army Air Corp pilot, James Clark Gibbs while working the ticket booth at the local theater. They married in 1945, and after a short time in Houston, they moved to Point Comfort and ultimately Port Lavaca to make their home and raise three daughters.
Dottie was a wife and homemaker. She was greatly involved in the Port Lavaca Order of the Eastern Star. She loved the Lord with all her heart and was very active in church activities. She was dubbed Saint Dottie at Alamo Heights Baptist Church where she taught Sunday school, WMU, GA’s, and VBS. A long-time AHBC member recently wrote, “When any of us think of Dottie, we think of sweet, humble, kind, loving, and above all, how she showed His Joy in all she said and did. Her legacy at AHBC is what helped make our church the church we still are today.” In 2010 when she moved to Trinity Shores Senior Living, her biggest concern was that she didn’t have an oven to bake cookies for VBS. In 2015 she moved to San Antonio to be closer to family and lived at what is now known as The Gardens of Castle Hills.. She made many dear friends of both residents and staff who’s love and care were immeasurable. While in San Antonio, she was also an active member of Northeast Baptist Church.
In her later years, she began making “Cross in my Pocket” canvas needlework projects. She always had a supply of crosses in her purse ready to give to associates in Walmart or H E B. Even in the hospital, she was giving them to the nurses that cared for her. Her crosses have gone to Latvia, Russia, and other mission fields. If you have met Dottie, you probably have a cross in your pocket.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 46 years, James Clark Gibbs; her sister and brother-in-law, Shirley Marie (Glenn C.) Jackson, and sister-in-law Glennys Fern Gibbs. She is survived by three daughters - Beverly Kay (William Joseph) Cash, Sherry Joanne Gibbs, and Glennys Marie (James) Ramirez; 7 grandchildren - Barbara Ann (Collis) Boone, William James (Lindsey) Cash, Robert David Cash, Kayla Genevieve (Daniel) Kerls, Hannah Elizabeth Ramirez, Isaac Christopher Ramirez, and Laura Emily (Caleb) Dotson; 6 great-grandchildren - Caitlin R. Boone, Colton W. Boone, Emry D. Cash, Easton W. Cash, Everett C. Cash, and Miles D. Dotson; and nephew - Gerhardt John (Cindy) Jackson.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11:00 A.M. Thursday, March 31, 2022, at Alamo Heights Baptist Church in Port Lavaca with grandson, Billy Cash, officiating. Honorary pallbearers are her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Graveside services will be conducted at 3:00 P.M. Thursday, March 31, 2022, at Memory Gardens Cemetery, 8919 US Highway 87 North (Cuero Highway) Victoria, Texas 77904.
In lieu of flowers, Dottie requested that contributions be given to Alamo Heights Baptist Church, 110 Trinity Shores Dr, Port Lavaca, TX 77979.
The family is eternally grateful for all of the love, friendship, care, and support to Dottie over all of these years. God bless you all.
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2022-03-27T19:27:08Z
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Dorothy "Dottie" Mae Gibbs | Obituaries | victoriaadvocate.com
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Eloy Barraza
CORPUS CHRISTI — Eloy Barraza, 67, passed peacefully on Monday, March 14, 2022, surrounded by his family after a short battle with brain cancer. He was a resident of Corpus Christi and former long-time resident of Victoria and will be remembered as a kind and loving husband, father and grandfather.
Eloy was born in Kingsville, TX on September 6, 1954, to the late Joaquin Barraza Sr. and Frances Contreras Barraza. Eloy graduated from H.M. King High School in 1973 and went on to attend Texas A&I in Kingsville. He graduated with his Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology in 1977 from the UT Medical Branch in Galveston. Eloy married Yvonne Garza on October 18, 1975. In 1978 they moved to Victoria, where Eloy worked 38 years for DuPont/Invista as a Lab Analyst before his retirement in February 2018.
Eloy was enthusiastic about gardening and took great pride in tending to his yard. He also was passionate for the outdoors and was an avid saltwater fisherman. Eloy often found tranquility in travel, culture, history, art, literature, grilling his steaks, researching family genealogy or while casting his rod and reel over the waters of the Texas coastline. He was an active member of the 10% Fishing Club, consisting of his retirement friends, in reference to 90% of all fish caught are by 10% of all fishermen. He approached life with patience and understanding and was quick to share his wisdom with his clever wit.
He was preceded in death by his nephew, Benjamin Van Zandt; and his older sister, Frances Barraza.
Eloy is survived by those who will continue to keep his love and memories alive, his wife of 46 years, Yvonne Barraza of Corpus Christi; his son, Giraldo (Katherine) Barraza of Austin and four grandchildren: Nathan, Xander, Madelyn Shay LeCompte and Yisela Barraza (a shining light and joy in his life); brother, Joaquin (Maggie) Barraza of Cedar Park; sisters, Santa Barraza of Kingsville, Alicia (Doug) Van Zandt of Kingsville, and Margarita Barraza of Kingsville; along with numerous nephews and nieces.
The family will receive condolences on Thursday, March 31, 2022, at Turcotte-Piper Mortuary, from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM; with a holy rosary and liturgy to begin at 3:00 PM. Services will conclude that afternoon and a private urn burial will take place at a later date.
Services are entrusted to Turcotte-Piper Mortuary, 205 General Cavazos Blvd. Kingsville, Texas 78363.
In lieu of flowers donations in Eloy’s memory are requested to be sent to MD Anderson Cancer Center. http://gifts.mdanderson.org/
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2022-03-27T19:27:14Z
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Eloy Barraza | Obituaries | victoriaadvocate.com
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Frank Q. Ortiz
VICTORIA — Frank Q. Ortiz, 95, gained his wings to be with the Lord on Tuesday, March 22, 2022. He was born to Catarino and Refugia Ortiz in De Costa, Victoria County. He graduated from St Joseph High School with all-around athletic medals, playing all sports for the school. Frank played for the Victoria Eagles baseball team. He was an official for football and basketball, and umpired baseball for many years. He retired from Service Supply after 50+ years of dedicated work. He was very active in his church and community, which included being an active church member of Our Lady Victory Cathedral, volunteered his time and service to Christ Kitchen and Our Lady of Victory Saint Vincent de Paul Society, up until the pandemic.
Frank was married to the love of his life, Lupe Gonzales Ortiz, for 59 years before her passing in July of 2011. Together they raised their children, Theresa Ortiz, Patricia Briones (Tom), Catherine Garza, and Catarino Ortiz (Christy). In addition to his children, Frank is survived by 14 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild. In addition to his parents and his wife, he was preceded in death by 14 siblings; their spouses, and several nieces & nephews.
Visitation will be held at Colonial Funeral Home from 5 to 7 pm on Monday, March 28, 2022 followed by the rosary at 7 pm. The Funeral Mass will be at 10:00 am on Tuesday, March 29, 2022 at Our Lady of Victory Cathedral. Burial will follow at Resurrection Cemetery. Pallbearers include Rubin Garza, Jr, Timothy Briones, Christopher Martinez, Danny Coy Delgado, Thaddeus Delgado, Jacob Garza, Michael Rodriguez, Danny Ortiz and Victor Cavazos. Honorary pallbearers will be members of the OLV Saint Vincent de Paul Society.
The family would like to express a very special thanks to his doctors: Dr. Junor, Dr.Afridi, Dr.Khan, Donna Oldmixon, P.A., and their staff for their excellent care of our father; we are also grateful to the staff at Citizens Medical Center, DeTar ICU, and Hospice of South Texas Dornburg Center. Share condolences and fond memories with the family at www.colonialfuneralhomevictoria.com
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2022-03-27T19:27:20Z
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Frank Q. Ortiz | Obituaries | victoriaadvocate.com
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Patricia Ann Holford
PORT LAVACA — Patricia Ann Griffin Holford, “Mama Honey”, entered into her eternal rest on March 24, 2022 after a lifetime of love and service of the Lord. She was born February 1, 1934 to Alton Griffin and Teryl Cole Griffin in San Antonio, Texas. Patricia spent most of her childhood in Goliad, where her parents owned and operated Griffin’s department store. She graduated from Goliad High School in 1951 and attended Baylor University, graduating in 1955. After graduating, Patricia embarked on an extensive round-the-world trip visiting many far flung and exotic destinations few are privileged to see. She then began a career as a teacher and school librarian in Waco and Victoria. She was the first librarian of the Calhoun County Library and later established the first medical library at Champ Traylor Memorial Hospital. She taught children with learning difficulties at Harrison Elementary before becoming the founding principle of Lighthouse Fellowship Christian School.
On December 30, 1961, she met the love of her life Loyal Dean Holford at a church progressive dinner in Port Lavaca and after dating for five weeks and five days, they married on March 2, 1962. They were married for 60 years and 22 days and had two sons, David and Dean, and two grandchildren, Aidan and Abigail. Patricia was very creative and accomplished in gardening, flower arranging, needlework, sewing, painting and other handicrafts and found joy caring for her family and home.
In 1978, Patricia and her husband founded the first nondenominational church in Calhoun County, Lighthouse Fellowship, in their home in Port Lavaca. Together they pastored the church until they were called to Junction, TX in 1984 where they lived for nine years and planted another church, Junction Christian Fellowship. After returning to Port Lavaca in 1993, Patricia and her husband founded Christ Community Church which they pastored together until her death. In their ministry Patricia touched countless lives discipling, mentoring, teaching, counseling, and leading others into a deep love for and relationship with Jesus. Patricia traveled extensively with her husband in mission work all over the world and partnered with and supported churches and missionaries in Israel, Taiwan, Thailand, The Philippines, Britain, France, Serbia, Turkey, Mexico, and Zimbabwe.
In recent months and weeks, Patricia was cared for by special friends Betty Storey and Linda Kay Tennison, Myrna Ortiz, the nurses of TICU and Jessica Rogers hospitalist NP at DeTar Hospital, the staff of Bethany Senior Living and Harbor Hospice. We are very grateful to everyone for their love and care for Honey and the family.
Patricia was preceded in death by her parents, Alton and Teryl Griffin, sister Toni Griffin Childers, and her son Dean Holford. She is survived by her husband Loyal Dean Holford, son David Holford and wife Kelly, grandchildren Aidan and Abigail, nieces Alison Childers and Colleen Dunning and husband Craig, and brothers Joseph, Vincent and Anthony Griffin.
Visitation will be Monday, March 28, 5-7 pm at Richardson Colonial Funeral Home, 123 Newlin St., Port Lavaca. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, March 29, 10:30 am at Christ Community Church, 1101 Calhoun St, Port Lavaca, with burial at Glendale Cemetery in Goliad.
Should you desire, memorial gifts to Christ Community Church World Missions Fund are welcome.
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2022-03-27T19:27:32Z
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Patricia Ann Holford | Obituaries | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/obituaries/patricia-ann-holford/article_4686f7ae-7fcf-5c4e-90a5-f424cb98beec.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/obituaries/patricia-ann-holford/article_4686f7ae-7fcf-5c4e-90a5-f424cb98beec.html
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VICTORIA — Robert Allen Jones, 89, “Bob”, passed away Wednesday, March 23rd, 2022. Family and friends will gather for visitation and sharing of memories, Tuesday, March 29th, from 6:00PM to 8:00PM at Grace Funeral Home, 2401 Houston Hwy. in Victoria. Service for Robert will be held on Wednesday, March 30th at 10:00AM at Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church, 1309 E. Mesquite Ln., in Victoria. Interment will immediately follow at Resurrection Cemetery.
Robert was born September 30, 1932, in Texas City, Texas to the late Wallace Boone and Mary Alice Jones. Robert had an accomplished welding career of over thirty years at Union Carbide and he was known to be involved in coaching little league baseball as well as softball. Robert served his country honorably in the Army, ran marathons, loved to travel and was a member of the Knights of Columbus. Robert was also the president of the Stroman High School Booster Club. He married the love of his life, Marie Muschalek on Monday, September 3, 1956, at St. Agnes Catholic Church in Edna, Texas and they spent over 65 wonderful years together watching their family grow. Robert was preceded in death by his parents, Wallace Boone and Mary Alice Jones.
Robert leaves to cherish his memory his wife, Marie Jones; Sons, Randy Jones (Jessica), Casey Jones (Heather); daughters, Robbie Lauger (Craig), Nicki Hagel (Robert), Kim Shook (Dain), 15 grandchildren, and 14 great grandchildren. A special thank you would like to be extended to Robert’s caregiver of years to Kristina Garcia.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Our Lady of Victory Catholic School.
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2022-03-27T19:27:38Z
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Robert Allen Jones | Obituaries | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/obituaries/robert-allen-jones/article_b7f6fbeb-e9e1-5601-a214-5b73e04cbe8c.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/obituaries/robert-allen-jones/article_b7f6fbeb-e9e1-5601-a214-5b73e04cbe8c.html
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This summer, children, their families, and teachers will find themselves with the opportunity to explore, create, develop collaboration skills, practice critical thinking, and explore their genius.
Victoria ISD is launching its first academic and enrichment camp for pre-kindergarten through fifth grade.
And the best part? It’s free. As in free, free.
VISD believes you should not have to pay for this kind of fun. The District was able to fully fund the summer camp through a grant, so there is no cost to our community and no cost to parents and caregivers.
So, what does this camp offer for children and our teachers?
For our parents and students, when VISD began developing this camp, we wanted to create something so exciting that kids would willingly get out of bed for five weeks in the summer to learn. So, we had to ask: Is it cooking? Is it dancing? Is it something to do with cars? What interests our children in VISD?
We talk a lot about students finding their genius. This camp serves to help children explore their genius.
All of the programming will be infused with both math and reading to help close the gap on unfinished learning because of the pandemic.
Kids, your genius is calling and we’re here to answer.
The District also asked parents and community members what programming they would like to see offered for their children through a Thoughtexchange that was sent out via parent notifications and on the Victoria ISD social media accounts.
For teachers, the VISD Academic and Enrichment camp was created by asking our teachers: What do you want to teach? When we ask these questions of our staff, we are also providing them an area where they are able to further explore their genius too because we know our staff have areas of genius they might not normally get to share in the classroom.
So far, we’ve had over 200 staff members sign up to join us for this epic camp experience.
Children finding their genius and teachers exploring their genius will create a summer camp with teachers who are teaching what they love with students who are learning what they love.
What kind of impact do you think this will have after five weeks?
The VISD Academic and Enrichment Camp 2022 will run from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 8 through July 13. Enrollment will open Monday for pre-kindergarten through fifth grade students. Students will be served breakfast starting at 8 a.m. and lunch.
Remember the best part? It’s free. As in free, free. To enroll your child, visit www.visd.net/summercamp. Open enrollment is Monday through Friday.
If you’ve heard Dr. Quinten Shepherd speak over the last month or so he’s been sharing two of the biggest drivers in education that come in the question form. They start with the words, “what if...” and “I wonder...”. These are the questions that drive innovation, and these are the questions of continuous improvement. These are aspirational questions to help us all recognize what we might become.
At VISD we are committed to helping our students move past what they can be and towards what they can become — it’s all a part of them finding their genius.
Ashley Scott is the executive director of Communications and Public Relations at Victoria school district.
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2022-03-28T08:14:16Z
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www.victoriaadvocate.com
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School Matters: Summer Learning: VISD Summer Camp | Education | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/education/school-matters-summer-learning-visd-summer-camp/article_b9a06ed8-a160-11ec-8054-8359e2389a0c.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/education/school-matters-summer-learning-visd-summer-camp/article_b9a06ed8-a160-11ec-8054-8359e2389a0c.html
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Freddie Cantu
Jaira Jenkins
RISE and Shine: Diversity conference set for April
The University of Houston-Victoria has invited area college and high school students to its upcoming diversity and inclusion conference focusing on the importance of supporting underrepresented groups on campus and in society.
UHV’s second annual Race, Inclusion and Social Equity Diversity Conference, also known as RISE, will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on April 2 in UHV University North, 3007 N. Ben Wilson St. The conference is hosted by UHV Student Life and is open to students from the University of Houston System, Victoria College and area high schools. Students also can attend the conference virtually.
“We hope that the students and everyone who attends the conference will learn something they didn’t know before, make new connections and become more aware of different identities,” said Freddie Cantu, UHV assistant director of diversity and inclusion.
Improvement in these areas enhances students’ ability to engage and work with diverse populations, he said. In addition to its focus on ethnic and racial diversity, the event will cover gender and sexual identity issues and aims to create supportive and affirming spaces for LGBTQ and other individuals to thrive.
“We hope attendees will gain insight into how to create more supportive surroundings for all individuals,” Cantu said.
This year’s keynote speaker is Brian Roberson, principal of KIPP Northeast College Preparatory, a high school in Houston. In his keynote, “Y’all Means All: Creating Supportive Spaces and Places for Authentic Representation of Self,” Roberson will share his personal story and how his experiences have inspired him to encourage individuals of all races, ethnicities, genders and sexual orientations to feel comfortable being themselves.
In addition to Roberson’s presentation, students will be able to attend three breakout sessions and choose from three session topics for each timeslot. There also will be a panel discussion event in the afternoon led by four student leaders and moderated by the president of the Student Government Association. In the student panel event and the breakout sessions, time will be reserved toward the end for attendees to ask questions.
“Getting guest speakers to give their input on certain diversity topics is the best part because students are able to ask questions and get a different outlook and better perspective from someone with experience,” said Jaira Jenkins, a junior and communications design major who is president of the Multicultural Advisory Council.
She is among last year’s attendees who plans to attend this year.
“It was so educational,” she said. “I really loved it, and other people loved it. Overall, it was a success, and that’s why we want to make it a tradition.”
The conference is free to attend, and its format will be similar to last year’s, with one major difference.
“The biggest thing is that it is going to be face-to-face, whereas our first one was virtual,” Cantu said. “Of course, we have students online and at our Katy instructional site, so some of the breakout sessions will be hybrid — both in person and virtual — so that those students can participate, too.”
Participants who attend the event in person will receive a free lunch and conference swag.
Registration is open until 5 p.m. March 30. To register and see the event schedule, visit uhv.edu/student-life/diversity-inclusion/rise-diversity-conference. Topics for each breakout session will be posted closer to the event date. For more information about the conference, contact Cantu at 361-485-4474 or cantufe@uhv.edu.
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2022-03-28T08:14:34Z
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www.victoriaadvocate.com
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RISE and Shine: Diversity conference set for April | News | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/rise-and-shine-diversity-conference-set-for-april/article_40545a28-aae1-11ec-8fac-ef526215db7a.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/rise-and-shine-diversity-conference-set-for-april/article_40545a28-aae1-11ec-8fac-ef526215db7a.html
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The Spring 2022 UHV Katy Open House is scheduled from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday at 22400 Grand Circle Boulevard.
Choosing the best university to complete an undergraduate degree or deciding to take the next step and pursue a master’s degree can be daunting. At the University of Houston-Victoria we want to meet you right where you are and help keep you on track to achieve your career goals.
At the Katy Instructional Site, attendees will be able to meet with representatives from Academic Programs, Admissions, Financial Aid, Student Services and more.
Learn about the programs UHV offers from UHV faculty and what careers are possible. Faculty and staff will answer questions about financial aid and more.
Program presentations are scheduled during the event. To learn more about the UHV Katy Open House and to register for the event, visit katy.uhv.edu.
Contact Angela Simmons (SimmonsA@uhv.edu) and Robert M. Hernandez (HernandezRM5@uhv.edu) or call 281-396-3700 for more details.
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2022-03-28T08:14:40Z
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www.victoriaadvocate.com
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UHV Katy to host open house event | News | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/uhv-katy-to-host-open-house-event/article_2dd2b4dc-ac6a-11ec-8c2b-6f4ac7ecfe9f.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/uhv-katy-to-host-open-house-event/article_2dd2b4dc-ac6a-11ec-8c2b-6f4ac7ecfe9f.html
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Bible verse - Isaiah Isa.17:6-8; quote by Albert Camus
Yet gleaning grapes shall be left in it, as the shaking of an olive tree, two or three berries in the top of the uppermost bough, four or five in the outmost fruitful branches thereof, saith the Lord God of Israel.
At that day shall a man look to his Maker, and his eyes shall have respect to the Holy One of Israel.
