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VICTORIA — The life of Virginia Callan Welder will be celebrated at a Mass of the Resurrection on May 5, 2022, at 10:00 a.m., at The Cathedral of Our Lady of Victory, 1309 E Mesquite Lane, Victoria, Texas, followed by a graveside service at the Catholic Cemetery #3. Visit www.rosewoodfuneralchapel.com to read the complete obituary.
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2022-05-05T08:55:40Z
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www.victoriaadvocate.com
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Virginia Callan Welder | Death Notices | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/obituaries/death_notices/virginia-callan-welder/article_4b94d66a-df33-562f-9a47-951f2676cada.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/obituaries/death_notices/virginia-callan-welder/article_4b94d66a-df33-562f-9a47-951f2676cada.html
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Denny Lee Arnold
VICTORIA — Denny Arnold, 83, longtime resident of Victoria, Texas went to be with his Lord and Savior on May 2, 2022. Denny is survived by his loving wife Carole Arnold; his children: Kristina Wyatt, Jason Zielonka (Stacey), Nicklaus Arnold (Emily), Carley Arnold (Auzimuth Jackson), and Alysa McBride; and his extended family, Debbie Clark (Allen) and Saundra West (Grant). Denny has been blessed with 11 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren.
Denny was predeceased in death by his parents, Fred and Hazel Arnold, his sister JoAnn Arnold, and his wife Beverly.
Denny was a 1956 graduate of Bartlett High School, of Bartlett, Ohio. He left his college career at Ohio State University to enlist in the U.S. Air Force where he served from 1956-1961 as a Code Decryptor in Japan and Vietnam. After his enlistment, Denny attended Midwestern State University where he graduated in 1968 with a BA in Government. Upon his graduation, Denny served the following governmental offices: 1968-1970 Administrative Assistant, Wichita Falls, Texas; 1970 City Manager, Stamford, Texas; 1971-1972 Assistant City Manager, West University Place, Texas; 1972-1978 City Manager, Schertz, Texas; 1978-1994 Assistant City Manager, Victoria, Texas; 1994 Acting City Manager, Victoria, Texas; 1994-2006 City Manager, Victoria, Texas.
Denny was also active in the Victoria Rotary Club, International City/Council Management Association; Board Member of the Victoria Hope Chest; Memorial High School Band Booster; Victoria East High School Band Booster and Parkway Church and a proud member of the Misawa Group (A group of servicemembers who served in Misawa, Japan). Being an avid coffee drinker, he volunteered every Tuesday until recently to ensure coffee was always hot, fresh and ready for the Victoria Community Economic Development meetings. He earned the nickname, “Mr. Coffee”.
Those who really knew Denny, knew of his love of College Football, College Basketball, the PGA, and a supporter of High School Sports and the Arts. Not a day would go by where he wasn’t keeping up with the latest Hallmark movies while enjoying his Blue Bell Old Fashioned Vanilla Ice Cream. A huge fan of the old Country Western Music he could be caught many times tapping his foot to Hank Williams, Willie Nelson, Jim Reeves, Patsy Cline and old Gospel. He was a pro at terrible jokes and puns and could often be found sporting his favorite green London Fog jacket and duct-taped jeans (only because he was so thrifty and after all there was still good wear left). He was known as “Papa Arnold” by many of his kids’ friends, whom he was always ready to help with providing rides, meals, or a roof over their head.
Visitation will be on Friday, May 6, 2022 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Rosewood Funeral Home located at 3304 Mockingbird Lane, Victoria, TX 77904. His funeral service will on Saturday, May 7, 2022 at 11:00am at the same location. Denny’s family asks that in lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund at https://www.vvmf.org/giving-to-vvmf/
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2022-05-05T08:55:52Z
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www.victoriaadvocate.com
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Denny Lee Arnold | Obituaries | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/obituaries/denny-lee-arnold/article_03ff902e-9a38-5208-b899-edb202e2f3e6.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/obituaries/denny-lee-arnold/article_03ff902e-9a38-5208-b899-edb202e2f3e6.html
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Georgie Mae Voelkel
NORDHEIM — Georgie Mae Stoever Voelkel, 90, of Nordheim, passed away peacefully April 30, 2022. Georgie was born to the late Eddie and Alma Mueller Stoever on February 27th, 1932. She graduated from Nordheim ISD. Georgie married Lindberg (Lindy) Voelkel March 26, 1950, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Nordheim.
She retired from the Nordheim ISD cafeteria after working there for 24 years. She continued cooking and baking and took much delight in doing so. Georgie always looked forward to the back yard barbeques and enjoyed visiting with family and friends.
Georgie cherished her plants and flowers and spent endless hours working in her yard and feeding and watching the birds, hummers, and squirrels.
She was a member of the Melodies Band for 10 years and the Friends and Faculty Band where she loved playing the accordion. Georgie was also a “Bunco Bell” and looked forward to rolling those dice with her friends. She also adored her “Spurs’ and her snow men collection of over 250, big and small.
Georgie was preceded in death by her parents, her beloved husband, Lindy, of 67 years, whom she cared for to the very end.
She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Glenn Nelson and Willie Voelkel of Nordheim; daughter and son-in-law, Joy Lynn and David Garcia of Victoria; sister and brother-in-law, Lois and R.B. Eichhorn of Victoria; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Nina and Wayne Bredeson of Kerrville; brother-in-law, Tilden Voelkel of Nordheim; numerous nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held Friday, May 6, 2022, from 5:00pm to 7:00pm at Finch Funeral Chapel, Yorktown, Texas. Funeral Services will be at Finch Funeral Chapel, Yorktown Saturday, May 7, 2022, at 10:00am with Pastor Jonathan Mollenkopf officiating. Interment will follow at Nordheim Cemetery.
Pallbearers will include nephews, Ronald Eichhorn, Brian Bredeson, David Bredeson, Timmy Voelkel, Pete Voelkel, Bobby Voelkel, Jason Voelkel, and Kolby Voelkel.
Honorary pallbearers are Paul Baumann Jr., James Dueser, Lupe Garcia, John Green, Callan Jonas, Gilbert Pargmann, and Larry Salyer.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Nordheim Fire Department or donor’s choice.
Arrangements with Finch Funeral Chapel - Yorktown 361 564-2277
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2022-05-05T08:56:05Z
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www.victoriaadvocate.com
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Georgie Mae Voelkel | Obituaries | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/obituaries/georgie-mae-voelkel/article_2e345361-5934-5242-a0c9-989a1e1c6901.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/obituaries/georgie-mae-voelkel/article_2e345361-5934-5242-a0c9-989a1e1c6901.html
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Celeste Silling
In the right lighting, male grackle feathers have a blue, green, and purple iridescence.
Contributed photo by Kenlynn Volz
Nature Notes: Grackles
By Celeste Silling
Some of the more common birds we see here in Texas are the grackles. You can hardly walk through a supermarket parking lot without seeing one of these brown or black birds peering out at you from under a car.
Sometimes, they’ll even come right up to you and inspect your purchases.
This invasive behavior coupled with their sometimes-abrasive calling might make the grackles seem like a bit of a nuisance bird. But in fact, these are some very interesting animals.
There are three species of grackles that are commonly seen in Texas: the common grackle, boat-tailed grackle, and great-tailed grackle. While these are all separate species, they are closely related and look very similar to one another.
The adult males all have glossy, iridescent black feathers that can appear as dark blue, green or purple in the right light.
The adult females are smaller and have a duller brown color, and are often mistaken for different species entirely.
All three of these grackle species have been shown to be quite intelligent. The great-tailed grackle, for example, is able to learn to recognize and remember individual humans. Grackles can also learn to take advantage of human behavior, like scavenging where we commonly drop food or following us as we eat outside. That’s one smart bird.
Grackles are well known for their many calls. While most birds stick to a few melodious chirps, grackles are able to make a wide variety of interesting sounds, from tinkling “clinks” to metallic rasps to something like a gunshot. These calls mean different things to the birds, and they use these sounds to communicate with each other.
For people first arriving in Texas, though, many of these calls can be alarming, especially when they are loud and nearby. But for those of us who have been initiated, the grackles’ calls might as well be the official soundtrack of Texas.
Grackles are highly social creatures, which is why we often see them in flocks of hundreds or thousands. They also tend to flock together with other birds such as brown-headed cowbirds and starlings. This flocking behavior is believed to give them an advantage over predators; with many eyes on the look-out, they are more likely to see an attack coming.
They can also forage together to find more sources of food. Grackles eat plant material like fruit, corn and grains, as well as meat material such as insects, small fish, and chicken nuggets.
Grackles, especially great-tailed grackles, have adapted amazingly well to human-inhabited areas. They can nest on buildings or telephone poles and like to roost or hunt in parking lots or other human-made structures as well as trees. Female grackles can even incorporate human trash into their nests by weaving in things like bits of paper, plastic bags, and string. It's nice to see that at least some animals are benefiting from our litter.
Grackles are so common here in Texas that we often take them for granted. But look closely, and you’ll see that these are smart, beautiful birds. The next time you spot a grackle strutting through a parking lot, watch… I’ll bet it’s up to something interesting.
Celeste Silling is the Education and Outreach Manager at the Gulf Coast Bird Observatory. 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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2022-05-05T14:47:22Z
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www.victoriaadvocate.com
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Nature Notes: Grackles | Local News | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/local/nature-notes-grackles/article_cb9708a8-ca60-11ec-96d0-03f35cb67bde.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/local/nature-notes-grackles/article_cb9708a8-ca60-11ec-96d0-03f35cb67bde.html
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Pastor Larry Green launches into his sermon during the National Day of Prayer on Thursday in DeLeon Plaza.
Observants of the National Day of Prayer listen to the Nazareth Academy Choir of Angels perform in DeLeon Plaza.
Pastor Larry Green of God’s Church of Restoration begins his sermon during the National Day of Prayer on Thursday in DeLeon Plaza.
Nazareth Academy choir director Ralph Nance leads fourth and fifth grade students from the school’s Choir of Angels through several songs during the National Day of Prayer on Thursday in DeLeon Plaza.
National Day of Prayer observants cover their hearts during a song.
Students from the Nazareth Academy Choir of Angels perform prior to the National Day of Prayer.
Observants join nation in prayer
About 50 people gathered in DeLeon Plaza at noon Thursday for the National Day of Prayer, which is observed annually on the first Thursday of May.
Congress designated the day in 1952. Pastor Larry Green, of God's Church of Restoration in Victoria, said he's been observing the day locally for about eight years.
Each year has its own theme based on a piece of scripture, and Thursday's inspiration came from Colossians 2:6-7.
"And so what I tried to do is look at what the theme is about," Green said. "This one was like, 'exalting the Lord who has established us'."
"It's not just go to Sunday, sit at a church and listen to worship with a couple of songs and then listen to a message and leave it there," said Wanda Ulrey, of Victoria, who attended the prayer. "No, it's about taking the kingdom wherever we go."
Ulrey's thoughts echoed the message of Green, whose sermon encouraged people to practice their faith beyond merely going to church.
"You can go to your garage and step in it all day long and you'll never be a car," Green said. "Just like going to church never saved anybody. Having a relationship with Jesus Christ does."
"This is a 'want to come out,' not a 'have to.' You've got to want to come out," Green said.
Among those who came out were fourth and fifth graders from Nazareth Academy's Choir of Angels, led by choir director Ralph Nance. The choir enthusiastically performed several songs to precede the prayer service.
Green said Nance jokingly refers to them as the day's "house band."
"Every year I gotta buy them about eight pizzas," Green said. But seeing them perform is exactly what Green meant when he talked about 'exalting the Lord.'
"We should be able to give God praise no matter where we're at," he said. "No matter what you're doing."
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2022-05-05T23:04:04Z
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www.victoriaadvocate.com
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Observants join nation in prayer | News | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/observants-join-nation-in-prayer/article_08be42c0-cca3-11ec-b743-7fcbfc2518fa.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/observants-join-nation-in-prayer/article_08be42c0-cca3-11ec-b743-7fcbfc2518fa.html
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St. Joseph’s Ryan Ward will compete in the high jump at the TAPPS state meet. The meet is scheduled for Friday and Saturday at Hewitt Midway High School.
A small group of St. Joseph athletes left Thursday for the TAPPS Class 5A state track and field meet scheduled for Friday and Saturday at Hewitt Midway High School.
But the Flyers and Lady Flyers hope to return with more medals than participants.
Also at the meet, the Shiner St. Paul girls will go for their seventh straight team championship and ninth in the last 11 years in the Class 2A meet.
Lauren Theriot and Ryan Ward will compete for the Lady Flyers on Friday.
Caleb Ybarra and Nick Rodriguez will run for the Flyers on Saturday.
Rodriguez won the boys 800-meter run at the TAPPS South Regional meet. He also finished third in the 1,600-meter run.
Caleb Ybarra was second in the boys 100-meter dash at the regional meet, and finished third in the 200-meter dash.
Lauren Theriot qualified for the state meet by finishing third in the girls 3,200-meter run, and Ryan Ward placed third in the girls high jump.
The Lady Cardinals have at least one athlete in 11 of the 17 events.
The St. Paul boys finished second in the team standings at last year’s meet.
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2022-05-06T02:14:17Z
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www.victoriaadvocate.com
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St. Joseph seeks medals, St. Paul looks for repeat at TAPPS state meet | Advosports | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/advosports/st-joseph-seeks-medals-st-paul-looks-for-repeat-at-tapps-state-meet/article_9d0dd620-ccc6-11ec-8139-2bc144b5b2e4.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/advosports/st-joseph-seeks-medals-st-paul-looks-for-repeat-at-tapps-state-meet/article_9d0dd620-ccc6-11ec-8139-2bc144b5b2e4.html
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A white minivan was about 30 feet from the roadway near a utility pole after a collision with an ambulance on North Main Street in Victoria.
Police blocked off a portion of North Main Street in Victoria after a minivan and ambulance crashed Thursday afternoon.
A driver suffered life-threatening injuries after an ambulance and a minivan crashed in Victoria a little after 5 p.m. Thursday.
The minivan's driver, an elderly man, was flown by helicopter to a San Antonio hospital, said Senior Police Officer Lee Peters, about an hour and a half after the crash. The minivan's only passenger, an elderly woman, was taken to a Victoria hospital for assessment. Peters was unsure how severely injured the woman was.
A little after 5 p.m., the minivan crashed with a northbound ambulance carrying three Victoria Fire Department members at North Main Street and Spring Creek Drive, said Victoria Fire Chief Tracy Fox. The three fire department members were taken to DeTar Hospital Navarro in stable condition and were released from the ER Thursday evening.
The crash resulted in the ambulance being fully submerged in water, Fox said, adding, the ambulance was not on an emergency call at the time.
After the crash, the minivan was lying about 30 feet off the roadway in a grassy gully next to a utility pole.
"The one we are mainly concerned with is the driver of the minivan," Peters said.
Eric Ridyolph, 30, of Cuero, was driving to work when he came upon the crash. Although he said he did not witness the crash, he arrived before police and EMS.
Ridyolph, an ER nurse and a half dozen other people rushed to help the occupants of the minivan, he said.
He got the minivan's driver's side door open and turned off the ignition to prevent a fire from starting.
Ridyolph cut the driver's seat belt off with a knife and removed the man while the ER nurse supported his head and neck. The man appeared unconscious and had deep cuts to his face, he said.
Then, Ridyolph and others went around to the passenger's side to talk to the woman to keep her from passing out.
Ridyolph said he saw a "sea of vehicles" pulled over on the roadway, and he began yelling for them to clear a path for ambulances. When medics arrived, Ridyolph said he "backed out and left it to professionals."
Ridyolph said he knew the crash was serious as soon as he saw it.
"Instinct took over," he said. "I didn't think. I just reacted."
Ridyolph said he has 10 years experience as a TDCJ corrections officer, DeWitt County Sheriff's Office jailer and U.S. Army military police officer. Now, he works for Union Pacific in Bloomington.
"It was the right thing to do," he said. "I hope someone would do it for me and mine."
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2022-05-06T02:14:47Z
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www.victoriaadvocate.com
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Bystanders rushed to help injured after minivan, ambulance crash in Victoria | Crime & Courts | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/crime/bystanders-rushed-to-help-injured-after-minivan-ambulance-crash-in-victoria/article_88dc6cba-ccc2-11ec-bb2d-bfcc68e0c1e6.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/crime/bystanders-rushed-to-help-injured-after-minivan-ambulance-crash-in-victoria/article_88dc6cba-ccc2-11ec-bb2d-bfcc68e0c1e6.html
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Victoria County Master Gardener Association offers college scholarship
Agriculture and horticulture students who have completed at least 60 hours of undergraduate credits, or who have been accepted into a graduate program, may be eligible for a $1,000 scholarship offered by the Victoria County Master Gardener Association.
The Clifton J. Knezek Memorial College Scholarship intends to award a selected college student this year.
To qualify, a student must have graduated from high school in Victoria County or in the counties of Refugio, Goliad, DeWitt, Lavaca, Jackson or Calhoun. If homeschooled, the student must have lived in one of the seven counties for at least one year prior to high school graduation. The applicant must currently be a full-time student, and carry a minimum of a 2.5 cumulative GPA for course work completed as of the date of his or her application. Graduate applicants must already be accepted into a graduate program.
The application is available online and may be found at the vcmga.org website under the “forms” designation. Look for the “2022 Clifton J. Knezek Memorial College Scholarship form.” The application must be filled out completely according to the detailed instructions provided on the application, otherwise it will not be accepted.
The deadline for submission is June 1.
Mail the application to VCMGA, Attn. Scholarship Committee, 528 Waco Circle. Victoria, Texas, 77904.
The scholarship was renamed this year to honor the late Cliff Knezek, a longtime VCMGA member, past president and donor.
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2022-05-06T02:14:59Z
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www.victoriaadvocate.com
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Victoria County Master Gardener Association offers college scholarship | Local News | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/local/victoria-county-master-gardener-association-offers-college-scholarship/article_2f52c3c6-cc93-11ec-a04b-5f97f4baaf15.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/local/victoria-county-master-gardener-association-offers-college-scholarship/article_2f52c3c6-cc93-11ec-a04b-5f97f4baaf15.html
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Virginia Elizabeth Prince
VICTORIA — Virginia Elizabeth Prince, age 70, a native of Victoria, passed away peacefully on Monday, May 2, 2022. She was born on May 2, 1951. Funeral, Tuesday, May 10, 10 a.m., at St. Peter’s Baptist Church, 2708 S. Laurent St. in Victoria. Burial following the service at Memorial Park Cemetery. Tracy’s M.J. Santellana (361) 582-0858.
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2022-05-06T07:32:32Z
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www.victoriaadvocate.com
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Virginia Elizabeth Prince | Death Notices | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/obituaries/death_notices/virginia-elizabeth-prince/article_f2583d8e-a596-5ba9-b714-2e7d576f510b.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/obituaries/death_notices/virginia-elizabeth-prince/article_f2583d8e-a596-5ba9-b714-2e7d576f510b.html
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Mary Ester De La Cruz
PEARLAND — ary Ester Sylva De La Cruz began her eternal rest peacefully at home in the arms of her eldest on Sunday, May 1, 2022. She was surrounded by the love and prayers of her beloved family and many precious friends. Mary Ester was born in Victoria, Texas on September 17, 1937 to Elpidia and Celso Zepeda Sylva. The eldest of five children, she was a mother-figure to all her siblings, and as time went on, she became a mother-figure to their children as well - her precious nieces and nephews. In 1973 she was blessed with a daughter (Denise), and in 1974, a second daughter (Melissa), both who became the center of her world. In later years, upon the birth of her grandchildren (Athena, Neal, and Eva), she assumed a whole different level of joy and passion. She was a devoted mother and grandmother who was dedicated to guiding, serving, and caring for not only her daughters, but her whole family. She was a mentor, teacher, and confidant, our example, the leader - the glue that kept the unit bound and “together.”
Mary Ester was artistic and creative, and as a fiercely independent young woman, she started her own business in her twenties. She opened Mary Ester’s Flower Shop in the mid-1960s; and a few years later, she and her husband, John, opened John’s Photography. Together, they created a thriving family business that served Port Lavaca and surrounding towns with beautiful flower arrangements and photography for 40 years. Mary Ester loved flowers, crafting, and oil painting; and she told the best stories. She also loved spending time with her whole family, and over the last sixteen years, loved playing with and cuddling her three grandbabies. She was everyone’s favorite sister, aunt, advisor, Godmother, and friend; and she exuded love and compassion to those who met her, and appreciation to those who helped her. She always had something nice to say to those she met along her journey. She never thought twice about offering her time and was always ready to help. She and her memory continue to inspire all who love her. She created many precious memories for all who knew her.
Mary Ester was grounded in her Catholic faith and lived her faith through her sharing and servitude. She was a member of the Associates of the Incarnate Word in Victoria, Texas; Our Lady of the Gulf Altar Society; Catholic Daughters of America; and the Cursillo movement. In her late years, she was a member at the Sheltering Arms, a Houston senior care facility, where she not only attended during the day, but helped to make floral arrangements and crafts for activities, parties, and holidays.
She is predeceased by her parents, husband, her sister-in-law, Hope Sylva (Sam), and her brother-in-law, Eleazar Perez (Alice).
Mary Ester is survived by her daughters, Dr. Denise De La Cruz Gordon (Steve) and Melissa Rinard (Jeff) and her loving grandchildren, Athena, Neal and Eva. She is also survived by her sisters, Mary Ellen Sanchez (Samuel), Alice Perez, Gloria Ortiz (Melchor), and her brother, Sam Sylva. Cherishing her memory are her numerous nieces, nephews, and Godchildren.
The whole family would like to extend our utmost gratitude and love to Kortni Russell, not only a caregiver to our beloved mom and Mimi, but care giver and friend to our family and all who visited us in the last year. Without her support and love, our experience through this journey would have been much different and so much more challenging. We would also like to thank Ryan Larroza, our nurse from Omega Hospice, whose care and compassion made for a peaceful journey home for Mom. We are so grateful to you both and pray many blessings on you and your work.
We were so blessed to have Mary Ester in our lives and we ask for your continued prayers, dear family and friends.
A visitation for Mary Ester De La Cruz will be held Thursday, May 5, 2022 from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Forest Park South Funeral Home in Pearland, TX 77584. A visitation will also be held on Saturday, May 7, 2022 from 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM at Our Lady of the Gulf Catholic Church, 415 West Austin Street, Port Lavaca, TX 77979. A rosary service will be held Saturday, May 7, 2022 from 1:30 PM to 2:00 PM at Our Lady of the Gulf Catholic Church. A funeral mass will be held 2:00 PM on Saturday, May 7, 2022 at Our Lady of the Gulf Catholic Church. A committal service will follow 3:00 PM at Port Lavaca Cemetery, 500 Martin Luther King Drive, Port Lavaca, TX 77979.
Pallbearers will be Sgt. Steve Gordon, Jeff Rinard, Neal T. Baum, Michael Sanchez, Gary Treese, Gerald Sanchez, Craig Sylva, and Bradley Sylva.
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2022-05-06T07:32:38Z
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www.victoriaadvocate.com
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Mary Ester De La Cruz | Obituaries | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/obituaries/mary-ester-de-la-cruz/article_dc59434a-a133-5a89-9268-d5d1da639a01.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/obituaries/mary-ester-de-la-cruz/article_dc59434a-a133-5a89-9268-d5d1da639a01.html
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Sister Evelyn Korenek is retiring from Nazareth Academy Catholic School.
Sister Evelyn Korenek is principal of Nazareth Academy Catholic School. The school was founded in 1867 and is a private, Catholic pre-K3 through eighth grade school in downtown Victoria. It is owned and operated by the sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament.
She is retiring after 50 years as an educator and handing over her role as principal to Leslie New, the school’s literacy director. New’s mother was a teacher at Nazareth Academy and she attended the school as well.
Korenek began life in Nada as a farmer’s daughter, the oldest of nine children. There are seven siblings now, one brother recently died at the age of 64 from Alzheimer’s, and a sister died at age 54 of cancer. They were all pretty close in age and loved one another, or as Korenek called it “we fought like cats and dogs.”
Her family raised rice for a while, corn, and cotton. The kids helped with picking and chopping the cotton. Everyone worked. She was 13 when she first tried to drive the tractor.
She described Nada as “a little town that if you blink your eyes when you pass it, you miss it.”
Korenek attended Catholic school in Nada and entered the convent right after the eighth grade. “In those days, you could do it. We went to high school in the convent.” Some of her high school classes involved traveling to Victoria. “I guess my history started way back when.”
“I was taught by the sisters. Sister Teresa Marie encouraged us. We’d ask all kinds of questions. There were three of us that entered at the same time out of a class of 17,” she said. “We had missionaries that came and talked to us about saving souls. I still think about that. That was an impetus for me. I wanted to save souls. I’m not sure I understood what that was at that time. But it was something I wanted to do.”
Her career in education began when she became a teacher at Nazareth Academy from 1972 to 1976. “Then I went to Our Lady of Victory for two years.”
When the principal of Nazareth was leaving, she was asked to consider the job because she was familiar with the staff and the school.
She asked, “how long do I have to think about it?” The answer. “Overnight.” She said she slept well through the night. “That was a good sign that I was supposed to go. So, I did. I came here as principal.”
It wasn’t the easiest of transitions. Korenek said she downed Alka Seltzer every morning for the first year. She said one of the sisters helped her cope with the stress by telling her “‘You’re not going to learn everything in one day. You’re not going to learn everything in one year.’ That helped a whole lot to realize that I didn’t have to know everything right away. But I had a great staff.”
Eventually she spent 14 happy years as principal at Nazareth. She took a sabbatical for a year for training in Louisiana. Her replacement during her sabbatical at Nazareth, Sister Kathleen Goike, ended up taking over for several years as Korenek instead became principal in Yoakum and then in Selma outside San Antonio.
“Both of those schools had pastors. I was no longer the boss of the school; I had to get adjusted to having a pastor who was the boss,” she said with a laugh.
When she returned to Nazareth Academy she was elected Mother Superior “and I was the pastor of this school.”
“I did not get away from here,” she joked. “It was part and parcel of who I was. And Sister Kathleen (Goike) now is head of the corporate board as Superior General.”
Nazareth Academy is like a family in more than the usual ways. Many of the teachers and staff actually attended the school as children. Some have their own children attending the school. The connections run deep.
“That is the neatest thing to have those former parents trusting us enough to bring back their kids. And what’s neat now is that the new principal for next year is a former student,” Korenek said.
She said that someone once told her their school “was on the wrong side of town.” She completely disagrees. The school has been around for 155 years. “We’re still able to maintain the enrollment, to maintain our finances, to maintain a good faculty. And parents trust us.”
Korenek is proud of the high level of volunteerism and the generosity shown by all, including the students. There were bouquets of flowers all across the front hallway, and in the teacher’s work room there were baskets of fruit, candy, donuts and more across the tables. The flowers were part of a Catholic tradition called the May Crowning where the Virgin Mary is crowned with a garland of flowers in a devotional ceremony. There was an overflow of flowers because the students brought so many.
So, what is Korenek going to miss most?
“The kids,” she said without hesitation. However, although she is retiring, she said she will continue to teach religion classes at the school part time.
The children evidently feel the same about their principal. This is what some of them had to say:
Olivia: “She’s really nice.”
Roger: “She’s really nice and she’s going to retire.”
Kush: “She’s gonna relax and she’s gonna have fun.”
Kane: “She should rest and have fun with her friends.”
Leisha: “She’s caring and chose to make the school the best.”
Troy: “She’s a good principal because she helps the school, and she protects the school.”
Scott: “She’s really kind and she does everything for us.”
Valentina: “I just want to say that Sister Evelyn has just been a really good principal and she’s always so loving and kind and supports us in everything that we do.”
Boston: “She cares for everybody.”
Zachary: “She’s been super nice – nice enough to give us a new playground. It was voted to be the best playground in the entire city of Victoria.”
Ariana: “Sister Evelyn is nice and really helpful. She’s the best person I’ve ever met in the whole world.”
Sister Evelyn's Retirement Reception
The public is invited to attend the retirement reception for Sister Evelyn Korenek at Nazareth Academy Catholic School, 206 W. Convent St., Victoria from 3:30 - 5 p.m. Wednesday in the Nazareth Academy Playroom.
Sister Evelyn
Evelyn Korenek
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2022-05-06T09:50:44Z
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Sister Evelyn Korenek: A life well lived devoted to God | Features | victoriaadvocate.com
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Bread Crumbs: The court of public opinion
The court of public opinion is fickle.
Over the last couple of weeks, I have been watching closely the libel trial of Johnny Depp against Amber Heard. It’s not that I enjoy celebrity gossip or have a morbid curiosity about the salacious details of the lives of the rich and famous.
I simply find the trial interesting on a psychological level.
If you don’t know what I am talking about, the actor, Johnny Depp, is suing his ex-wife, Amber Heard, for publishing an editorial in The Washington Post in 2018, in which she implies that Depp had been physically abusive to her during their short marriage. Following the editorial, Depp became a pariah in Hollywood. Nobody would hire him.
Depp is suing her to recuperate a portion of his financial losses, but even more importantly, to restore his tarnished image. Interestingly enough, the court of public opinion has definitely shifted. The evidence and testimony so far have painted Ms. Heard as an imbalanced, volatile woman who tortured Johnny Depp.
Most people now feel sorry for him and dislike her.
Four years ago, Johnny Depp was “canceled” because of the accusations which were made against him. At the time, the “Me Too” movement was in full swing. Women who had been abused and mistreated were being encouraged to stand up and speak out.
The problem with such accusations is that, though many were true, some were not. The court of public opinion, however, found all of the accused equally guilty. Many forms of media reported accusations as fact without first investigating the claims. Companies and especially the entertainment industry quickly separated themselves from anyone accused. Cancel culture was in full swing.
Joe McCarthy would have been proud.
As a pastor, I struggle deeply with this issue. On the one hand, we want to encourage those who are mistreated and abused to stand up and speak out. We want to protect them and bring their abusers to justice.
On the other hand, we have to be careful not to naively assume that all who make such claims are telling the truth. I personally know individuals whose lives and reputations have been irreparably damaged by false accusations.
So as Christians, how should we respond to accusations raised by those who claim abuse? How should we respond to our culture which is quick to cancel those who are accused? First of all, we don’t assume guilt or innocence. We reach out in love to victims, but we also seek to get all the facts before coming to any conclusions. We listen and love. We refrain from engaging in idle gossip mongering on social media.
We realize that the court of public opinion is fickle. We rarely have all the facts. Everybody was convinced four years ago that Johnny Depp was a violent abuser. Many are convinced now that Amber Heard is a sadistic manipulator. Soon the courts will decide one way or another. Even then, though, it will be hard to know what really happened in their home.
And that’s the point. The court of public opinion is fickle. The courts of our country’s legal system are fallible. One court, however, cannot fail. God knows the truth. In the end, he will make sure justice is done, if not in this life, then in the next.
So be careful not to get swept up in the court of public opinion. Leave the judging to a higher court.
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2022-05-06T19:36:40Z
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Bread Crumbs: The court of public opinion | Faith | victoriaadvocate.com
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Rev. Ronald Green
Korczynski Photography
Saturday Sermon: Silver linings found in our storms
By Ronald O. Green
Not certain what lies ahead has become a norm for some of us. This pandemic, price hikes and illnesses have affected the entire world. The uncertainty of health and the economy, even our jobs. The stress and strain of life is weighing us down.
I would love to tell everyone that nothing else will go wrong in 2022, but I am neither a prophet nor the son of a prophet, so I cannot predict that for us.
I can tell you that there is a “silver lining” for troubled times. In the Bible there is a story in the 6th Chapter of Mark where Jesus tells his disciples to hurriedly get in their boat and head out on the water. While there, the wind strengthens, a storm brews, and what was calm water suddenly becomes a torrential nightmare. What is most noteworthy here is that the disciples were in the perfect will of God. They were not in rebellion. They did not sin. The storm did not come upon them because they moved away from God.
They were in the storm because that’s where Jesus wanted them to be. That’s a reality we need to consider today.
The uncertainty we all face during these challenging times is that the Lord might have us exactly where he wants us. Some people might say that when you’re in the perfect will of God, it will never rain, and there will never be storms. But the truth is that in all likelihood, if you haven’t seen any rain or storms, you haven’t ever been in the will of God.
When the storms hit this hard, you might be tempted to turn the boat around and go back home. Why would Jesus ever want me in such a trying situation, anyway? As it turns out for the disciples, Jesus had them out there during the 4th watch — between 3 and 6 in the morning. But the passage says “Seeing them straining at the oars, for the wind was against them, at about the fourth watch of the night Jesus came to them, walking on the sea…” Jesus saw everything that was going on. He saw that they were out there trying their best to follow His instructions, even though the wind howled and the water beat them down.
We might feel wind-blown and beat down from our circumstances. And we’re doing our best to follow Jesus in the midst of it all. The first bit of silver lining I would like to share is that Jesus sees our straining at the oars. He knows our struggle down to the finest detail.
The second strand of silver lining I would share is that Jesus is with us in the storm, walking toward us and calling us to himself. This can be more than a little challenging, because it’s hard to stay faithful when our world is falling apart. But friends, please remember that the one calling us to Himself during the storm is the only one who can calm our storms and keep us safe in the midst of such distressing trials.
Let Jesus protect us and keep us safe during these difficult days. His comfort is the best treasure a person can have. Do not hesitate to draw near to him, and He will do what only God can do: Keep us afloat during the worst of storms.
The Rev. Ronald O. Green is a retired area minister.
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2022-05-06T19:36:43Z
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Saturday Sermon: Silver linings found in our storms | Faith | victoriaadvocate.com
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A U.S. Border Patrol agent combs through a field Friday northeast of Ganado. A truck holding 70-100 undocumented immigrants was discovered on U.S. 59. As of 2:30 p.m., 60 has been apprehended.
Nine of the undocumented immigrants were taken to the hospital, and 51 were sent to the Jackson County jail, said Kurt Janica, Edna fire chief.
Janica said Sheriff Kelly Janica is in the field assisting in the search for the remaining immigrants.
About 70 first responders are assisting in the search, the fire chief said.
"Everyone is in the field," he said.
Some of the apprehended immigrants were suffering from dehydration with temperatures in the 90s as of about 3 p.m.
About 30 minutes prior, a Ganado Independent School District school bus left a staging area on U.S. 59 used by authorities.
The bus was carrying people inside.
"We're all hot out here," the fire chief said, adding the "scene remains active."
Earlier Friday
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2022-05-06T21:18:43Z
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Update: 60 of 100 people found in tractor-trailer near Ganado in custody; some sent to hospital | Crime & Courts | victoriaadvocate.com
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Jim Graff: What a difference it makes to have the right people in our corner
In 2003 a man named Dave Brailsford became the performance director for the British Cycling team. At that time, the team had endured 100 years of mediocrity. They had won only one gold medal in a hundred years. And none of their cyclists had won a Tour de France in 110 years. It was so bad that the top bicycle manufacturer in Europe wouldn’t even sell a bike to the team. He felt it would hurt his business.
But Brailsford convinced the team to buy into a concept called marginal gains. Brailsford helped them identify a long list of things they could get 1% better at and then coached them.
For instance, they learned to ride on more streamlined seats. They used rubbing alcohol on their tires. The team also wore electrically heated outfits so their muscles performed at optimal levels.
These were just a few of the areas they made a 1% improvement. And the results were pretty amazing.
In five years, this team won 60% of the gold medals in the 2008 Olympics. In the 2012 Olympics, they set nine Olympic records and seven world records. From 2012 – 2017, their cyclists won five out of the six Tour de France races.
What a difference it makes to have the right people in our corner. Prayers we are praying not only require help from God but often proper partnerships to bring them to pass.
The scripture reminds us, Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:23-25
We gather in God’s house to receive both information and inspiration. We are taught God’s principles from people who are mature in Christ. And we’re also inspired by the Holy spirit to receive first-hand from Him. He knows just what we need. And his wisdom always leads to protection, guidance and provision. Coming together weekly is not just a suggestion but a command to keep us spiritually strong and spiritually fit.
Within the crowd we find our circle of friends who spur us on in the life God has for us. We all need help with our attitudes and motivation at times. We need friends who will tell us what we need to hear and not just what we want to hear. That word encourage is translated from the Greek word, parakaleo. It means we are to love and help each other in the same way the Holy Spirit helps us all. When God and godly people help us live healthy God-empowered lives, we end up blessed.
God puts personal hopes in our hearts that He wants us to hold on to. These hopes are nurtured by time spent with Him. And no one else can do that for us. When we experience well what God is capable of – confidence forms. And through confidence, cooperation and perseverance the causes of our hearts can be fulfilled.
Our partnership with God and the right people brings progress.
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2022-05-06T21:18:49Z
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Jim Graff: What a difference it makes to have the right people in our corner | Faith | victoriaadvocate.com
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Meals on Wheels Victoria renames as Meals on Wheels South Texas
Meals on Wheels Victoria gets new name
Meals on Wheels Victoria has rebranded as Meals on Wheels South Texas, filing paperwork with the Texas Secretary of State effective April 19. The renaming affirms MOWSTx’s commitment to meeting need where it exists and reflects its growing service area.
“We didn’t want to be Meals on Wheels Victoria in Cuero or Meals on Wheels Victoria in wherever we serve,” says Jenn Putman, communications manager. “We want to express a commitment to all those we serve, not just our immediate neighbors in Victoria.”
For its first 40 years, the organization served primarily within the city limits of Victoria. Then, in 2020, in response to increased demand from COVID-19, the organization began to deliver throughout Victoria County. In July 2021 with the help of United Way of the Crossroads, it expanded to central DeWitt County.
In 2022, the organization entered into health care contracts serving Victoria, DeWitt, Calhoun, Goliad, and Refugio counties. Soon-to-be-announced federal funding will expand the agency’s socialization programming into an eight-county region by early 2023. The counties are Victoria, DeWitt, Calhoun, Goliad, Jackson, Lavaca, Aransas, and Refugio.
“Our goal is to see that no senior in need goes without the assistance to successfully age in place, to work with existing providers where there is capacity, and identify donut holes in service where we might be able to assist,” said MOWSTx Executive Director Dan Williams-Capone.
The community can find Meals on Wheels South Texas at the web address MOWSTx.org or on social media as @MOWSouthTexas.
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2022-05-06T21:19:14Z
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Meals on Wheels Victoria gets new name | Local News | victoriaadvocate.com
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Victoria West’s Kevin Rankin gives his mom Christina Rankin-Williams a hug after a Class 5A area round win over Sharyland Pioneer.
Christina Rankin-Williams has waited to take the reins at the high school level again.
Rankin-Williams came to Victoria 11 years ago with her son and former West standout, Kevin, to work as a freshman coach under Sandra Jimenez after a five-year stint as head coach at Fort Bend Bush.
Eight years ago, the 20-year coaching veteran took a spot as a coach at Cade Middle School and served as the girls athletic coordinator.
On Friday, Rankin-Williams, 43, was named West’s girls basketball coach and girls coordinator after Jimenez announced her retirement at the end of the season.
“I’ve been looking forward to this,” Rankin-Williams said. “I had a son who graduated last year. (Cade) gave me the opportunity to still be a coach and a coordinator, but it didn’t conflict with his schedule. This couldn’t have happened at a better time and I’m really excited to get back to this chapter.”
Rankin-Williams has worn many hats in her 20 years in education, including work as a special education teacher. Prior to coaching, she played collegiately for Ranger Junior College.
All of the experiences she’s had in her professional life gave her the confidence she would do well in an interview when the job opened up.
She won out for the job over roughly 20 other applicants and “blew the interview out of the water,” according to Victoria ISD Athletic Director Spencer Gantt.
“As an athletic director, I’ve always been a fan of, when someone leaves, looking internally first,” Gantt said. “We’re such a big district and we have plenty of coaches. Right off the bat, she approached me and said she was going to apply for it. What stood out was her years of experience, the multiple sports she’s coached. It was kind of a no-brainer, selecting her for an interview.”
Rankin-Williams inherits a program that missed the playoffs in 2022 after reaching the area round in 2021.
She hopes her years of learning from Jimenez and former volleyball coach Sandra Longoria helps her build a strong foundation for the entire girls athletic program at West.
“I knew how to coach basketball. But running a program, I felt I needed growth,” Rankin-Williams said. “I ended up under two women who knew how to run programs. It was definitely the growth I needed.”
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2022-05-06T22:58:55Z
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Rankin-Williams named West's new girls coach, coordinator | Advosports | victoriaadvocate.com
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A Victoria Fire Department ambulance is extracted with a winch by Allan’s Wrecker Service on Friday after being submerged in the pond at North Main Street and Spring Creek Road following a collision on the previous evening.
Divers from the Department of Public Safety Dive Team spent Friday morning investigating the submerged ambulance, which was resting about 27 feet below the surface, to determine if it could be removed.
A flare gun lays in the grass on Friday along with other scattered debris from Thursday evening’s collision on North Main Street near Spring Creek Road.
Texas Department of Safety Highway Patrol Trooper Rob Mallory looks at the front end of the retrieved ambulance on Friday along the side of North Main Street.
Both occupants of a Chevrolet Traverse involved in a collision with a Victoria Fire Department ambulance on Thursday evening remain in intensive care at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio.
The names of the Traverse's occupants were not released Friday, but the driver is a 79-year-old man and his female passenger is 78. Both are residents of Victoria. Lauren Meaux, Public Safety Community Affairs manager, said she believed the two are married.
In a news release, city officials said the collision occurred when the Traverse, which was traveling south on North Main Street, turned left onto Spring Creek Road and "failed to yield the right of way" to the northbound ambulance.
"Several" people in a white vehicle were injured, but officials didn't know how severe.
Following the crash on Thursday, the Traverse ended up about 30 feet off the road next to a utility pole. The ambulance was completely submerged in the pond between the fork of North Main Street and Spring Creek Road.
In the news release, officials said the three Victoria Fire Department firefighters in the ambulance were able to swim to safety and render aid to the two occupants of the Traverse.
All three firefighters were taken to DeTar Hospital Navarro on Thursday and released later that evening.
"Everybody's doing well, recovering, and just trying to recover from the shock of the event itself. That's probably the biggest concern is just them trying to deal with the traumatic events that they went through," said Victoria Fire Department Chief Tracy Fox on Friday.
Following the crash on Thursday night, officials contacted the Department of Public Safety to request a dive team to assess the submerged ambulance, which had come to rest about 27 feet below the pond's surface.
"The dive team showed up this morning," Meaux said Friday. "They assessed an ambulance at one of the stations to get familiar with the equipment, then they arrived on scene." The divers were able to attach cables to the vehicle's rear and Allan's Wrecker Service managed to pull the ambulance from the pond.
Investigators are now assessing the extent of the damage.
"We're going to try to salvage as much equipment as possible," Fox said, but they don't know yet what can be salvaged.
Replacing the ambulance, including equipment, could cost up to $450,000.
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2022-05-06T22:59:08Z
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2 Victoria residents remain hospitalized following Thursday collision with ambulance | Crime & Courts | victoriaadvocate.com
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A U.S. Border Patrol agent combs through a field Friday northeast of Ganado. A truck holding 70-100 undocumented immigrants was discovered on U.S. 59. As of 2:30 p.m., 60 had been apprehended.
GANADO — One thing was for sure about the conditions endured by the 70 to 100 immigrants found in the back of a tractor-trailer broken down along U.S. 59 Friday morning.
“He said it was hot,” said Jackson County Sheriff Kelly Janica, adding, the undocumented immigrants had told authorities they had been given no water or provisions “whatsoever.”
About 7:10 a.m., a trooper discovered the tractor-trailer about 2 miles northeast of Ganado. When authorities opened the trailer, they found the immigrants, many in poor condition.
“It’s a mess. I don’t know how else to put it,” Janica said.
Many of the immigrants ran from the truck, hiding in adjacent corn fields and brush, prompting an extensive search focused on about 7,000 acres. Others, including several who were severely dehydrated, remained at the truck. By about 3:30 p.m., 61 people had been apprehended. The search had ended by then, but Janica said authorities would keep their eyes open for additional immigrants that evening.
The next day, authorities plan to wait along U.S. 59 to find any remaining immigrants, he said.
“We’re going to rely on people’s eyes and ears,” the sheriff said. “We’re going to step back and watch and see if anyone comes out. “
The discovery near Ganado is a grim reminder of a similar incident that occurred almost exactly 19 years ago on May 14, 2003, when 70 immigrants were found packed into the rear of a tractor-trailer abandoned in a Victoria County parking lot. In that tractor-trailer, which reached 170 degrees, 19 people died.
On Friday with temperatures reaching into the 90s and the heat index well above 100 degrees outside, most of the immigrants, who were all adults, eventually gave themselves up to the group of about 70 law enforcement and first responders who combed the area, playing messages in Spanish on loudspeakers asking them to come out.
The immigrants who were found were given food, water and medical treatment. Nine people were taken to the hospital and were in stable condition Friday evening.
“They have been dehydrated, overheated and suffering from exhaustion,” Janica said.
The immigrants, who were found mainly in groups as small as two and as large as 12, were taken to the Jackson County Detention Center to be processed by U.S. Border Patrol agents. Janica said those he talked to had told him they had come from Honduras, El Salvador and Ecuador.
The truck’s driver was apprehended, but Janica deferred all questions, including the driver’s identity and potential criminal charges, to the Texas Department of Public Safety, which declined to answer questions.
Although Janica said he could not be sure how bad the temperature or conditions were in the tractor-trailer, he worried what might have happened had they never been discovered. An immigrant told Janica that the truck, which was headed toward Houston, had been traveling through the night.