And he shall not look to the altars, the work of his hands, neither shall respect that which his fingers have made, either the groves, or the images.
A man’s work is nothing but this slow trek to rediscover, through the detours of art, those two or three great and simple images in whose presence his heart first opened.
Albert Camus (1913-1960) was a French philosopher, author, and journalist. He was awarded the 1957 Nobel Prize in Literature at the age of 44, the second-youngest recipient in history. His works include “The Stranger,” “The Plague,” “The Myth of Sisyphus,” “The Fall”, and “The Rebel.”
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2022-03-28T08:14:52Z
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Bible verse - Isaiah Isa.17:6-8; quote by Albert Camus | Opinion | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/opinion/bible-verse---isaiah-isa-17-6-8-quote-by-albert-camus/article_215fa4ce-aab9-11ec-a2f7-83b86f80ffd8.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/opinion/bible-verse---isaiah-isa-17-6-8-quote-by-albert-camus/article_215fa4ce-aab9-11ec-a2f7-83b86f80ffd8.html
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Syndicated Column: The Economist: Omnipresent oil
Gasoline prices have soared, topping $4 per gallon in most areas. The increase has been rapid, and with inflation in almost everything else in family budgets, the additional costs are difficult to absorb. They are also very visible; we see the signs constantly.
One reason for the surge is obviously high oil prices. Prices were already rising due to increased demand and lagging supply as the global economy recovered from the pandemic. When Russia invaded Ukraine and became an unacceptable source of crude for many nations, availability tightened further and uncertainty skyrocketed.
At least half of the price of gasoline is driven by crude oil, with the rest of the cost going to taxes, marketing and distribution, and refining. Retailers set prices based on what they think they’ll have to pay to replenish their stocks, and the current instability is definitely a factor. (Contrary to some claims, however, this isn’t generally a case of corporations padding profits. In fact, very few stations are actually owned by refiners, and individual stations would find it almost impossible to set prices above prevailing market levels.)
Although gasoline prices are a constant, graphic reminder of the costs of crude, that’s only part of the story. In 2020, of the approximately 6.6 billion barrels of total US petroleum consumption, only 44% was gasoline, 21% was distillate fuel (such as heating oil and diesel fuel), and 6% was jet fuel (according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration). The remaining nearly 30% became a variety of other products.
The long roster of items made with petroleum includes feedstocks for the chemicals, plastics, and synthetic materials that are in virtually every product. Lubricants, solvents, waxes, detergents, and paints — to name a few. There are also fabrics such as Kevlar and synthetic rubbers. Plastic is essential to medical supplies from IV bags and syringes to devices of many types. Makeup, hair, nail, and skin care products also rely on petroleum-derived ingredients.
Higher oil prices ultimately put upward pressure on costs of all of these goods. Another striking fact is the sheer number of ways that we rely on petroleum products daily. While some consumption can be curtailed, there is no viable substitute for many items which are essential to healthcare and myriad other industries — not to mention our everyday lives. Oil also fuels the transport of just about everything that we use in the economy, not just personal vehicles.
Simply stated, oil is everywhere. We clearly need to encourage and develop other forms of energy and thoughtfully and strategically address climate challenges. Lest we forget, however, crude is the basis for much more than just gasoline at the pump. It permeates every facet of our world. Stay safe.
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2022-03-28T08:15:04Z
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www.victoriaadvocate.com
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Syndicated Column: The Economist: Omnipresent oil | Opinion | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/opinion/syndicated-column-the-economist-omnipresent-oil/article_112d1e9e-ac3d-11ec-9702-27ac7c2376d6.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/opinion/syndicated-column-the-economist-omnipresent-oil/article_112d1e9e-ac3d-11ec-9702-27ac7c2376d6.html
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Had 181 cows and 20 bulls Friday. This market was again strong continuing the level of the last several weeks as we go into spring. Qualities were good. Top packer cow was $99/cwt while the top bull on hand went for $115/cwt.
The calf market was much better for the second consecutive week. With last week's rise of over $7.70/cwt and this week's rise the drop after the war has about been made back up. Strong domestic and even stronger export demand is driving this market higher. Overall calves averaged $7.88/cwt higher for an increase in value per head of $33.77. Another good day.
Palpated: 8 bred cows: $90-$103. Pairs: 3 pairs, $1,000-$1,250.
Bull Calves: (average-high) (under 250) $169-$220.50; (250-300) $179-$224; (300-350) $189-$222; (350-400) $163-$200; (400-450) $167-$190; (450-500) $160-$178; (500-600) $154-$176; (550-600) $151-$172; (600-700) $135-$164; (over 700) $126-$147.
Compared to our last sale: No. 1 quality calves and yearlings sold fully steady and active. Less quality calves and yearlings sold steady. Packer cows and bulls sold steady.
Packer cows: Good lean utility and commercial, $69-$88; cutters, $88-$100; canners, $34-$52; high yielding fat cows, $84-$90.
Packer bulls: Yield grade 1 and 2, good heavy bulls, $104-$119; light weights and medium quality bulls, $91-$98. Stocker cows, $600-$1,100. Pairs, $750-$1,300.
Market was very strong on calves. Packer cows were stronger.
Stocker cows (per head): Bred cows $1,000-$1,200.
Packer cows: No. 1 $84-$97, No. 2 $65-$75, and Bulls $100-$105
Cattle on hand: 440. Market was steady and a touch stronger compared to last week.
No. 1 heifer calves: (200-300) $127-$181; (300-400) $127-$171; (400-500) $143-$174; (500-600) $139-$165; (600-700) $124-$147; (700-800) $109-$116.
Stocker cows: Good bred cows, $1,200-$1,310; plain, $990-$1,150. Pairs: good, $1,175.
Packer bulls: High $100-$108 medium $87-$93.
RISE and Shine: Diversity conference set for April (4)
Barbara Mareth said:
My husband Charles and I worked with Eloy at DuPont. He was always friendly and pleasant; such a super guy! I know he will be greatly missed by all who knew him. Rest in peace, friend.
Rick,not so Democrats want to keep public education and don’t funds diverted to pay your child’s tuition. That’s what you want but you don’t want to admit it. Parents have a choice, it remains…
For those who attend, please remember that KIPP charters schools are the type of schools the Democratic party is fighting against. As you here the success stories of the students from the keyn…
Jessica Baladez said:
Mr.Ortiz we’re glad we had the pleasure of knowing you always had a smile always nice we’ll miss you…Navarro Cleaners
Linda Ellington-Palmer said:
Wonderful. I would like the University to stress getting vaccinated.
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2022-03-28T18:48:56Z
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Livestock markets for March 24-26 | News | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/livestock-markets-for-march-24-26/article_37edd2c2-ae99-11ec-8294-4b82ffb4d106.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/livestock-markets-for-march-24-26/article_37edd2c2-ae99-11ec-8294-4b82ffb4d106.html
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Ryan McIver is resigning as the athletic director and football coach at Weimar.
Ryan McIver has resigned as athletic director and head football coach at Weimar effective at the end of the school year.
McIver, 42, has been at Weimar for four seasons and led the Wildcats to two playoff appearances.
McIver said his resignation was a “family decision” and he plans to remain in the coaching profession.
“It’s been amazing,” McIver said of his tenure at Weimar. “I can’t thank the community enough for accepting me and my family and being there for us. I can’t even describe my experience with the kids and how much I appreciate them.”
McIver came to Weimar from Texas City where he was the defensive coordinator for six seasons. He had an overall record of 22-20. Last season’s team finished at 2-8.
“The success we had was wholly on the kids’ shoulders,” McIver said. “Their hard work, determination and their dedication to my vision means more than they can ever imagine.”
McIver also coached at Lago Vista and Columbia.
Weimar will compete in District 13-2A, Division I next season against Flatonia, Schulenburg, Thorndale, Thrall, Hearne and Holland.
Weimar isn’t the only Colorado County school searching for an athletic director and head football coach.
Jared Sloan has resigned at Rice Consolidated after four seasons.
Sloan had an overall record of 23-20 that included two playoff berths, including a regional semifinal appearance in 2018.
Sloan was previously the head coach at Sour Lake Hardin-Jefferson for three seasons. He has an overall head coaching record of 35-38.
The Raiders had a 3-7 record last season and will compete in District 14-3A, Division II next season against Tidehaven, Van Vleck, Boling, East Bernard, Brazos and Danbury.
Bill Hefner, superintendent of the Rice Consolidated school district, said he hopes to have a new coach in place in April.
Ryan Mciver
Jared Sloan
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2022-03-29T03:34:56Z
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www.victoriaadvocate.com
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McIver resigning as AD/football coach at Weimar | Advosports | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/advosports/mciver-resigning-as-ad-football-coach-at-weimar/article_5bed67de-aef1-11ec-ad1a-9f0faa7adcca.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/advosports/mciver-resigning-as-ad-football-coach-at-weimar/article_5bed67de-aef1-11ec-ad1a-9f0faa7adcca.html
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Guest column: The final push
We are back from spring break and that means we are in the final push to the end of the year. This is always a fun time in education as students begin to look forward to the summer break, teachers look forward to the same, seniors look forward to graduation, and parents look forward to having their kids home for the summer (most of the time). It feels as though we collectively lift our eyes to the future as summer nears closer. We have several celebrations planned to recognize the many people who make our schools great, and I want to make sure you are aware.
For our community of volunteers, we host a “Volunteer Appreciation Dinner Drive-Through.” It is a wonderful and unique way for us to say thank you to the 282 people who give their time, effort, and energy to our schools, our teachers, and our kids.
You read that correctly, 282 people volunteer on a regular basis and have dedicated 715.47 volunteer hours since Aug. 1 at the time of this writing. We are grateful to them and appreciate the opportunity to thank them in this way.
For our employees, we honor them in a few ways. The “Employee Service Awards” is an evening to celebrate their tenure with the district and our appreciation for their commitment. We also host a “Teacher of the Year” banquet. One teacher is nominated from each campus, and we select an elementary teacher of the year and secondary teacher of the year to represent the Victoria ISD. We love our talent and cannot express our thanks to them enough.
Most importantly, we celebrate our students and, by extension, their families. Each of our campuses hosts end-of-year celebrations for our students. The Victoria ISD Trustees celebrate academic success with the “Board Excellence Awards.” This event is always a highlight for many parents and loved ones.
At the secondary level, we have the AVID awards and ceremony for the students who participate in that program. Both West High School and East High School also have awards nights for the students.
Also, don’t forget our “Scholarship Awards” night. This is another way to celebrate our student success. Every year the number (and amount) of scholarships earned by our students boggles my mind.
Family, of course, are invited to these celebrations because we know the success of our students is a team effort between them, their teachers, and their families. Our best work is always done in partnership.
All of this culminates with the biggest celebration of all, high school graduation. We are excited to celebrate our graduating seniors, celebrate all the teachers (for instance, we should never forget the impact a kindergarten teacher has had on a graduating senior) they have had along the way, and celebrate with their families and caregivers as these students launch forward into whatever comes next for them.
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2022-03-29T03:35:20Z
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www.victoriaadvocate.com
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Guest column: The final push | Opinion | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/opinion/guest-column-the-final-push/article_82326bb6-ac6b-11ec-8d40-5fee42f1f71f.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/opinion/guest-column-the-final-push/article_82326bb6-ac6b-11ec-8d40-5fee42f1f71f.html
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A 64-year old man died in a fire resulting from a head-on collision outside of Vanderbilt Sunday morning.
The two-car collision occurred at 7:30 a.m. on Farm-to-Market Road 616, one mile west of Vanderbilt, said Sgt. Ruben San Miguel, a spokesman for the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Jose Benitez, 64, of Lolita, died following the wreck.
Benitez, who was driving a 1998 Oldsmobile Intrigue, was traveling west on the farm road at the time of the accident, San Miguel said.
The second vehicle involved, a 2012 Acura, was driven by Aaron Gartman, 28, of Brazoria. He was traveling east on the road at the same time.
Gartman’s vehicle drifted into the westbound lane following a significant curve, where he struck the Oldsmobile head on, San Miguel said.
Both vehicles came to rest in the grassy area on the south side of the road where the Oldsmobile caught fire and completely burned,” San Miguel said.
Weather conditions at the time of the collision were heavy fog.
Benitez was declared dead at the crash by Jackson County Justice of the Peace Cyndi Poulton at 9:02 a.m., San Miguel said.
Gartman was transported to Citizens Medical Center in Victoria, where he was treated for what were considered non-life threatening injuries, San Miguel said.
Citizen's Medical Center
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2022-03-29T03:35:26Z
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Lolita man dies in head-on collision | Premium | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/premium/lolita-man-dies-in-head-on-collision/article_e4861850-aed5-11ec-9bd4-2fee711fcd43.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/premium/lolita-man-dies-in-head-on-collision/article_e4861850-aed5-11ec-9bd4-2fee711fcd43.html
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A view of Port of Victoria from the dock Monday in Victoria County.
An aerial view of Port of Victoria.
Contributed by Sean Stibich
Water along Port of Victoria.
Port of Victoria on Monday.
Max Midstream plans to purchase a natural gas pipeline that runs through Victoria and convert it to a crude oil transport, John Johnston, Victoria County engineer, said at commissioners court Monday morning. Max Midstream needs approval from Victoria County to pursue bonds needed to finance the project, he said, and the court provided that approval at the meeting.
However, concerns have been raised about how the project will affect the Port of Victoria, county commissioner Danny Garcia said. Later in the meeting, the court approved a letter of support for a second project — this one by the Port of Victoria — to construct a logistics center. According to the letter, the county will contribute up to $3 million to the project.
Max Midstream will purchase an existing pipeline that passes through Victoria County from Southcross Energy Partners, Johnston said.
“They’re proposing to convert this natural gas pipeline to a crude oil transition to the Port of Calhoun,” he said.
Max Midstream will purchase the pipeline without the approval of commissioners court, company CEO Jonathan Novitsky said. The court’s approval is only need for financing outside of the purchase.
“The financing will be part of a variety of projects surrounding this pipeline, not just here in Victoria County,” Novitsky said. “There’s other pieces of this project. Some will be done in Jackson (County), some will be done in Calhoun (County), some will be done in a variety of places.”
Initial plans for the project included the purchase of the pipeline in a bond Max Midstream was pursuing, Novitsky said. That no longer is the case, and Max Midstream will move ahead with purchasing the pipeline and will not require the court’s approval to do so.
One person voiced concerned about the pipeline, said Garcia.
“I received a call just this morning asking me how this is going to affect the Port of Victoria,” Garcia said. “I didn’t have an answer for him.”
It is not yet known how the project would affect the port, said Sean Stibich, the port’s executive director.
“It may have a positive impact, it may have a negative impact, but we really haven’t had time to study that,” Stibich said.
Novitsky also couldn’t say what impact the pipeline would have on the port, but he said that “personally, I actually would think that it could be complimentary to the Port of Victoria.”
The port will look further into the project in the coming days, Stibich said.
“We just want to learn more about the project,” he said. “Hopefully it will have a positive impact on both ports.”
Novitsky said the project would provide options for customers to use a variety of pipelines to transport barrels of oil to where the customer wants them to go.
“We intend to bring in a variety of customers who may use the pipe to go all the way to the water, or use that pipe to connect back into other pipes and flow barrels in a variety of directions,” he said. “Customers dictate how the pipes are used, all we are is a highway.”
Even if the pipeline’s current customers are sending natural gas to the Port of Victoria, it’s a private concern, not a public one, county commissioner Kevin Janak said.
“It’s really none of Victoria County’s business where the gas goes,” Janak said. “It doesn’t make any difference if it goes to the port or it doesn’t go to the port, because the owner of the gas (will send it to) whoever gives them the best value for their buck.”
Janak said it should not be up to the county where the pipeline’s customers send their oil, but, rather, the customers themselves.
Commissioners support Port of Victoria logistics center
Commissioners also approved a letter at the meeting pledging support for the port’s Texas Logistics Center project.
The support from the county will come in the form of “up to $3 million to be paid from funds received by Victoria County through the American Rescue Plan Act,” according to the letter.
The $3 million the county would contribute is a small part of the $25 million to $27 million the entire project will cost, Stibich said.
“It will probably be the largest infrastructure project for the port,” he said.
Stibich said the logistics center will be a business park developed on 2,000 acres with three points of access: road, rail and water.
The hub is attached to the 35-mile Victoria Barge Canal, which leads to the Gulf of Mexico and is on the M-69 Marine Highway, according to a news release.
Finally, a rail-expansion project will add rail access. The first phase will see the addition of more than 42,000 feet of track. Later phases will consist of storage tracks, transloading operations and connections to newer tenants.
An ideal candidate to develop on the site would be looking for 50-200 acres for a parcel, Stibich said. Port officials are looking especially at companies that would invest about $50 million to $100 million to develop their terminals, warehouses and other buildings.
Max Midstream
Max Midstream Pipeline
Port Of Calhoun
Jonathan Novitsky
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2022-03-29T03:35:32Z
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Pumping up port, economy: Max Midstream pipeline project could be boon or bust for Port of Victoria | Premium | victoriaadvocate.com
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Industrial head coach Jamie Dixon hugs defensive coordinator Craig Nairn after the Cobras won the Lavaca River Shootout against Edna, becoming the District 14-5A, Division I champions at Cowboy Stadium in 2019.
Kendall Warner | kwarner@vicad.com
Industrial didn’t have to look far for its new athletic director and head football coach.
He was already on campus.
Craig Nairn was promoted from defensive coordinator to the position at Monday night’s meeting of the Industrial school district board of trustees.
Nairn, 45, will replace Jamie Dixon, who resigned earlier this month to become the athletic director and head football coach at Blanco.
“I’m very excited,” Nairn said. “It’s a good deal being able to make the decisions. The only thing they can get upset with is you.”
Nairn came to Industrial from Gonzales when Dixon became the athletic director and head coach before the 2018 season.
The Cobras had great success the past four years, making the regional semifinals in 2019 and 2020 before advancing to the regional final last season.
Nairn previously coached at Edna under Huey Chancellor, at Flour Bluff with Chris Steinbruck, and at San Angelo Central and Alice under Brent Davis.
“I’ve worked with some pretty good coaches,” Nairn said. “I learned a lot from them, and I’ll incorporate that into what I do.”
Nairn plans to move to the offensive side of the ball and hire a coordinator to work with the defensive front.
“We’ll be very similar on offense,” he said. “I’m just going to tweak the terminology. Everything will be pretty much the same, we’ll just have different ways to communicate.”
Industrial must replace a talented senior class, but Nairn believes the system will ease the transition.
“We do have some rebuilding to do to a certain extent,” he said. “But we had freshman, junior varsity and varsity teams so it’s not as dire as it seems.
Nairn is hoping most of the staff will stay in Vanderbilt and he is prepared to get to work.
“We’re ready to go,” he said. “We know all the kids’ names from seventh to 12th grade.”
Craig Nairn
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2022-03-29T10:46:09Z
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Nairn promoted to AD/head football coach at Industrial | Advosports | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/advosports/nairn-promoted-to-ad-head-football-coach-at-industrial/article_30a32828-af16-11ec-b14d-3301953091bd.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/advosports/nairn-promoted-to-ad-head-football-coach-at-industrial/article_30a32828-af16-11ec-b14d-3301953091bd.html
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VICTORIA — James Jay Herron, 82, entered into rest on Wednesday, March 23, 2022. A visitation will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. followed by a chapel service beginning at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, March 31, 2022 at Grace Memorial Chapel, 8819 US Hwy 87N, Victoria, TX. Interment at Memory Gardens Cemetery. www.gracefuneralhome.net.
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2022-03-29T10:46:27Z
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James Jay Herron | Death Notices | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/obituaries/death_notices/james-jay-herron/article_3d4bafdf-8749-50eb-8c46-d2804b973d97.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/obituaries/death_notices/james-jay-herron/article_3d4bafdf-8749-50eb-8c46-d2804b973d97.html
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Stanley J. Janis
EL CAMPO — Stanley Janis passed away March 26, 2022 at the age of 68. He was born Oct 13, 1953 to the late Frances and Jerry Janis. Private graveside services will be at a later date at Garden of Memories. Funeral arrangements under direction of Wheeler Funeral Home.