Victoria County residents voice concern with bailouts, pursuits in town hall
“With how bad they were dehydrated — they hadn’t given them any water yet — so, yeah, I’m afraid it may have been a blessing they broke down here,” he said. “The guy from Honduras told me he was headed way north.”
During recent years, sheriffs in the Crossroads have reported routinely dealing with similar bailouts but admittedly on a far smaller scale.
Crossroads landowners affected financially, mentally by increased immigration pursuits
In May 2021, Victoria County Sheriff Justin Marr held a town hall to listen to residents’ concerns about undocumented immigrants. About 400 people attended.
Some residents reported numerous bailouts and vehicle pursuits with law enforcement near their homes.
In Jackson County, Janica said authorities had seen incidents involving about a dozen immigrants but “never to this magnitude.”
“I really don’t want to get into the politics of it, but Texas is in trouble,” he said.
In Refugio County, human smuggling cases now make up a third of the docket, said Assistant District Attorney Tim Poynter. Each week, there are about three bailouts, involving as few as three or four people and as many as a dozen.
Last year, a U-Haul truck was found with 34 people inside, seven of whom were hospitalized with severe dehydration.
More than 30 immigrants detained, 1 charged after U-Haul stop, Refugio sheriff says
Bailouts, he said, are “extremely disruptive” because they are “extremely time consuming” for law enforcement, who often have to pursue vehicles, chase immigrants on foot, call for translators, request Border Patrol agents and confirm identities.
But Poynter also said he has sympathy for the people being smuggled. During their journeys, those people often lack medical care, food and water.
And in many cases, the circumstances that send them north are just as bad.
“I don’t know where they are going is much better,” he said. “It’s modern day slavery in a lot of situations.”
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2022-05-07T05:18:25Z
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At least 70 immigrants found in back of tractor-trailer in Jackson County | For Subscribers Only | victoriaadvocate.com
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UHV’s Raul Lopez leads off first base during Friday's Red River Athletic Conference game with Texas A&M-Texarkana at Riverside Stadium.
Jaguars shock No. 3 LSU-Shreveport in tournament opener
STERLINGTON, La. — UHV struck for 18 hits and upset No. 3 LSU-Shreveport 12-7 in an opening-round game of the Red River Athletic Conference tournament Friday night at the Sterlington Sports Complex.
The Jaguars (21-24) took a 3-2 lead into the top of the fourth before gaining command by scoring five runs in the inning.
The Pilots (47-4) pulled within four runs in the bottom of the fourth, but got no closer.
UHV's Raul Lopez went 5-for-5 and was a triple short of hitting for the cycle. He hit a pair of solo home runs and a double, while driving in four runs.
Ty Williams had three hits, including a two-run home run and a double for the Jaguars.
Christian Garcia started for UHV and went six innings to pick up the win. Gustavo Valdes pitched the last three innings.
The Jaguars will play a winners bracket game at 6 p.m. Saturday against Louisiana Christian.
Lsu-shreveport
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2022-05-07T06:48:28Z
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Jaguars shock No. 3 LSU-Shreveport in tournament opener | Advosports | victoriaadvocate.com
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PORT LAVACA — Allen Eugene Tharling, 79, of Port Lavaca passed away May 3, 2022. He was born September 17, 1942 in Houston to Charles and Gladys Tharling. Allen served in the United States Army from 1961-1964. He was a retired Lieutenant with the City of Houston for 24 years, was the Chief of Police for Port Lavaca, and was the former mayor of the City of Port Lavaca serving two terms from 2002-2006. Allen was very active throughout the community. He was a past president of the Calhoun County United Way from 2003-2005, served on the Senior Citizens committee, was in the civic choir, rotary, and member of First United Methodist Church. In his down time, Allen enjoyed dancing, singing, spending time with his family, and traveling. He and Mary Lou were blessed to have visited all 50 states and 38 countries.
He is survived by his loving wife, Mary Lou Tharling; daughter, Deanna Tharling-Alaniz (Max); son, Dwayne Tharling (Molli); step-sons, Michael James Munoz (Brenda), and Christopher Gilbert Munoz (Maribel); and 3 grandchildren, Zachary Tharling, Kayleigh Tharling, and Michael Andrew Munoz.
He was preceded in death by his parents; one sister; one brother; one half sister; and one half brother.
A celebration of Allen’s life will be held on Monday, May 9, 2022 at 1 p.m. at Richardson-Colonial Funeral Home.
Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Houston Police Dept., Port Lavaca Police Dept., and New Century Hospice.
Memorial donations may be made to New Century Hospice.
Words of comfort may be shared with the family at www.richardsoncolonial.com
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2022-05-07T06:48:34Z
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Allen Eugene Tharling | Obituaries | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/obituaries/allen-eugene-tharling/article_1bcd6e70-8d6e-5cfa-b60e-5745d28ca58c.html
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Gloria Jean Davis
HALLETTSVILLE — Gloria Jean (Tucker) Davis entered into Eternal Rest on Monday, May 2, 2022.
Gloria Jean was born in Hallettsville, TX, on December 14, 1947, the daughter of the late Alvo and Lillie V. (Springs) Tucker.
She married, Leonard Davis on August 13th 1967, in Eagle Lake TX. The couple was blessed with two children: Dennis and Denise.
Gloria Jean worked as a cook many years and for fifteen years as a Department Manager for Walmart. During her time working for Walmart, she truly enjoyed having the opportunity to visit with customers and form lasting friendships with her coworkers.
Some of Gloria Jean’s hobbies throughout life included playing bingo and traveling. In her younger years, Gloria Jean enjoyed taking her children on road trips. She would make it a point to stop at various historical markers throughout Texas and allow her kids the opportunity to learn about Texas history.
Gloria Jean was always her children’s #1 supporter and biggest fan. When her son Dennis became involved in rodeoing, she loved sitting in the stands and cheering him on. As she became more involved in watching Dennis rodeo, Gloria Jean later enjoyed watching rodeo competitions on television. Later in life, Gloria Jean earned the title of grandmother and great grandmother. She held a special place in her heart for her precious grandchildren.
She is survived by one son, Dennis Ray Davis of Orchard, TX; two brothers: Dan Tucker of Runge, TX; and James Roy Tucker of Shiner, TX; one sister, Joyce Tucker Walker of Hallettsville, TX; two grandchildren: Cheyanne Davis and significant other, Lawrence Reason, Sr.; and Chad Davis along with their mother, Kamisha Simien-Davis; all of Houston, TX; three great grandchildren: Lawrence, Jr., Chloe’, and Zoé Reason; along with numerous nieces and nephews.
Gloria Jean was preceded in death by her parents: Alvo and Lillie Tucker; her daughter, Denise Davis; spouse, Leonard Davis; and brother, Alvo Tucker, Jr.
A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, May 7th 2022.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Koenig - Belvill Funeral Home & Cremations, 208 W. Pearl, La Grange, Texas. Family and friends can view and sign the guestbook online at www.lagrangefunerals.com.
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2022-05-07T06:49:10Z
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Gloria Jean Davis | Obituaries | victoriaadvocate.com
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Victoria resident Christy Henry, 40, shares her and her 2-year-old daughter Sophia Henry's pandemic story, which includes becoming a first time mother at an older age, challenges in finding essentials and changing polices, fears that Sophia would get COVID-19 and the impact the pandemic has had on Henry's personality.
Henry: I was fortunate that my pregnancy went as smoothly as it did, all things considered. Because I was an older first-time mother, I was lucky enough to have the expertise of Dr. Melissa Wilson, who calmed my fears about the entire birthing experience. The last few weeks were stressful because of the unknowns of this virus. Lots of temperature checks and enforcement of the rules about keeping our distance and wearing our masks made sure we were as safe as possible. I have always been a bit leery when it came to germs, so the precautions I felt I needed to take to keep us safe were always something I was happy to do. The changes we experienced because of our work situations made it a challenge because I was always worried about making sure Sophia was healthy and well-fed. For about four or five months, it was hard because essentials weren't in stock. We made it work, thank God, and my husband Matt and I, and Sophia are all healthy.
Henry: So many rules were changing when it came to giving birth. Initially, I was expecting to have to deliver on my own because the rules were really strict. Then the rules changed once again that allowed my husband to be present in the room, as long as we were masked. Before giving birth to my baby, I was informed that I would need to wear a mask while I delivered, which was stressful. It once again changed, and they weren't as strict as I expected them to be. At that point in the pandemic, no one realized how severe the effects would be. Had I known how bad it was going to get, I would have worn my mask to keep everyone in the operating room safe from my germs.
Henry: Because the virus had just begun to infect residents, and no one really knew how to combat the effects, lots of things that an expectant mother is used to experiencing right before giving birth did not happen for me. I didn't have a baby shower, and I really missed the closeness of having that experience. It is always appreciated to have virtual encouragement, but nothing can replace the feeling of being together with people you love, celebrating the birth of a baby. The fun part of having people meet your baby didn't happen either since everyone was rightfully concerned with not getting a newborn baby infected with a potentially fatal illness.
Henry: It has been so different from what I was expecting. Before the pandemic, I was an outgoing extrovert. Now I am more reclusive and guarded. Anything you want to do with your child that involves large groups of others has been discouraged for two years, so it has affected my choices. The fact that no one knew what to expect and the suggestions for safety continually changed made it difficult to know what the right thing was to do to keep your baby safe, and that is a little sad.
Henry: My goal for Sophia is that she grows up healthy and well adjusted. Navigating a pandemic has been challenging in a lot of respects, but I have made unexpected connections that I will carry with me after all of this is over. I am especially thankful for Rebecca Johnson, who is a mentor with an organization called Parents as Teachers. This wonderful organization has provided me with the learning tools including activities and books to teach Sophia, appropriate for her stages of development. The fact that I have gained a friend who knows what it's like to be a new mom while still being able to teach Sophia has been so important in my transition to a normal life.
Christy Henry
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2022-05-07T08:22:31Z
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Mothers of the pandemic: Christy Henry | For Subscribers Only | victoriaadvocate.com
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Victoria resident Jazmin Perry, 29, shares her and her 1-year-old son Amani Perry's pandemic story, which includes job loss, changes in how things were done and a feeling of relief as the pandemic appears to be winding down.
Perry: I was let go over the phone on my day off by my previous employers. On Feb. 14, 2020, my supervisor knew I was going to announce my pregnancy on social media. That following month in March 2020, the pandemic hit. Businesses were closing down temporarily, and when I was finally able to get callbacks for interviews, I was showing. So no one would hire me due to someone else “being more qualified.”
The day before my baby turned a year old, our house hold all tested positive for COVID-19. His party planned for that weekend had to be pushed back for an entire month, and even then, some of our close relatives couldn’t attend due to them testing positive at the time.
Perry: My fiancé wasn’t allowed to go to any of my doctor's appointments. He wasn’t even allowed into the hospital until I was set up for delivery. My father was told he couldn’t even wait in the parking lot to hold up welcome signs for his new grandson. We weren’t allowed any visitors. The day after I gave birth, I got up to do some walking. I remember the halls feeling empty and cold — hardly any decorative door hangers. I don’t even think congratulation gifts were allowed then, and no newborn photo was preformed.
Perry: Being able to carry and have my son will always be a blessing that I will never take for granted. But I can’t help but feel cheated out of some memories due to the pandemic. I had “drive through” baby showers and glass door visits for the first two months after giving birth. And once I was finally offered a job, I couldn’t tour the day cares to see which was best for my son. Masks were still mandatory at the time, so I didn’t even know the faces of the day care workers who kept my son. It was like the only faces he knew for the first year of life were just mine and my fiancé's.
Perry: Life has felt limited.
Perry: I’m glad life is slowly getting back to normal. At first, I feared my son would never get to know what normal is. And though drive-through baby showers and glass door visits were me and my fiancé's choice, we’ve waited years for our child. And when you’re blessed with a baby, you thought you might not ever have, you don’t get the luxury to treat life as a risk anymore. That little person is my entire world, and I’d do any/everything to continue protecting him.
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2022-05-07T08:22:37Z
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Mothers of the pandemic: Jazmin Perry | For Subscribers Only | victoriaadvocate.com
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Port Lavaca Resident Lynn Cano, 31, shares her and her 2-year-old son Vicente Cano's pandemic story, which includes Cano deciding Vicente would be her last child, her son being born pre-mature, missing her daughter's 5th birthday, worrying about her health and the joy her son brought to their home during the pandemic.
When I found out I was pregnant, COVID had not really hit our area too hard, but it was on the rise. I was about two months pregnant and had to have emergency exploratory surgery on my abdomen. Come to find out, I had a cyst on my left ovary that had ruptured that caused me to bleed internally. They were not able to salvage my left ovary and fallopian tube. My unborn baby was unharmed through all that. That was a very scary situation for my husband, daughter, and our family as this just happened out of nowhere. After this, COVID really started to hit, and I found out our second child was a baby boy alone. My husband was not able to be present at any more of my appointments, which was understandable. We were in a pandemic, but still we missed out on finding the gender of our child together, which was bittersweet. As for work, well, I couldn’t have asked for a better work family, so not much stress came from work. I would say most came from the unknown of what would happen if I got COVID and if it would harm my unborn child, worrying about my daughter's eLearning because that is when the schools were out due to, you guessed it, COVID. Fast forward to my 32-week checkup appointment. Everything was fine except my blood pressure, which happened to be 203/90, but I felt completely fine. My doctor wanted me to go straight to the emergency room to have it monitored for a few hours. They didn’t like how it was looking, so I was admitted. Five days into my stay at the hospital, they ended up testing me for COVID due to a pregnancy symptom that happen to be one of COVID's. This was the time it took about a week for the test to come back. A few days after that, my doctor informed me at 5 a.m. that we would be delivering baby by C-section at 8 a.m. when they told me I could call my husband to come.
When my son was delivered, I was not able to see him or hold him. My husband was, however, able to take a picture of him and show me. My son was born premature on April 7, 2020, weighing 3 lbs, 7oz. I was not able to see him in the NICU because I was still waiting on my COVID test to come back. The two days my husband was there at the hospital with me, they allowed him to go see and be with our son. After we had our celebratory lunch, my husband left but I stayed at the hospital. If I were to leave, I would not have been allowed back in the hospital due to COVID. Three days after I had my son, I was able to see him and hold him. Test had come back negative.
I was in the hospital for an entire month. I was unable to see my daughter, my husband, my family. I missed my daughter’s fifth birthday party. I realized then that I didn’t want to go through that experience again, so he became my last baby. I understand the circumstances were unique because of COVID, but it really put everything into perspective. I was honestly expecting to experience some type of postpartum depression, but thank goodness I didn’t. I was definitely a normal pregnancy, like with our daughter. I’ve been through a lot, but having a baby during COVID really took the cake.
It’s been nothing short of crazy! He’s wild. He’s spunky, adventurous and lovable. I really think having him during the pandemic really shaped the little boy he’s becoming. I know he doesn’t realize it, but I do. At first, I was leery about going out in public or having people around him. But after a while, things started winding down and were almost back to normal. Honestly, I felt rude to people at most times. It wasn’t intentional. I was just looking out for my children and trying my hardest to keep them safe.
I stay strong-minded. I had to keep my mentality in order to stay strong for my family. It really affected me, having to stay away from my daughter while I was in the hospital with my son. I had to learn to trust that my husband is taking great care of her, that I had nothing to worry about. I had to take a step back, take a breath whenever I wanted to throw in the towel and give up. I know that there are others that have it worse than me. Their situations aren’t like mine. I met someone who was in the hospital a month before I was and didn’t get to leave until a month after I did. I met her at the right time. She really helped me through a really rough part of my life. I’m extremely grateful to my husband, my family and my friends.
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2022-05-07T08:22:43Z
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Mothers of the pandemic: Lynn Cano | For Subscribers Only | victoriaadvocate.com
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For the last two years, motherhood hasn't been the experience many expected, between isolation from lockdown, being unable to have their families in the room and having do many of the traditional experiences one would expect with new motherhood from a distance.
As the trend of the COVID-19 pandemic starts to point to it moving toward becoming endemic where people learn to live with the disease similar to the flu, new mothers from across the Crossroads reflected on becoming mothers during a global pandemic with Mother's Day weekend upon them.
The Victoria Advocate spoke to six mothers from across the Crossroads, and while they shared commonalities of being fearful for their child's health, appreciating the time they got to bond with their children during lockdown and having a pregnancy experience different from their expectation, they each had their own unique story.
For Victoria resident Jazmin Perry, 29, she lost her job around the time she was going to announce her pregnancy in February 2020, and then world would shut down about a month later in March.
By the time businesses opened up again, she was showing and found it difficult to be hired, and when she was finally was able to get a job, safety protocols made it difficult to see which day care was right for her son Amani Perry. She couldn't even see the staff that would be working with him, Perry said.
"Being able to carry and have my son will always be a blessing that I will never take for granted, but I can't help but feel cheated out of some memories because of the pandemic," she said.
Perry is glad things are getting back to normal. She feared her son would never know what normal was. She and her fiancé took measures to protect their son.
"When you're blessed with a baby, you thought you might not ever have, you don't get to treat life as a risk anymore," she said. "That little person is my entire world, and I'd do any/everything to continue protecting him."
For Port Lavaca resident Lynn Cano, 31, the combination of her pregnancy experience and the health issues she had during it made her decide that Vicente Cano, 2, would be her last child.
When Cano found out she was pregnant, COVID-19, while on the rise, hadn't significantly impacted the Crossroads area yet, but early on there were health complications. Her doctors had to perform emergency exploratory surgery on her and found a cyst on her left ovary ruptured, causing her to bleed internally and eventually lose that ovary and fallopian tube. Thankfully, her son wasn't harmed, Cano said.
Much of the stress throughout her pregnancy came from the anxiety of not knowing how COVID-19 would affect her unborn child and worrying about her then 4-year-old daughter's education through online learning with the schools closed, she said.
At 32 weeks, she was rushed to the emergency room with severely high blood pressure, which would lead to her delivering Vicente premature and him having to spend time in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, she said.
Cano was unable to see her son after delivery and spent a month in the hospital unable to see her family, missing her daughter's fifth birthday in the process, she said.
"I understand the circumstances were unique because of COVID, but it really put everything into perspective," she said. "I've been through a lot, but having a baby during COVID really took the cake."
Raising Vicente after getting home during the pandemic has been a joy for Cano, even though she remained protective of him when others were around.
"It's been nothing short of crazy," Cano said. "He's wild. He's spunky, adventurous and lovable. I really think having him during the pandemic really shaped the little boy he's becoming. I know he doesn't realize it, but I do."
Other mothers the Advocate heard from shared experiences of the pandemic changing their personality, being a first time mother and having to do what little motherhood experiences virtually.
Through it all, the local hospitals have been there supporting every mother through the pandemic despite the challenges that it posed.
The hardest thing for local hospitals, especially during the early stages, was the constant changing standards and protocols to make sure patients have as safe an experience as they can, said Sherry Lynch, Citizens Medical Center birth center director.
"We were having to implement procedures as we learned more about the virus," Lynch said
In addition to changing protocol, combating misinformation the families may have received and trying to allow for a safe way to introduce newborns to their siblings was also a challenge, she said.
Oftentimes, the nurses of Citizens would have to provide the emotional support that would otherwise be fulfilled by the families who were limited to one person during the pandemic due to safety protocols, she said.
However, it was still a joyful event to help deliver the babies of new mothers during the pandemic, said Mary Bradshaw, DeTar Healthcare System's women and children's services director.
"The joy of bringing a new life into the world is a wonderful constant," Bradshaw said. "It's been our privilege to support the birth of more than 2,000 infants during the midst of the global pandemic."
Safety was a top concern for both hospitals, and they did what they could to facilitate as much of a normal environment they could, given the circumstances.
"With family and friends anxiously awaiting news about the impending birth from outside our hospital walls, helping our moms communicate with them was of critical importance to all of us," Bradshaw said. "I strongly believe helping them get news to their family was the key in making the childbirth experience as 'normal' as possible."
Lynch was particularly thankful for all the work nurses who supported the mothers at Citizens during the pandemic.
"Not enough can be said about the work they do," she said.
Sherry Lynch
Vicente Cano
Mary Bradshaw
Detar Healthcare System
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2022-05-07T08:22:49Z
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Pandemic upends Crossroads mothers' experiences | For Subscribers Only | victoriaadvocate.com
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Amber Smith, 45, embeds an axe in a target Wednesday at The Axe Society.
Levi Smith, 49, prepares to hurl an axe at The Axe Society.
A mural painted on the wall at The Axe Society.
Businesses that provide recreation return to normalcy
With the darkest days of the COVID-19 pandemic and all the shutdowns that came with it behind us, businesses that trade in recreational experiences are beginning to see a return to normalcy.
Some businesses had to get creative and adapt their models to survive, Schroeder Hall owner Christine Krause said. Others, like Victoria’s Pro-Escape Room, survived through good fortune, co-owner Heather Prosen said. Even businesses that began at the tail end of the pandemic, like Victoria’s The Axe Society, are faring well.
“If you don’t have customers coming out and you’re spending money to be open then you’re losing money,” Krause said.
Krause and her husband Aric Krause inherited the legendary venue when Aric’s mother, Linda Krause, died in June 2020. She said that while business has been improving, it’s still difficult to get people to come out every weekend.
“We are still struggling,” she said. “I think people got into a pattern of being at home, and so it’s harder to get people to come out now.”
The economy itself is also a challenge, she said. With rising prices for necessities like food and rent, recreational activities fall to the bottom of the scale of needs.
Like many venues, Schroeder Hall was forced to shut down completely during the pandemic.
To reopen, they had to adapt, Krause said. The venue had to be in compliance with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, and in order to do so Schroeder Hall expanded their food options to a full menu to be recognized as a restaurant. The venue also attained a full liquor license, and continues to offer both of these services.
They were not without assistance, though. Krause said they were lucky to be able to apply for shuttered venue operators grants.
“That helps supplement some of the loss that we had taken on,” she said.
Pro-Escape Rooms — a business that sees people solve puzzles to escape a room — suffered through greatly reduced business during the pandemic, but scraped by because it has low operating costs, Prosen said.
“We were very blessed that we have paid off our buildings that we run the escape room through,” she said. Additionally, the buildings are portable container units with lower taxes and are located on family-owned land, which keeps costs down.
Still, for three months during the pandemic, Pro-Escape Rooms were unable to even operate, Prosen said.
“It was rough, as it was for everybody out there with a small business during those times,” she said.
Once the business was able to open back up, it was at just 50% capacity, Prosen said. Moreover, after each group completed their turn in an escape room, the room was wiped down and deep cleaned, adding around 10 minutes of prep time, further decreasing the amount of customers that could be served in a given day.
Today, business at Pro-Escape Rooms has returned to pre-pandemic levels, Prosen said.
“As of today, we’re back on track to where we’re filling up on the weekends on our schedule book,” she said.
The Axe Society — a business that’s set up like a bowling alley where you hurl axes instead of bowling balls — opened in October, owner Zachary Lopez said, and that was by design.
“We absolutely tried to time it,” Lopez said. “We actually tried to do this a few years, but literally as we were looking for buildings businesses were shutting down.”
By opening in October, after most major shutdowns and pandemic era restrictions were lifted, Lopez was able to avoid issues with customers being unable or unwilling to come to his business.
“It took a minute, but we did it at the right time,” he said, adding that by opening in the late fall he was able to capitalize on people planning holiday parties or companies planning team building events.
Lopez said that customers increased exponentially over time.
“We went from the first week of having no customers to two customers to like 400,” he said. “It’s just like this blew up.”
Part of the success is that his business is appealing to a variety of age groups and demographics, he said.
“It’s a game for people who want games,” he said. “It’s a drinking game for some, it’s bonding for others. It’s exercise for some.”
Schroeder Hall
Address: 12516 Farm-to-Market 622, Goliad
Hours: 6 p.m.-1 a.m. Friday-Saturday
Pro-Escape Rooms:
Address: 3205 Old Goliad Road, Victoria
Hours: 1-9 p.m. weekdays, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday-Sunday
Axe Society:
Address: 2802 Delmar Drive Suite A, Victoria
Hours: 6 -11 p.m. weekdays, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday-Sunday
Linda Krause
Heather Prosen
Axe Society
Pro-escape Rooms
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2022-05-07T11:26:33Z
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Businesses that provide recreation return to normalcy | For Subscribers Only | victoriaadvocate.com
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Some clouds this morning will give way to generally sunny skies for the afternoon. Record high temperatures expected. High 99F. Winds S at 15 to 25 mph..
Josh Davis, center, demonstrates proper technique during a clinic for regional swimmers on April 30 at the VISD Aquatic Center.
Olympic swimmer Josh Davis demonstrates the butterfly.
St. Joseph freshman Jakob Ward,15, right, high fives Josh Davis after a race during a clinic held by the Olympic swimmer.
Clinic attendees line up for autographs from Olympic swimmer Josh Davis during a clinic at the VISD Aquatic Center.
Josh Davis signs swim caps, swim suits and other swimming accoutrements.
Marcelo Garcia, 12, from the Incarnate Word Academy in Corpus Christi, poses with Olympian Josh Davis, right.
Josh Davis begins instructing the younger of two cohorts of students during a swim clinic.
Clinic attendees swim to the end of their lanes during a swim clinic taught by Josh Davis.
Olympic gold medalist Josh Davis speaks to both the younger and older cohorts of clinic attendees about his journey and life philosophy.
Clinic goers prepare to begin their lessons with Josh Davis.
Swimmers practice their butterfly technique.
Josh Davis shows off one of his gold medals to regional swimmers.
Olympian Josh Davis speaks to regional swimmers and answers questions during a clinic.
Making a splash: Olympian holds clinic for region's little swimmers
One veteran Olympian was in Victoria on April 30, and he may have left a few future Olympians in his wake.
Dozens of elementary, middle and high school swimmers from Victoria and from farther abroad, attended a clinic taught by Olympian Josh Davis on April 30 at the Victoria Independent School District Aquatic Center.
A University of Texas at Austin alumnus, Davis has some experience being the center of attention. In 1996, he stood in the limelight three times during the Olympic Games in Atlanta, where he won gold medals with the 4x100 and 4x200 freestyle relays and the 4x100 medley relay teams. He took home a pair of silver medals from the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, and has won numerous other competitions.
He may have stood on a few podiums. But on Saturday, his head bobbed above the pool surface, level with dozens of enthusiastic swimmers from across the Coastal Bend, each hanging on his every word.
“I think they got a lot out of it,” said Debi Mease, director of Aquatics for VISD. “Coming from your coach, it’s one thing. Coming from your parents, it’s even another thing. But coming from him — and he’s just so good about how he does it. I saw a big difference in some of my kids just swimming today.”
Davis has spoken to local students before when he gave a motivational speech at Victoria West about 11 years ago. But that was before the Aquatic Center opened, Mease said.
“I mean, we weren’t in the water yet,” Mease said. While she’s taken her varsity swimmers to Davis’s clinics in San Antonio, Mease said she’s been trying to bring the Olympian back to the Crossroads.
Now, one of her swimmers is heading to Oklahoma Christian University, where Davis is the head coach. That connection, and Mease’s efforts to recruit participants from far and wide, facilitated the clinic on April 30.
One attendee, Marcelo Garcia, 12, made the journey from Corpus Christi just to attend. Marcelo said the clinic was fun, and he also learned about some drills for the backstroke.
“He showed me how to breathe better,” said Samir Shamma, 17, who attends Victoria West. “Because I was putting my head up too slowly, and too much.” Shamma swam the 100m freestyle and the 100m breaststroke.
“I really learned a lot about the basics,” said Glory Palmer, 13, of Cade Middle School. “Like technique, that I hadn’t thought about in a while.” Palmer swam the 50m freestyle, the 50m breaststroke and the 100m individual medley.
Out of the water, Davis took an hour to speak to the young swimmers, whom he called “Jedis,” about his journey as an athlete. He began with a story about his first attempts at competitive swimming, after which his coach suggested he pick up another sport. Fortunately, he didn’t listen, and he advised the assembled athletes to always look for the positive side when faced with adversity.
“My young friends, you have that same choice, to choose the positive,” Davis told them. “And I hope you choose the positive, every day of your lives.”
Hearing the Olympic athlete seems to have made an impression.
“I’d like to get to where he is, if I could,” Shamma said. “And I was trying to take in all the information I could get from him.”
Glory Palmer agreed.
“I think I would really enjoy it if I got to that level,” she said. “I don’t know if I will be able to, but I think it’d be really fun to try and get that experience.”
Olympic Swimmer
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2022-05-07T14:26:26Z
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www.victoriaadvocate.com
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Making a splash: Olympian holds clinic for region's little swimmers | News | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/making-a-splash-olympian-holds-clinic-for-regions-little-swimmers/article_2d736aaa-cb0e-11ec-b8b1-c3c2e47c2e8f.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/making-a-splash-olympian-holds-clinic-for-regions-little-swimmers/article_2d736aaa-cb0e-11ec-b8b1-c3c2e47c2e8f.html
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Yorktown’s Seely Metting was named one of the MVPs of the Victoria Advocate All-area basketball team.
Seely Metting was one of four seniors returning for Yorktown in the 2021-2022 season.
Metting knew her role on the team would have to change, and she would become more of a focal point for opposing teams.
Metting took on the responsibility willingly, and the Kitty Kats were able to finish third in District 31-2A.
Yorktown advanced to the area playoffs before ending the season with a 23-13 record.
Metting's performance on court racking up honors
YORKTOWN — Seely Metting has never stopped to think about what she’s accomplished at Yorktown.
Opposing teams would often double team her, and opposing coaches would set up special defenses for Metting.
But she still averaged 26.5 points, 10.4 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 4.3 steals per game to become the district MVP.
Meeting’s performance led to her selection as the Most Valuable Player of the 2021-2022 Victoria Advocate All-Area Basketball Team.
Local hoopers honored by TGCA and TABC
These athletes were selected to either the TABC or TGCA All-State team, or the TABC All-Region team.
Q: What do you like about basketball?
A: I like the intensity, I like the contact sport and just being able to have control of the ball.
Q: Did you mind taking on a new role this season because your team was so inexperienced?
A: I like the pressure. I play well under pressure so I think this season made me a better player than any other season before.
Q: How did you feel about the performance of the team?
A: Actually, I was pleased. You’re never satisfied. I was pleased with how our season turned out because we had a whole new team and we didn’t know what to expect and a lot of incoming freshmen on varsity. We actually did really well compared to what we thought was going to happen.
Q: How do you keep your grades up while participating in so many activities?
A: You just have to stay focused in school. You have to because you don’t have time to do after-school tutorials. Spring is definitely the hardest. You have golf, rodeo, track and softball. I had to let go of golf for a while because it was so hectic. As soon as rodeo ended in February, that helped a little.
Q: Who is your favorite basketball player?
A: I don’t have one. I don’t watch a lot of TV. I don’t really follow anyone. I just try to do my own thing.
Q: What are your plans for next year?
A: I had some colleges reach out to me for basketball and softball, and like one or two in track and volleyball. I had a lot in basketball – a couple of Division I schools. It was a really, really hard decision to make, but I want to be a vet. Texas A&M is the school for that so I’m going there and will join the rodeo team.
Seely Metting
2021-2022 Victoria Advocate All-area Team
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2022-05-07T15:59:16Z
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www.victoriaadvocate.com
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Yorktown's Metting named girls Most Valuable Player | Advosports | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/advosports/yorktowns-metting-named-girls-most-valuable-player/article_bff8576a-ca81-11ec-acf6-5b2d3429a108.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/advosports/yorktowns-metting-named-girls-most-valuable-player/article_bff8576a-ca81-11ec-acf6-5b2d3429a108.html
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Lane Keller
Thoughts on reaching retirement age
By Lane Keller
I turned 64 earlier this year. On my birthday, I received a notice from our group health insurance provider that I should start thinking about what options I have regarding Medicare. I’ve only been working for 42 years since college. I graduated on a Saturday and went to work on Monday. I like to call that Sunday my “gap” day. The point is that time flies and the vast majority of us cannot afford to put off planning for retirement, not to mention all the other financial matters that need to be funded during life.
Our staff at both firms (KMH Wealth Management and Keller & Associates CPAs) is comprised of CPAs and CFP professionals that are both tax planners and financial planners, great combination for financial planning.
Several years ago my wife Phyllis and I decided to have one of the CPA/CFP professionals in our firms prepare our financial plan just like our clients. This gave us the opportunity to sit in the client seat and have an independent opinion in the room. I have sat in many client meetings as the adviser, but being the client gave me a different perspective. I personally see the value of these meetings. It also provides us something else: the ability to have a more open discussion about our finances in a formal setting. We have both been in the workplace a long time, been independent thinkers, diligent savers and raised and educated our four (now adult) children, but we still need help to plan for retirement.
I know this won’t come as a surprise, but men and women actually think differently about money. Over many years of client meetings I have learned how important it is for both spouses to understand and have input on their finances and their plan and work to be on the same page. As we age, it also becomes more important to carefully consider who in your family (or outside of your family) can step in with you to understand your financial situation and wishes.
I think about all of these things as I get closer to retirement. It is different for everyone, but I don’t expect to leave the workforce any time soon. I am bombarded with “are you still working” and “when are you going to retire” questions, sometimes to the point of aggravation. There is no magic age. I think we have been conditioned to think we have to quit working about the time you receive that card in the mail about Medicare. If you are healthy and enjoy what you are doing, why quit? Plus, the longer you work, the larger your Social Security benefit will be.
I also carry with me some advice from my father — “Don’t work too long like I did.”
If you don’t enjoy what you are doing, get your plan together and do something else, but make sure you know how you may fare by having a plan in place.
Maybe you have never had a formal financial plan. Maybe your plan is in your head. Maybe you are just scared to know what the consequences of your lifestyle are. It is never too late to know and understand your financial situation and plan accordingly. Start now.
Lane Keller CPA/CFP® is a managing member of Keller & Associates CPAs, PLLC and KMH Wealth Management, LLC.
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2022-05-07T21:19:07Z
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www.victoriaadvocate.com
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Thoughts on reaching retirement age | Business | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/business/thoughts-on-reaching-retirement-age/article_57cf5814-cb1c-11ec-9397-27f6002163c7.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/business/thoughts-on-reaching-retirement-age/article_57cf5814-cb1c-11ec-9397-27f6002163c7.html
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John Wayne Schulz
Crossroads Country Opry coming May 10
Crossroads Country Opry will be from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Hall, 2001 Lova Drive, in Victoria.
John Wayne Schulz will join the CCO Band for an evening of live music.
A meal begins at 5:30 p.m., and tickets are $8. The menu will be hamburgers and hot dogs.
The show starts at 7 p.m., and tickets are $8.
For more information, contact John L. Sullivan, at JohnS@CrossroadsCountryOpry.com or 361-579-8460.
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2022-05-07T21:19:13Z
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www.victoriaadvocate.com
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Crossroads Country Opry coming May 10 | Community News | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/community_news/crossroads-country-opry-coming-may-10/article_febe3e04-cd4e-11ec-913c-cff42a038b59.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/community_news/crossroads-country-opry-coming-may-10/article_febe3e04-cd4e-11ec-913c-cff42a038b59.html
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100, 75, 50 and 25 years ago: 1922: First Lincoln automobile known in Victoria has 36 horsepower engine
MAY 8 – Leslie T. Sterne, local agent for the Gulf Refining Company, returned to this city this morning after a short business visit to Goliad.
Arthur Seydler, who has been attending school at the West Texas Military Academy in San Antonio, is in the city visiting Victoria relatives and friends.
MAY 11 – The first Lincoln automobile that has been known in Victoria made its arrival this week. It is the property of Jim O’Connor of Goliad County. The Lincoln is in every sense of the word an automobile, and has a 36 horsepower engine and a body finished in the most superb and elegant manner.
Mr. and Mrs. A.J. Traber and family left Wednesday for Houston. Mrs. Traber is on a visit to her parents and Mr. Traber is attending business matters in the Bayou City.
MAY 9 – A budget approximately 60 percent higher than the one last year was adopted by the Victoria Chamber of Commerce at a meeting of the board of directors Thursday afternoon. At the same time the directors voted to increase the minimum membership fee to raise the budget and make possible the new program of activities planned. “We felt we couldn’t make any headway operating on the small budget of the past few years,” Frank Guittard, president said. “Victoria stands at the threshold of great opportunity.”
MAY 12 – Nine men, concession operators and employees of the Alamo Expositions carnival that was here last week, were assessed fines in Justice of the Peace Alfred C. Baass’ court today on their pleas of guilty to charges of disturbing the peace at the carnival grounds Saturday night. Officers said the free-for-all fight grew out of an argument over one of the concessions.
Dr. D.M. Mills among several Victoria aviators who flew to New Braunfels Sunday for breakfast.
MAY 10 – Nazareth Academy has named Mary Beth Pargac valedictorian and Sharon Bonorden salutatorian for the commencement exercises to be held at Victoria College Auditorium.
Victoria Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors Tuesday formally endorsed the University of Houston as the existing state-supported university to offer junior, senior and master’s level educational programs in Victoria. The idea of a branch university on the Victoria College campus has already been endorsed by the Coordinating Board of the Texas College and University System.
MAY 13 – Ben Bolech and Harvey Haas received their 25-year pins, with 20-year pins going to Adolph Pesek and Lucille Marshall, during the annual picnic for Victoria area employees of Groce-Wearden Co.
Highlighting Mother’s Day for many Victorians will be the Mother’s Day Ball at Community Center Sunday. Sponsored by Las Madres de La Communidad de Victoria Club, the ball is open to all Victorians. Proceeds from the ball have provided money toward kidney funds and for college students.
MAY 10 – Beverly Arnold of the Botanical Garden Association said Friday’s rain washed away any chance of Sunday’s planned grand opening of the refurbished Rose Garden in Riverside Park. Before the rains started, Arnold and her co-workers were busy in the garden placing markers bearing the names of donors near the newly planted rose bushes. She said workers plan to begin pumping water out of the garden today and the new date for the grand opening will depend on how quickly it dries.
MAY 14 – Victoria agricultural officials issued a warning Tuesday to pecan growers: it’s time to spray for the pecan nut casebearer, a pest that can destroy a pecan crop. “Eggs of the casebearer have been found in Victoria County,” said County Extension Agent Joe Janak. He said a very heavy “egg lay” was found Tuesday. If untreated, the eggs could hatch and cause significant damage to the pecan crop, he said. He said organic pesticide such as “Bt” or commercial pesticides like malathion, Sevin or Lorsban can be used.
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2022-05-07T21:19:19Z
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www.victoriaadvocate.com
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100, 75, 50 and 25 years ago: 1922: First Lincoln automobile known in Victoria has 36 horsepower engine | Features | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/features/100-75-50-and-25-years-ago-1922-first-lincoln-automobile-known-in-victoria-has/article_f9323fd2-c1b7-11ec-b568-f39dd624378c.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/features/100-75-50-and-25-years-ago-1922-first-lincoln-automobile-known-in-victoria-has/article_f9323fd2-c1b7-11ec-b568-f39dd624378c.html
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VC Foundation to award scholarships in memory of late college president
The Victoria College Foundation will award two fall semester scholarships in memory of Dr. David Hinds, former VC president, who died April 2.
Hinds served Victoria College as president from 2015 to 2020 and led VC through the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey and the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Dr. Hinds will always be remembered as someone whose number-one objective was to help students achieve their goals,” said VC Foundation Board Chair Ben Galvan.
Hinds often inspired others by sharing his own higher education journey, which began at Midland College after an anonymous person awarded him a $500 scholarship. He went on to earn his Bachelor of Science from Texas State University, his Master of Business Administration from the University of Houston, and his doctorate in higher education administration from The University of Texas at Austin.
A $500 scholarship will be awarded to two students who begin their college journey at Victoria College during the fall 2022 semester. Memorial donations are welcome and can be made online at VictoriaCollegeFoundation.org or by calling 361-582-2419.
A celebration of Hinds’ life is planned for 2 p.m. May 21 at the Chapel at St. John the Divine Episcopal Church, 2450 River Oaks Blvd. in Houston. A reception will follow at Sumners Hall. The family requests no black attire.
The community is invited to share memories and tributes at VictoriaCollege.edu/News/HindsMemories. Submissions received by May 17 will be compiled and shared with Hinds’ family at the celebration of life.
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2022-05-07T21:19:43Z
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www.victoriaadvocate.com
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VC Foundation to award scholarships in memory of late college president | Higher Education | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/highereducation/vc-foundation-to-award-scholarships-in-memory-of-late-college-president/article_786a95e2-cbe0-11ec-961d-d78539a9f6da.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/highereducation/vc-foundation-to-award-scholarships-in-memory-of-late-college-president/article_786a95e2-cbe0-11ec-961d-d78539a9f6da.html
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Knights of Columbus Council 1329 selling barbecue pork steak plates May 15
Knights of Columbus Council 1329 will be selling barbecue pork steak plates to go on May 15, at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 3610 N. Ben Wilson St. from 9 a.m. until sold out.
Plates are $10 each, drive-thru only.
Plates will consist of pork steak, mashed potatoes, seasoned green beans, bread and barbecue sauce. Proceeds go toward various charities supported by the Knights of Columbus.
To reserve plates, call the hall that morning at 361-575-9214.
There will also be a bake sale provided by Catholic Daughters in conjunction with the barbecue.
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2022-05-07T21:19:49Z
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www.victoriaadvocate.com
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Knights of Columbus Council 1329 selling barbecue pork steak plates May 15 | Local News | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/local/knights-of-columbus-council-1329-selling-barbecue-pork-steak-plates-may-15/article_04ee7d40-ccb2-11ec-b214-af81c4dd55a5.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/local/knights-of-columbus-council-1329-selling-barbecue-pork-steak-plates-may-15/article_04ee7d40-ccb2-11ec-b214-af81c4dd55a5.html
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Jay Lambert
Photo contributed by UHV
Krisselda Phan
Amy Hatmaker
UHV receives grant to fund student internships
For many students, an internship can help set them up for a career after graduation. Now, University of Houston-Victoria students who have internships for the spring and summer semesters will be paid for their work, as part of a Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board grant.
UHV Career Services recently received a $78,678 grant from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to support student internships called the Work-based Learning Opportunity Grant. With this grant, UHV students who were in unpaid, off-campus internships during the spring semester will receive pay for their internship. Students who plan to intern during the summer in unpaid internships will also receive pay through this grant. The funding also will help to increase the wages of students who are in paid internships to bring their pay up to the target market price and expand internship offerings. UHV Career Services works to connect students, as well as alumni, with employers.
“This is big, wonderful news for our hard-working students,” said Amy Hatmaker, director of UHV Career Services. “We are excited to offer this funding to our students who did not expect to get paid for their spring or summer internships. This grant makes all the difference in the world to our students, and we are happy it was made available to us.”
UHV Career Services works to connect students, as well as alumni, with employers. For this program, UHV expects to convert 26 non-paid to paid internships and increase the salaries of nine paid internships, as well as expand internship offerings through the program.
Not all the UHV degree plans require an internship. However, gaining work experience has become so crucial that students who graduate without having completed an internship or work experience are already behind in the job market, Hatmaker said. Internships can provide students with opportunities to apply those skills learned in courses in a work-based setting, and it helps them to begin to develop a network of professionals in their field.
“Through this grant program, many of our students will now receive internship experience they might not have received if they were unable to take on an unpaid intern role,” said Jay Lambert, UHV vice president for student affairs. “Internships are crucial to learning and attaining skills for careers, and this grant will open up extremely valuable learning opportunities for our students and their futures. We appreciate the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board for awarding our university this important work-based grant.”
For UHV senior Krisselda Phan, having access to a work-based grant will help her as she gets ready to graduate this month. Phan, who is from Pflugerville and is majoring in psychology, has spent the spring semester interning with the nonprofit organization Mid-Coast Family Services. She also works as a student director in Career Services.
During her internship, Phan has worked in or observed different areas of the organization, including the Women’s Crisis Center, youth services and homeless prevention. She would like to pursue jobs such as being a case manager or college advisor, or positions in mental health. Phan wasn’t expecting to receive financial compensation for her internship and was relieved when she received the news that she would, thanks to the grant program.
“This grant is really helpful, especially as I am about to graduate and will need a little bit of financial support so that I won’t have to depend so much on my parents after graduation,” Phan said. “With the funds I will receive, I can put money aside for after graduation, which I appreciate.”
Employers interested in partnering with UHV Career Services can call 361-570-4369 or email careerservices@uhv.edu.
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2022-05-07T21:20:02Z
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www.victoriaadvocate.com
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UHV receives grant to fund student internships | News | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/uhv-receives-grant-to-fund-student-internships/article_4b5d182e-cbf2-11ec-b91b-f77544197e98.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/uhv-receives-grant-to-fund-student-internships/article_4b5d182e-cbf2-11ec-b91b-f77544197e98.html
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Gilbert Cisneros
UHV to host spring commencement ceremonies
University of Houston-Victoria spring 2022 graduates will have the opportunity to celebrate graduation and listen to words of encouragement from the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness this month during the university’s commencement ceremonies in Victoria.
UHV will hold two commencement ceremonies on May 14 at Faith Family Church, 2002 E. Mockingbird Lane. The 10 a.m. ceremony will be for graduates of the colleges of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences and Natural & Applied Science. The 3 p.m. ceremony will be for graduates of the colleges of Business and Education & Health Professions. A live-streaming broadcast of the ceremonies will be available at www.uhv.edu/graduation.