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2022-03-29T10:47:04Z
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Stanley J. Janis | Death Notices | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/obituaries/death_notices/stanley-j-janis/article_1af66bf2-addb-5012-88e9-02284d538ad7.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/obituaries/death_notices/stanley-j-janis/article_1af66bf2-addb-5012-88e9-02284d538ad7.html
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Franklin D. Fitzgerald
VICTORIA — Frank Fitzgerald went to be with the Lord March 26, 2022 at the age of 81. He was born November 17, 1940 in Lake Charles, LA to the late Matthew and Gladys Verlie Fitzgerald.
In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by 5 sisters and 1 brother.
He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Vicki Fitzgerald; children Tracy (Victor) Pilzner of Victoria, Holly Fitzgerald of Victoria and Robin Fitzgerald and her husband Nate Slevin of Brooklyn, NY; grandchildren Aaron Aldrich, Sarah Colon, Samuel Aldrich, Sara Kelly, Kasey Zarbock and Serenity FitzSlevin and 8 great grandchildren.
Frank was a loving husband, father, and “Pocky”. He enjoyed making people laugh and loved to cook as well as watch cooking shows. He also enjoyed fishing and boating. He was a successful car salesman and through his business he was able to bless many people. Franklin was the glue that held his family together as he maintained relationships with many family members as well as friends throughout his life.
Private family services will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Hospice of South Texas, 605 E. Locust Ave., Victoria, TX 77901.
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2022-03-29T10:47:10Z
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Franklin D. Fitzgerald | Obituaries | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/obituaries/franklin-d-fitzgerald/article_4893ff14-d6e3-5d8a-a475-ffab2aada273.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/obituaries/franklin-d-fitzgerald/article_4893ff14-d6e3-5d8a-a475-ffab2aada273.html
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Jonas Titas.
Major economics projects could be on their way to the Crossroads.
Jonas Titas, president of the Victoria Economic Development Corporation, provided an update on several projects at a weekly partnership meeting organized by the VEDC.
The first of these was the Newmark regional strategic plan, he said, which is a study analyzing assets throughout the region and how Victoria can take advantage of them. Titas also discussed two large-scale projects that could come to the region.
The information provided by the Newmark study will give an idea as to what Victoria County should do moving forward in an economic sense, Titas said.
"They'll be looking at all of our assets in the region and all of our attributes and what we look like, and take that information and see where do we fit, where are some opportunities for us and how can we maybe better position ourselves than we already are," Titas said.
VEDC is now participating in the study with nine counties from Matagorda to Gonzalez, Titas said. The organization is using the study to network with other counties and establish themselves as an economic leader in the region.
"What's happening in the world of economic development is it's so competitive," Titas said. "It behooves us to try and pool our resources together so that we know that we're giving our best shot at opportunities."
An example of this regional cooperation comes from a South Korean company looking to establish a blue ammonia-processing plant in Calhoun County, Titas said. That plant is seen as a $1.5 billion project.
The project being "right across our county line is going to have huge benefits for Victoria," Titas said. "There will be 1,500 temporary construction workers. There will be a large employment base at that facility and they're not all going to live in rural Calhoun County. They're all going to have wages where they're going to want to go Target, they're going to want to go to H-E-B, they're going to want to go to the mall."
The other projects Titas discussed were two plants that would process light and heavy rare earth materials. These plants would be in Victoria and Calhoun counties, he said.
The plants would be in Texas and near the coast, he said, making the Crossroads region a perfect location to help ship the materials.
The light processing plant is a $60 million project and the heavy processing plant is a $140 million project.
Victoria hosted a site visit for one of the plants last week, Titas said.
The rare earth materials processed at plants like these are used in everything from cellphones to fighter jets, Titas said.
Having these rare earth processing plants established in the region is important because the U.S. has fewer processing plants than mining operations focused on rare earth materials, Titas said.
"Victoria could be established as a hub or the place in the United States that keeps this vital cog of our economy functioning and processing," he said.
Victoria Economic Development Corporation
Jonas Titas
Blue Ammonia Processing Plant
Rare Earth Processing Plants
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2022-03-29T16:58:25Z
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Several projects could help fuel Crossroads region's economic engine | Premium | victoriaadvocate.com
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Victoria East's Emma Koch hits a wedge shot during the first day of the District 29-5A tournament on Monday.
Victoria East's JR Gips tees off during the first day of the District 29-5A golf tournament on Monday.
MEMBERS BOUNCE
Emma Koch hasn’t felt like herself the last few days.
The East junior golfer has been battling a sinus infection, forcing her to miss valuable time in class and on the course.
Koch told her mother on Monday she felt as if she was operating at 55%. It was the first day of the two-day District 29-5A tournament at The Club at Colony Creek.
She went on to shoot a 13-over-par 84 to open the tournament and sat sixth entering the final day.
Battling the same illness that drained her, along with sustained winds of 20 mph, Koch rallied to shoot 83 on Day 2, finishing fourth overall and qualifying for regionals a second consecutive year as the first individual not on the regional qualifying teams.
“It feels great after the series of unfortunate events that have gotten me here,” Koch said. “I practiced three straight days before Monday because I was sick the whole time. I’ve been preparing for district for two months now, and then to have the two weeks off and no practice. To come in and still qualify, I’m extremely happy. But I know I have to buckle down and practice to get ready for regionals.”
Koch’s 83 was the second-best round of the day, and the only score that improved during the blustery second day.
Growing up playing the Colony Creek track, the junior was able to anticipate her next move in the adverse conditions. She closed the tournament 2-over on the final six holes.
“Every shot, you’ve got to prepare for the wind,” Koch said. “Some holes, it’s a two-club wind. Others, it’s a three-club wind. So, every shot, I just had to focus and go through my whole process.”
Koch will be the lone Victoria representative at the Class 5A, Region IV tournament at The Golf Club of Texas in San Antonio on April 20.
“It’s much more suited to her game,” said East coach Mike Smith. “There’s some holes there where she can really score. I know she’s going to be ready and she’s going to give it her best shot.”
Koch was almost joined at The Golf Club of Texas by fellow East golfer JR Gips and West’s Wade Patek.
Gips (89) entered Tuesday one stroke behind Corpus Christi Moody’s Joe Morales, who occupied the final individual regional qualifying spot.
Gips gained two strokes from his Day 1 total and fell to 13th on the leaderboard.
Patek, who shot an opening round 92, shaved six strokes off his first day to fire an 86 to close the tournament.
He finished five strokes back of regional qualifier Marcus Rosales from Corpus Christi Caroll and tied with Corpus Christi Veterans Memorial’s Advait Modak for the first alternate position to regionals.
Modak prevailed over Patek in a one-hole playoff.
Top of the leaderboard
Gregory-Portland won the boys team title with a two-day score of 639. G-P’s Hayden Hardwick won the individual title with rounds of 74 and 76.
Corpus Christi Veterans Memorial shot a team score of 656 to win the girls team title. Veterans Memorial’s Anissa Farias shot rounds of 75 and 84 to win the girls individual title.
Marcus Rosales
Joe Morales
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2022-03-30T02:38:59Z
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East's Koch notches second regional qualification | Advosports | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/advosports/easts-koch-notches-second-regional-qualification/article_b08a8a1c-afc6-11ec-a187-cffcdd6fe7aa.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/advosports/easts-koch-notches-second-regional-qualification/article_b08a8a1c-afc6-11ec-a187-cffcdd6fe7aa.html
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Cami Patek celebrates with her teammates after scoring against La Joya Palmview in the bi-district round in Corpus Christi.
Stu Duncan | Special to the Advocate
CORPUS CHRISTI — With their backs to the wall and going against the wind in the second half Tuesday night, Victoria West just wouldn't be denied while winning its first area championship since 2015.
Junior Cami Patek's second-half goal proved to be the difference, while senior goalie Kassandra Persinger and the Warriors defense made that lead stand during West's 2-1 Class 5A girls soccer area playoff victory over District 32-5A champion Brownsville Porter at Cabaniss Soccer Complex.
The Warriors also avoided falling in the second round of the playoffs for the second consecutive season.
"It's great," said West coach Courtney Stoltenberg, whose team also snapped the Cowgirls' 15-match winning streak. "I'm definitely excited that we're having such a good postseason, particularly for our five seniors. The girls have improved every season and they have been working so hard every day in practice, so it's nice to see that we can implement it out here."
The Warriors (16-6-0) advance to the regional quarterfinals against District 31-5A champion McAllen at a time and date to be determined.
"It's incredible," said West senior Anneliese Covarrubias, who scored a first-half goal and assisted on Patek's game-winner Tuesday. "It's a good feeling. Overall, this season has been phenomenal and I've never been so proud to be on this team."
Patek's clutch goal came a little more than three minutes after the Cowgirls (23-3-1) had tied the score at one nearly 13 minutes into the second half.
Patek scored on a follow-shot to give West all the momentum it would need.
"It was huge," the junior Patek said. "It just shows that when the other team scores, we can come right back and do the same."
The Warriors earlier broke a scoreless tie with just one minute, 32 seconds before halftime. Covarrubias scored on a header following Patek's corner kick to give the Warriors that late first-half lead.
Persinger made three of her match-high seven saves in the first half. That included Persinger denying the Cowgirls' Edna Rodriguez from point-blank range a little more than 15 minutes into the match. She also made two more stellar saves within the first 10 minutes of the second half — one of which she slid off her knees to secure.
"She really kept us in this game," Stoltenberg said of Persinger. "She just made some incredible plays. She judged the ball so well and with the wind, it was so difficult. She's such a vocal leader for us and it was really awesome to see her step up and play like that."
Keenia Palacios' goal for Brownsville Porter leveled the score at one, but that momentum was short-lived.
Patek answered with her decisive goal just minutes later to help West regain the lead for good.
"The momentum flipped so quickly," said Stoltenberg, whose team also welcomed back senior standout forward Jaydn Rangel after she missed the first-round playoff win over La Joya Palmview with an injury. "We were so excited about regaining the lead. It showed that our girls can come back and they're not going to let down when something like that happens."
"This means so much to us," Patek said. " Everything that we've worked for is paying off and it's so great to see."
Kassandra Persinger
Jaydn Rangel
Anneliese Covarrubias
Brownsville Porter
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2022-03-30T06:29:26Z
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Patek's late winner sends West to regional quarterfinals | Advosports | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/advosports/pateks-late-winner-sends-west-to-regional-quarterfinals/article_e1b13bae-afd0-11ec-8094-cb502c948875.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/advosports/pateks-late-winner-sends-west-to-regional-quarterfinals/article_e1b13bae-afd0-11ec-8094-cb502c948875.html
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EL CAMPO — Diane J. Johnson, age 82 of El Campo entered eternal rest Friday, March 18, 2022. She was born January 25, 1940, in El Campo to the late Glen Johnson and Isabel Wendel Wegenhoft. She is survived by her husband, Michael G. Johnson of El Campo; sons, Kenneth Balusek of Kansas City, Missouri, and Glen Balusek of Richmond, Texas; half-sister Glenell Wenglar of El Campo, half-brother Pat Johnson of Brenham and four grandchildren. She was preceded in death by daughter Karen Balusek and sister Betty Jo (Johnson) Merwin. She was a loving mother, grandmother, and friend. She enjoyed spending quality time with her children, grandkids, and classmates at their monthly luncheons. She volunteered 20+ years with Houston Hospice - El Campo. Her beautiful smile, sense of humor, and gentle spirit will always be remembered. A memorial will be held on Saturday, April 2, 2022, at 10am at Oaklawn Memorial Park (4609 State Hwy 71, El Campo, TX 77437). In lieu of flowers please make donations to Houston Hospice - El Campo.
Triska Funeral Home, El Campo, 979-543-3681
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2022-03-30T06:30:15Z
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Diane Johnson | Obituaries | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/obituaries/diane-johnson/article_5f1e2b14-4289-5879-8e08-885851fc9362.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/obituaries/diane-johnson/article_5f1e2b14-4289-5879-8e08-885851fc9362.html
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DOUGLAS BROOKS MOZINGO
DOUGLAS BROOKS
YOAKUM — A strong and loving heart now beats free, without pain or sorrow.
On March 27, 2022, Douglas Brooks Mozingo transitioned to a higher plane peacefully at home in Yoakum, Texas, surrounded by loving family.
Born on November 10, 1948 in Houston, Texas to Rufus Mozingo and Martha Ellen Brooks Mozingo, Douglas graduated from Sam Houston High School and attended the University of Houston. In 1966, he married Barbra Ann Damon and together they had two daughters, Tammy Ann and Stacy Brooks. Douglas was a machinist by trade, one of the finest to ever grace the production floors of several oil tool companies. He honed his expertise at Bowen Oil Tools in Houston and later contributed his talents to Elder Oil Tools (now Baker Hughes) in Yorktown, Texas. In his leisure time, he enjoyed camping, fishing, playing baseball, board games (especially chess), gambling (particularly poker) and spending time with his family and friends.
Douglas leaves behind a legacy of love to be carried forth by his devoted daughter, Tammy (husband Todd) and beloved sister, Deborah Maddox (husband Jack). He is also survived by numerous cherished nephews, cousins, and friends. He was predeceased by his loving wife, his dear mother and father, his treasured sister Cheryl Marie Parker, and his precious infant daughter Stacy.
Visitation services to be held on Thursday, March 31, from 5 to 8 p.m. at Rosewood Funeral Home, 2602 South Houston Avenue, Humble Texas. Funeral services will take place on April 1, at 10 a.m. at Rosewood Funeral Home, followed by interment at Rosewood Memorial Park.
The family wishes to thank Dr. Marshall C. Bishop; Dr. Ashraf AbuSara; Dr. Apoor Patel; Donna Oldmixon, FNP-C; Dr. Juan Llompart; Dr. Haresh Kumar; Dr. Jasvinder Sidhu; Dr. Gary Reynolds; and any other professionals involved in dad’s care. The family is particuarly and deeply grateful for the compassionate angels at Hospice of South Texas.
For those desiring, please consider a contribution to Hospice of South Texas (361-572-4300) in lieu of flowers.
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2022-03-30T06:30:21Z
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DOUGLAS BROOKS MOZINGO | Obituaries | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/obituaries/douglas-brooks-mozingo/article_4570a2ce-7cb4-5ee1-83ac-5c05117b6593.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/obituaries/douglas-brooks-mozingo/article_4570a2ce-7cb4-5ee1-83ac-5c05117b6593.html
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Enrique Garza
PORT LAVACA — Enrique Garza, age 79 passed away on Friday, March 25, 2022. Visitation will be held Friday, April 1, 2022 at 1:30 PM at Our Lady of the Gulf Catholic Church with rosary beginning at 2:00 PM. A funeral mass will start at 2:30 PM with burial to follow at Port Lavaca Cemetery.
A full obituary may be viewed at www.richardsoncolonial.com.
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2022-03-30T06:30:27Z
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Enrique Garza | Obituaries | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/obituaries/enrique-garza/article_93cf2fd0-e10b-54e8-a7d7-870576bb41d1.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/obituaries/enrique-garza/article_93cf2fd0-e10b-54e8-a7d7-870576bb41d1.html
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VICTORIA — James Jay Herron, 82, entered into rest on Wednesday, March 23, 2022. He was born February 13, 1940 to the late Robert and Evelyn Williams Herron in Placedo, Texas.
James is survived by his wife Alma Herron, his daughter Sherrice Herron, his brother Floyd Herron and sister Evelyn Calloway.
He is preceded in death by his parents, his son James Herron, Jr., his brothers Vance Herron and Robert Herron, and his sisters Velma Miller, Dorothy Brown, and Beulah Cook.
A visitation will be held for family and friends from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. followed by a chapel service beginning at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, March 31, 2022 at Grace Memorial Chapel, 8819 US Hwy 87N, Victoria, TX with Pastor Larry Helms, officiating. Interment to follow at Memory Gardens Cemetery. To leave a comforting message, or to share a fond memory, please visit www.gracefuneralhome.net.
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2022-03-30T06:30:33Z
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James Jay Herron | Obituaries | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/obituaries/james-jay-herron/article_6086044a-26ef-5ab1-a82c-e6122a906b9e.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/obituaries/james-jay-herron/article_6086044a-26ef-5ab1-a82c-e6122a906b9e.html
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Michael Edward Absher
VICTORIA — Michael Edward “Mike” Absher, 64, passed away Monday, March 28, 2022. He was born February 4, 1958 in Seguin to the late Billie and Frances (McConnell) Absher.
Mike met the love of his life, Janet Jacobs, while working at Guadalupe Valley Electric Cooperative (GVEC) in 1981. They quickly fell in love and married in 1983 living in Cibolo before moving to Gonzales in 1985. Mike and Janet had 2 sons before moving to Moulton in 1994. They recently moved to Victoria to spend their retirement years closer to their children and grandchildren.
While growing up in Seguin, Mike’s professional career began in 1969 at the age of 11 years old, working as a newspaper delivery boy on his bicycle for the San Antonio Light. During and after his time delivering papers, he took on numerous jobs, including an attendant at Faldik’s Gulf gas station, driving a gas delivery truck, diesel mechanic, handy man, and as a self-employed painter and electrician. Mike graduated from Seguin high school in 1976 and graduated from Texas State Technical Institute in Waco with a degree in Electrical Power Distribution Technology in 1979. Mike then began his career at GVEC as an Electrification Advisor, holding numerous other positions within GVEC and then retiring as a Senior Executive Manager in 2019 after 39 years of service.
Mike had many hobbies including golfing with his buddies, working on projects with his sons, and traveling across the country with Janet, but his greatest joy was spending time with his grandchildren. Mike enjoyed attending all of his sons’ and grandchildren’s events from basketball games to dance recitals. Mike was always willing to go above and beyond for those he loved and known for his great humor, outgoing personality, and his quick wit.
Survivors are his wife Janet of Victoria; two sons, Jacob Absher and wife Renee of Hope and Brandon Absher and wife Tiffany of Fordtran; five grandchildren, Bryson, Landry, Emma, Owen and Parker Absher. Sisters Jan Absher, Susan Imhoff and husband Billy, and Cherie Absher. He is also survived by half-sisters Patsy Rangel and husband Victor, and Nancy Hernandez. Also, brother-in-law, Randall Jacobs and wife, Sheri and sister-in-law, Linda Sternadel and husband, David and numerous nieces and nephews.
Pallbearers: Reagan Jacobs, Mathis Sternadel, Lindsey Jacobs, Lauren Sternadel, Katie Hunter, Erin Ekstrom, James Ekstrom, Phillip Imhoff, and Haley Stevens.
Visitation will be held from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Wednesday, March 30, 2022 at Thiele Cooper Funeral Home in Yoakum. Funeral Service will be held at 10 a.m., Thursday, March 31, 2022 at Thiele Cooper Funeral Home with Pastor Tim Williams officiating. Burial to follow at Salem Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to Hope Community Center. The mailing address is: 12790 Highway 111 East, Yoakum, Tx 77995.
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2022-03-30T06:30:46Z
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Michael Edward Absher | Obituaries | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/obituaries/michael-edward-absher/article_269e3820-3835-5429-a1f4-0bce20798510.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/obituaries/michael-edward-absher/article_269e3820-3835-5429-a1f4-0bce20798510.html
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Windy...scattered thunderstorms during the morning, with sunny skies this afternoon. High 89F. Winds W at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of rain 50%. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph..
Roderick Chambers, 15, looks at his stop motion animation scene during class on Tuesday afternoon at Victoria East High School.
Kayne Kimbal, 16, works on an animated sequence on an iPad during art class at Victoria East High School.
“Bane” Siecko, 14, center, chats with classmates during a digital art class at Victoria East High School.
Niki Aguilar, 15, shows a recent example of her work.
Students begin a digital art class with a warm up exercise.
VISD students bring their art to life
Roderick Chambers is making a movie.
The 15-year-old is hard at work creating a stop motion film. Roderick wrote the script, in which a monster hunter is tasked with killing a creature that disguises itself with a fake mustache.
He also designed the characters, which were created using nothing but wire, cardboard and construction paper. To top it all off, the art student is filming the entire thing using just an iPad.
The process of creating the stop motion film is a way for Roderick to take art further than other mediums allow.