“Commencement is a milestone we are proud to celebrate with our students, who have all worked tirelessly to achieve this goal,” UHV President Bob Glenn said. “This is a joyous occasion for all, and I look forward to congratulating each of our students when they cross the stage.”
The commencement address for both ceremonies will be delivered by Gilbert Cisneros, the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness. Cisneros was sworn into his position on Aug. 24, 2021, and serves as the principal staff assistant and advisor to the Secretary of Defense for force readiness; force management; health affairs; National Guard and Reserve component affairs; education and training; and military and civilian personnel requirements and management, including equal opportunity, morale, welfare, recreation and quality of life matters. Cisneros, a native of Southern California, is a former military officer, philanthropist, veterans advocate and member of Congress with national security experience.
He enlisted in the United States Navy in 1989 after graduating from high school and was selected for the Broadened Opportunity for Officer Selection and Training Program. In 1994, he was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Navy and served for 10 years before working for Frito-Lay. In 2010, with his wife Jacki, he started the Gilbert & Jacki Cisneros Foundation, focused on helping students find a path to higher education with scholarships and college access programs. Along with supporting education initiatives, such as Better Make Room, they have also supported organizations such as It’s On Us to end sexual harassment and assault on college campuses, and the USO, which supports active-duty troops. He also founded The Cisneros Hispanic Leadership Institute at his alma mater The George Washington University, which not only provides scholarships for Latino students, but is also becoming a leading institute for policy issues that affect the Latino community. Prior to serving in Congress, Gilbert was a member of the President’s Advisory Council for the Arts and a member of the DNC Finance Committee.
A strong advocate for our service members and our veterans, Cisneros served on both the Armed Services and Veterans’ Affairs Committees when he represented California’s 39th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives. He championed language in the National Defense Authorization Act to foster greater diversity in our military officer corps. He fought to address the issue of mental health and suicide amongst both our veterans and service members. After the death of Specialist Vanessa Guillén, he was invited to participate in discussions about the status of Latinos in the Army and helped to introduce the I Am Vanessa Guillén Act to make sexual harassment a crime within the Uniform Code of Military Justice. He has been an advocate for military families on issues of housing, child abuse and exceptional family members. He has been outspoken about the military taking a bigger role in protecting our planet, and secured language in the NDAA to have the military begin to convert all non-tactical vehicles to non-emission vehicles. As a former naval officer, he secured language in the NDAA that will evaluate and strengthen the Navy’s process to not only make better warriors, but better ship drivers. He is also the co-founder of the Military Transition Assistance Pathway Caucus to support and advocate on behalf of military service members returning to civilian life.
He attended college on a Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps scholarship and received a Bachelor of Arts in political science from George Washington University. While in the Navy, Cisneros received a Master of Business Administration from Regis University. At the age of 43, after starting his education foundation, he went back to school using his G.I. Bill and received a master’s degree in Urban Education Policy from Brown University.
Cisneros has received numerous awards for his military service, philanthropic work and as a member of Congress. Most recently he has received an award from the U.S. Navy Memorial for his years of service to our country, and he was recognized by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce with their Abraham Lincoln Award for his bipartisan work in the House of Representatives on behalf of small businesses.
“We are truly honored to have Secretary Cisneros participate in our commencement ceremony this year,” said Chance Glenn Sr., UHV provost and vice president for academic affairs. “It is indeed a powerful statement that even during these tumultuous global times, the Secretary values the importance of higher education and the power it can have to transform lives. I would like to thank him and his staff for working with us to make this happen. I believe that they recognize the significance that UHV has to this community and the Victoria area and therefore support our mission in word and in deed.”
In addition to the address, ceremonies will include remarks by UHV President Bob Glenn and Tiarah Figueroa, UHV Student Government Association president. The deans and interim deans of the four UHV colleges will present the candidates for graduation. UHV alumna and Victoria County District Attorney Constance Filley Johnson will introduce graduates into the UHV Alumni Association during both ceremonies as well.
Jesse Garcia, of Victoria, will give remarks at the 10 a.m. ceremony. He was named the Outstanding Undergraduate Student for the College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences and will graduate with a Bachelor of Science in psychology. Three UHV faculty members who recently were rewarded for their work in teaching, research and service also will be honored during the two ceremonies. Those faculty members are:
Teaching Excellence Award – Anthony Madrid, assistant professor of creative writing and English and director of the creative writing program
Research and Scholarly Activity Excellence Award – Armando Chávez-Rivera, associate professor of Spanish and director of the Spanish program
Distinguished Faculty Service Award – Sandy Venneman, professor of psychology and biology
Graduates are asked to arrive one hour prior to their commencement ceremony. Air horns, noisemakers and laser pointers will not be allowed at the ceremony. Balloons, signs larger than 2 feet by 2 feet, banners and flowers are prohibited in the arena but can be checked in to the guest services table. Seating is first-come, first-served.
For more information about commencement, go to uhv.edu/graduation/graduation-frequently-asked-questions or contact graduation@uhv.edu or 361-570-4848.
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2022-05-07T21:20:08Z
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www.victoriaadvocate.com
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UHV to host spring commencement ceremonies | News | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/uhv-to-host-spring-commencement-ceremonies/article_9dff5e1c-cbf1-11ec-8e5b-5fffe5a154da.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/uhv-to-host-spring-commencement-ceremonies/article_9dff5e1c-cbf1-11ec-8e5b-5fffe5a154da.html
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Bible verse - Romans Rom.15:4-6; quote by Joseph B. Wirthlin
For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:
That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
We observe that in the scriptures, fasting almost always is linked with prayer. Without prayer, fasting is not complete fasting; it’s simply going hungry.
Joseph Bitner Wirthlin (1917-2008) was an American businessman, religious leader and member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was sustained to the Twelve on October 4, 1986, and ordained an apostle on Oct. 9, 1986, by Thomas S. Monson.
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2022-05-07T21:20:14Z
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www.victoriaadvocate.com
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Bible verse - Romans Rom.15:4-6; quote by Joseph B. Wirthlin | Opinion | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/opinion/bible-verse---romans-rom-15-4-6-quote-by-joseph-b-wirthlin/article_08d947ca-cbb6-11ec-b33a-5f1d67ad70e8.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/opinion/bible-verse---romans-rom-15-4-6-quote-by-joseph-b-wirthlin/article_08d947ca-cbb6-11ec-b33a-5f1d67ad70e8.html
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Letter: A heartfelt appreciation
Each year, we have a special week in May when we unify as hospitals to honor all of our incredible staff who work so diligently to make a difference every day. It’s a week of gathering, reflecting, honoring, celebrating and recognizing everyone’s unique roles in providing exceptional care for those we serve.
I have often said that what we do in healthcare is a sacred responsibility, where people put their faith and trust in us to ensure their safety, great outcomes, and an exceptional experience along the way.
I’m so proud of the staff that we have the honor of working with at Citizens Medical Center. They strive each and every moment to fulfill our iCare Values of Integrity, Compassion, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence. These are not just words; they reflect the culture of our commitment and the way we care for our patients in the hospital, in our clinics, in your homes with our home health services, and at our HealthPlex fitness and wellness facility.
The COVID-19 pandemic created unprecedented challenges and hardships for everyone. Healthcare became a focal point as physicians and staff were inundated with very sick patients during the peak of each surge. We are grateful that the worst of those days have past and appreciate the resilience of our staff who worked through that as a team, everyone pitching in to pick up extra shifts, work long hours and cover for each other like family. Hospitals across the country were stretched and we were no exception, but our staff rose to the occasion because of their commitment to patients in need and to each other as friends and colleagues. As a result, we have become stronger, more united, and better prepared to take on the next challenge whatever it may be.
During this National Hospital Week, we honor our amazing healthcare team. We appreciate your dedication, determination, compassion and skill in fulfilling your unique responsibilities in the lives of those we serve. Thank you for your commitment. It’s a privilege to work with you.
Mike Olson, CEO, Citizens Medical Center, Victoria
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2022-05-07T21:20:26Z
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Letter: A heartfelt appreciation | Opinion | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/opinion/letter-a-heartfelt-appreciation/article_355ecf6e-cd45-11ec-85a1-6f6be86c1e55.html
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Mothers love us unconditionally
“A mother’s love is the fuel that enables a normal human being to do the impossible.” — Marion C. Garretty
We love our moms.
Every year we pause on the second Sunday of May to pay homage to our moms, showering them with gifts of flowers, perfume, candies, spa treatments and special meals they didn’t have to prepare.
Every year we tell our moms how much we love them and how special they are. Deep down, we know we should tell them that every day, but life gets in the way, and we don’t express it as often as we should.
But moms get it because they love us unconditionally.
Perhaps that is a mother’s greatest trait – her unconditional love. No matter how big a pest we were growing up, how many scrapes we got in as a teen or how many “fail-proof” business ventures we talked her into as a young adult ready to set the world on fire, a mom’s love is constant.
Everyday moms make the impossible happen. Somehow, she can get the kids fed, clothed and off to school, then to a myriad of extracurricular activities while at the same time working to support the family, preparing meals, and keeping up with the home.
And every day moms are there at the end of the day to greet their children with a big smile, a hug and a comforting word of praise and encouragement.
Rightly so we consider moms our heroes. We want to grow up to be like them. We want to be able to solve life-shattering problems in a millisecond. We want to be able to be make heartache go away. We want to be able to effortlessly make a meal for the family and unexpected guests that is fit for royalty.
Little do we know, until we are fortunate to become a mother, that being a mom is not easy. It is the hardest, most fulfilling job on the planet. It’s a never-ending job that only becomes better and more rewarding as her family grows and her children have families. One of the biggest rewards for a mother is to see her love, wisdom and gentle teachings show through in her children as they raise their children.
For those who are fortunate enough to still have their mom living, we ask that you give her a hug – either in person or virtually — and share with her why you love her unconditionally.
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2022-05-07T21:20:38Z
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www.victoriaadvocate.com
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Mothers love us unconditionally | Opinion | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/opinion/mothers-love-us-unconditionally/article_4bf78aea-cd4a-11ec-9577-43b1d2ad9992.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/opinion/mothers-love-us-unconditionally/article_4bf78aea-cd4a-11ec-9577-43b1d2ad9992.html
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Coach Jose Rodriguez and Nick Rodriguez pose after Nick won gold at the TAPPS Class 5A state track meet on Saturday.
Rodriguez leads St. Joseph medal haul at state meet
HEWITT — Nick Rodriguez won a gold medal to lead a successful TAPPS Class 5A state meet for St. Joseph.
St. Joseph had four athletes qualify for the state meet and brought home four medals.
Rodriguez won the boys 800-meter run in a time of 1 minute, 55.90 seconds.
Rodriguez was scheduled to compete in the 1,600-meter run, but withdrew because of an injury.
Caleb Ybarra captured a pair of silver medals in the boys 100- and 200-meter dashes.
Ybarra finished second in the 100 in a time of 10.81 seconds, and was second in the 200 in a time of 22.65.
Ryan Ward claimed a silver medal in the girls high jump.
Ward cleared 5 feet to finish third.
Lauren Theriot finished sixth in the 3,200-meter run in a time of 13:09.
Nick Rodriguez
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2022-05-07T23:28:15Z
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Rodriguez leads St. Joseph medal haul at state meet | Advosports | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/advosports/rodriguez-leads-st-joseph-medal-haul-at-state-meet/article_a5a5029e-ce48-11ec-b7ab-83b156f00580.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/advosports/rodriguez-leads-st-joseph-medal-haul-at-state-meet/article_a5a5029e-ce48-11ec-b7ab-83b156f00580.html
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"Lunch and Learn With the Masters" to focus on daylilies
Daylilies were popular among home gardeners over a century ago and continue to be so until this very day. Proof was evident last year when there was a well attended “Lunch and Learn With the Masters” program on the topic presented by daylily enthusiast Brenda Heinold.
Heinold will give a follow-up program from noon to 1 p.m. Monday at VEG Pavilion, 283 Bachelor Drive. The pavilion is located at Victoria Regional Airport across from the air traffic control tower.
The event is open free to the public. Those who choose to do so may bring a sack lunch and beverage.
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2022-05-07T23:28:34Z
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"Lunch and Learn With the Masters" to focus on daylilies | Local News | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/local/lunch-and-learn-with-the-masters-to-focus-on-daylilies/article_346eb882-cd6b-11ec-b954-af5e4f08e2ec.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/local/lunch-and-learn-with-the-masters-to-focus-on-daylilies/article_346eb882-cd6b-11ec-b954-af5e4f08e2ec.html
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Victoria resident Roshanne Guerra, 37, and her 1-year-old son Oaklyn Guerra.
Mothers of the pandemic: Roshanne Guerra
Victoria resident Roshanne Guerra, 37, shares her and her year-old son Oaklyn Guerra's story through the pandemic. Guerra details her experience with Oaklyn as a nurse for Post Acute Medical rehab, getting COVID-19 late in her pregnancy and the struggle it caused, Oaklyn's struggle with numerous viral infections including COVID-19 and teaching her children the importance of living healthy in the midst of the pandemic.
My pregnancy was a normal pregnancy. We had our pregnancy announcement in December 2021. March 2020 is when the pandemic hit and I was halfway done with pregnancy. I work in health care, as an LVN floor nurse at PAM rehab, so I was very careful with how I did things at work and out in the city when we had to. Only foreign place I can remember going is to the airport, that was before I found out I had COVID. I was 35/36 weeks pregnant when I was diagnosed. I was sent home two times to quarantine, but found out I had pneumonia the second time at the ER. A few days after I couldn’t get myself out of the bath. I didn’t have the strength. I was struggling to breathe so I went back into the ER and they finally admitted me. My pneumonia was worse and my oxygen was in the 80s. They put me on oxygen and told me I was probably going to deliver the next day.
I was extremely scared. They admitted me in a room on the labor and delivery floor but the room had a plastic covering draped down when you entered the room. I was put in bed with oxygen and placed on a monitor. When I would walk to the bathroom I would huff and puff getting back and forth. My baby’s father wasn’t able to see me. I was isolated from everyone. I felt alone. I was taken to surgery the next morning and I was shaking. I was terrified what might or could happen. In the meantime, Zac was trying to get a negative COVID result so he could see the baby after he was born and he was going to be able to see us from a window during surgery, but he didn’t make it in time for the surgery because of the COVID test. Everything happened so fast but in the surgery it happened so slow. During surgery I felt OK, then out of no where I felt like my head was being squeezed. I felt like I was straining, almost like when you're upside down and the blood rushes to your head. I kept whimpering and asking if they were done. I couldn’t take the straining in my head anymore, but I kept trying to coach myself and tell my myself you’re doing OK, you’re going to get through this, you’re almost done. Finally, Baby Oaklyn was born, but I didn’t hear him cry, they wheeled him off before I could even get a glance at him. It wasn’t the natural, normal way with the skin to skin welcoming. He was just wheeled away. I hated my delivery day. It was an all-time low for me. I was depressed. I didn’t get to see and hold him until nine days later.
I honestly didn’t think it would affect me physically and mentally the way it did. I had heard from friends and family and their experience wasn’t severe. It was more like allergies, so I was thinking if I did get it then it wouldn’t be so bad. I was wrong though. We felt trapped at home when we had the stay at home order. We wanted to see friends and family, my birthday wasn’t even a fun day to celebrate because we were all afraid of the unknown.
Raising my children has been pretty challenging, given that my child has been sick more than any of my four other children. He was catching every sickness or virus that went around. We couldn’t even go two weeks without him getting sick again with something. He didn’t have a healthy immune system. He got COVID in April 2021, had hand foot mouth in May 2021, he had RSV and was hospitalized July 2021, reoccurring ear infections, rhinovirus several times. He had it all. He got ear tubes this past February and they said the junk in his ear was bad. In February after his tubes (he was 1 yr and 9 months old) we finally don’t have to take a trip to the doctor or ER anymore. He still deals with bad allergies and eczema though. It’s been really hard especially when you're trying to live a normal life and trying to raise four other kids.
5. Now that we are seemingly at a stage of the pandemic where the disease is becoming endemic, how do you feel is there anything you would like to say about your experience?
We are just trying to live our life as normal as we can. We know life will probably never be the same but we can only educate our children and teach them the importance of a healthy lifestyle and not to take things for granted.
Roshanne Guerra
Pam Health
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2022-05-07T23:28:52Z
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www.victoriaadvocate.com
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Mothers of the pandemic: Roshanne Guerra | For Subscribers Only | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/premium/mothers-of-the-pandemic-roshanne-guerra/article_7f4e9ec4-ce30-11ec-949f-439bccd0848e.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/premium/mothers-of-the-pandemic-roshanne-guerra/article_7f4e9ec4-ce30-11ec-949f-439bccd0848e.html
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As of Friday, Eight adults with COVID-19 were hospitalized with 530 total staffed hospital beds in Trauma Service Area S, according to the state health department. Fourteen ICU beds were available, and one was occupied in the trauma service area, which includes Calhoun, DeWitt, Goliad, Jackson, Lavaca and Victoria counties. Hospitalization data is delayed by one day. For the sake of providing readers with a clearer understanding of the current state of COVID-19 in their communities we have added a new column to show active cases in our daily COVID-19 case counts. The Victoria Advocate gathers all of its COVID-19 data from the Texas Department of State Health Services. Some data reported to the state is occasionally delayed, which can occasionally result in a large increase in new total cases when the cases are finally reported. When the Victoria Advocate reports “new total” cases, not all of those new cases are necessarily active cases, but rather that number reflects new cases added to the total number of cases reported in a county since the beginning of the pandemic. You can read more about how the state gathers its data here.
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2022-05-08T01:22:43Z
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25 new COVID-19 cases, 1 death reported in Crossroads | Covid-19 | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/covid-19/25-new-covid-19-cases-1-death-reported-in-crossroads/article_a4fb22bc-ce50-11ec-913a-1f0361fe987c.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/covid-19/25-new-covid-19-cases-1-death-reported-in-crossroads/article_a4fb22bc-ce50-11ec-913a-1f0361fe987c.html
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Cloudy skies early, followed by partial clearing. Low 74F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph..
Cloudy skies early, followed by partial clearing. Low 74F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph.
Celtics: Robert Williams went to the locker room in the third quarter after taking an elbow to the face from Milwaukee’s Bobby Portis as they tangled under the basket while pursuing the ball. Williams returned later in the third. ... Reserve forward Sam Hauser, who had played two minutes in each of the series’ first two games, was unavailable Saturday due to an injured right shoulder. Udoka said Hauser took a fall in practice. “He’ll be OK long-term,” Udoka said. “It’s just something where he could be out a few weeks based on that.” ... The Celtics lost despite having a major edge at the foul line. The Celtics were 28 of 33 and the Bucks 14 of 17 on free-throw attempts.
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2022-05-08T03:16:40Z
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Bucks edge Celtics 103-101 after frantic final second | | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/bucks-edge-celtics-103-101-after-frantic-final-second/article_17d3a9d6-ce6e-11ec-b7a1-67a941b00a24.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/bucks-edge-celtics-103-101-after-frantic-final-second/article_17d3a9d6-ce6e-11ec-b7a1-67a941b00a24.html
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HEWITT — Hallettsville Sacred Heart won all three relays and captured the girls Class 2A team championship at the TAPPS state meet, which concluded Saturday at Midway High School.
The Indianettes scored 107 points, while Shiner St. Paul, which had won the previous seven titles, finished second with 86 points.
Sacred Heart's Katie Kostelnik, Bailey Haas, Aleigh Kraatz and Elizabeth Grahmann teamed up to win the 400-meter (51.34 seconds), 800-meter (1:48.00) and 1,600-metere relays (4:16.44).
Sacred Heart's Elena Grahmann won the triple jump with a leap of 34 feet, 6 inches, and Elizabeth Grahmann was third in the long jump with a leap of 16-6.75.
St. Paul's Ashlyn Pesek won the high jump by clearing 5-4, and Faith Machart won the discus with a throw of 104-8.
Rebecca Wagner finished third in the triple jump for the Lady Cardinals with a leap of 33-5, and Machart was third in the shot put with a throw of 33-8.75.
St. Paul's 800 (1:50.59) and 1,600 (4:22.31) each finished third.
Tapps Class 2a State Meet
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2022-05-08T06:51:45Z
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Sacred Heart girls win TAPPS state track title | Advosports | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/advosports/sacred-heart-girls-win-tapps-state-track-title/article_e966631a-ce7a-11ec-8af8-0f7f81f1d4d9.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/advosports/sacred-heart-girls-win-tapps-state-track-title/article_e966631a-ce7a-11ec-8af8-0f7f81f1d4d9.html
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UHV facing elimination at RRAC softball tourney
SAN ANTONIO — UHV is facing elimination after dropping its second game at the Red River Athletic Conference tournament.
The Jags fell 5-4 to Texas A&M-Texarkana on Saturday after the Eagles walked off as winners following Macie Reeves RBI single in the seventh inning. That capped a two-run inning.
UHV managed four runs on four hits in the loss. Ashley Reyna, Claire Blinka, Madysin Leighton and Jackie Longoria each had one hit.
Cameron Steen was charged with the loss after allowing two runs on five hits.
The Jags responded by beating Huston-Tillotson University 4-3 in 10 innings in an elimination game shortly after the loss.
Zoe Miranda delivered the eventual winning RBI on a fielder’s choice in the top of the 10th.
Kaylle Lopez went 3-for-5 with an RBI. Blinka, a Calhoun grad, was 2-for-5 with two RBIs and two runs scored, including the run on Miranda’s fielder’s choice.
Steen picked up the win as the third pitcher used by UHV (29-13).
The Jags will face Texas A&M-San Antonio at 10 a.m. on Sunday in an elimination game.
The winner of that game will advance to face the loser of the Our Lady of the Lake-TAMU-Texarkana game at 3 p.m. for the right to play in Monday’s championship game.