"I like being able to do digital arts and mess around with the iPads," Roderick said. "I love to do that. It gives me more options. Even though I love sketching and stuff I'm just able to do more with, say, an iPad or a program."
While Roderick is having fun creating the film, the 15-year-old is actually making it for an art class at Victoria East High School. The class, digital art and animation, has only been available at Victoria schools for a few years, but it's already a popular class for area high schoolers looking to flex their artistic muscles.
The class focuses on traditional two dimensional animation, stop motion animation and entrepreneurship, Victoria East art teacher Jamie Saenz said.
Students in the class use readily available technology to create their films, she said.
One of the interesting parts of the class is how it teaches students to bring their art to life, said Julia Hagan, 16-year-old Victoria East student.
This is the third year the class has been offered in the Victoria school district and the popularity of the course is only growing, Saenz said.
"We started with roughly 80 kids the first year," she said. "I have 160-180 signed up for digital art and animation next year."
The coursework begins with 2D animation, which Julia was most interested in. She said that was the form of animation she was most familiar with and enjoyed watching a piece come together.
"You basically just keep drawing and drawing and drawing until you have everything right and the elements right, and then you get the whole picture," she said.
Julia enjoys drawing comics and painting, but said what she likes about animating is seeing her characters come to life.
The students are in the middle of a stop motion animation lesson block.
"(The students) love stop motion," Saenz said. "It's way easier and a lot more fun than traditional animation."
The stop motion animation was especially attractive to Roderick.
"Stop motion I found is actually really fun," Roderick said. "I would like to definitely get more into that in my personal time. Regular animation is a lot harder to do just because you have to really get it smooth and get it to look nice, but it's definitely a lot of fun doing that as well."
Students make their films on iPads, Saenz said, and the software they use has free versions available on both Android and Apple app stores so they can download and continue to create films outside of a classroom setting.
While Julia is a talented artist, the class allows her to stretch her storytelling muscles. Her stop motion film is an expressive silent film in the style of old, slapstick Looney Tunes characters.
"Instead of drawing it on paper with expression, you're able to do that with movement as well," she said. "It's a cool process to see it fall together and express characters better."
Saenz hopes some of the films created in her class will be entered into a local film festival come September.
Julia said that while she would be happy if her work made it in, she was more of the attitude of "if it gets in, great! If it doesn't, oh well."
Roderick, meanwhile, said "I think it would be cool to go and enter into a film festival like that. That would be awesome, I'd like to do that."
Special effects artists and animators statistics
2020 median pay: $77,700 per year, $37.36 per hour
Typical entry level education: Bachelor's degree
Number of jobs in 2020: 62,400
Job outlook, 2020-2030: 16% growth (much faster than average)
Julia Hagan
Jamie Saenz
Roderick Chambers
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2022-03-30T09:50:27Z
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VISD students bring their art to life | Premium | victoriaadvocate.com
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Kindness can be a tool for peace
Kindness is contagious.
On March 25 people young and old gathered together in Victoria (and around the world in concert with Pope Francis in Rome) to pray together for peace between Ukraine and Russia.
We all know the situation between these two nations is both dire and extremely complex. We also know there is little an ordinary individual in the U.S. can do to help, except support charitable initiatives, support our government’s efforts to help Ukraine maintain its independence and pray for peace.
We should not forget the Russian people are also being hurt in this conflict. There are large military losses, and, of course, individuals are being affected economically. They are becoming increasingly isolated from the rest of the world. Those who oppose the war (and there are many) are being jailed or worse.
At St. Mary's Catholic Church in Victoria, the Rev. Kristopher Fuchs, known as Father Kris, reminded his congregation they were responding to the war in Ukraine "with the greatest goodness that there is" and they were not praying "for the destruction of Russia" or revenge … "We pray for peace."
But, let’s get back to kindness. There is a special power in kindness. It unites. It strengthens. It unifies.
Ordinary people can use kindness as a tool for peace.
Earlier this month, charitable groups gathered and shipped nearly 5 tons of donations to help displaced Ukrainian people. PAM Rehabilitation Hospital of Victoria and Faith Family Church coordinated with other groups and filled 506 boxes with items such as coats, gloves, blankets and hats. Money, medical supplies and medicines were also part of the shipment.
This is kindness in action.
Each time we gather coats or other items to send to Ukrainian people who have become homeless or refugees, we become soldiers of kindness.
When we send words of encouragement, love and support through social media to the people fighting for their independence, we strengthen their resolve and give them hope.
Kindness spreads from person to person creating a chain reaction that can change the world. Like a scaffold, our kind actions build on the next, creating a foundation that shapes civilization for the better.
Praying for peace reminds us of the fragility of the world we live in, while strengthening our resolve to help others — even those we don’t know who may live across the ocean.
Peace takes effort and action, it is not simply a state of calm.
So please take a moment or two to think about those who need our support on the other side of the planet, and don't forget to look around you and find those nearby who also may need your help.
Be kind and you will discover others will follow your lead. The world can be a world of peace, as long as we strive to become soldiers of kindness.
Catholics in the Crossroads will join with others around the world in praying with Pope Francis for peace between Russia and Ukraine. Bishop Brendan Cahill and parish priests in the region will participate in the livestreamed event.
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2022-03-30T18:07:42Z
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Kindness can be a tool for peace | Opinion | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/opinion/kindness-can-be-a-tool-for-peace/article_d5619588-aee0-11ec-be54-036bf4f552b8.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/opinion/kindness-can-be-a-tool-for-peace/article_d5619588-aee0-11ec-be54-036bf4f552b8.html
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Letter: Thank your doctors for their unwavering care
Health care is always changing, brought on by scientific breakthroughs, technological advancements, government regulation and reform. However, there is one constant: physicians still shoulder the ultimate responsibility for each patient’s care whether it be in the emergency room, on the operating table or in a clinic.
It’s why we pause on Doctors’ Day each year to thank the men and women who made the decision to travel down that long road to becoming a physician. We commend them for their dedication understanding that this commitment to caring for our community often takes them away from their family and important events.
On March 30 we take time to thank our doctors — newcomer and veteran, primary care and specialist — for their unwavering care of the more than 200,000 lives we touch each year.
The physicians who serve our hospital and clinics all have their own stories to tell, tales of heroic measures inside our walls and in their community. They are all part of the DeTar family of physicians who work with us and the other members of our health care team of professionals to provide our region with outstanding medical care.
Today we acknowledge their contributions, sacrifices, skills and unwavering concern for our community.
Bernard Leger, CEO DeTar Healthcare System, Victoria
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2022-03-30T20:21:17Z
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Letter: Thank your doctors for their unwavering care | Opinion | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/opinion/letter-thank-your-doctors-for-their-unwavering-care/article_08bd1e38-b031-11ec-89a6-f314cfb9d70c.html
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Bible verse - Isaiah Isa.18:1-2; quote by Jean de La Fontaine
Woe to the land shadowing with wings, which is beyond the rivers of Ethiopia: That sendeth ambassadors by the sea, even in vessels of bulrushes upon the waters, saying, Go, ye swift messengers, to a nation scattered and peeled, to a people terrible from their beginning hitherto; a nation meted out and trodden down, whose land the rivers have spoiled!
Friendship is the shadow of the evening, which increases with the setting sun of life.
Jean de La Fontaine (1621-1695) was a French fabulist and one of the most widely read French poets of the 17th century.
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2022-03-31T21:15:02Z
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Bible verse - Isaiah Isa.18:1-2; quote by Jean de La Fontaine | Opinion | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/opinion/bible-verse---isaiah-isa-18-1-2-quote-by-jean-de-la-fontaine/article_c8be4902-b039-11ec-b921-877fb9227542.html
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Thumbs-Up, Thumbs-Down
Thumbs-up, thumbs-down; it's your choice
THUMBS-UP
Thumbs-up to the two amazing volunteers who worked at Harbor Hospice. You will be missed.
Rebecca, Victoria
THUMBS-DOWN
Thumbs-down to lack of progress towards fixing Dairy Road and Guy Grant Road.
William, Victoria
We want to make it as easy as possible for you to submit your comments. Be sure to include your contact information so we can verify you wrote the “thumbs.” Only your first name will be used in the newspaper. You may email them to letters@vicad.com, mail them to Thumbs-Up, Thumbs-Down, Victoria Advocate. P.O. Box 1518, Victoria, TX 77902, or drop them off at our offices at 101 W. Goodwin Ave., Suite 1200.
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2022-03-31T21:15:15Z
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Thumbs-up, thumbs-down; it's your choice | Thumbs | victoriaadvocate.com
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Jean Briones holds a picture of her late husband, John Briones, on Wednesday evening in her living room.
Jean Briones poses in front of her house on Wednesday evening in Victoria.
Portraits of the Briones family adorn the walls of the family's home in Victoria.
Jean Briones stands for a portrait outside her home on Wednesday evening in Victoria.
A portrait of Jean and John Briones along with other family members hangs in the family's living room on Wednesday evening.
Total COVID-19 pandemic deaths by month in the crossroads from March 2020 to March 2022, according the Texas Department of State Health Services.
Bradley Allerton | ballerton@vicad.com
The Crossroads has seen both one of its deadliest months of the COVID-19 pandemic in February and one of the least-deadliest in March.
As the region moves into a new phase of the pandemic — one that stresses the health care system less — the public and local health care officials reflected on those they lost the past two years, how it has impacted them and what they hope for moving forward.
Early in the pandemic Victoria resident Jean Briones, 71, lost her husband John Briones to COVID-19 at age 67.
"I miss him and a lot of that has to do with the fact that I couldn't see him," Briones said.
John Briones worked for the U.S. Postal Service for 40 years and in his retirement began to work part time with Community Action Committee of Victoria as part of its Meals on Wheels program, Briones said.
He also regularly helped around the house and babysat their grandchildren, she said.
As John served the people on his route he would slowly get to know them and find out some their needs, she said. From there, he would go shopping for things they needed such as toiletries, allergy medication and more to give to those he served.
For many of the people the Meals on Wheels program helps, the person who delivers their meal is often the only person residents will see all week, said Vicki Smith, Community Action executive director. Because of that, delivery staff know how important it is to keep that connection to residents. And John, as the "go to" person for the meals program, remained faithful to the people he served even though he knew the risks of the virus.
"He worked to the last day that could with Meals on Wheels," Briones said.
It wasn't allergies
Before getting COVID-19, John was in good health, she said.
His doctor originally diagnosed him with a sinus infection, which was common for him given his history with allergies, she said.
The same day he went to the doctor, it rained as he delivered meals to those on his route, and by the time he got home his symptoms had become significantly worse, she said.
John stayed at home for a week before his condition got to a point he needed hospitalization in April 2020, she said.
He was in DeTar Hospital's Intensive Care Unit for 17 days and would never come home, she said.
"If there was some type of vaccine or medication at the time I think it would have helped him get out of it, but at that point he couldn't," she said. "We did everything together, so it was hard, very hard, and I think that's why I still miss him. He was a good husband."
Ongoing challenge
John is one of many who lost their lives in the pandemic. For the community that has continued on in the face of those deaths, it has been a challenge as the virus and circumstances evolved.
Q: Is it too early to roll back COVID-19 safety measures?
Community Action, beyond just its Meals on Wheels program, provides services such as utility, rental, tax assistance to lower income families. One thing that has been challenging for those the program serves is the isolation the pandemic caused, Smith said.
The impact on mental health that isolation caused will be particularly challenging going forward, she said.
"We've all been affected," said David Gonzales, Victoria County Public Health director. "I don't care what industry you work in, what you do for a living, from myself working in public health seeing a lot of the operations to somebody working at home or a stay-at-home mom, we've all been affected."
For much of the pandemic, and still today, the challenge for the health department has been getting the right information out to people as circumstances and the virus changed, Gonzales said. Often, that would lead to frustration for people as that information changed as more was learned about the virus. It continues to evolve even now.
"It was just a constant battle to get the right information out there," he said. "What's been important is that we adapt and learn."
Looking ahead, the virus is expected to become cyclical and seasonal like other coronaviruses, according to Gonzalez and Daniel Cano, Citizens Medical Center chief medical officer.
When another case surge will happen in the Crossroads remains uncertain. The subvariant BA.2 of the omicron variant of COVID-19 has caused surges internationally and is growing in prevalence across the U.S. Both Cano and Gonzales feel the trends are pointing to a new phase of the pandemic.
That phase is one with greater prevalence of treatment options, medications and vaccine availability that should prevent strain on the region's health care system.
The strain the past two years was particularly challenging for the health care system as staff and capacity was constantly tested, Cano said.
"Everyone was just stretched to the max every time there was a surge," he said.
It was particularly frustrating early on in the pandemic as there was very little health care providers could do to fight the virus itself, Cano said.
In the aftermath, the result is a more resilient and innovative health care system going forward, he said.
Right now, it appears there is a light at the end of the tunnel, Cano said.
With BA.2, Cano feels with it so close to the initial omicron surge that infected so many people, there might be a herd immunity to the subvariant between immunity from exposure and those who are vaccinated. But that's not guaranteed as of yet.
"I think we're headed to an endemic where it's here, we learn to live with it and adapt to it," Gonzales said.
Going forward, the surges should become less and less severe and lineup with other coronaviruses and it will be critical for people to get vaccinated to keep those future surges from affecting the health care system's capacity, Cano said. As more people study the data from this pandemic, there should be recommendations soon as to when to vaccinate for COVID-19 seasonally, similar to the flu.
As for John Briones' family, his grandson Aiden Briones, 10, in particular has missed his grandfather, as they used to share their love of comic books and swap stories until late in the morning, Jean Briones said.
Briones hope everyone gets vaccinated and continues to exercise caution in public crowds by wearing a mask, as she continues to do after John's death.
"I wouldn't wish it on anybody," she said.
Victoria County Public Health
Community Action Committee Of Victoria
Vicki Smith
John Briones
Jean Briones
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2022-04-01T02:04:29Z
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Crossroads enters new phase of COVID-19 pandemic, medical experts say | Premium | victoriaadvocate.com
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Refugio's J. Henry Moore, center, wins the 200-meter dash at Thursday's District 31-2A meet at Coach Aaron Houston Stadium in Woodsboro. Refugio's Marvin Fox finished second.
Richard Fierova | Special to the Advocate
Refugio's Peyton Oliver wins the 200-meter dash at Thursday's District 31-2A meet at Coach Aaron Houston Stadium in Woodsboro. The Lady Cats won the team title with 146 points.
Refugio's Chai Whitmire wins the 110-meter hurdles at Thursday's District 31-2A meet at Coach Aaron Houston Stadium in Woodsboro. Refugio's Braylon Gonzales finished second.
Refugio's Isaiah Avery, left, wins the boys 400-meter dash and Refugio's Karson Herring was second at Thursday's District 31-2A meet at Coach Aaron Houston Stadium in Woodsboro. Refugio won the team title with 242 points.
Refugio's Ernest Campbell wins the boys 100-meter dash at tThursday's District 31-2A meet at Coach Aaron Houston Stadium in Woodsboro. Yorktown's Ice Galindo finished second.
Refugio's Peyton Oliver wins the girls 100-meter dash at Thursday's District 31-2A meet at Coach Aaron Houston Stadium in Woodsboro. Oliver won three gold medals and one silver medal at the meet.
WOODSBORO — Winning the District 31-2A meet was almost a forgone conclusion for the Refugio boys.
But the Bobcats were more concerned with how they performed Thursday at Coach Aaron Houston Stadium.
“The No. 1 thing right now is come in and fight hard and get the best times we can,” said sophomore J. Henry Moore. “We want to do well and go to all these meets where it really counts.”
Refugio could hardly have done better, running away with the district championship with 242 points.
The Bobcats won 11 of the meet’s 17 events, and 8 of 11 running events.
“I thought for a lot of these guys it was the first time having to do prelims and finals,” said Refugio coach Adam Spiegleman. “I thought the kids were smart about it and I thought they competed really well.”
Ernest Campbell won the 100-meter dash, Moore won the 200, Isaiah Avery won the 400, Chai Whitmire won the 110 and 300 hurdles, and Refugio won all three relays.
The Bobcats also got first-place finishes from Antwaan Gross in the long jump and triple jump, and Jordan King in the shot put.
“I think our coaches and staff have done a great job of putting people where they need to be,” Moore said. “They have created the best Refugio team we’ve seen in a while.
The Bobcats will move on to the area meet in La Villa, but they have much bigger goals in mind.
Refugio has won a record 10 state championships, but they don’t have to be reminded the last state title came in 2001.
“The biggest thing is to compete In a meet like this,” Spiegleman said. “The most important thing is you just want to move on. If you PR, great, but the biggest thing is moving on and getting to the area meet. I think this team has the potential to win a state title.”
Lady Cats represent
Refugio coach Katie Green wasn’t exactly sure what to expect from her team coming into the season.
But Green has seen great improvement throughout the season.
“There’s a lot of young girls on the team,” Green said. “It took us a long time to get it together. I was very pleased with how the girls did today.”
The Lady Cats won the district title with 146 points.
“This year the team has gotten way bigger,” said junior Peyton Oliver. “We have so many talented kids. I feel like a lot of us can make it to state.”
Oliver took a step toward a second consecutive state meet appearance by winning the 100- and 200-meter dashes and running the anchor leg on the winning 400-meter relay team. She also finished second in the long jump.
“At first in prelims, I was not happy with my times at all,” Oliver said. “My coaches were trying to calm me down. My time in the 100 went down a lot. My 200 — I can do a lot better than that. There’s just a lot of stuff I have to work on.”
Oliver admits the experience she gained last season has given her more confidence.
“I feel like it’s calmed my nerves a lot,” she said. “Last year, I was a wreck. This year, I’ve been calm and I feel like I know what to do. How to warm up and basic stuff like that. Last year was so new to me since I really didn’t have a freshman year (because of COVID-19). ”
Green knows the Lady Cats must continue to work to make an impact at the regional meet.
“I think we need to get in the weight room and not fall off our weights because we’ve really pushed weights this year,” she said. “When you get busy, the weights kind of fall off. We want to make sure to continue to work the next two weeks.”
Vaulting back
Woodsboro’s Anthony Meacham had not cleared a bar since he suffered a partial tear of a hamstring tendon in his left leg in December.
“I was able to pick up training at the beginning of March,” he said. “I started going three steps, four steps, five steps and getting on bigger poles and getting faster and kept working on getting stronger and lifting and it’s been working.”
Meacham no-heighted at 16-feet, 3-inches with a five-step approach at last week’s Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays.
But he cleared the bar at 14 feet on his first try and went on to win the district title by clearing 15-3 before missing his three attempts at 16-3 with a five-step approach.
“It just meant I was going to compete at the next meet,” he said. “I could take a step back and really show people what I’m made of right now.”
Meacham missed his first two tries at 15-3 before urging the crowd on and clearing the bar.
“The crowd just gets my adrenaline going,” he said. “It gets me faster and stronger and that’s what I love about pole vaulting with the crowd.”
Meacham, who has signed with Kansas, has about six weeks to get ready to defend his state title and 2A record he set by clearing 17 feet at last year’s state meet.
“That means that I’m going to have plenty of time to get back to the stuff I want to get back to and the poles I want to get to,” he said. ‘I still have time to reach my goals.”
1. Refugio, 242; 2, Three Rivers, 86; 3, Yorktown, 84.
1. Refugio, 146; 2, Three Rivers, 116; 3, Kenedy, 84.
http://results.tfmeetpro.com/Athlete_Guild/District_31AA/results_3.html
Peyton Oliver
J. Henry Moore
Adam Spiegleman
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2022-04-01T04:08:11Z
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Refugio runs away with district titles | Advosports | victoriaadvocate.com
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Alfredo ?Fred? Martinez
Alfredo “Fred”
GOLIAD — Alfredo “Fred” Martinez, 72, of Goliad, passed away Tuesday, March 29, 2022. He was born September 23, 1949, to Rafael and Aurelia Martinez in Seadrift. Fred was a loving husband, father, brother, and friend to all. After graduating from Goliad High School Fred joined the United States Marine Corps and was proud to have served his country. After his service he returned to Goliad where over the years you would find him playing softball, coaching little league and softball, on the golf course, or cooking BBQ enjoying time with family and friends.