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2022-05-08T06:51:51Z
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www.victoriaadvocate.com
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UHV facing elimination at RRAC softball tourney | Advosports | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/advosports/uhv-facing-elimination-at-rrac-softball-tourney/article_592c7db0-ce8f-11ec-a71f-839d33c3409b.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/advosports/uhv-facing-elimination-at-rrac-softball-tourney/article_592c7db0-ce8f-11ec-a71f-839d33c3409b.html
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Liliana Del Carmen Cordova Villarreal
PORT LAVACA — It is with great sadness that we announce the sudden and unexpected passing of Liliana del Carmen Cordova Villarreal, 50, of Port Lavaca, Texas. Lilly, as she was affectionately known, entered eternal rest peacefully with her husband at her side on May 5, 2022.She was born to Heriberto Cordova, Sr. and Imelda Cortez Cordova on August 9, 1971 in Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico. During her childhood she traveled across the United States alongside her parents and older siblings who worked in the strawberry, peach and orange fields. In 1978, her father began working in the marine construction industry in Port Lavaca, Texas where he later decided to establish his family’s home. As she grew older, she moved with her oldest sister to McAllen, Texas and graduated from McAllen High School in 1989. After several years in McAllen, she decided to move home where she later met her honey, Ben Villarreal. They married on October 9, 2000 at Our Lady of the Gulf Catholic Church. Soon after, a bright eyed, curly haired little girl was born and became the light of her mama’s life. Lilly was incredibly proud of her sweet “Shoogy” and was always her loudest fan. She was so excited to watch all of her upcoming accomplishments and milestones, and will now have a front row seat from Heaven. Her memory will forever be cherished by her loving husband of 21 years, Ben, and their daughter, Brianna. Her parents, Heriberto Cordova Sr. and Imelda Cortez Cordova; siblings, Martha Cordova, Eddie (Ofelia) Cordova, Jorge (Florenda) Cordova, Marisa (Steve) Lopez, Javier (Kenia) Cordova, Zayda (John Craig) Falcon; and her nieces and nephews, Joe Albert (Sandra) Cordova, Alyssa (Jon) O’Cana, Alexa (Jon) Nichols, Kassandra Cordova, Bella Cordova, Adriel Cordova, Andri Cordova and Jonathan Falcon; as well as her beloved Dallas Cowboy loving in-laws. She is preceded in death by her brother, Carlos Cordova; grandparents, Jose Cortes Rios, Juana Leal Cortes and Maria Nieves Hernandez Cordova; father-in-law, Salome F. Villarreal and mother-in-law, Delia Villarreal. She was employed at the Port Lavaca Clinic until 2009 as an Insurance Account Representative and was most recently employed at Calhoun County Independent School District - Special Programs as the Department Secretary for the last 13 years. In her career, she made many special friendships that meant so much to her. Lilly was so loved by all who knew her. She would light up a room with her smile, her presence was always known with her contagious and unique laugh, made the most delicious meals and was known for her perfect pico de gallo. Pallbearers include nephews, Adriel Cordova, Jonathan Falcon, Jon O’Cana, Jon Nichols, Jr., Dustin Garcia and Zayden Stewart. Funeral services to be held at Our Lady of the Gulf Catholic Church are as follows: Monday, May 9, 2022 - Visitation at 5pm, Rosary at 7pm
Tuesday, May 10, 2022 - Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 2pm with Father James Dvorak officiating. The Rite of Committal and Burial will follow at the Port Lavaca Cemetery.
Under the direction of Angel Lucy’s Funeral Home Port Lavaca. 361-552-2300.
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2022-05-08T06:52:03Z
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www.victoriaadvocate.com
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Liliana Del Carmen Cordova Villarreal | Obituaries | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/obituaries/liliana-del-carmen-cordova-villarreal/article_819f330b-8b81-517b-9dc0-39d244763db0.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/obituaries/liliana-del-carmen-cordova-villarreal/article_819f330b-8b81-517b-9dc0-39d244763db0.html
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COLUMBUS — Trudy Lynn Smothers, 64, of Columbus, Texas passed away on Wednesday, April 20, 2022. She was born January 11, 1958, in Beeville, Texas to the late James and Mildred Johnson of Kenedy, Texas.
Trudy attended school in Kenedy and graduated in 1976. After graduation, she attended Southwest Texas State University, majoring in elementary education with an endorsement in special education.
She began her career at Hyde Park Baptist School in Austin, Texas where she met the love of her life, Ken Smothers. They married on November 20, 1982, in Kenedy, Texas. To this happy union was born Jason Smothers, Chris Smothers and Kendra Smothers.
She is preceded in death by her parents James and Mildred Johnson and her grandniece Layla.
She is survived by her husband Ken and children Jason, Chris, and Kendra Smothers. She is also survived by her brother James Johnson, seven nephews, 2 nieces, 4 grandnephews and 6 grandnieces.
There will be a celebration of life service held on Saturday, May 14, 2022, at 2 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in Columbus, Texas. The service will be officiated by Rev. Steve Smothers of San Marcos, Texas. A reception will follow in the fellowship hall.
Words of comfort may be shared at www.asacredchoice.com.
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2022-05-08T06:52:28Z
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www.victoriaadvocate.com
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TRUDY LYNN SMOTHERS | Obituaries | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/obituaries/trudy-lynn-smothers/article_69cd5a08-eb99-547e-bce4-f8e44077661a.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/obituaries/trudy-lynn-smothers/article_69cd5a08-eb99-547e-bce4-f8e44077661a.html
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TZENA LYNN FUNKHOUSER
CUERO — Tzena Lynn Funkhouser, 63, passed away in Cuero, Texas on Sunday, May 1, 2022.
Tzena was born September 5, 1958, in Woodstock, Virginia to the late Don and Betty Funkhouser.
She loved spending time with her family and friends and enjoyed cooking for them. Tzena was preceded in death by her parents Don and Betty Funkhouser.
Tzena leaves to cherish her memory her brothers Tracy Funkhouser (Sarah), A.T. (Janet) Funkhouser, nieces Sarah and Rachel Funkhouser, along with numerous other loving family members and friends. We will all miss her free spirit and infectious laugh.
Her family will hold a private, family service at a later date.
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2022-05-08T06:52:34Z
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TZENA LYNN FUNKHOUSER | Obituaries | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/obituaries/tzena-lynn-funkhouser/article_91936a68-7aca-5a6a-bacd-9b373f60adf6.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/obituaries/tzena-lynn-funkhouser/article_91936a68-7aca-5a6a-bacd-9b373f60adf6.html
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BBB Warning: Avoid moving scams this National Moving Month
For countless Americans, the month of May signifies a major transition in their lives. Whether it is graduating from high school or college, starting a new job or receiving that highly anticipated acceptance letter, May marks the beginning of the busiest time in the nation for moving. So much so, that the month was designated National Moving Month in 1997.
In 2021, 42% of all business inquiries on BBB.org for moving companies occurred from May-August and nearly 1,100 complaints were filed with BBB against moving companies throughout the year. Additionally, consumers reported more than $730,000 lost to moving scams to BBB Scam Tracker, a 216% increase in monetary losses as compared to 2020. Of the 27 million people who moved from 2020-2021, nearly 30% were between the ages of 20-29.
With the amount of moving activity during summer, the potential of being a victim of a moving scam also increases. There are several versions of moving scams reported to BBB every year, including:
Consumers receive a quote and pay a deposit, but the movers never show up.
The moving company provides a quote based on expected weight and, after loading the truck, they inform the consumer that the load is over the expected weight and an additional fee will have to be paid. Most of the time, the additional fee is significantly more expensive per pound, sometimes as much as double the original estimate.
The most disruptive and difficult to anticipate moving scam is when everything appears to be going well. The movers provide an estimate, arrive on time and load your belongings on a truck. However, this is where the interaction turns disastrous. When the truck fails to arrive at its destination, either your belongings are simply gone or the company requires the consumer to pay an additional fee to have them delivered, holding the possessions hostage.
To avoid becoming a victim of a moving scam this National Moving Month and in the future, BBB recommends consumers follow these guidelines:
Watch out for warning signs. When reviewing a company’s website, if there is no address or information about a mover’s registration or insurance, it is a sign that it may not possess the proper policies to protect a consumer’s belongings. Additionally, if the mover uses a rented truck or offers an estimate over the phone prior to conducting an on-site inspection, it may not be a legitimate business.
Be wary of unusual requests. If a mover asks for a large down payment or full payment in advance, that may be an indication of a fraudulent business. If an individual’s possessions are being held hostage for additional payment that was not agreed upon when the contract was signed, contact BBB or local law enforcement for help.
Get everything in writing. When moving between states, check licensing with the U.S. Department of Transportation. An identification number issued by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is required of all interstate moving companies, which can be verified at ProtectYourMove.org. Make sure to carefully read the terms and conditions of the contract, as well as the limits of liability and any disclaimers. The pickup and expected delivery date should be easily identified.
Keep an inventory of your belongings. Having an inventory sheet is one of the best ways to keep track of your possessions. BBB recommends consumers who are moving label the boxes their belongings are packed in and what is in each box. In general, movers are not liable for lost or damaged contents in customer-packed boxes unless there is provable negligence on the part of the mover. Taking photos of the contents prior to packing is a great way to prove if damages were incurred during the moving process.
To access BBB’s 2020 report of moving scams, visit BBB.org/MoverScams.
For a list of accredited moving companies near you, visit BBB.org.
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2022-05-08T21:11:35Z
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www.victoriaadvocate.com
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BBB Warning: Avoid moving scams this National Moving Month | Business | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/business/bbb-warning-avoid-moving-scams-this-national-moving-month/article_63bbcaa6-cb1a-11ec-9a83-079fc91d0ede.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/business/bbb-warning-avoid-moving-scams-this-national-moving-month/article_63bbcaa6-cb1a-11ec-9a83-079fc91d0ede.html
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Bible verse - Isaiah Isa.21:13-15; quote by Benjamin Disraeli
The burden upon Arabia. In the forest in Arabia shall ye lodge, O ye travelling companies of Dedanim.
The inhabitants of the land of Tema brought water to him that was thirsty, they prevented with their bread him that fled.
For they fled from the swords, from the drawn sword, and from the bent bow, and from the grievousness of war.
Like all great travelers, I have seen more than I remember, and remember more than I have seen.
Benjamin Disraeli (1804-1881), 1st Earl of Beaconsfield, KG, PC, DL, JP, FRS was a British statesman and Conservative politician who twice served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. He played a central role in the creation of the modern Conservative Party, defining its policies and its broad outreach.
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2022-05-08T21:11:54Z
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www.victoriaadvocate.com
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Bible verse - Isaiah Isa.21:13-15; quote by Benjamin Disraeli | Opinion | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/opinion/bible-verse---isaiah-isa-21-13-15-quote-by-benjamin-disraeli/article_a3e5de3e-cbb3-11ec-aaed-f780f3fe550c.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/opinion/bible-verse---isaiah-isa-21-13-15-quote-by-benjamin-disraeli/article_a3e5de3e-cbb3-11ec-aaed-f780f3fe550c.html
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Syndicated Column: The Economist: (Lots of) help wanted
The bottom line, however, is that we’ve seen these labor shortages coming for a long time, although the pandemic accelerated things moderately. Underlying demographic patterns are the primary culprit, and they are not changing anytime soon. Strong economic expansion in Texas is obviously also raising labor demand. Fortunately, Texas is seeing more growth in younger age ranges than many parts of the country, which is helping the situation. In fact, the U.S. population under 18 was about 1 million lower in the 2020 Census than 10 years ago, while this age group increased by more than 400,000 in Texas.
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2022-05-08T21:12:12Z
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www.victoriaadvocate.com
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Syndicated Column: The Economist: (Lots of) help wanted | Opinion | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/opinion/syndicated-column-the-economist-lots-of-help-wanted/article_f54550da-cd3d-11ec-9476-9709edaec0c9.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/opinion/syndicated-column-the-economist-lots-of-help-wanted/article_f54550da-cd3d-11ec-9476-9709edaec0c9.html
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Jupiter Horizons Gallery co-curator Claire Santellana poses for a portrait in the window gallery on Thursday evening off East Santa Rosa Street.
The Jupiter Horizons Gallery exhibit “The Mothership Has Landed” peers out at East Santa Rosa Street.
One of several abstract paintings by Carole Myers hangs in the Jupiter Horizons Gallery on East Santa Rosa Street.
A painting by artist Carole Myers is displayed in the Jupiter Horizons Gallery.
“Festival in Oaxaca” by Carole Myers bookends the Jupiter Horizons Gallery window display.
The Jupiter Horizons Gallery remains lit after nightfall on Saturday on the side of East Santa Rosa Street.
Local women are honoring their mothers’ legacies by displaying their artwork in a downtown Victoria art gallery.
In Jupiter Horizons Gallery, Karissa Winters, of Victoria, is displaying the artwork of her late mother, Kimberly Greig, and Lisa Haynes, of Rockport, is displaying the works of her late mother, Carole Myers, among the works of local moms and artists.
The display, called The Mothership Has Landed, is intended to honor mothers, said Winters, who co-owns the gallery with Claire Santellana.
“It’s to celebrate (my mom’s) legacy and everything she’s done for arts, but also all mothers,” Winters said. “That’s why The Mothership Has Landed.”
Greig was a founding member of the Austin Art League and had a passion for teaching the arts, Winters said. She practiced in a number of mediums, including sculpture, oil paint and watercolor.
Greig was also intent on helping all artists get recognized for the beauty in their work, Winters said.
“She helped turn arts and crafts fairs into places where artists were taken more seriously,” she said. “Like, you’re an artist, and this is where you show your art. It used to be viewed as ‘just’ arts and crafts, and she said, ‘No, this is a platform for artists to be seen and to become a place where they can flourish and support themselves and make this their career.’”
Greig died last year at the age of 62, and one of the pieces on display in the gallery is an unreleased watercolor painting she created honoring their families pets and life in the country, Winters said.
Haynes is displaying four of the nearly 200 of mother’s paintings she has, she said.
“Her professional career began at age 15 when she was recognized for her ability to paint,” Haynes said. “And she painted from age 15 until age 81, I would say.”
Myers won over 300 national and regional awards over her career and had solo exhibitions in cities like San Antonio, Oklahoma City, St. Louis and Albuquerque, according to her website.
Myers died in 2017 at the age of 82, Haynes said.
Haynes was the executor of her mother’s estate after she died, and rediscovering her mother’s work was like getting to know her again by “seeing the art and remembering where she was at that stage of her life,” she said. “You know, remembering that she was in Paris, and that I was in high school or remembering where she was.”
Myers’ work was primarily watercolor and tended to be more abstract, Haynes said.
“She was kind of a creative experimental painter is what they called her,” she said. “She would experiment with collage or different techniques and had a freedom about the colors that she used and the composition she used.”
Haynes said that finding a venue to display an artist’s work after their death can be a challenge.
“A lot of the art festivals, rightfully so, are for the living artists,” she said. “So when an artist passes away, you’ve got to find a niche, got to find a gallery that will want to display the work.”
The gallery has helped Winters heal after her mother’s death, she said.
“It’s a very hard thing for Mother’s Day to come up and your mom has passed away,” Winters said. “It makes it a little easier to know I’m carrying on a legacy. Even though she passed away, in theory she’s still living on by me sharing her passion and love for art and a piece of art she made.”
Jupiter Horizons Gallery
Where: 120 S. Main St., Victoria
Hours: 8 a.m.-8 p.m. daily
Web: JupiterHorizonsGallery.com
Karissa Winters
Carole Myers
Kimberly Greig
Claire Santellana
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2022-05-09T01:45:52Z
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www.victoriaadvocate.com
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Women of the Crossroads honor mothers' artistic legacy | For Subscribers Only | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/premium/women-of-the-crossroads-honor-mothers-artistic-legacy/article_1b08d384-cf03-11ec-8c62-b72ac0531f31.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/premium/women-of-the-crossroads-honor-mothers-artistic-legacy/article_1b08d384-cf03-11ec-8c62-b72ac0531f31.html
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UHV Q&A: There’s still time to apply for admission to UHV
By Lauren Emerson
Q: My son will receive his degree from UHV Saturday, and it inspired me to go back to school. What are the deadlines to apply for the summer or fall semester at UHV?
A: Congratulations to your son on this major accomplishment, and we’re glad you are choosing to pursue your degree at UHV.
The admission deadline for the summer semester is May 13, which is coming up fast. However, if you’re not able to complete and submit your application by then, there’s still plenty of time for you to apply for the fall semester. The deadline to complete applications and forms is Aug. 10. Summer classes begin June 6, and fall classes begin Aug. 22.
The beginning of UHV’s admissions process is simple. Go to www.goapplytexas.org and fill out the application for UHV. There is a $25 application fee. Any student currently in the 11th or 12th grade may be eligible to request an application fee waiver. You can apply as a new freshman, a transferring student or a graduate student, depending on what degree you are pursuing and if you are currently enrolled in another school.
Once your application is submitted, a UHV recruiter will contact you to help you through the rest of the admissions process, so be sure to keep an eye out for any important emails.
The forms required for admission differ depending on your status as a student. If you are applying as a new freshman, you will need to submit your official high school transcript as well as your test scores from the Texas Success Initiative assessment, and the ACT or the SAT test. However, UHV is currently test optional, and freshmen can be admitted based on their high school GPA and class rank.
If you are transferring from a different institution, you need to submit official transcripts from each institution you have attended. You also need to have a minimum grade-point average of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale. Also, transfer students may qualify for a $500 or $1,000 transfer scholarship, depending on your GPA. UHV also has partnership agreements with many area community colleges, so your transfer may be easier than you think.
If you want to pursue a graduate degree, you must already have a bachelor’s degree from UHV or another accredited school. You should submit official transcripts from each school you have attended as well as test scores for the Graduate Record Examination or, if you are pursuing a business degree, the Graduate Management Admission Test. However, if you already have a master’s degree, you might be exempt from taking an exam.
Graduate programs often have special admission guidelines such as application essays or letters of recommendation, so check your preferred program’s webpage on the UHV website at uhv.edu.
All students under age 22 must submit proof of bacterial meningitis immunization before registering for courses.
Applying for admission is your first step as you prepare to pursue a degree. We have recruiters and other professionals ready to help you get everything you need from documents to financial aid. To find out more, contact the UHV Welcome Center at 361-570-4323 or thecenter@uhv.edu.
Do you have a question about the University of Houston-Victoria? Contact Lauren Emerson, UHV communications specialist, at 361-570-4342 or emersonl@uhv.edu.
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2022-05-09T17:54:50Z
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www.victoriaadvocate.com
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UHV Q&A: There’s still time to apply for admission to UHV | Education | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/education/uhv-q-a-there-s-still-time-to-apply-for-admission-to-uhv/article_6d2a72ac-ccac-11ec-acdb-7b93621be6b8.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/education/uhv-q-a-there-s-still-time-to-apply-for-admission-to-uhv/article_6d2a72ac-ccac-11ec-acdb-7b93621be6b8.html
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city council election
Saturday night's elections saw incumbent Super District 6 councilman Mark Loffgren keep his seat on the city council.
His opponent, Butler, 48, brought 20 years of customer service experience to the race. She is owner of the Wood House Day Spa in Victoria and the "I Fix Computers" Guy Information Technology company as well. A focus of her campaign was on making the actions of the city council more translucent so voters would have a better understanding of the issues facing the city.
"You know, the voters have voted and you have to respect that," Butler said.
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2022-05-09T20:01:15Z
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www.victoriaadvocate.com
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city council election | | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/city-council-election/article_fedee1d2-cfbe-11ec-903e-3f88f756078a.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/city-council-election/article_fedee1d2-cfbe-11ec-903e-3f88f756078a.html
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West informed the Victoria County Commissioners Court Monday morning up the upcoming event. She cautioned that residents should have a plan in place should it prove to be a peak hurricane season.
The National Weather Service Corpus Christi Hurricane Town Hall Meeting will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. Thursday May 12. There will be two individual presentations for residents at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. The event will by held in Walker Auditorium at 3007 N. Ben Wilson.
The meeting will help start getting residents thinking of what they may have to prepare for. West recommended going to ready.gov to see how the government recommends putting a survival kit together, including prescription medications as well as cash (electronic pay methods may be out), water, food, a NOAA Weather Radio and first aid supplies. They also have to have food for children and pets.
If prepared, residents can adapt to whatever the situation calls for. If they can stay at home, they can get their supplies there. If ordered to evacuate, they can be ready to take these items with them.
"We want them to be prepared for all outcomes," West said.
She said one thing residents had to make sure to do, in case of bad weather, was to make sure their wireless emergency alerts were on. People have a tendency to shut them off when trying to sleep, ensuring that they will miss alerts.
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2022-05-09T20:01:21Z
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www.victoriaadvocate.com
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hurricane prep | | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/hurricane-prep/article_58f0824c-cfc5-11ec-9ed5-b387e3f75081.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/hurricane-prep/article_58f0824c-cfc5-11ec-9ed5-b387e3f75081.html
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Bible verse - Isaiah Isa.21:16-17; quote by Angela Ahrendts
For thus hath the Lord said unto me, Within a year, according to the years of an hireling, and all the glory of Kedar shall fail:
And the residue of the number of archers, the mighty men of the children of Kedar, shall be diminished: for the LORD God of Israel hath spoken it.
Remember — the universal language is not texted, emailed, or spoken. It is felt.
Angela Jean Ahrendts, DBE (born 1960) is an American businesswoman who was previously the senior vice president of retail at Apple Inc. She was the CEO of Burberry from 2006 to 2014. Ahrendts left Burberry to join Apple in 2014.
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2022-05-09T22:02:03Z
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www.victoriaadvocate.com
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Bible verse - Isaiah Isa.21:16-17; quote by Angela Ahrendts | Opinion | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/opinion/bible-verse---isaiah-isa-21-16-17-quote-by-angela-ahrendts/article_9b247728-cbb4-11ec-9f8f-7fb02b2304a0.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/opinion/bible-verse---isaiah-isa-21-16-17-quote-by-angela-ahrendts/article_9b247728-cbb4-11ec-9f8f-7fb02b2304a0.html
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Guest column: An injury that just won’t heal
A minor injury can be so frustrating. They are an annoyance more than anything else. Most people (myself included) recognize that although these minor issues are not ideal, they seem much better than more severe ones. Shattering a leg or having a heart attack seem much worse when compared to an ankle that rolls from time-to-time or a sprained wrist. In fact, if you ask people which they would prefer, most immediately choose a minor injury, saying that a major injury may require invasive surgery and months of strenuous rehab, possibly wearing a cast and limiting range of motion until everything heals. If a rolled ankle is a few flies buzzing around in your house, a shattered leg is more like having the place infested with cockroaches.
Lately, I’ve been wondering though... Recovery may be faster from severe injuries than mild ones because of how people respond when those injuries occur. Ask any physical therapist and when a severe injury happens, people take active steps to help speed up recovery. They consult physical therapists, physicians, and undergo surgery. They come up with treatments and design rehabilitation plans. All this is done to recover quickly and get back to a normal quality of life. Like the cockroaches referenced above, you’ll do whatever it takes to resolve the problem.
Lesser injuries, however, tend not to be given the same resources much to the dismay of those same physical therapists and physicians. I imagine my good friend and former trustee, Ross Mansker is probably nodding strongly (to the point of injury) at this. Of course, people may take a few Tylenol or put some ice on a rolled ankle when they get home, but they are much less likely to pull together a full treatment and rehabilitation plan. To be honest, even if they do put together a plan, they are less likely to follow it. Someone at our office had a minor injury recently and it became a bit worse for this very reason. Although everyone should take two Tylenol every morning and then do 10 minutes of active mobilization to loosen everything up, nobody seems to have the time for it every day before work. Soon the exercise plan is completely forgotten, and the Tylenol bottle is back in the medicine cabinet. In many ways, this makes sense. It takes time and money (resources) to consult doctors, see specialists, and generate treatment plans and it takes effort to do physical therapy every morning. In business parlance, or behavioral economics, it’s a balance between resource investment and the expected rate of return.