Fred is survived by his wife of 41 years, Paula Martinez; his sons, Louis Martinez of Victoria, Paul Martinez, Sam Garza, Louis Rojas, Tony Rojas all of Goliad, and daughter, Darlene Hernandez. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Louis Martinez.
A visitation will be held at Grace Funeral home in Goliad Friday, April 1st from 5:00-7:00, with a prayer service at 7:00. Funeral service will be Saturday, April 2nd at 10:00 AM at Grace Funeral Home with interment immediately following at Glendale Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Louis Martinez, Sam Garza, Tony Rojas, Israel Cardosa, Arturo Rojas, and Victor Ybarbo. Honorary Pallbearers are all his nieces and nephews.
Thoughts and memories may be shared online at www.gracefuneralhome.net. Arrangements and services are under the personal care of Grace Funeral Home - Goliad.
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2022-04-01T06:12:31Z
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Alfredo ?Fred? Martinez | Obituaries | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/obituaries/alfredo-fred-martinez/article_9913388c-e863-5d65-b4ad-afa27409da52.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/obituaries/alfredo-fred-martinez/article_9913388c-e863-5d65-b4ad-afa27409da52.html
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PORT LAVACA — Melvin “Scooter” Henke, 74, of Port Lavaca, passed away on Wednesday, March 30, 2022 in Victoria. He was born in El Campo, Texas on October 10, 1947 to the late Edward and Nonie Melbourn Henke. He was a self-employed Farmer/Rancher and owner of TexKan Farms Inc. He served in the National Guard, and was a member of the Calhoun County ISD school board for many years. Scooter was also a member of Alamo Heights Baptist Church, and had the 68th annual Calhoun County Youth Rodeo dedicated to him.
Melvin is preceded in death by his parents.
Melvin is survived by his loving wife; Sandra Kaspar Henke, son and daughter-in-law; Ronnie and Misty Muegge Henke, daughter and son-in-law; Shelly and Ross Russell, sister Evelyn Motl, brother and sister-in-law; Artie and Leslie Glaze Henke, and five grandchildren; Karsyn Russell, Morgan Russell, Rhett Russell, Presley Henke, and Halle Henke, all of whom will cherish his memory.
Serving as Pallbearers will be Rhett Russell, Chipper Dowell, Philip Henke, Johnny Dugger; and lifelong friends Joe D. Brett and Gary Radley. Honorary Pallbearers are Wayne Bailey (Kansas Cowboy & Caretaker), Steven Dierschke, Bob Gayle, favorite niece Audra Henke, Paul Kaspar, Bill Shrader, and Marvin Strakos.
Visitation will be held on Friday, April 1, 2022 from 5-7 p.m. at Richardson-Colonial Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, April 2, 2022 at 2:00 P.M. at Alamo Heights Baptist Church, with a private family burial following.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Alamo Heights Baptist Church.
Words of comfort, condolences, and fond memories may be shared with the family at www.richardsoncolonial.com.
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2022-04-01T06:13:19Z
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Melvin J. Henke | Obituaries | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/obituaries/melvin-j-henke/article_73a4fb70-95cd-5e59-b724-4a151fa46748.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/obituaries/melvin-j-henke/article_73a4fb70-95cd-5e59-b724-4a151fa46748.html
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Rosita M. Hernandez
VICTORIA — Rosita M. Hernandez, 82, passed away Friday, March 25th, 2022. Family and friends gathered for a visitation on Thursday, March 31st, from 6:00PM to 8:00PM with a Rosary recited at 7:00PM at Grace Funeral Home, 2401 Houston Hwy. in Victoria. Funeral Mass for Rosita will be held at 1:00PM, Friday, April 1, 2022, at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church, 208 W. River St. in Victoria with Interment to immediately follow at Resurrection Cemetery.
Rosita was born January 15, 1940, in Cuero, Texas to the late Jose Maldonado Jr. and Dolores Garcia-Maldonado. Rosita loved going to the beach, she loved to sew, and loved to cook. Rosita was a very strong-minded person and to her, family always came first. Rosita married the love of her life Jose Fracisco Hernandez and together, they watched their family grow with love together. Rosita was preceded in death by her parents, Jose Maldonado Jr., and Dolores Garcia-Maldonado; her sisters, Frances Rodriguez, and Manuela Estrada; her brothers, Cosme Maldonado, Raymond Maldonado, Guadalupe Maldonado, Frank Maldonado, and Nicolas Maldonado, Moses Maldonado.
Rosita leaves to cherish her memory her husband, Jose Francisco Hernandez; daughters, Rosemary Alvarado, Gloria Hernandez, Beatrice Aguilar (Renee), Frances Perez, and Vanessa Kennedy (Jim); sons, Alfred Hernandez (Esther), Frank Hernandez Jr. (Lisa), Jessie Hernandez (Anna); 14 grandchildren; 16 great grandchildren; brother, Domingo Maldonado; sisters, Elena Licon, and Dolores Perez; along with numerous other loving family members and friends.
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2022-04-01T06:13:25Z
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Rosita M. Hernandez | Obituaries | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/obituaries/rosita-m-hernandez/article_06c143c7-d8e2-5d2a-a537-cbd4b1395c70.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/obituaries/rosita-m-hernandez/article_06c143c7-d8e2-5d2a-a537-cbd4b1395c70.html
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Bread Crumbs: Jesus’ hands are never tied
“I’m sorry, sir. There is nothing I can do. My hands are tied.”
I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve heard that in my life. You’re on the phone with the credit card company. You’re talking to the billing department at the hospital. You’re trying to convince the person on the other side of the phone to help you fix the problem.
“I’m sorry, sir. My hands are tied.”
We say those words when we feel like there’s nothing we can do — or as an excuse when we don’t want to do anything about it.
“There’s nothing I can do. My boss won’t let me. I have no way of accessing the files. Company policy won’t let me. My hands are tied.”
Right now, we are in a time of the year called Lent. During the season of Lent, we follow Jesus on his road to the cross. This last week, I was reading about Jesus’ arrest in John chapter 18, and a little detail jumped out at me.
It says that they “bound” Jesus.
They literally tied his hands – probably with leather straps or maybe even iron chains. A detachment of soldiers surrounded him and marched him back into the city of Jerusalem. The disciples ran away. I mean, there was nothing he could do for them now.
His hands were tied.
How quickly they forgot. Just moments before the soldiers bound Jesus’ hands, Peter tried to defend him and cut off a man’s ear. Jesus immediately reached out his hand, picked up the man’s ear and healed him.
The disciples saw him do it. Jesus’ enemies saw him do it. The soldiers saw him do it.
How could any of them have thought that some leather straps or even iron shackles could hold him? Jesus could have snapped those chains. He could have melted them. He could have simply made them disappear.
Though they bound Jesus, his hands were never tied. That mob in the Garden of Gethsemane didn’t catch Jesus off guard. They didn’t take him by force. He went willingly. He could have stopped them anywhere along the way. He could have called on his legions of angels to come and rescue him.
But he didn’t. He allowed them to tie his hands. He allowed them to beat and whip and mock him. He allowed himself to be nailed to a cross because he loved you so much.
Jesus willingly went to the cross to suffer the punishment for all the times you and I deliberately and defiantly disobey him. Sometimes we act is if our hands were tied. We rationalize our bad behavior. “I couldn’t help it,” we say. “I had no choice.”
We always have a choice. Nobody ties you up and forces you to sin. The devil doesn’t make you do it. You choose to sin.
Thankfully, Jesus chose to die for you. He went willingly. Nobody forced him to go. Though they bound him, his hands weren’t really tied.
And because he did that willingly for you, you can be sure that he has and will always forgive you. No matter how bad you mess up, you can turn to him and admit what you’ve done. You can’t commit a sin too big for Jesus to forgive.
Jesus will never tell you, “I’m sorry. I can’t help you. My hands are tied.”
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2022-04-02T00:49:52Z
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www.victoriaadvocate.com
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Bread Crumbs: Jesus’ hands are never tied | Faith | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/features/faith/bread-crumbs-jesus-hands-are-never-tied/article_74eadc9e-ac71-11ec-a4c3-5fb8a7a42313.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/features/faith/bread-crumbs-jesus-hands-are-never-tied/article_74eadc9e-ac71-11ec-a4c3-5fb8a7a42313.html
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Jim Graff: Embrace Jesus' impossible command
Baseball, hot dogs and apple pie — I loved them all as a kid but especially baseball. And still do.
I still remember with joy playing in a Little League All-Star tournament with my friends when I was 12 years old. We were from a smaller area in a county of about 130,000 people. So, we would’ve been like the size of Industrial or maybe Bloomington here in South Texas.
Well, we beat the big city team and the one favored to win in round one. And we ended up undefeated and won the whole tournament that year.
Boy were we happy. We were strutting our stuff and talking about what major league team we hoped to play for one day.
But our excitement soon waned. The board made a decision that the entry fee and travel expenses were too much to continue on. We weren’t going to get to show what we could do at the next level.
A few of the guys didn’t seem to care much, but some of us sure did. We had the seeds of revolution within us. We challenged the board and gave our parents grief for not protesting with enough passion.
But we couldn’t sway them. We couldn’t force anybody to be fair. So sad — I still feel the pain. But seriously, how do we handle the pain of injustice in a grownup world? What do we do with prejudices, abuse and downright cruelty?
Jesus demonstrated the power love has to transform anybody’s world. Then, after exemplifying it, He educated His followers making it clear love is what they were to count on to make the world a better place.
Embrace Jesus’ Impossible Command
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35
We all remember our mothers telling us to love each other. But when Jesus came, He clearly demonstrated a perfect love. That’s why He called the request he made of his disciples a new command. He was deeply passionate about their highest ambition being to love others like He loved them. He knew that was the only way each disciple’s full potential would be developed and they would attract an unbelieving world to God.
Jesus also knew it was impossible for them to love as perfectly as He did. But He also knew how incredible life would become if they lived to make each other’s worlds better through love.
Experience Jesus’ Incomparable Presence
Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Matthew 5:48 How can we do that? He’s perfectly holy and we’re not.
The Greek word for perfect in this scripture means to grow into a state of completeness in character. And obviously, the gap between His ability to love and ours is incredibly large. That’s why we have to rely on His love to empower and to mature ours. As we practice loving and serving like He would, He bridges the gap. And everyone discovers we were wired for love. And created to enjoy the memories only created through God’s love.
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2022-04-02T00:49:58Z
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Jim Graff: Embrace Jesus' impossible command | Faith | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/features/faith/jim-graff-embrace-jesus-impossible-command/article_ae07e3f6-aeaf-11ec-ae02-1b441dd0b0a1.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/features/faith/jim-graff-embrace-jesus-impossible-command/article_ae07e3f6-aeaf-11ec-ae02-1b441dd0b0a1.html
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Oceans For Emotions: Love one another
And now abideth faith, hope, and love, these three; but the greatest of these is love." I Corinthians 13:13
During this time of the year, before Christ gave up his earthly life for us, many Christians ponder what they need to give to strengthen their love for Jesus.
Little kids learn to make their Easter eggs and color them pretty pastel colors and write a special friend's name on them. They do their best to decorate them.
I remember hiding an Easter egg that was just a little bit cracked in my momma's Sunday purse and by the time we got to the pre-air-conditioned church, we all smelled a little like rotten Easter eggs as we sat in the back of the church, presenting ourselves as a very close family.
When we got back from church and to our house, my daddy got out his fishing knife, and I think I saw a twinkle in his eye and I realized that he may be taking us fishing. He then told me to cut one watermelon off of our melon patch and put it in the car.
I put it in our tin fishing tub since this was pre-plastic ice chest time. I sliced one piece of watermelon to make the car smell better and to show that I really did love my family.
I left some watermelon seeds in the middle of the driveway and left them there to give them a little faith that they might grow where they are planted. Please realize that this was in 1942 and the time for Americans to plant victory gardens to show their love for their country.
By the time I had gotten back to the car, Momma had the lunch packed, Daddy had the fishing tackle packed, and my sister, Jo Rae, and I had our things packed. We decided to go to the beach.
We all knew that God had known He would meet us there at the beach, and we would need a perfect place to demonstrate to God and the rest of our family our faith, hope and love, and the greatest of these was love.
Dear Lord, thank you for my daddy, who taught me to love fishing; for my momma, who taught me to love one another; and for my sister, who taught me to love family.
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2022-04-02T00:50:04Z
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Oceans For Emotions: Love one another | Faith | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/features/faith/oceans-for-emotions-love-one-another/article_c7b85458-aeae-11ec-a435-2fddbf5bac82.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/features/faith/oceans-for-emotions-love-one-another/article_c7b85458-aeae-11ec-a435-2fddbf5bac82.html
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Victoria West’s Maliea Huerta was looking to get back in a groove at the plate as well as the mound as she went into Tuesday night’s District 29-5A softball game against Corpus Christi King.
Huerta came to the plate with the bases loaded and no outs, and belted a bases-clearing double, as part of a 10-run first inning as West cruised to a 15-0 victory in four innings.
“Tonight was really good. It gave me a lot of confidence,” Huerta said.
Huerta threw two shutout innings before being relieved at the start of the 3rd inning.
“I felt really good coming into tonight’s game. We’ve been trying to work on getting the bats going in the first inning, and that’s what we did tonight. I knew from the begging that coach was going to switch me out so I just tried my best to not let anybody score,” said Huerta.
Multiple players contributed to the win for West (14-8, 8-2).
The top of the order set the table all evening. Sydney Harvey, Zaria Brigham, and Marisa Rosales scored a combined seven runs, plated by Huerta, Grace Weiler, Alexis James, and Jordan Janak.
For West coach Jody Thompson, the hope is for this game to build confidence and momentum as they make a playoff push in a crowded 29-5A district.
“I think we really needed this game. I asked them to come out and hit, and that’s just what they did. Everybody hit, everybody did a great job, and everybody got to play. It gives us a great look into the next couple of games that we have,” said Thompson.
Thompson was also pleased with what she saw out of her pitchers.
“They were outstanding. All year they have been pretty solid. I can’t ask much more of any of them. They do what is asked of them and they trust their defense.”
King 000 0 — 0 2 1
West (10)03 2 — 15 18 1
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2022-04-02T05:23:10Z
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West cruises by CC King in four innings | Advosports | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/advosports/west-cruises-by-cc-king-in-four-innings/article_cb95ef40-b232-11ec-bc4f-c774f6d16c27.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/advosports/west-cruises-by-cc-king-in-four-innings/article_cb95ef40-b232-11ec-bc4f-c774f6d16c27.html
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From left are, cast members Christy Sutherland, Chris Guerra, Paul Drozd and Summer Dulock. Not pictured is cast member Mikayela Lerma.
"Tombs" is free and open to the public.
The musical drama “Tombs” features dramatic performances along with prerecorded interviews with real-life church members who talk about feeling trapped in their own lives.
For “Tombs,” Faith Family Church members recorded music and interviews to be featured along with on-stage dramatical performances.
Faith Family musical production ministers to those trapped in spiritual 'tombs'
Despite all the technology, preparation and inspiration that went into the creation of “Tombs,” its premise is as simple as it is important.
For those who find themselves feeling trapped in life, there is a God who can set them free, those involved in the drama said.
“Life is not meant to just wake up and be filled with misery,” said Mikayela Lerma, who, with her husband, is co-directing “Tombs,” an upcoming musical production at Faith Family Church in Victoria. “There are answers, and you don’t have to stay trapped. There is truly one who can set you free today.”
“Tombs” will feature three performances, at 6 p.m. April 9 as well as 9 and 11 a.m. April 10, in the church’s sanctuary. Free and open to the public, the musical tells the stories of five people who are each trapped within their own symbolic “tomb” — divorce, abuse, addiction, suicide and death. The production is awe-inspiring in scope and vision, featuring a soundtrack, script, special effects, live musical performances, real-life interview video segments and technology-heavy set that were completely done by church members themselves.
Cast and crew have put an enormous amount of work into the production, said Michael Graff, worship and creative pastor at Faith Family. Rehearsals began sometime in February, and the script was completed near the start of 2022.
Graff said “Tombs” marks the first major drama production put on by the church since the pandemic began. Before then, big drama productions were common and held about every year or so.
“It was on our pastor’s heart that this way the right time to do it,” Graff said.
This production of “Tombs” is, in fact, the second ever to be held at the church. The first was produced in 2008.
Lerma acted in that first production, and she went on tour with the musical, taking it to a number of other churches.
So, when she heard there was an opportunity to bring it back, she jumped on board.
Like the last time around, it was decided to feature secular music along with some Christian music performances.
Some of those songs include ”Yesterday” by the Beatles, ”Crawling” by Linkin Park and ”Never Again” by Nickelback among others.
Despite being secular, those songs carry an emotional and spiritual relevance that jives tightly with the action on the stage.
“We like to choose songs that people recognize,” she said.
In between the musical performances are video interviews of real-life church members who share their own battles with their personal spiritual tombs.
One woman shares her trials living through the difficulties of a messy divorce. Another tells how her mother abused her as a child and the resulting damage it imposed in her life.
“She was just a kid. Those were the cards she was dealt,” Lerma said. “It’s a miracle that she is alive today.”
Those interviews deeply moved Lerma as she sat in on the recording sessions. And it’s that kind of realness and rawness that Lerma and Graff said they hope audiences will find inspiration in.
“There were so many times I had to stop the interview because I could not compose myself because of the tears,” she said. “We go to these video testimonies, and they have lived in these exact same tombs.”
'Tombs'
"Tombs" will feature three performances, at 6 p.m. April 9 as well as 9 and 11 a.m. April 10, in the church's sanctuary. All performances are free and open to the public.
Mikayela Lerma
Faith Family Church In Victoria
Michael Graff
Faith Family
Tombs Musical
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2022-04-02T05:23:34Z
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www.victoriaadvocate.com
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Faith Family musical production ministers to those trapped in spiritual 'tombs' | Faith | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/features/faith/faith-family-musical-production-ministers-to-those-trapped-in-spiritual-tombs/article_265ee9d4-b163-11ec-931e-2bc4cbfa79b4.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/features/faith/faith-family-musical-production-ministers-to-those-trapped-in-spiritual-tombs/article_265ee9d4-b163-11ec-931e-2bc4cbfa79b4.html
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APRIL 3 – Misses Caroline Williamson, Marie Patton, Hazel Oatman and Vesta Chrisman entertained Claude F. Fullick, Lloyd T. Roemer, Edmond L. Jecker Jr. and Forrest Krim with a sumptuous chicken barbecue Sunday afternoon on the banks of Coleto Creek.
Hundreds of Victorians motored to the bridge over the Guadalupe River for the purpose of viewing the flood waters that have filled this usually placid stream from bank to bank with swirling, foaming waters.
APRIL 6 – Dan Alexander was agreeably surprised by a number of his friends, fellow members of Victoria Lodge No. 9, IOOF, Tuesday, the occasion being his 79th birthday. The occasion for the surprise visit was not only the fact this his birthday happens to fall on that date, but because that was the date fixed upon for the presentation of an Odd Fellow fifty year Veteran Medal to Mr. Alexander.
APRIL 4 – A new major oil strike for Victoria County is Amerada Petroleum Corporation’s Alexander Unit No. 1 in the Bloomington townsite, which cleared itself last night. It is reported to be making 11 barrels of 23 gravity oil per hour. Local oil operators said today that royalties in the area have skyrocketed overnight. This is the first big discovery for the county this year.
Pleasure Island, community recreation center operated by local Knights of Columbus, will begin its second season with a grand opening Sunday.
APRIL 7 – Mayor-elect H.W. Griffith said the new council would likely hold only a short meeting after taking the oath of office tonight. Other new officers are: Ralph Wofford, city attorney; Morris Roberts, W.R. McCright, W.S. Edgar and Kemper Williams, aldermen; and A.C. McCoy, treasurer. John Vogt, city marshall, J.P. Daly, secretary, and E.C. Vogt, tax assessor and collector, will remain in office.
Dr. Don W. Huntley, chiropractor, opening his new offices at 1201 East Rio Grande.