My point is that we have to pay the price for these decisions, but occasionally when paying the price, we are unaware of the cost... Sometimes those costs are immediate and substantial. Sometimes the costs are long-lasting and still substantial. Unfortunately, people are more likely to seek out remedies when they have a heart attack than when they have a headache. A rolled ankle hurts longer (that’s a cost to overall lifestyle comfort) than a shattered leg because severe injuries exceed our pain tolerance, and minor ones don’t.
Extreme injuries surpass that threshold, which triggers major steps to resolve the pain. Things that aren’t painful enough don’t generate such a significant response which means they just don’t get addressed.
Although the upfront cost of a major event is high, the benefits from that investment of resources also pay off sooner. The upfront costs of minor events are low if you do nothing, but overall, the costs still remain high (or even higher than a major event), as the eventual benefit of recovery may not happen for a long time, if at all. From this frame of mind, we should address all events (major or minor) in the same way. Invest the resources, fix it, and move on. Resources invested create immediate benefit.
This applies outside of physical injuries to our daily lives. If a product or service fails entirely, people go out and find a new one. If it repeatedly underperforms just slightly, however, there’s not enough pain to make us want to change. It’s why we accept mediocre customer service (and why it seems to be getting worse with every passing year). When the status quo is awful, it’s easy to get people to change, they are ready and willing. Whenever the status quo is just OK and not stellar; or mediocre, but not terrible; change doesn’t seem worth the effort because the current state doesn’t seem that bad.
This has turned into a long post about physical injury and now I’m rambling about customer service... but in truth I’m not really thinking about physical injury or customer service at all. Our minor irritations with our lack of adequate facilities continue to worsen, making our lives passably miserable. Maybe not unbearably miserable enough to do anything about it yet, but I fear this nagging problem isn’t going to go away on its own.
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2022-05-09T22:02:09Z
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www.victoriaadvocate.com
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Guest column: An injury that just won’t heal | Opinion | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/opinion/guest-column-an-injury-that-just-won-t-heal/article_b4c42f44-cf96-11ec-a5e4-a7ee28e9bf12.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/opinion/guest-column-an-injury-that-just-won-t-heal/article_b4c42f44-cf96-11ec-a5e4-a7ee28e9bf12.html
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St. Michael's Catholic Church in Cuero
St. Michael's Catholic Church will hold annual spring festival
St. Michael's Catholic Church in Cuero will hold its annual Parish Spring Festival on May 22 on the parish grounds, 309 E. Church St.
A roast beef dinner with all the trimmings will be served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dining will be on-site or drive thru for plates to-go. Meal tickets are $12 each.
Also planned for the afternoon are is live music from the Rusty Steins Polka Band from 11 a.m. to noon, beer garden, live auction, silent auction, country store and raffle. The live auction will start at 12:15 p.m.
The festival will benefit St. Michael's Catholic Church and School. For more information contact the pastor, Rev. Jacob Mendoza or the church office at 361-275-3554.
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2022-05-09T22:02:31Z
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www.victoriaadvocate.com
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St. Michael's Catholic Church will hold annual spring festival | | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/st-michaels-catholic-church-will-hold-annual-spring-festival/article_10a6aea0-cfaf-11ec-98c3-279530a3e835.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/st-michaels-catholic-church-will-hold-annual-spring-festival/article_10a6aea0-cfaf-11ec-98c3-279530a3e835.html
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From left, are Kathy Bell and Margaret Pruett.
Margaret Pruett and Kathy Bell won the Victoria school board races for District 6 and 1, respectively.
Pruett, the incumbent, received 621 votes compared to just 499 for challenger Emett Alvarez.
"I am super excited and just feel very blessed that the community came out and have given me the opportunity to continue to be their trustee," Pruett said.
Pruett said that she's excited to continue the work the school board is doing and to build more partnerships within the community. She wants to help the board "to better communicate that we want to hear from our community and our parents."
Bell defeated Theresa Klacman for the vacant District 1 seat after earning 436 votes compared to Klacman's 344. The District 1 seat formerly was held by Kevin VanHook, who did not seek reelection.
"I feel blessed," Bell said. "I feel honored. The community felt they needed to vote for a person with a teacher's perspective."
Bell taught at Victoria's school district for 24 years — with an additional 15 in Corpus Christi — and will retire at the end of the school year.
Bell said she believes parental and community involvement with the school district is key for them to move forward.
"We need more parental involvement and support," she said. "I think it would be a lot easier for us to move on things when they have a good understanding of 'what' and 'why.'"
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2022-05-09T23:55:24Z
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www.victoriaadvocate.com
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Pruett, Bell win school board races | Education | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/education/pruett-bell-win-school-board-races/article_e6bacb40-cfc1-11ec-9bc6-47e6aaa69cbd.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/education/pruett-bell-win-school-board-races/article_e6bacb40-cfc1-11ec-9bc6-47e6aaa69cbd.html
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Leadoff hitter Jackson Stefka stole second base safely in the third inning of Monday’s TAPPS Division II area round series with Austin St. Michael’s at Riverside Stadium.
St. Joseph knew it had to execute a perfect gameplan in its playoff opener.
The Flyers committed nine errors and surrendered 38 runs on 36 hits, losing 18-0 and 20-1 to Austin St. Michael’s in a TAPPS Division II area round series at Riverside Stadium.
“We felt we were as prepared as possible,” said coach Danny Tunchez. “Mimicking and trying to duplicate playoff intensity at practice is tough being two weeks without playing. It’s growth and it’s a learning experience for our younger ones.”
St. Joseph (7-12) will graduate three total seniors and return eight of its nine starters next year, and hopes it can build on the experience of playing a veteran team like the Crusaders.
The Flyers were coming off an outright district title in Division II, District 4.
“It’s terrible for our seniors because they won’t be able to move forward with us and grow,” Tunchez said. “But for these young ones, I think it’s going to lead us in the right direction because they’re not going to want this taste ever again.”
Aiden Aragon had the lone RBI of the series for the Flyers with his single to score Vic Nunez in the fourth inning of Game 2.
St. Michael’s (17-9) sent 14 batters to the plate and scored 11 runs in the fourth inning of Game 1, 10 of which came with two outs. The Crusaders also scored all 11 of their runs in the fifth inning of Game 2 with two outs.
Austin Bautch and Will Garcia capped off the onslaught with RBI singles in consecutive at-bats off Mark Olguin, who came on in relief of Rudy Gonzales in the first game.
“We have to make sure they understand the minor details are major details to win a baseball game,” Tunchez said. “You get two outs, you’ve gotta make sure to finish it. This last game, we had two outs and gave up 11 runs. It’s all about the minor mental mistakes that we made and we’ll accept them as coaches. It’s just making adjustments.”
In three of the four innings in Game 1, the Crusaders scored multiple runs.
St. Michael’s scored four in the first inning of Game 1 thanks to a three-run home run by University of Texas pledge Grant Fahrlander.
The future Longhorn finished the doubleheader 5-for-9 at the plate with eight RBIs.
“He came out as expected,” Tunchez said. “We knew that team was a disciplined-hitting team. They’ll make you pay whenever you’re not spotting your pitches. If there’s anything left up, they’re gonna do exactly what they did today — hit the ball.”
TAPPS DIVISION II AREA ROUNDAustin St. Michael’s 18-20, St. Joseph 0-1
St. Michael’s 430 (11) — 18 17 0
St. Joseph 000 0 — 0 3 2
W: Eli Arrimbide. L: Rudy Gonzales. Highlights: (SM) Grant Fahrlander 2-for-4, 4 RBI, 1 HR, 1 3B; Will Garcia 2-for-3, 3 RBIs, 1 2B; Carson Frezon 4-for-5, 3 R, 2 RBI, 1 2B; (SJ) Jackson Stefka 2-for-2, 1 2B.
St. Michael’s 133 2(11) — 20 19 1
St. Joseph 000 10 — 1 3 7
W: Owen Moore L: Vic Nunez Highlights: (SM) Fahrlander 3-for-4, 5 R, 3 RBI, 2 2B; Austin Bautch 3-for-3, 4 RBI, 2 R, 1 3B; (SJ) Aiden Aragon 1-for-2, 1 RBI. Records: St. Michael’s 17-9, St. Joseph 7-12.
St. Joseph's coaches wanted a tough non-district schedule to prepare the Flyers for a potential run at a district title and beyond. After accomplishing the first goal, the Flyers are ready to tackle the second goal.
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2022-05-10T03:23:25Z
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www.victoriaadvocate.com
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St. Joseph swept out of playoffs by St. Michael's | Advosports | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/advosports/st-joseph-swept-out-of-playoffs-by-st-michaels/article_db83ce22-cfec-11ec-97e8-73212654282b.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/advosports/st-joseph-swept-out-of-playoffs-by-st-michaels/article_db83ce22-cfec-11ec-97e8-73212654282b.html
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ROUND ROCK — Ruby Hahn Richardson, 91, of Round Rock, formerly of Bay City, Texas, passed away on May 6, 2022, in Round Rock, Texas. She was born to John and Elsie De Reese Hahn in El Maton, Matagorda County on November 20, 1930. She joined siblings Johnnie, Elroy & Lorene on the family farm.
In 1975, Ruby received her Masters Degree in Education Supervision from Trinity University in San Antonio. She began her teaching career in East Bernard, Texas, followed by twenty years at Lackland AFB Elementary, later promoted as Coordinator of Curriculum Instruction. In 1986, she taught in Tidehaven Independent School District at the Jr. High and then at the kindergarten in Markham. While at Tidehaven, she was elected as educator of the year. She then represented the district at the Association of Texas Professional Educators (ATPE) Statewide convention in Austin where she was selected as the Elementary Educator of the year for the State of Texas
Ruby was a member of the Midfield Church serving as Secretary-Treasurer for 19 years. She was also a member of the Midfield Cemetery Association serving as Secretary-Treasurer for 31 years. She was a Life member of the Matagorda County Retired Teachers Association, a member of the Matagorda County Museum, the Matagorda County Genealogy Club and the Bay City Book Club.
Survivors include sons Greg Snelling and Jeff Snelling of Alabama, and daughter Jill Cornelius of Round Rock, Texas, granddaughters Kathryn Cornelius McClintock and husband Andrew, of Georgetown, Annie Cornelius Nabers and husband Ben of Spring Branch (who are awaiting the birth of Ruby’s first great-granddaughter), great-grandsons Louie and Gus McClintock, and sister Lorene Frick of Markham. Extended family includes daughters Cindy Richardson Coz and husband, Andy of Pearland, and Paula Richardson of Pearland, granddaughter Sarah de Ganna and husband, Josh, great-grandsons Braden and Jacob de Ganna, of Seabrook, and many cousins, nieces and nephews and her best friend and care-giver, Rose Streams.
Services are at the Midfield Community Church, Rev Howard Harper Officiating, on Thursday, May 12, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. (viewing at 10:00 a.m.), followed by entombment at Midfield Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Midfield Community Church or the Midfield Cemetery Association.
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2022-05-10T06:48:34Z
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www.victoriaadvocate.com
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Ruby Hahn Richardson | Obituaries | victoriaadvocate.com
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Mateo Vasquez (left) and his teammate pose while in the tunnel of the Camp Nou, FC Barcelona’s home stadium.
Mateo Vasquez (5) runs upfield during a game at the Barça Academy World Cup in April.
Mateo Vasquez looks to take possession from an opposing player during the Barça Academy World Cup in April.
MOULTON — Mateo Vasquez knew what to expect when he left Austin-Bergstrom International Airport for Barcelona in early April.
The 13-year-old Vasquez was set to experience his dreams after being selected to represent the FC Barcelona Academy Austin at the ninth annual Barça Academy World Cup held at Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper, the training ground for FC Barcelona’s first team.
“I know he is a big fan,” said Barça Academy Austin coach Jon Muñoz Arberas in an April interview. “So being in the facilities where the first team is, it’s a big honor. Not many players can say they are taking part in this.”
The four-day tournament, which started on April 11, featured 104 teams from 15 countries and 352 games.
He was originally scheduled to compete in the 2020 iteration of the competition, but the COVID-19 pandemic halted that. This was the first time the event had been held since the pandemic started.
Vasquez said he was “speechless” when he got the news that he was selected for the 2020 tournament.
Competing in a field of 1,150 players at a facility that cultivated players like Ronaldihno and Leo Messi exceeded the eighth-grader’s expectations.
“I felt really special, really honored to be there,” Vasquez said, “because a lot of other professional players were there. It’s just unimaginable. It’s really, really amazing. It feels great.”
The under-14 team Vasquez played on competed against academies from Dubai, Switzerland and Italy in the group stage of the tournament.
The Barça Academy Camps Italia Blau team won the U-14 title.
“We did better than we thought we would,” Vasquez said. “I was really proud of it.”
Vasquez’s family was also able to enjoy the sights of Spain’s second largest city.
All competitors in the tournament got to soak in the UEFA Europa League match between Barcelona and German Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt on April 14, the final day of the tournament.
“It’s a tournament on another level. Something I could never imagine,” said Vasquez’s mother, Cynthia. “There were people from all around the world, and everybody had the same reason to be there, to see our kids be happy.”
While Vasquez loves to win, he understands his experience overseas will help him in his pursuit of playing professionally when he gets older.
“I just want to go to each practice and each game, and give it my all,” Vasquez said. “I want to play well consistently in every game and practice so maybe one day I can go back.”
Barça Academy World Cup
PLAYERS: 1,150
TEAMS: 104
Moulton teen gets chance of a lifetime with FC Barcelona Academy
Mateo Vasquez is an eighth-grader at Moulton High School, a Class 1A school. He's preparing for a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Barcelona with his FC Barcelona Academy team for the Barça Academy World Cup beginning Monday.
Mateo Vasquez
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2022-05-10T23:36:47Z
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Moulton's Vasquez relishes opportunity at Barça Academy World Cup | Advosports | victoriaadvocate.com
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Shiner’s Beck Bishop tees off at Lions Municipal Golf Course during the Class 2A state golf tournament on Tuesday.
Yorktown’s Drew Alexander had the best finish of all area golfers at the Class 2A state tournament at Lions Municipal Golf Course in Austin on Tuesday.
The senior used rounds of 81 and 78 to finish in a three-way tie for fourth place with a two-day total of 159.
Yorktown’s team of Alexander, Trent Foerster, Konnor Sullivan, Dalton Eckhardt and Cameron Willis shot rounds of 393 and 401 to finish with a total of 794.
Falls City’s Jaxson Pipes shot 187 (92-95) over two days and finished tied for 37th.
Shiner’s Bech Bishop shot a two-day score of 198 (92-106) to finish tied for 48th.
Lindsay beat Vega in a two-hole playoff for the 2A team title after the two teams scored 684 for the tournament.
Hallettsville’s Brady Copley turned in rounds of 86 and 84 for a total of 170 and tied for 31st at the Class 3A tournament held at Austin’s Jimmy Clay Golf Course.
Brock (626) beat Callisburg by 10 strokes to win the 3A team title.
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2022-05-10T23:36:53Z
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Yorktown's Alexander finishes T-4 at state | Advosports | victoriaadvocate.com
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Russell Cain
Guest column: Girls’ Friendly Society in Port Lavaca made a name for itself
Russell Cain - Guest Column
I want to thank Bobby Joe Paul for providing me with information about Port Lavaca from 1896 to 1950. His parents Johnny and Viva Paul were the owners of The Port Lavaca Wave, and he is sharing the Centennial Edition with us.
Girls’ Friendly Society does a fine work here
The beginnings of the Girls’ Friendly Society go back to the 1870s when, in England, Mary Elizabeth Townsend a young married woman, saw the girls of her own village leave for the city to take up work in the factories — where she knew they would work long hours and often be lonely and without friends. Being of a keen mind she outlined a plan which she proposed to her rector, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and which resulted in the birth of The Girls’ Friendly Society — a society for Friendship and Recreation in which all girls might share.
Reading of this group, a Sunday School teacher of the Episcopal Church in America wrote to England for information and organized her class in 1877. From these humble beginnings have sprung 900 branches with a nationwide membership of about 29,000 reach of girls of every age, race and creed.
In the fall 1924, Rev. M. A. McKeogh, rector of Grace Episcopal Church, and Mrs. Harry Smith met with a small group of girls to organize the first branch in Port Lavaca. Mrs. Smith, assisted by Mrs. W. A. Shofner, worked with the group about a year and a half, after which time the branch became inactive.
They reorganized in 1927 during the rectorate of Rev. F. M. Brasier, with B. G. Wasserman as their leader, assisted by Mrs. Harry Smith and Mrs. F. M. Brasier. From a membership of 20, the enrollment has grown to 58, with four charter members still in attendance. The membership has increased to such an extent that it has been necessary to make three divisions, namely: the Seniors under the guidance of Mrs. B. C. Wasserman; the Intermediates, under Miss Helen Spradlin; and the Juniors, under Miss Madeline Brightwell.
One beloved member, Miss Nadine Adair, was taken by death in June 1934. At the Cooperate Communion Services each year following her death she has been remembered. In 1937, a special collection was taken, and Adair’s name was placed in the Golden Book of Memory in National headquarters.
During the American Legion Convention held in Port Lavaca on Oct. 29, 1939, the Girls’ Friendly Society was honored. Dr. A. L. Lincecum presented flowers to the outstanding organizations of the community and the Society, followed the American Legion Post 125 and the Gold Star Mothers. Mrs. Wasserman, loving known by the girls as “Miss Mellie”, responded with a short acceptance talk, and the Girls’ Friendly Society was once more placed before an outstanding group of men and women in our part of the state.
Every year, the Girls’ Friendly Society assists the county chairman in the annual Red Cross Drive. John H. Hiatt, manager of the Chamber of Commerce, in a letter to the GFS, highly commended this work and other civic problems.
In March 1938, the Nation Organization of Girls’ Friendly Societies of America recognized the Port Lavaca Branch in The Girls’ Friendly Record, a National magazine, as one of the three outstanding groups of Texas. This Branch has striven to live up to the motto of the Girls’ Friendly Society, “Bear Ye One Another’ Burdens,” by making the welfare of others their primary interest.
Russell Cain has been a resident of Calhoun County for 67 years and a Realtor for 48 years. Watch for his future columns to appear here monthly.
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2022-05-10T23:37:05Z
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Guest column: Girls’ Friendly Society in Port Lavaca made a name for itself | Opinion | victoriaadvocate.com
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The Victoria Economic Development Corporation is located at 700 N. Main St., Suite 104.
The Victoria Economic Development Corporation and city of Edna announced Tuesday a partnership to recruit and support businesses and industry.
The development corporation will serve as the economic development staff for the city as per the agreement, which runs through the end of 2024, according to a news release.
Formed in 1982, the development corporation is a private nonprofit serving Victoria, Victoria County, Edna and the surrounding area. It has four public sector funding partners and 78 private sector funding partners.
The development corporation aims to recruit new domestic and international businesses, create jobs, increase the tax base and expand business.
“This is a great day in the history of VEDC. We are thrilled to work with Edna. Our partnership makes the whole region more attractive. Edna joins our leadership on fulfilling our mission to expand opportunities in the region,” said Nancy Garner, corporation board chair.
Victoria officials encourage tourism in city
Joel Novosad, director of the Victoria Convention & Visitors Bureau, discussed tourism in the city at Tuesday’s partnership meeting, organ…
Affordable housing is on the way to Victoria
Revitalization coming to downtown Victoria
Victoria Economic Development Corporation
Nancy Garner
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2022-05-11T02:24:31Z
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Victoria Economic Development Corporation partners with Edna to develop local economy | Business | victoriaadvocate.com
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On May 4, the Crossroads was shaken by the discovery of 70-100 immigrants in the back of a tractor-trailer that had broken down on the side of U.S. 59.
The incident was eerily similar to a May 14, 2003, incident where 70 immigrants were found in the back of a tractor-trailer abandoned in a Victoria County gas station parking lot. In that incident, 19 people died.
Since the discovery on May 4, authorities have released some information about the subsequent search for the immigrants across a 7,000-acre area. But there is still much to be learned.
Here is what we know and don't know about what happened.
The number of immigrants: When the trooper discovered the tractor-trailer, authorities estimated there were 70-100 immigrants inside. But they are not sure exactly how many. That's because some of the immigrants ran away from the tractor-trailer, and it's unclear how many eluded authorities in the hours and days following. As of Tuesday, a total of 69 immigrants had been found.
The driver: Shortly after the tractor-trailer was reported publicly, authorities revealed they had also apprehended the driver. But since then, they have not released the driver's identity nor commented on whether the driver was charged with a crime. Often, drivers of vehicles smuggling immigrants are charged with state or federal criminal charges. Those people are often thought to have participated in crimes more serious than simply entering the U.S. illegally.
Where the immigrants are now: Local authorities have said they passed the immigrants to the custody of the U.S. Border Patrol, which normally takes on undocumented immigrants. It's unclear, though, whether the immigrants will be criminally charged. Also unclear is whether they will be returned to their countries of origin. Some of the immigrants who ran from the tractor-trailer very well could have eluded authorities. Authorities never established a final count for the number of immigrants, so some may have remained in the immediate area or left.
The tractor-trailer: The tractor-trailer was discovered after it broke down along U.S. 59, but we don't know why. We also don't know who the tractor-trailer was owned by or registered to.
What could have happened: On May 4, Jackson County Sheriff Kelly Janica said he thought it might have been a blessing the vehicle broke down where it did. The abandoned tractor-trailer discovered in 2003 reached temperatures as high as 170 degrees, and 19 people died. Janica said he was unsure about the exact conditions inside the tractor-trailer found near Ganado, but he had some idea. It was traveling trough the night when temperatures were cooler, but the people inside told him they had been given no water or provisions. One man said it was hot inside. At least several were treated for dehydration. The vehicle was headed toward Houston, but one man told Janica "he was headed way north."
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2022-05-11T11:21:22Z
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The Ganado immigrant incident: What we know and don't know | Jackson | victoriaadvocate.com
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Instructor Jordan Garcia, left, dances with senior dancer and student instructor Christal Martinez, right, during Ballet Folklorico rehearsal on Tuesday evening at Nazareth Academy.
Hats, props and costumes wait for dancers during Ballet Folklorico rehearsal on Tuesday evening at Nazareth Academy.
Senior dancer Christal Martinez helps a member of the beginner’s class during Ballet Folklorico rehearsal on Tuesday evening at Nazareth Academy.
Instructor Jordan Garcia gives instructions to the beginner’s class during Ballet Folklorico rehearsal on Tuesday evening at Nazareth Academy.
The Our Lady of Sorrows Ballet Folklorico has a deep, rich history in Victoria. It began 62 years ago in 1960 with only a few dancers. The performing arts group grew over the years into an integral part of Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church as a major ministry that reaches out into the community.