APRIL 5 – Twenty shotguns and rifles, plus various other items including watches, tires, two outboard motors, and a 14-inch color television set, were taken in a burglary late Monday night at Ken Nathan Firestone, 201 W. Rio Grande. The items were apparently placed in a pickup truck owned by the firm, and the loot taken to a point near the National Guard Armory on Mockingbird Lane. The pickup truck, left at the Armory, was recovered by Police Officer Don Ward at 6:32 a.m.
Judge Joe E. Kelly elegant in a British coat, but noting that it was really designed for weather cooler than it was Tuesday.
APRIL 8 – Two local firms that were neighbors on Santa Rosa Street 25 years ago, Victoria County Electric Cooperative and Lack’s Stores Inc., are next door neighbors again. The cooperative, which is holding an open house Saturday at its new headquarters plant at 102 S. Ben Jordan, is located on a site to the north and adjacent to the Lack’s Stores warehouse and office that were opened about a year ago.
APRIL 5 – Victoria Advocate columnist Henry Wolff Jr. was elected as a councilor of the Texas Folklore Society at the 81st annual meeting held in Huntsville. Councilors serve on an advisory panel with the organization’s officers and directors. He presented a paper titled “Buried in Texas” at a recent meeting held at the campus of Sam Houston State University.
APRIL 9 – Victoria College freshman Angela Young was crowned Miss Victoria USA and St. Joseph High School junior Courtney Dabbs was named Miss Victoria Teen USA. They each claimed $2,000 in prizes in the pageant held Sunday at Victoria Mall. The pageant was sponsored by E.M. Marketing Co. of Corpus Christi. Young, daughter of Gary Young and Diane Goodell, will represent the Victoria area in the Miss Texas USA pageant on June 30 in South Padre Island. Dabbs, daughter of Clyde and Joyce Dabbs, will represent Victoria in the Miss Texas Teen USA pageant to be held in Houston in November.
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2022-04-02T09:13:03Z
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100, 75, 50 and 25 years ago: 1947, A new major oil strike in Bloomington townsite | Features | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/features/100-75-50-and-25-years-ago-1947-a-new-major-oil-strike-in-bloomington/article_a6dcb0d4-ab9e-11ec-b0e2-cbae404e3d82.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/features/100-75-50-and-25-years-ago-1947-a-new-major-oil-strike-in-bloomington/article_a6dcb0d4-ab9e-11ec-b0e2-cbae404e3d82.html
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“A Storm Blowing In,” 2006.
Photo by Tommy Linn
“Reaching New Heights,” Nov. 5.
Parker McCollum at Shiner Music Fest, Oct. 19, 2019.
“Take me out to the ballgame.” District win over Industrial by Conner Zaruba.
“Supercharged,” March 27, 2020.
“Running over the competition,” Dec. 15, 2016.
“Tribute to America”
“Run, Jenna, run”
“Bluebonnet Country,” April 4, 2021.
“No fear of heights"
Right field hit, March 16, 2018.
A strong lineup, Nov. 17, 2012.
“Who’s on second?” Playoff baseball in Victoria.
Ratley with the catch during a scrimmage with Refugio.
“A game of inches,” March 5, 2021.
“Cowboy Up," June 1, 2018.
“Smooth sailing," Leslie Seidenberger at Jack Adcock Relays.
“Just a Hop, Skip and a Jump," May 20, 2011.
Super Moon over Yoakum, Nov. 13, 2016.
“A leap of faith," playoff win over Goliad.
"What’s Call, Blue?” April 6, 2018.
“Awes and Wonder," April 5, 2011.
For Tommy Linn, between working as a sixth grade science teacher and chasing the light, the 59-year-old Yoakum photographer gives back to the community whenever he can.
“I started because my kids were in sports, so I went to all their games and started taking pictures of them,” Linn said. “I would get good pictures of some of the other kids, and I would share those.”
With his younger son playing football and running track and his older brother playing just about everything under the sun, the cameras and lenses got more expensive and heavy, Linn said.
Linn is mostly a sports photographer. Football, basketball, track and field as well as baseball are some of the things that have crossed his lenses. He also has branched out to experiment with a little landscape photography and also photographed a few weddings and senior portraits.
In 2008, Linn started the Yoakum B’dogs, a fan page on Facebook where he would post photos of students playing various sports for them and their parents to see.
“I enjoy giving back to the community. I wish I had somebody to do this for me when I was playing sports back in the ’80s,” Linn said. “I got one picture of me playing football and one picture of me playing track, and neither of them were really great pictures.”
The journey to great photography was a long one, 15 years to be exact. Thankfully, wherever there is a camera, there is a photographer. And in the Crossroads, there are lots of photographers to learn from.
“I’ve had a lot of support from other photographers. You’d meet people like Howard Esse and say, ‘Hey, what are you shooting? What are your settings?’ and you learn from that,” Linn said. “And you’d learn that your equipment wasn’t quite good enough, and you might have to upgrade to a better lens or camera body.”
The Sony Sure Shot, a humble point-and-shoot camera offering just a bit of extension on the lens, was Linn’s first camera. As a new photographer wanting to get into the fast-paced action of sports photography, it proved to be difficult.
“I found out real quick … that wasn’t going to be enough camera,” Linn said.
One of his very first pictures he took was a landscape photo as he was driving back home.
“It was a windmill. I was coming home, and there was a big storm blowing in, and the sunlight broke right over the top of it,” Linn said. “And, oh my God, was it beautiful. I backed up in the middle of the road, pulled over to the side and took that photo.”
It was then the photographer began to hone his craft by just going out and seeing the world through a lens. As a former athlete himself, he understands knowing the game and what to anticipate is key to sports photography. As thousands of frames began to rack up, the differentiation slowly became clear through trial and error, Linn said.
“A lot of the time, it’s capturing a moment. A lot of people can take a Snapchat, but they miss that moment,” Linn said. “That’s the chase for me — catching that person in the air, catching that person right before the ball hits their hands, right before somebody comes up to block a shot. It’s just that split second.”
For Linn, the most rewarding thing about photography is watching the student athletes grow up and go on to have families of their own, he said.
“You’re stopping time with photography,” Linn said. “If you’re looking back on it 20, 30 years in the future, and you go, ‘Man, look at me,’ the kids can go, ‘Ha, l didn’t have this beer belly, and I didn’t have a family and a job. I was an athlete. They can look back on that.”
Tommy Linn
Howard Esse
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2022-04-02T09:13:21Z
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Yoakum photographer shares perspective | Features | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/features/yoakum-photographer-shares-perspective/article_ec6589bc-af79-11ec-86cd-332487e7a75c.html
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Oh boy! Spring has sprung. I can almost watch the flowers grow and bloom while sitting on my porch.
Yes, it is the time to get out and smell the roses, and all the other flowers.
Susan and I are already taking trips on our motorcycle enjoying the beauty of God’s creation. He sure used a beautiful pallet.
That is what we here at the Victoria Art League would like to do, provide a place where you can come and enjoy beauty through many types of art expressions in all forms of media. We have a gallery for you to see paintings, pottery, wood items and other unique items for sale. Maybe you need a gift for someone special, so come check us out at 905 S. Bridge St., Tuesday through Saturday from 1-5 p.m.
We here at the Victoria Art League are gearing up for our annual Spring Youth Art Show. This show is for ages K-12 and is open to all schools in our area as well as home-schooled children and youth. Entries are $5 each and they can enter up to three entries. There will be monetary prizes for winners of each division. I hope all the youngsters out there are busy preparing some great artwork for our show this year.
We will be registering everyone April 25 and April 26 from 1-7 p.m. A reception will be held on April 30 in the gallery for all to come and see the winners recognized and prizes awarded.
The public is invited so feel free to bring your family and friends. We always have such a variety of entries and are always amazed at the quality of work done by the children and youth of this area. You can check our Facebook page, webpage at victoriaartleague.org or call the Art League at 361-572-0825 for more information.
There was a lot going on downtown last Saturday and I know many of you took advantage of the nice day as I saw so many people at the Kids Fest and the Art Walk.
I was at the Kids Fest demonstrating throwing on the wheel representing the Victoria Art League. They had live bands throughout the day and it was all very enjoyable. The Art Walk downtown was so good, too. There were lots of people strolling the streets downtown going into businesses and seeing artists displaying a great variety of their creative abilities.
You could hop onto a trolley which would transport you to other places like the Victoria Art League to see even more artists’ work. Yes, it was another successful Art Walk and everyone should be looking forward to many more.
Alana Sharp will be teaching a variety of children’s and youth classes this month. She will be teaching 5- to 8-year-old students from 2-3:30 p.m. on Sunday. On Wednesdays, she will teach another 5- to 8-year-old class from 5:45-7 p.m. Check with her to see which class would be best for you.
Then on Thursdays, she teaches 9- to 14-year-old youths from 6-7:30 p.m. Email Alana at victoriaartsforkids@gmail.com for more information and cost.
My pottery classes are in full swing right now with classes on Monday and Tuesday for beginners and on Thursdays for those with experience. Looks like the beginners are catching on pretty good with some nice pieces being created.
My experienced class are learning to throw on the wheel, creating interesting handmade creations, experimenting with Raku which will be fired our last class. I will be teaching classes later this year so if you are interested in learning how to create pottery, you can contact me at whbauer5491@gmail.com or text me at 361-649-8309.
Each year a congressional art contest where youth submit artwork to be judged with the national winners having their artwork displayed in the capital in Washington. We hope to have the all of the area entries displayed at the Art League again this year.
That’s about it for this month. I hope we have lots of students working hard on some really good artwork.
The show is fast approaching so get busy. Looking forward to seeing many of you at the reception on April 30. This is such a special time of year weather wise and the flowers are bursting out all over so get on out there and smell those roses.
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2022-04-02T09:13:27Z
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Art Corner: Spring Youth Art Show this month | Local News | victoriaadvocate.com
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Shana Bohac: CareCredit
CareCredit is a health care credit card that can be used for medical, dental, chiropractic, pharmacy, vision, and pet health expenses. This allows for medical expenses to be paid off over time for unexpected medical expenses. This article provides a brief overview explaining what CareCredit is, how it works, and the information you need in order to apply.
Each business that offers CareCredit selects what programs they want to participate in when they initially sign up. The decision for a business to participate in and offer CareCredit is to benefit the clientele, as CareCredit charges merchant fees to the business for each purchase made. The option of six months deferred with no interest paid if paid in full has a merchant fee of 5%. Twelve months deferred with no interest paid if paid in full has a merchant fee of 9.9%. Eighteen months deferred with no interest paid if paid in full has a merchant fee of 13.5%. The twenty-four, thirty-six, forty-eight, and sixty month, fixed pay options have a merchant fee of 5%. Businesses are not allowed to pass merchant fees on to the client. CareCredit will disable your account if a business is found to be passing merchant fees on to the client. With that being said, it is much more beneficial to the client than the business to offer CareCredit. It is at the business’ discretion which programs they offer based on the services they offer.
Applications for CareCredit can be done over the phone or online and requires the applicants name, address, date of birth, social security number or ITIN, net income, and housing information. Applicants must be eighteen to apply online or twenty-one to apply over the phone.
CareCredit is different from a regular credit card. Upon approval, they offer short term financing options for purchases of $200 or more with no interest charged to the cardholder. They also offer longer term financing including twenty-four, thirty-six, forty-eight, and sixty month periods with reduced APR and fixed monthly payments.
Purchases of $1,000 or more may be eligible for a 24-month offer with a 14.90% APR, a 36-month offer with a 15.90% APR or a 48-month offer with a 16.90% APR. Purchases of $2,500 or more may be eligible for a 60-month offer with a 17.90% APR.
More information can be found on CareCredit’s website at https://www.carecredit.com. They offer a mobile app, payment calculators, and a list of CareCredit providers.
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2022-04-02T09:13:33Z
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Shana Bohac: CareCredit | Local News | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/local/shana-bohac-carecredit/article_74fd8fa4-af75-11ec-8661-87b336f9c877.html
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VPD's approach to sexual assault problem inspires community trust
In the year 2022, policing is about more than patrolling the streets with a gun and a badge.
Sure, there are still criminals to catch and crimes to solve, but law enforcement offices are waking up to the idea that one of their most effective tools is the very community they have sworn to protect.
Community policing is an approach that emphasizes building relationships within the community to allow police to better serve and protect. It’s about education, outreach and trust. It’s also an approach that policing experts say is vital to maintaining public safety in our communities.
It’s an approach that was embraced by both former Police Chief J.J. Craig and current Police Chief Roberto Arredondo Jr.
And it’s an approach we applaud the Victoria Police Department for taking in combatting a deeply troubling recent crime trend.
In the last year, Victoria has seen a 63.93% increase in reported sexual assaults.
In response, the department, under Arredondo’s guidance, is partnering with a University of Houston-Victoria professor to research the increase. The information gathered and conclusions reached by that research will be used to craft a grassroots community education campaign. Victoria police also plan to use the research to see what they can do better to reduce the number of sexual assaults.
Sexual assault in any context is a serious crime. It harms its victims in many ways, both overt and insidious. Victims are often left with depression, flashbacks and post-traumatic stress disorder, according to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network. They may begin to suffer from self-harm, dissociation, panic attacks, substance abuse and eating disorders. In some cases, the trauma leads to suicide.
Considering that, a 63.93% increase is a terrifying statistic and one that cannot be ignored.
The Victoria Police Department is absolutely correct in applying its multipronged community policing strategy to the problem.
If we are to tackle the problem, we must first understand it. And by partnering with the university, the police department is making a great first step in establishing that understanding. It also presents an opportunity for the department to partner with experts outside of its organization. While the department has its own crime analyst, the university may be able to bring additional expertise, perspectives and resources to bear.
We hope police will bring to justice every sexual predator in our community, and they should continue to go after these criminals with swift and severe justice. But the department’s emphasis on educating the community about the problem and its solutions is also admirable.
As members of this community, we should strive to help law enforcement in any way possible in preventing these crimes. Although police have yet to determine the specifics on the grassroots community education, the approach is solid. Solving crimes often requires assistance from the public.
Community members are often the first to report crimes. They can provide tips and statements that help police in their investigations. Police can’t be everywhere at once. That’s why they need us to sometimes be their eyes and ears. Without community buy-in, the job of law enforcement can become exceedingly difficult.
Finally, the police department’s strategy is bold and demonstrates they are serious about this fighting this problem. That sends a message to the public and victims that they are taking this issue seriously. That earns police trust with community members and encourages the public to assist them when possible.
We are proud to see our department taking such a modern approach to combatting the increasing sexual assaults. It tells us that the department is paying attention to the latest developments and understandings in policing.
Our police are not content to simply sit back and continue the status quo. They are a modern department committed to serving and protecting our community, and we salute them for that.
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2022-04-02T09:14:28Z
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VPD's approach to sexual assault problem inspires community trust | Opinion | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/opinion/vpds-approach-to-sexual-assault-problem-inspires-community-trust/article_c29f3640-b1f5-11ec-878d-17bb291eb3d3.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/opinion/vpds-approach-to-sexual-assault-problem-inspires-community-trust/article_c29f3640-b1f5-11ec-878d-17bb291eb3d3.html
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Robin Cadle, CEO of the Food Bank of the Golden Crescent, points at pallets of food that are stacked to the ceiling.
Pallets stacked high in the warehouse of the Food Bank of the Golden Crescent.
Food Bank of the Golden Crescent workers sort through boxes of rescue food.
The sign on the wall outside the Food Bank of the Golden Crescent’s new location at 801 S. Laurent St., Victoria.
The shelves at the Food Bank of the Golden Crescent in Victoria are filled with pallets of food that stretch to the ceiling. The warehouse is operating at capacity, and has been for some time.
“When I first came here (in 2013), our shelves were not full,” said Robin Cadle, CEO of the food bank.
The amount of meals the food bank distributes nearly doubled when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, and the nonprofit has continued to feed the Crossroads while operating out of a building that can barely support it. While the food bank sees no end in sight for increased operations, the nonprofit continues to meet demand and has even found a new home that could ease its stresses.
The end of pandemic-era benefits combined with inflation has contributed to increased need for food banks, said Celia Cole, CEO of Feeding Texas, a network of food banks that the Food Bank of the Golden Crescent is part of.
At Victoria’s food bank, that need continues to be met, though the small size of their building makes it difficult to do so, Cadle said.
Luckily, she said, in the coming months they will move into a building that is double the size of their current one, which will make processing and distributing food a much smoother process.
Benefits ending and inflation increasing cause stress
It’s “alarming” that a higher need for food bank services continues while pandemic-related assistance ceases, Cole said.
“When a benefit like the Child Tax Credit expires, as it did in January, we see increased need,” Cole said. “People lose resources that they were relying on to buy food and put gas in the car and pay their rent.”
In late January and early February, 35% of adults living in a household with children reported having trouble covering usual costs after Child Tax Credit ended, according to census data.
Benefits expiring combined with the impact of inflation driving up food and gas prices makes it more difficult for families to plan budgets, Cole said.
“I always compare a family to a juggling act, where there’s always a number of balls that you need in there in order to make ends meet month to month,” she said. “What’s happening now is that the inflation is just making that juggling act that much more complicated.”
Victoria’s food bank is serving more first-time customers through food distributors or pantries than ever before, Cadle said.
“It’s eye opening,” she said. “It’s our own neighbors. It’s not that they’re homeless or begging for food. These are people who have jobs and can’t make ends meet. They may have to pay for a car payment. They may have to pay for a car repair rather than buy food.”
Changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program could also drive up the need for food banks, Cole said. That program is used to provide families a monthly food benefit that can be used to purchase groceries and is the largest anti-hunger program in the country.
During the pandemic, USDA gave states the option to increase SNAP benefits to the maximum allowed so that, regardless of a person’s circumstances, they would receive the maximum benefits for a household of their size.
The last of the maximum allotments is expected to come in June and will result in families seeing a cut to their SNAP benefits, Cole said. This is especially alarming, as for every one meal that food banks provide, SNAP provides nine.
Cole is looking at the Great Recession in 2008 as a model for what is happening to food banks now, and doesn’t see an end to the demand happening anytime soon.
“It took years for people that we serve, people who are low income to begin with, to really rebuild their lives and get back on track,” she said.
Cadle echoed those sentiments.
“As much as we would like to end hunger, that’s not a reality,” she said. “We’re doing a better job at providing better foods, more nutritious foods, but we’re not ending hunger.”
Where does the food come from?
Most of the food at the Food Bank of the Golden Crescent is rescued, Cadle said.
Rescue food that is approaching a best by date — not an expiration date — or is not selling well and is donated to the food bank by a store.
“We pick up at all the stores in our area, and of course, there’s 11 counties,” Cadle said. “So if there’s an H-E-B or Walmart or Sam’s, we pick up and rescue that food.”
Additionally, H-E-B sends two 53-foot trailers full of rescued food to the food bank each month, she said.
The food bank has to process all of the rescued food to ensure it is edible, cans aren’t dented, bags aren’t punctured and more before organizing food items into categories, Cadle said. This is a time and labor intensive process that is made more difficult by a lack of space combined with increased amounts of food to process.
Rescued food from retail partners, along with food donated from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Texas Department of Agriculture, make up 65% of all funding at Victoria’s food bank.
The food bank hasn’t felt the effects of supply chain challenges, Cadle said. While it does take sometimes six months for the organization to get food it orders in, it’s not a huge challenge because the organization already has to place food orders a year in advance.
In the coming months, the food bank will move from its 22,496-square-foot building to an approximately 44,000 square foot building.
“It’s a better situation, and we’re more accessible, I think,” Cadle said of the building, which she hopes to be fully moved into in May.
Though the new warehouse will only fit racks that can hold three levels of pallets instead of the four that current one can, the total area of the warehouse is much larger, she said.
Additionally, the flow of the building will lead to much more efficient operations, she said.
The building’s large loading dock leads directly into the processing center, which feeds straight into the warehouse and back to the loading dock. At the current facility, there are actually loading docks on each side of the building, so some trucks will pick up loads on one side while others will go to the other.
Another benefit of the new facility is a massive freezer and refrigeration area, Cadle said. She hopes to be able to provide more fresh produce now that there’s access to the refrigeration area.
While food banks typically focus mostly on shelf stable goods, the freezer and cool produce areas at the new facility will allow the food bank to take advantage of an abundance of produce available in Texas and Mexico, Cadle said.
Meals distributed by Food Bank of the Golden Crescent
2018: ~4.2 million
Food Bank of the Golden Crescent funding
65% is food and goods donated by the United States Department of Agriculture, Texas Department of Agriculture and retail partners
14% comes from contributions from individuals, corporations and foundations
12% comes from shared maintenance fees
9% comes from government funding
Robin Cadle
Rescue Food
Monthly Food Benefit
Celia Cole
Feeding Texas
Food Bank Of The Golden Crescent
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2022-04-02T09:14:34Z
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Food bank finds new home amid continuing high operations | Premium | victoriaadvocate.com
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Heather Bacak holds her adopted son Levi Bacak, 6, inside of the family home on Monday in El Campo. Levi was an adoptee from Ukraine.
Heather Bacak plays with her sons Levi Bacak, 6, left, and Bentley Bacak, 7, right, on Monday inside of the family home in El Campo.
Heather Bacak reads a book to Levi Bacak, 6, inside of their home on Monday in El Campo.
Levi Bacak, 6, gets his hand traced by his mother.
Levi Bacak, 6, smiles at his brother while the pair plays with their mother on Monday in El Campo.
Levi Bacak, 6, plays with toys with the family on Monday in El Campo.
Heather Bacak poses for a portrait with her husband Bart Bacak and their son Levi Bacak, 6, on Monday inside of their home in El Campo.
As the war between Russia and Ukraine continues to rage, many prospective adoptive families and those who have adopted special needs Ukrainian children are concerned that the children are left in limbo.
One such family is the Bacak family, of El Campo. Among their five children is Levi Bacak, 6, a child with Down syndrome from Ukraine the family adopted.
Since the start of the war, they've experienced many fears. They worry for Levi's birth parents, the thought of what would happen if Levi was still there and the numerous children who are being adopted but have not made it to their adoptive families yet.
Connection to Ukraine missed
Since adopting Levi in 2021, his adoptive mother, Heather Uresti-Bacak, has made a point to maintain a connection with his Ukrainian roots by speaking the language in their household and trying to establish a connection with his birth parents who put him up for adoption, Uresti-Bacak said.
More children were adopted from Ukraine to the United States than any other country in 2020 with 211 of the 1,622 total international adoptions, according to the U.S. State Department's July 2021 Annual Report on Intercountry Adoption.
Before adopting Levi through Hand of Help in Adoption, an adoption agency for special needs Ukrainian orphans, she was told his family loved Levi and visited him regularly. They tried to meet Levi's father at the orphanage. He hadn't been able to see his son in a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, she said.
Unfortunately, the court hearing for Levi's adoption was delayed, causing the families to miss each other, she said. Uresti-Bacak has gotten in touch with the father through a translator twice before the conflict, but as the conflict began it became much more urgent to establish contact to see whether they were still alive and have Levi's biological family in his life.
Through the network of adoptive moms and potential adoptive moms, Uresti-Bacak found a Ukrainian mother, who lives in Canada. That mother was able to reach out to Levi's parents, and she confirmed they were safe after leaving Kyiv, Ukraine.
"Because of the war, it actually brought us together," Uresti-Bacak said.
Children in limbo
However, for potential mothers in the group, the anxiety remained. The special needs orphans were still in danger, and Uresti-Bacak wondered what might have happened if she hadn't adopted Levi when she did. The orphanage was destroyed in the conflict.
"Watching it on the news is one thing, but seeing, hearing from our friends (who work for Hand of Help in Adoption) that are actually over there and hearing what's going on, we get a lot more detail," she said. "Can't really put it into words. I just kind of sit here hopeless and say a lot of prayers for them."
Levi and many of these orphans were given up because those with special needs are generally frowned upon in Ukraine and the quality of the facilities for them can vary drastically depending where they are, Uresti-Bacak said.
Levi was lucky.
He was at one of the better orphanage facilities in the country in terms of care, but even still, he was underweight for his age, malnourished despite being fed there and needed medical procedures done to improve his overall health. He needed a tracheotomy to address issues he had with swallowing. He still has the scar on his neck, she said.
The Ukrainian mindset about special needs children was particularly shocking. The family was asked whether they were planning to harvest Levi's organs to sell at his adoption hearing, she said.
The special needs orphans who Hand of Help in Adoption works with are safe now. They were transported out of the country to other parts of Europe such as Poland, Italy and Germany as refugees, said Nancy Thornell, Hand of Help in Adoption U.S. director. They'll have to spread out over Europe because each country is overwhelmed by migrants from the crisis.
The countries they've gone to have excellent health care systems, so the children should be in good hands, Thornell said.
However, what will happen to these children remains in limbo, she said. As of right now, all adoptions are on hold as the Ukrainian government is unwilling to let the orphans go overseas.
Ukraine is allowing families in Europe to host some of the children, particularly Italy which historically has a lot of adoptions from Ukraine and already has a large established hosting program for Ukraine, so they aren't too far away should the conflict end, Thornell said.
"My understanding is (the orphanage staff and caretakers taking care of the children) all truly believe they'll be heading back to Ukraine, so it's all just very temporary," she said. "So until something happens that makes (the Ukraine government) realize that it's not going to be temporary, I don't think they'll be willing to let the kids go very far."
Some of the agency's team have been killed in the conflict as they have worked to get children out of the country safely.
The agency's Ukraine team, which is composed of six to eight people, is still in the country after working to get the children out and is sheltering after moving away from their homes to try and stay safe from the conflict, she said.
Hand of Help was handed a significant blow when one of the heads of their operation was killed by sniper fire while they were helping people get to safety in a bomb shelter. He was shot while checking to see whether it was safe to go out, she said.
Even if Russia were to back off or if Ukraine manages to drive them out, it's uncertain the children will be able to go back. It will take years to rebuild the infrastructure that was damaged in the conflict, she said.
Should it be necessary, Uresti-Bacak's family and other families are ready to be host families across the Atlantic Ocean, Uresti-Bacak said.
As for Levi, after being held back from school due to COVID-19, he is expected to start his education before the end of the school year, she said.
Come May, the family will celebrate the birthdays of all three of their boys, Bentley Bacak, 7, who also has Down syndrome, Levi and Tate Bacak, 4, with a super hero themed party with Spider-Man, Batman and Captain Ukraine for Levi. They hope that the conflict calms down to a point where Levi's biological parents can video chat in for the celebration, she said.
"I would love to keep in touch. That's real important to us," Uresti-Bacak said.
Charities to help Ukraine orphans
Maya's Hope: A charity working to improve the quality of life of orphaned, impoverished and special needs children globally that is raising money to help Ukraine. Visit mayashope.org for more information.
Lifeline Hosting: A partner with Hand of Help in Adoption that gives families opportunities to be host families in the U.S. lifelinehosting.org.
Catholics unite in prayer for peace between Russia and Ukraine
Pope Francis in Rome called for an “Act of Consecration” to be held in unison around the world on March 25, to invoke the “Immaculate Mary” to intercede for peace in the world, and in particular between Russia and Ukraine. As he led the special prayer in Rome, Catholics around the world joined him at the same time, including in Victoria.
Crossroads donations to Ukraine war victims: Nearly 5 tons, plus medicines, cash and love
Shoreline Church: Victoria resident sends letter from Poland amid conflict in Ukraine
Heather Uresti-bacak
Levi Bacak
Nancy Thornell
Tate Bacak
Adoption U.s.
Top five countries children are adopted from to the U.S in 2020
1. Ukraine: 211
2. China: 202
3. South Korea: 188
4. Columbia: 137
5. India: 103
Source: The U.S. State Department
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2022-04-02T09:14:40Z
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In limbo: Russian-Ukrainian conflict displaces special needs orphans | Premium | victoriaadvocate.com
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Dave Sather: First quarter investment lessons
With the second anniversary of the pandemic upon us, most people were just hoping for a return to calm and normalcy. The first quarter delivered anything but calm and has reminded investors that logical decisions and portfolio management are harder than they look.
Here are a few lessons to take from the last three months:
The risk of yesterday will be different than the risk of the future. It is something you have never thought of that catches you off-guard and creates massive volatility. At the end of 2019, people weren’t considering a pandemic. At the end of 2021, most people weren’t thinking about Russia invading Ukraine.
Then, suddenly, that is all people are focused on. You can’t forecast future headlines or how they will impact the economy and stock markets. This is even more reason to own predictable and consistent businesses based upon where you want to be in 5 to 10 years.
Most of human history has been fraught with conflict and war. It hasn’t been until recently that the consensus expectation is peace. You can get away with overspending on defense and not needing it, but less likely to get away with underspending and playing catch up.
Countries, and their leaders, have the ability to change the rules of the game you’re playing, and their agenda may not align with yours. Despite the flaws of the U.S., we should all be reminded of the stability our nation enjoys and the rule of law.
Valuation matters. Just because the price of an asset moves precipitously, does not mean it is rational, or enduring. Use common sense, and don’t buy something just because the price has gone up and you think the next sucker will pay even more.
Tomorrow will not look like today. One day you’re trading Russian stocks, the next day you can’t. Be mindful of the risks you are taking when deploying capital and weigh those risks accordingly.
The invasion and corresponding response by corporations around the world reflects how things can change rapidly. Be ready to analyze and interpret the new information. As you gather new information, give yourself the freedom to change your mind. Facts and the delivery of information are constantly changing.
We model risk in spreadsheets with the assumption that humans are logical and rational. They are not.
When times are good, we always think we can take on more risk. And then, about once a decade, we are reminded of the wisdom of living a more conservative life. When unthinkable things happen, will you be in a position to survive?
Make sure your cash flow needs are covered first. Then think about investing for the long term and remain invested.
Know the game you are playing, not your neighbors’ game. Ignore what your neighbor brags about. You and your family are the only ones that matter. Your neighbor is most likely rather delusional.
Know what is within your control and what is not. Identify what is important and what is knowable. Important things beyond your control, or outside your realm of knowledge, require a hedge or insurance.
Keep an investment journal. Be diligent and honest. Document what worked and what did not. When you are feeling brave, read the most tense moments in your journal.
The world is awash in an abundance of information and opinions. In the grand scheme of things, very little reported information matters and even fewer opinions matter to you and your family.
Do not make snap decisions. Take the time to sit and think. Investing, as opposed to gambling, is slow and methodical. It is logical and considerate. If you apply it in this manner, you can ignore the daily noise.
Keep emotions in check and realize that owning good businesses allows you to wait out the storm and maintain purchasing power.
Patience allows you to not have to time the market. There will never be a big flag waiving that says, “It’s all clear to invest now.” Clarity only exists in hindsight.
Be open to opposing viewpoints. It is quite possible that someone knows something you don’t or can offer a different perspective which allows you to see things more broadly.
An open mind can make you money.
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2022-04-02T18:34:56Z
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Dave Sather: First quarter investment lessons | Business | victoriaadvocate.com
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Letter: Reliability of flights is necessary for successful air service in Victoria
Back in the 1990s when I had a day job, I traveled weekly from the Victoria Airport to somewhere via Houston. I almost always left on the 6 a.m. flight and arrived at my destination around mid day.
It seems to me that for any flight service to be successful, there needs to be an early morning flight and a late evening flight to get folks home. These flights must also be reliable or it will fail.
Without an early morning flight, reliability, and good equipment, you can forget having successful air service in Victoria. In the 90’s boardings were around 20,000 a year with four or five flights per day.
Don Eastham, Victoria
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2022-04-02T21:05:12Z
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www.victoriaadvocate.com
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Letter: Reliability of flights is necessary for successful air service in Victoria | Opinion | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/opinion/letter-reliability-of-flights-is-necessary-for-successful-air-service-in-victoria/article_18af1de6-b1cb-11ec-98a8-e36c92ee242d.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/opinion/letter-reliability-of-flights-is-necessary-for-successful-air-service-in-victoria/article_18af1de6-b1cb-11ec-98a8-e36c92ee242d.html
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Will Holcomb follows through on a tee shot during the final round of the Victoria Open on Saturday.
Victoria Country Club pro Joe Mitchell (left) poses with Will Holcomb after he won the the 27th Victoria Open on Saturday.
Will Holcomb (center) shakes hands with Arthur Griffin (right) and Blake Elliott after winning the Victoria Open at Victoria Country Club on Saturday.
As Will Holcomb went to bed before the final round of the 27th Mac Haik and Lincoln Victoria Open, his mind raced.
The Crockett native held a two-stroke lead over the field and was in prime position to claim his first All Pro Tour win, and third pro win overall.
“I was fighting demons,” Holcomb said. “I was thinking about my day. What could go good, what could go bad. I just said a little prayer and went to bed. I didn’t dream about golf, I dreamt about something else. Then I woke up and my mind started racing again. I was just trying to stay calm.”
Holcomb shot an even-par 70 to win by one stroke over The Woodlands native Fred Wedel.
Wedel finished the tournament 8-under with rounds of 67, 66, 72 and 67.
After being forced to take a drop off the tee on the par-5 18th, the Sam Houston State grad Holcomb had to avoid taking a triple-bogey.
He punched his fourth shot under the trees, leaving less than 100 yards for his fifth. He left himself with a lengthy putt.
His first putt left a tap-in for a double-bogey, the win and a $20,000 payday.
“That last hole was one of the best feelings I’ve had,” Holcomb said. “I was just trying to focus on doing my routine, breathing and just stroking the putt in there. I was happy when I heard the click-clack in the bottom of the cup.”
Holcomb picked up birdies on holes three, four and six to counter a bogey on the opening hole.
He went on to par the next 11 holes, giving himself a sturdy enough cushion to hang on in the top spot.
“It was nice to get that start,” Holcomb said. “But the way I look at it, it doesn’t matter whether my birdies are on one, two, three, or I make them on 16, 17, 18 as long as I’m converting them. I knew I was gonna make some mistakes. I knew I was gonna make some birdies. I just try to not to get ahead of myself if I make mistakes or if I made some good stuff happen.”
Bullard native Blake Elliott shot rounds of 68, 68, 68 and 69 to finish at 7-under for the tournament and in third place.
Arthur Griffin, who opened the tournament with an opening-round 62, finished in a fourth-place tie with Chris Korte at 6-under.
It was the second professional win of 2022 for Holcomb, who won the North Texas PGA Players Tour at Texas Star in Euless in February.
Now, Holcomb is planning to compete at the Korn Ferry Tour’s Veritex Bank Championship Monday qualifier.
He reached the second level of qualifying for full-time status with the Korn Ferry Tour.
He hopes he can make the field for the Arlington tournament and springboard his career to the Korn Ferry Tour, one step below the PGA Tour.
“I think the hardest thing in pro golf is knowing that you’re good enough and being patient,” Holcomb said. “I’ve been super blessed that every time I’ve questioned whether maybe this is for me, I’ve been successful and I’ve been trying to do all the right things. It’s a really lonely profession and it’s challenging on the level we’re at. I just believe I’m doing the right things, and will keep doing the right things, and await the results.”
VICTORIA OPEN TOP 5
1. William Holcomb V -9 71 62 68 70 (271)
2. Fred Wedel -8 67 66 72 67 (272)
3. Blake Elliott -7 68 68 68 69 (273)
T4. Chris Korte -6 72 65 69 68 (274)
T4. Arthur Griffin -6 62 73 68 71 (274)
Victoria Open Prize Money
William Holcomb V
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2022-04-02T23:24:21Z
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www.victoriaadvocate.com
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Holcomb hangs on for first Victoria Open crown | Advosports | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/advosports/holcomb-hangs-on-for-first-victoria-open-crown/article_8ad23fe2-b2d0-11ec-9be2-33979dee948a.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/advosports/holcomb-hangs-on-for-first-victoria-open-crown/article_8ad23fe2-b2d0-11ec-9be2-33979dee948a.html
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Photo contributed by Victoria College
Former Victoria College President David Hinds died unexpectedly late Friday.
Hinds served Victoria College as president for five years, beginning in 2015, according to a college news release issued Saturday.
“We’ve been in touch with his wife, Kim, and she shared that Dr. Hinds was on a hiking trip in Utah when he passed away unexpectedly,” said Cindy Buchholz, VC's executive vice president— chief academic officer. “She informed us that a celebration of life will be planned at a later date.”
Victoria College will share details about Hinds’ celebration of life when they are available.
“Our hearts are heavy,” said Bland Proctor, chairman of Victoria College’s Board of Trustees. “Those of us who had the opportunity to work with Dr. Hinds saw firsthand how he drew from his own experiences and focused his efforts on helping students achieve their goals. He will be remembered as a passionate leader who guided Victoria College through unchartered waters, including the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey and the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. We offer our sincere condolences to Dr. Hinds’ family as well as the entire VC family.”
Victoria College’s Board Of Trustees
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2022-04-03T01:28:04Z
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www.victoriaadvocate.com
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Former VC president remembered as passionate leader | Education | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/education/former-vc-president-remembered-as-passionate-leader/article_12b2ac82-b2e8-11ec-a779-278f2fcabed7.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/education/former-vc-president-remembered-as-passionate-leader/article_12b2ac82-b2e8-11ec-a779-278f2fcabed7.html
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From left, Freddie Cantu, assistant director of student diversity and inclusion and conference organizer; Jaira Jenkins; Trisanya Dennie and Alma Gutierrez. Jenkins, Dennie ad Gutierrez spoke during a panel at the University of Houston-Victoria's second annual RISE Diversity Conference on Saturday.
Zion Walker
Daisy Maldonado-Cervantes
Students learn about respect, find inspiration at UHV diversity conference
Zion Walker wants to learn how to better treat people better.
"I don't want to put someone in an uncomfortable situation," he said. "I don't want to leave a situation knowing I put someone in a bad state."
That desire led the 21-year-old senior and gaming major to attend the University of Houston-Victoria's second annual RISE Diversity Conference on Saturday. The conference, which began in the morning and ended late in the afternoon, featured a number of panels, speakers and discussions aimed at giving students the tools they need to interact in a student body where diversity and inclusivity are celebrated.
Topics of discussion included masculinity, leadership, unique challenges faced by minority students, gender, inclusion and demographics, among other subjects.
"UHV is a very diverse campus," said Freddie Cantu, assistant director of student diversity and inclusion and conference organizer. "If there are students from smaller surrounding towns, they are going to come to college ... and meet tons of different people who are very different from themselves, whether it's different races, (people) from different countries, different religions or different orientations. It's important to learn how to be inclusive even if they are different from you."
According to the university, the student body hails from 25 different states and 28 different countries. Additionally, the U.S. Department of Education has designated UHV as a Hispanic-Serving Institution.
About 45 students registered to attend this year's event with some listening inside a meeting room on campus while others joined by video conferencing. Last year's event was purely virtual because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and Cantu said he was pleased to see it return in person.
"This conference is important because it's important to learn about different cultures than their own," Cantu said.
Walker agreed, saying he decided to attend to better educate himself about people's differences.
"To be honest, I don't know enough," he said.
For him, it was about showing people respect. The event was a chance to learn about students who are different than him. But it was also an opportunity to learn how to better treat people with respect.
He took mental notes during a session that discussed addressing trans people by their preferred pronouns. That was important, Walker said, because he wants to respect his fellow peers.
"You don't want to mislabel a person," he said, adding, "I don't want to put someone in an uncomfortable situation. I don't want leave a situation knowing I put someone in a bad state."
Daisy Maldonado-Cervantes, an 18-year-old business administration and health care major who also attended, said she agreed.
"It was an eye-opener. I would tell people to come because it helps you know that there are people you can talk to, and you can make friends," she said.
But the sophomore added she was drawn to the event particularly because she wanted to hear about the experiences of fellow Hispanic people who spoke. Those words were an inspiration to her.
"It was the fact that they were speaking about Hispanics and Latinos," she said. "Hearing about people who went through the same things (as us) is important," said Maldonado-Cervantes. "If they can do it, I can do it."
And like Walker, she hopes the conversations and discussions she took part in Saturday will help her in the future.
"You can change your life around and do better, be bigger," she said.
RISE and Shine: Diversity conference set for April
The University of Houston-Victoria has invited area college and high school students to its upcoming diversity and inclusion conference focusi…
UHV to host on-campus International Festival
UHV to host Hispanic Heritage Month events
UHV staff member recognized as top Latino leader
UHV student earns leadership award from diversity association
UHV to host virtual events in celebration of Black History Month
UHV Q&A:UHV here for all students
Rise Diversity Conference
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2022-04-03T01:28:22Z
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Students learn about respect, find inspiration at UHV diversity conference | Premium | victoriaadvocate.com
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Kenneth Dean Lester
HALLETTSVILLE — Kenneth Dean Lester, beloved father, grandfather, great grandfather, former businessman and community leader, and friend passed away on March 28, 2022 at the age of 89. Kenneth (or “Kenny Dean” as he was known as a young man) was born January 13, 1933 to the late Carl Lester and Mamie Lois Lester in Tyler, Texas. He spent most of his youth living in Victoria, Texas and graduated from Patty Welder High School in 1951. He married Mildred Marie Bales in 1960 and made Port Lavaca, Texas their home for the next 38 years.
After high school, Kenneth spent time serving his country with the U.S. Marine Corps. After the Marines, he joined International Petroleum Consultants and later Collins Construction Company as a surveyor working on pipeline construction projects in various parts of the world including Kuwait, India, Venezuela, and Chile. After settling in Port Lavaca, he worked for the City of Port Lavaca as its Director of Public Works from 1962 until 1970. In 1970, he joined Kinchen Construction Co. as a co-owner and its manager; a company he would later acquire, re-name Lester Contracting, and run as its President until 1998.
Kenneth was a successful businessman for three decades, a charter member of the Noon Day Lions Club, and raised three sons in Port Lavaca with his wife Mildred. Kenneth also will be remembered for his 12 years of service to the community (1978 to 1990) serving two-terms on the Port Lavaca City Council and two-terms as the Mayor of Port Lavaca. Among his many contributions include helping steward the development of the Bauer Community Center, the relocation and refurbishment of the Halfmoon Reef Lighthouse, and the development of Fishing Pier Park and the Port Lavaca bayfront.
Upon retirement in 1998, Kenneth turned Lester Contracting over to his son, Ken Lester, Jr., and he and Mildred moved to their ranch outside of Hallettsville and joined the Salem Baptist Church in Ezzell, Texas. Having a deep appreciation for nature and working with his hands, he spent the next 25 years working and improving the ranch, raising cattle, miniature donkeys and goats, and teaching his grandchildren how to fish on the ranch’s ponds. A deeply honest, principled man, and devoted husband to his wife Mildred for 56 years, Kenneth continued to serve the many friends he had made in his new community, as well as new friends he made in recent years at the Hope Baptist Church in Hope, Texas.
He is survived by his three sons, Kenneth D. Lester, Jr. and wife Melissa of Port Lavaca, Todd K. Lester and wife Susan of Austin, and Kevan L. Lester of San Antonio; his grandchildren, Erin Lester Holt of Dayton, Karson Lester and Kendra Boone and husband Brandt of Port Lavaca, Tyann and Alana Lester of San Antonio, and Lauren and Brooke Lester of Austin; and his great grandchildren Kaylin Lewis and Connor Holt of Dayton, and Brooks Boone of Port Lavaca.
Kenneth was preceded in death by his wife Mildred, and his three brothers, Bob Lester of Huntsville, Billy Carl Lester of Victoria, and Jerry Lester of Port O’Connor.
Visitation: 5:00 to 7:30 p.m., Thursday, April 7, 2022 at Thiele-Cooper Funeral Home in Yoakum
Funeral Service: 12:00 noon, Friday, April 8, 2022 at Hope Baptist Church in Hope (Pastor Jeff Jud) Celebration of Life: Following the funeral at the Lester ranch and Lester Family Cemetery.
Memorials (in lieu of flowers) may be made to: Alzheimer’s Foundation of America
To donate by check, send to Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, 322 8th Avenue, 16th Floor, New York, NY 10001.
Arrangements by Thiele-Cooper Funeral Home in Yoakum: 361-293-5656.
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2022-04-03T07:13:35Z
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www.victoriaadvocate.com
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Kenneth Dean Lester | Obituaries | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/obituaries/kenneth-dean-lester/article_9732672d-b589-5a27-a185-e2829f3a8f7b.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/obituaries/kenneth-dean-lester/article_9732672d-b589-5a27-a185-e2829f3a8f7b.html
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LeAnn Allbright O'Hara
LeAnn Allbright O’Hara
VICTORIA — On Thursday, March 17, 2022, LeAnn Allbright O’Hara, aged 64, entered into eternal rest in her home in Victoria. She was born November 2, 1957 in Victoria, Texas to lee Lance Allbright and Jacqueline Jean Mauney Allbright.
LeAnn is preceded in death by her parents and her brother Michael Lance Allbright. She is survived by her “everythings” husband, Gary Preston O’Hara, and daughter, Madison Grace O’Hara.
To the staff of Harbor Hospice, your kind and gentle care of LeAnn in her final days will forever be kept near and dear to us. Thank you for all your love and care.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Adopt-A-Pet, or your choice of charity.
“May sunshine warm your heart, and gentle breezes kiss your soul.”
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2022-04-03T07:13:41Z
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www.victoriaadvocate.com
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LeAnn Allbright O'Hara | Obituaries | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/obituaries/leann-allbright-ohara/article_f85cc1e9-b953-5536-a70d-78b08ffc2c11.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/obituaries/leann-allbright-ohara/article_f85cc1e9-b953-5536-a70d-78b08ffc2c11.html
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Syndicated Column: Analysis: Texas gets a respite on Medicaid, but not a cure for the uninsured
Texas got a temporary reprieve on Medicaid funding from the federal government. But that won’t solve underlying problems with high numbers of uninsured Texans and the plight of hospitals in the state — especially those in rural areas.
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2022-04-03T10:40:44Z
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www.victoriaadvocate.com
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Syndicated Column: Analysis: Texas gets a respite on Medicaid, but not a cure for the uninsured | Opinion | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/opinion/syndicated-column-analysis-texas-gets-a-respite-on-medicaid-but-not-a-cure-for-the/article_62427cd2-b112-11ec-aeb8-cff504df8ef7.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/opinion/syndicated-column-analysis-texas-gets-a-respite-on-medicaid-but-not-a-cure-for-the/article_62427cd2-b112-11ec-aeb8-cff504df8ef7.html
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The Victoria City Council meets at the municipal court building, 107 W. Juan Linn St.
Kayla Renie | krenie@vicad.com
The establishment of an arts and culture district was initially a recommendation of the city's downtown master plan.
Victoria Main Street Program is spearheading the effort of establishing the district, which would be a 20 block region encompassing the Leo J. Welder Center, Mitchell School, Memorial Square, and The Nave Museum.
The district is expected to help beautify outdoor and indoor spaces, compliment businesses, enhance property values, increase the tax base and create a creative and fun environment, according to the city council agenda item.
The Main Street Program has already submitted a letter of intent to the Texas Commission of Arts for the designation of an arts and culture district, which has been accepted, according to the agenda item.
Council approval of the resolution is one of the steps for final approval from the commission, which are all due by June 15. City staff are confident the commission will grant the district designation, according to the agenda item.
Once established, the city will work with local partners to grow Victoria's arts and culture community, promote the district, draw business and visitors to downtown, and apply for grant opportunities to help fund efforts in the district, according to the agenda item.
Other notable business on the council's agenda include:
The city voting on a resolution to declare its intent to establish a Property Assessed Clean Energy Program.
Annual reports from the Main Street Program and Victoria Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Part of the consent agenda, authorization of a grant application to the Local Border Security Program in an approximate amount of $388,000 and designate the City Manager as the authorized official.
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2022-04-03T21:41:49Z
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www.victoriaadvocate.com
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City Council to vote on establishing arts and culture district | Victoria | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/counties/victoria/city-council-to-vote-on-establishing-arts-and-culture-district/article_e522c980-b334-11ec-8b91-734d9778a9ae.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/counties/victoria/city-council-to-vote-on-establishing-arts-and-culture-district/article_e522c980-b334-11ec-8b91-734d9778a9ae.html
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Armando Chavez-Rivera
Kyoko Amano
UHV faculty member elected to national Spanish-language academy
Armando Chávez-Rivera, a University of Houston-Victoria associate professor of Spanish, recently was elected to join the Spanish-language academy that serves the United States and also will become a corresponding member of Spain’s oldest official Spanish-language institution.
Chávez-Rivera was nominated and elected to join the Academia Norteamericana de la Lengua Española, or North American Academy of the Spanish Language, at the end of last year. The academy is one of 23 Spanish-language academies in four continents that serve 580 million Spanish-speakers around the world, according to the academy’s website. The academy, also known as ANLE, was founded in 1973 and contributes to the work of the Association of Academies of the Spanish Language and the Royal Spanish Academy, Spain’s royal and official institution that regulates the Spanish language. The mission of the academy is to study, prepare and implement the normative rules of Spanish in the U.S.
To be considered a candidate to join ANLE, an individual must stand out within the scope of the Spanish language in the fields of arts or sciences or have made substantial linguistic or literary contributions to the development and care of the Spanish language, according to the academy. Chávez-Rivera will join more than 30 other academic members – called numeraries.
“We are ecstatic to learn that Dr. Chávez-Rivera’s dedication to research and service in his field is being recognized by this national academy,” said Chance Glenn, UHV provost and vice president for academic affairs. “We are proud of the work he has demonstrated in his pursuit of scholarly and teaching excellence and look forward to the impact his research will continue to have in his field and in the classroom.”
Chávez-Rivera has served since 2017 as a corresponding member of the academy. He will be formally and officially inducted into the academy in June. During the ceremony, there will be a presentation about Chávez-Rivera and his achievements, and Chávez-Rivera also will give a speech. He will receive a medal and certificate from the ANLE, and he will be a lifetime member of the academy.
“It is the highest recommendation and an honor to be in the company of world-renowned professors and writers of the Spanish language,” Chávez-Rivera said. “It is such an honor to become a lifetime member of the academy. Each national academy of the Spanish language has few numerary members.”
Chávez-Rivera has been a UHV faculty member since 2011 and is the director of the UHV Spanish program. He received a bachelor’s degree in journalism in 1993 from the University of Havana in Cuba and in 2004 received a master’s degree in Latin American integration from the University of La Plata in Argentina. He also holds two additional master’s degrees, including a master’s degree in Spanish American literature from New Mexico State University and a master’s in Hispanic lexicography from the School of Hispanic Lexicography of the Royal Spanish Academy. He holds a doctoral degree in Hispanic literature from the University of Arizona.
Chávez-Rivera’s research focuses on the origins of lexicography in different regions where Spanish is spoken, including the United States, the Caribbean and Spain. In 2021 he published a book of his research on lexicography in Latin America called “Diccionario de provincialismos de la Isla de Cuba,” translated in English to “Dictionary of Provincialisms of the Island of Cuba.” He has published four other books – “Cuba per se. Cartas de la diáspora,” “El poeta en la ciudad,” “Memorias de papel,” and “Rescate del tiempo.” Chávez-Rivera also has published two dozen academic journal articles and chapters, and has given presentations on his research at local, state, national and international conferences and universities. Chávez-Rivera previously worked full time as a journalist for 15 years prior to academia and continues to contribute to journals and publications as an editorial board member and columnist. He also has worked as an editor and a manuscript reviewer.
“This is an exciting achievement for Dr. Chávez-Rivera, and we are proud to have him as part of our faculty,” said Kyoko Amano, dean of the UHV College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences. “This membership is recognition of all the work he has done, and we are happy to support him in his academic endeavors.”
As a numerary member of the ANLE, Chávez-Rivera also will become a corresponding member of the Royal Spanish Academy, he said. He looks forward to doing even more in-depth research into lexicography and the links between the Spanish language, culture and society, and presenting his research to his new colleagues in the academy. One of his main goals is to see his current research published in his new upcoming book.
“I am ready to be fully engaged in more responsibility in the ANLE and more projects in the field for my research in the U.S. and Spanish America,” Chávez-Rivera said. “As a member and a scholar, this will present more opportunities to present my books at other institutions, which gives more visibility to our faculty here at UHV. We work very seriously here at UHV in the classroom and in our fields, and I am happy to share that with more scholars and members of the 23 national academies in the world.”
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2022-04-03T21:42:20Z
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www.victoriaadvocate.com
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UHV faculty member elected to national Spanish-language academy | News | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/uhv-faculty-member-elected-to-national-spanish-language-academy/article_ddd6ffd4-b0f0-11ec-b31f-6b802116484f.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/uhv-faculty-member-elected-to-national-spanish-language-academy/article_ddd6ffd4-b0f0-11ec-b31f-6b802116484f.html
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Bible verse - Isaiah Isa.18:3-5; quote by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
All ye inhabitants of the world, and dwellers on the earth, see ye, when he lifteth up an ensign on the mountains; and when he bloweth a trumpet, hear ye.
For so the Lord said unto me, I will take my rest, and I will consider in my dwelling place like a clear heat upon herbs, and like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest.
For afore the harvest, when the bud is perfect, and the sour grape is ripening in the flower, he shall both cut off the sprigs with pruning hooks, and take away and cut down the branches.
Advice is like snow — the softer it falls, the longer it dwells upon, and the deeper it sinks into the mind.
Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772-1834) was an English poet, literary critic, philosopher, and theologian who, with his friend William Wordsworth, was a founder of the Romantic Movement in England and a member of the Lake Poets. He also shared volumes and collaborated with Charles Lamb, Robert Southey, and Charles Lloyd.
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2022-04-03T21:42:26Z
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www.victoriaadvocate.com
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Bible verse - Isaiah Isa.18:3-5; quote by Samuel Taylor Coleridge | Opinion | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/opinion/bible-verse---isaiah-isa-18-3-5-quote-by-samuel-taylor-coleridge/article_c3ba9d24-b03a-11ec-9ead-57436e628d65.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/opinion/bible-verse---isaiah-isa-18-3-5-quote-by-samuel-taylor-coleridge/article_c3ba9d24-b03a-11ec-9ead-57436e628d65.html
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As to mechanics, oil-producing countries exchange crude for dollar-denominated assets which they then recycle into purchases on international markets. For the U.S., the demand for dollars increases, which is normally beneficial because it helps promote non-inflationary growth, liquidity, and lower interest rates. Conversely, it is not at all uncommon to have policies which deliberately weaken the dollar, which makes domestic goods more competitive.
If petrodollar transactions decline, the fear is that a chain reaction could ensue. India is reportedly considering buying oil from Russia at discounted prices using the Chinese yuan. Other countries are exploring alternatives to the dollar due to U.S. sanctions on Russia, which caused significant economic disruption. Some advocate a basket of currencies; others want to go the crypto route.
Relax. Stay safe.
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2022-04-03T21:42:38Z
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www.victoriaadvocate.com
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Syndicated Column: The Economist: Petrodollar paranoia | Opinion | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/opinion/syndicated-column-the-economist-petrodollar-paranoia/article_835efd54-b1bd-11ec-b8a0-dfa0778221f0.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/opinion/syndicated-column-the-economist-petrodollar-paranoia/article_835efd54-b1bd-11ec-b8a0-dfa0778221f0.html
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Victoria County commissioners are expected to receive $105,000 grant to purchase body cameras for the sheriff's office at commissioners court Monday.
The grant allows the county to purchase 55 cameras, Victoria County Judge Ben Zeller said.
Also at the meeting, the court is expected to discuss the fiscal year 2023 budget calendar, as well as consider approval of a company to update the county's hazard mitigation plan.
The sheriff's office has not always had body cameras for patrolmen, Zeller said, but he believes that the county is moving in the direction of all law enforcement being equipped with cameras.
"I think the public increasingly expects law enforcement folks to have body cameras," Zeller said. "It's becoming a priority of the state. In all likelihood, it will be mandated at some point down the road."
The county will likely have to procure more cameras eventually, Zeller said, but "this is a big step in the right direction."
The Victoria 100 Club has donated $9,841.50 to help pay the county's 25%.
Commissioners will consider approval for H2O Partners Inc. to update the county's hazard mitigation plan at the meeting.
Mitigation plans are detailed documents that cover a wide range of hazards, emergency management coordinator Rick McBrayer said.
The current mitigation plan is a 273-page document available on the Victoria County website. It covers hazards such as flood, hurricane, thunderstorm, wind, drought, extreme heat, hail, winter storm, tornado, wildfire and more.
The active plan — approved in January 2018 — is set to expire in March 2023, so “we’ll have to have something in to FEMA by the end of this year, first part of next year for their approval,” McBrayer said.
Budget calendar
The court will discuss the yearly budget at the meeting as well, Zeller said.
"The budget process, and our budget in general, is a very important part of what we do," Zeller said. "It's where we work to overcome challenges that we're facing as a county. It's where we take advantage of new opportunities."
In the budget calendar, community members can see when things like public workshops and budget meetings will be, Zeller said.
Zeller said he tries to set the calendar as soon as possible to give county offices and departments "ample time to prepare."
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2022-04-03T21:42:44Z
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www.victoriaadvocate.com
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Victoria County to receive $105,000 grant to purchase body cams | Premium | victoriaadvocate.com
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If high gas prices and inflation have thrown your outings off course, don’t worry; the city of Victoria Convention & Visitors Bureau is here to help you find activities close to home that won’t break the bank.
The CVB maintains a comprehensive calendar of local events at www.explorevictoriatexas.com. Take a quick glance and you’ll find activities to suit all ages, tastes and budgets—all while avoiding a pricey fill-up for an out-of-town trip.
If you enjoy spending time in nature, mark your calendar for the grand opening of the Athey Birding Sanctuary at 3003 Vine St. On April 23 (Earth Day weekend), you can stop by between 9 a.m. and noon for free family-friendly activities hosted by the CVB and local community organizations. Don’t forget to grab a free snow cone.
Looking for more ways to enjoy the beautiful weather we’ve been having? Our local parks are always free and open to visitors, from the well-known Riverside Park and Ethel Lee Tracy Park to community parks right in your neighborhood. You can visit victoriatx.gov/parks to see a list of local parks. The Victoria Educational Gardens, with its beautiful flowers and butterflies, is a good option as well.
The CVB’s partnership with the Museum of the Coastal Bend will give you a firsthand experience of the lives of prehistoric hunters from our region. For $1, you’ll get three chances to throw an atlatl (a spear-like weapon) at a woolly mammoth target. If you hit the bull’s-eye, you’ll win a free sandwich from Uncle Mutt’s Bar-B-Q.
Art lovers won’t want to miss “Chromatic Nature,” the new exhibit opening April 1 at the Nave Museum featuring color-themed paintings by Texas artists Eilen Thedford and Dona LeCrone Walston. You can also stop by the Victoria Art League to view works created by their members.
Have you paid a visit to downtown recently? The Victoria Main Street Program is helping to keep the place hopping with fun monthly events like Tunes at Noon on April 13 and Market on Main on April 16. Make sure you’re following them on Facebook to learn more about new businesses and upcoming activities downtown.
For those who like to create memories at the ball diamond, the Victoria Generals will start their season in June. They’ll be hosting a few free ticket nights, including a free Father’s Day game June 19 sponsored by the CVB.
The Victoria Public Library is planning a whole slew of springtime events, ranging from story times and book clubs for all ages to arts, crafts, music and more. You can check out their event calendar at www.victoriatx.gov/library to find out what’s next.
If you’d like to learn more about our local history, visit www.explorevictoriatexas.com or stop by our office to pick up a map of the Victoria Trail through Time or the Old Victoria Driving Tour, which can also be a walking tour if you so choose. You can scan the QR codes on the Trail through Time to get a free T-shirt letting people know that you explored Victoria.
The next episode of “Explore Your Victoria,” featuring Outlaw Pass, will debut on TV15 (channels 15 and 115 and online at victoriatx.gov/tv15) at 4 p.m. April 14. You can catch up on previous episodes on the Victoria Texas Videos YouTube channel for even more fun activities near you.
Joel Novosad isDirector at Victoria Convention & Visitors Bureau.
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2022-04-04T05:20:59Z
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www.victoriaadvocate.com
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City Corner: Feeling the pinch from inflation? We’ll help you plan a staycation | Government | victoriaadvocate.com
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