Ballet Folklorico celebrates the beauty and artistry of dancing and music from a wide variety of regions in Mexico. “Every dance tells a story,” explained Janie Rubio, director of the ballet. The group of dancers range in age from 3 years old to young adult.
This year’s annual show will be held on Sunday at 4 p.m. at the Leo J. Welder Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Victoria.
Rubio has been a part of the ministry for 35 years. “My two daughters have been involved with the ballet, and my youngest was in this group for 18 years. And then my granddaughter was in the group for 22 years,” Rubio said.
The source of their success as a ballet company is in their passion. “I love the passion that the dancers have,” Rubio said, adding “I love the commitment they have.” She said the parents have been the foundation for making this Ballet ministry strong with deep roots. “We have a very strong parish community, and parents support this and go above and beyond to make sure that the kids come to practice, get to performances.” The parents “do what it takes to stay involved to continue that commitment,” she emphasized.
Irma Rivera Garcia danced in the group beginning in the early 70s starting at the age of 14. Her children also danced in the Ballet Folklorico. And now her granddaughter is in the group.
“I really learned a lot being out in the community volunteering and being a part of the church. I enjoyed dancing. Not only for the exercise, but also the beauty of the of the regions that we danced,” she said, describing her early connection with the group.
Eventually Garcia left Victoria and got married, but after her husband died, she returned to the area with her son, remarried and had another son and a daughter. All three children joined the Ballet Folklorico company.
However, there was a bit of bribery involved. “They laughed at me because I told them, ‘You want to play sports, baseball? You have to do the church and dance. If you don't do the ballet, you cannot do sports,’” she said with a smile.
So, all her children danced. Surprisingly, it was her daughter who didn’t stick with it. “The boys stayed in for several years, through high school,” she said.
She now has a 4-year-old granddaughter, (Arabella Alvarado), in the Ballet. “Every time we perform, she gets better and better. And when we tell her we're going to practice. She says, ‘OK, let me get my shoes.’ She's ready to go. She loves it,” said Garcia.
Victoria musicians bring rhythms back to downtown
Arabella said that she like the dancing because she gets to tap her feet a lot.
Kindergartener Adela Rodriguez said she loves it when they “skip off the stage” and people clap for them. Adela said the hardest part is remembering “where to put your hands” and learning “to do everything at the same time.” However, she said she like practice and enjoys performing and when she puts on her costume. It feels like “being a princess,” she said.
Three-year-old Brylee Olguin already has a first-place trophy for her dancing. She loves the part when you “spin around” and swing the dress. But she doesn’t think much of wearing hats. Unsurprisingly, Brylee said she would like to be a dancer when she grows up.
Kimberly Sanchez, who is 7 years old, loves the dresses, especially when they’re purple. She said she felt shy at first but did not feel scared when performing in front of people. The most fun part of being in the ballet is “you make friends,” she said.
Garcia said the young dancers learn to work with others and develop friendships. She emphasized they also get a lot out of their practice, rehearsals, and performances. “Discipline. They're learning to listen to the instructor. They're learning the instructions,” she said. They learn to work with others and develop friendships. She added that the dances they learn connect deeply to culture.
Victoria celebrates Selena's birthday
Rubio said dancing in the Ballet Folklorico develops self-confidence. “There's nothing more worthwhile than to see that smile on their face and that pride, that confidence that you see in their dancing.”
“Not everyone will make it through this dance group, because it takes a lot of commitment.” Rubio said. Their dancers are involved in other activities: sports, choir, and numerous other extracurricular activities with a school, “but they still find the time and that passion that they have to come to them the practices and give it their all.”
Mariachis sing surprise serenades
WHAT: Our Lady of Sorrows Ballet Folklorico Annual Show
WHERE: Leo J. Welder Center for the Performing Arts, 214 N. Main St., Victoria
ADMISSION: General admission $10 presale and at the door. For presale tickets contact Our Lady of Sorrows Church at 361-575-2293. Tickets are also available at the Santa Rita Market, 107 W. Santa Rosa St., Victoria
Latin Culture
Local Dance
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2022-05-11T11:21:28Z
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Our Lady of Sorrows Ballet Folklorico presents annual show at Leo J. Welder Center on Sunday | Features | victoriaadvocate.com
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The Refugio boys track team poses after winning the Region IV-2A track meet at Kingsville’s Javelina Stadium on Saturday.
Refugio's Antwaan Gross takes off at the long jump pit during the Region IV-2A track meet at Javelina Stadium in Kingsville.
REFUGIO — Ask a member of the boys track & field team the last time Refugio won a state football championship and they’ll promptly answer 2019.
Ask them the last time the Bobcats won a state track & field team won a state title and the response is likely to be a blank stare.
“As far as track goes, we’ve kind of flown under the radar,” said sophomore J. Henry Moore. “When you think about Refugio, of course, the first thing that comes to mind is football.”
Refugio’s last boys track & field state championship came in 2001 before members of the present team were born.
But the Bobcats have won 10 boys track and field state championships — more than any other school in the state — compared to five state football titles.
The Refugio girls have won seven state titles, the most recent being 2018.
“I’ve heard about certain people like Toya Jones and Dana Robinson,” said sophomore Ernest Campbell. “But I didn’t know that about 2001.”
Refugio has an opportunity to put the track and field program back in the spotlight at this year’s UIL Class 2A state meet, scheduled for Friday at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin.
The Bobcats are coming off district, area and regional championships, and will have athletes competing in eight events, including all three relay teams.
“It’s something we talked about,” said Adam Spiegleman, who is in his first season as head coach. “We haven’t shied away from it. We wanted that to be the goal. Now, we know how hard it is to win this thing. We know there’s a ton of talent everywhere else, but we started with winning this meet being the goal.”
Refugio got a taste of what was to come at last year’s state meet when Campbell won the 100-meter dash, and its 1,600-meter relay team captured a gold medal to help the team finish second in the team standings to Shiner.
Spiegleman gives much of the credit to former coach Kent Hawthorne, who retired after last season.
“For four or five years before, he built this thing up,” Spiegleman said. “He did a great job of getting kids out. They loved him. He laid the foundation for this year.”
Moore has no doubt the experience the Bobcats gained last year will benefit them this year.
“As much as running fast, I think one of the biggest things is staying calm and not letting pressure get in your head,” he said. “We need to calm our nerves and focus on what we need to do before we even run. That’s what we’ve been doing. It’s worked brilliantly up to this point.”
The experience on the track has also paid off, as the Bobcats have posted faster times this season, including setting records in the 400- and 800-meter relays at the regional meet.
“I learned a lot last year,” Campbell said. “Like, how my form was terrible. It’s helped just getting in this year and getting it right and getting all my technique down.”
Spiegleman has also leaned on Refugio’s experience in the football playoffs in how to approach each meet.
“I think one thing Hawthorne did well was he made it an experience,” Spiegleman said. “We went to Olive Garden and took the kids to Main Event. There’s enough pressure as is. I think it’s important to let it be an experience and let the kids have a little fun and be relaxed.”
If the Bobcats perform to their expectations, the true celebration will begin after the meet.
“They know what it is,” Spiegleman said. “They know it’s the state meet and what’s at stake. The goal should be let’s go and PR and if we do that, I think we’ll have a ton of success.”
Refugio state track & field championships.
J. Henry Moore
Adam Spiegleman
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2022-05-11T16:47:34Z
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Refugio anxious to add to state championship ledger | Advosports | victoriaadvocate.com
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county race
bout Jason:
Jason Ohrt is a local Republican businessman, who has been in healthcare administration for the last 13 years. Jason was born in the small community of Mission Valley, graduated from Victoria Stroman High School, and graduated from the University of Houston-Victoria with a degree in Business Administration. Ohrt has a long commitment of service to Victoria County. He serves in the Rotary Club of Victoria, the Victoria United Way, and formerly as chairman of the First English Lutheran Church of Victoria.
Jason and his wife of 26 years, Marigayle, have two children, Dylan and Megan. Jason and Marigayle are members of the Lutheran Church.
Jason's Plan for Victoria:
Jason cares deeply about Victoria and wants to get our county government back on track. Our county commissioners are responsible for overseeing the essential functions of our county government, including roads, tax dollars, emergency services, and the county budget. As a businessman, Jason understands this job firsthand. He knows what it takes to run a business in Victoria, attract high-paying local jobs, manage our tax dollars, and deliver results while preserving our quality of life.
Jason's Conservative Priorities Include:
Supporting our law enforcement and first responders
Improve accountability, transparency, and access to the Commissioners Court
Invest in and expand our infrastructure for future generations
Important Republican Primary Dates:
January 31, 2022: Last Day to Register to Vote
February 14, 2022: First Day of Early Voting
February 25, 2022: Last Day of Early Voting
March 1, 2022: Election Day
jason Ohrt for Victoria County Commissioner Precinct 2
April 25 at 7:09 PM ·
As many of you know, the Republican Primary Runoff is next month! Thank you for the tremendous support that I received in the March Primary. I’m carrying our momentum into the runoff. This weekend I had an awesome group of volunteers help me block walk. I am grateful for their support and the support of so many in our community. Mark your calendars for the runoff election. Early voting starts on Monday, May 16th and Election Day is Tuesday, May 24th.
Commissioner 4
Ohrt, Janak headed for runoff in Victoria County commissioner race
Mar 1, 2022 Updated Mar 2, 2022
Candidate for Victoria county commissioner, Precinct 2, Zed Stewart responds to a question on Wednesday evening in the University of Houston-Victoria’s Kay and Ron Walker Auditorium.
Candidate for Victoria county commissioner, Precinct 2, Jeanette Valdez speaks during a debate on Wednesday evening in the University of Houston-Victoria’s Kay and Ron Walker Auditorium.
Jason Ohrt leads incumbent Kevin Janak in the Victoria County precinct two commissioner race, though the two appear to be headed toward a runoff election.
According to unofficial final voting results, Ohrt took about 47.9% of the votes in the primary election while Janak took 43.6%. Challenger Stewart took 5.4% and challenger Valdez took the remaining 3.1%.
Because no candidate reached 50% of the vote, Janak and Ohrt will meet in a runoff election.
Janak, 62, who was first elected in 2007, said spending taxpayer dollars wisely is one of the most important responsibilities he has as commissioner.
“I’m really excited about the early voting numbers,” Ohrt said.
Janak also expressed excitement over the results.
“We’re in the hunt,” he said. “I’m looking forward to seeing the rest of the results come in.”
In 2013, Janak represented counties across Texas to improve the Texas Department of Transportation Off-System Bridge Replacement Program. He’s used the program to replace six bridges in Precinct 2.
Janak has also served as Victoria County's judge pro tem since 2019 and is active in community organizations like the Victoria Livestock Show and the Knights of Columbus.
If reelected, Janak said he plans to continue leading the county in a conservative manner and saving taxpayer dollars.
Valdez, 39, who works in senior financial planning and analysis at Engie, said she believes in savings, strategy for growth and safety.
During a February debate, Valdez said that while she believes the county handled transparency well during the Hurricane Harvey rebuild effort, she felt there could have been more transparency in the bidding process.
Valdez is a Stroman High School graduate and is active in community organizations like the Victoria Girl’s Softball association.
Ohrt, 50, a Stroman High School and University of Houston-Victoria graduate, said he plans to bring his business expertise to commissioners court. Ohrt manages Vitality Court Assisted Living Center, a nearly $5 million annual operation with more than 70 employees.
He said his experiences as a businessman will allow him to make strategic, long-term decisions for the county. Ohrt believes it is critical that Victoria County has a commissioners court that is transparent, spends tax dollars wisely and delivers results to constituents.
If elected, Ohrt said while he agrees that saving taxpayer money is important, he plans to focus on growing and investing in Victoria County by fostering a culture of local job creation.
Stewart, 50, owner of Concrete Contractors in Nursery, is a constitutional conservative who believes your money is as important as his, he said.
He noted how frugal he is in his personal life as evidence of how frugal he will be as commissioner.
The winner will not have a Democratic Party opponent in the November general election.
son Ohrt for Victoria County Commissioner Precinct 2
Voices of County Government - Victoria County Commissioner Kevin Janak
County government officials are as diverse as the Texans who elect them, coming from every background imaginable. In this issue we talk with Lynn County Tax Assessor-Collector Donna Wilis
By County magazine
How long have you been a county commissioner?
Thirteen good, short years so far.
Prior to your election, what kind of work did you do? How did you get interested in running for office?
I worked 12-hour shifts for an electrical power generation company, and I continued working there for some years in addition to serving as county commissioner until I retired from the electrical plant. While I’m no kind of politician, it occurred to me one day that being a county commissioner could be a very interesting job. I began talking about it with friends and family and our church family. I went onward from there to win two hotly contested elections in 2006.
What was the biggest surprise or adjustment after taking office?
Working for years in a high-tech electrical plant, the different ways that the county used (and did not use) technology of various ages and stages was a surprise for me. With my experience in electrical generation, it was also surprising how much the county was paying in electrical bills, so I tackled that issue as one of my first cost-saving projects. I’ve created and overseen initiatives to help our county use electricity more efficiently, which has saved local taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars. I also led efforts to install new technology to document and control the costs of everyday county and precinct-level activities.
What are some of the most difficult challenges you have faced and what advice would you give your peers across the state that may face the same or similar challenges?
As a county commissioner, it’s sometimes hard to not feel like you’re being pulled one way or another by people or agendas. For us near the Gulf Coast, dealing with hurricanes is always challenging, and Hurricane Harvey caused massive destruction across our county and region that we’re still working to recover from. My advice in facing challenges, particularly when high emotions or heavy politics are involved, is to stay true to yourself, God and the people you work for. While surprises may still arise, things will be all right in the end. Be polite and be persistent and treat everyone like a friend until they give you good reason to treat them otherwise.
Since taking office, what accomplishment are you most proud of?
We’ve made a lot of progress, so it’s hard to name just one thing. After Hurricane Harvey smashed into us in 2017, I coordinated with two of the other commissioners in cleaning up countless tons of debris as we completed the largest debris pickup we’ve dealt with since Hurricane Carla roared through Victoria County in 1961. I’ve been deeply involved in efforts to improve fire protection and safety at our juvenile justice center, while ending the cycle of local taxpayers unnecessarily subsidizing the detention of juveniles from other counties. I was also chosen to represent counties across Texas in an initiative to improve the Texas Department of Transportation’s bridge replacement program. Our precinct has used this program to replace several outdated bridges at no cost to the county, as well as building 100 miles of county roads. I have been a voting member of the South Texas regional water planning group for 10 years, and since 2015, I’ve served on the executive committee for our water region, giving Victoria County a vital voice in ongoing decision-making about water issues.
What do you find are the most successful methods for reaching out to the residents of Victoria County to communicate what your office is doing and why?
Victoria has a daily newspaper and a TV station, and it’s important to be up front in keeping the media and local residents informed about the when and why of what’s going on, particularly in the precinct. Facebook can be very useful in getting out day-to-day information about things like road issues and bridge closures and for keeping people regularly updated on the progress of precinct projects. It’s always vital to fully engage the brain before putting the mouth in gear, and to remember that the good Lord gave us two ears to listen and only one mouth to talk for good reason.
When you are not at work, what are you doing? Do you have any hobbies or something unique that you are interested in that may surprise your colleagues?
I have a small family Brahman cattle ranching operation, and it takes a certain special desire to raise those “sweet tempered” Brahmans. I love spending time with family and my precious granddaughters, and I especially enjoy our dove hunting adventures together!
What is your favorite thing about Victoria County?
The people in Victoria County are some of the best you’ll meet anywhere, and visitors are often surprised by how people from many different backgrounds have come together here at the “crossroads of Texas” over the years to build a better life for themselves and for future generations.
Victoria County Commissioner Kevin Janak announces his plans to seek reelection
Commissioner Kevin Janak announced Monday his intention to seek the Republican nomination to serve a fifth term as the Precinct 2 Commissioner in Victoria County.
For Janak, one of the most important responsibilities as Commissioner is making sure he spends taxpayers money wisely.
“I’m very serious about saving and being very thrifty with their tax dollars,” said Janak. “I take pride in being a very thorough conservative voice on the court.”
Since he first became Commissioner in 2007, Janak said, he’s lead several initiatives to help save on costs for taxpayers, including negotiating contracts with energy providers to protect the county from spikes in energy prices. The county now has energy contracts through 2034 at a price of 3 cents per kilowatt hour, he said.
“This is tremendous with what we’re going through right now with high fuel prices,” he said. “If we did not have this in place, you could practically add another quarter million a year to our electrical budget.”
He’s also been involved in efforts to improve safety and fire protection at the Juvenile Justice Center and minimize the amount of local taxpayer dollars that subsidize housing of juveniles from other counties there. In 2013, Janak represented counties across Texas in an initiative to improve the Texas Department of Transportation Off-System Bridge Replacement Program, which provides matching funds for replacing old or unstable bridges to counties dealing with drainage projects that might otherwise be unable to pay for new bridges. He has used the program to replace six bridges in his precinct and will begin work on a seventh bridge soon.
Looking ahead, he said there are a number of drainage projects in the county he is looking forward to completing, including ones off of Parsons and Springwood roads.
“Another thing is that we have to make sure that the sheriff continues to receive what he continues to need to keep the public safe,” said Janak. “The men and ladies that put their lives on the line for us, we’ve got to give them the tools to do so.”
Janak has also served as Victoria County Judge pro tem since 2019 and is active in many community organizations, including the Victoria Livestock Show and the Knights of Columbus.
He married his high school sweetheart, Tammy Long Janak, 40 years ago, and together they have two sons and three granddaughters. His family is a longtime member of the Holy Family Catholic Church in Victoria.
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2022-05-11T16:47:40Z
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county race | | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/county-race/article_5a4bf7b8-d144-11ec-9af2-d37e8ff00571.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/county-race/article_5a4bf7b8-d144-11ec-9af2-d37e8ff00571.html
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Victoria West's Jadyn Rangel signed on Wednesday to i2i International Soccer Academy at Northumbria University in England.
Victoria West's Kibreante Williams is set to play football at TLU after making his commitment official at a ceremony on Wednesday.
Mateo Lauper, left, and coach Hazael Avila pose as Lauper made his commitment to Bluffton University official at a ceremony on Wednesday.
Jaydn Rangel has wanted to travel the world and play college soccer for almost as long as she can remember.
The Victoria West senior will get the opportunity to do both.
Rangel signed Wednesday to play soccer with the i2i International Soccer Academy at Northumbria University in Newcastle, England, during a ceremony at the West gym. She was one of three student-athletes making their college plans official.
West’s leading goal scorer got in touch with i2i midway through the soccer season.
Her mom saw the email and where the program was based before signing up for a tryout in Austin in March.
“There were like 50 people there at each camp. It was rainy and cold,” Rangel said. “They told us we weren’t going to hear back from then until their two weeks (of tryouts) were up and they went back to England. But they ended up texting me that next day that they wanted to offer me a roster spot.”
The academy boasts a working relationship with Northumbria coach and Newcastle United FC women’s manager Becky Langley.
According to the academy’s website, there’s a possibility that i2i players could be selected for the Northumbria team or even Newcastle United, which currently plays in the fourth tier of English women’s soccer.
“I was just shocked because not many people get to reach their dreams or their goals,” Rangel said. “It just took heart and effort, really pushing myself to do better for myself and my family. I just really wanted to reach my dreams.”
Rangel was told by the academy that they will do their part to help her land on a team in the Football Association pyramid after graduation.
Should she find a roster spot after graduating, it’s believed she would be the first Victoria girl’s soccer player to play in England.
“She’s definitely leaving behind a legacy for the rest of the team to strive for,” said coach Courtney Stoltenberg. “I think it’s making some of them so much more motivated. The ones that want to continue playing after high school, they’re seeing that if they work like she did, they can reach those opportunities, also.”
Williams commits to TLU
Kibreante Williams was familiar with Texas Lutheran University before the Bulldogs came to recruit him.
TLU had Victoria natives J’Den Williams (St. Joseph) and Kyle Schmidt (East) on its roster this year and has a history of recruiting the South Texas region.
West cruises to playoff berth
CORPUS CHRISTI — For the third consecutive season, Victoria West will make a trip to the postseason.
That’s why it was a no-brainer for the running back to commit to the Division III school.
“It allowed me to know more people out there,” Williams said. “It feels more like home than anything. Basically, I know everybody out there.”
Williams was West’s leading rusher in 2021 with 933 yards and 12 touchdowns on 152 carries.
He first heard from TLU after basketball season.
“They talked to me about a visit and it went from there,” Williams said.
Lauper heading home to Ohio
If Mateo Lauper wants to see family while in college, he won’t have to turn far.
Lauper, a senior on the West boy’s soccer team, is set to play college soccer for Bluffton University in his native Ohio. He will be around a two-hour drive from his relatives still living in the Buckeye State.
“It just felt like the right fit,” Lauper said. “I visited the college and got nothing but love from them. The people were just very welcoming and loving from the moment I stepped on campus.”
Lauper didn’t expect to play collegiately, but is thankful for the opportunity.
“It’s definitely something to be grateful for,” he said.
West's Rangel, East's Rojas garner Offensive MVP honors
A pair of offensive standouts at East and West were honored in the soccer All-District selections for District 29-5A.
Jaydn Rangel
Kibreante Williams
Mateo Lauper
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2022-05-11T22:39:52Z
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West honors 3 set to play sports at the next level | Advosports | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/advosports/west-honors-3-set-to-play-sports-at-the-next-level/article_83cae870-d170-11ec-a701-07239f9b1747.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/advosports/west-honors-3-set-to-play-sports-at-the-next-level/article_83cae870-d170-11ec-a701-07239f9b1747.html
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A new public awareness campaign will establish several billboards throughout the Crossroads warning of the dangers of the illegal opioid fentanyl. The billboards feature Ian Mackay, a 19-year-old who died from a fentanyl overdose.
Sheriff Justin Marr, center, hosted a news conference to describe the "One Pill Can Kill" billboard campaign, highlighting the dangers of illicit fentanyl use.
The use of fentanyl, an opioid 100 times stronger than morphine and far more deadly, is on the rise in the Crossroads.
“It only takes 2 mg to kill you. That’s the size of the head of a pencil,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Richard T. Sanchez at a news conference Wednesday.
It is used by illicit drug manufacturers to make other drugs, such as meth, more potent. Many users are unaware of the presence of the killer substance, according to Tree House Recovery of California.
About 11 a.m., local, state and federal law enforcement officials held a presentation at the Victoria County Sheriff’s Office debuting a new public awareness “One Pill Can Kill” campaign to combat the “devastating impact” of fentanyl in Crossroads communities. The campaign will include awareness billboards in Victoria, Cuero, Goliad, Port Lavaca and Ganado.
The sale and use of illicit fentanyl has taken hold in the Crossroads area, Sanchez said.
“Numbers don’t lie. Within the Houston division within the last six months, we’ve seen an increase of up to 60% in seizures,” Sanchez said.
In response, the Victoria County Sheriff’s Office has partnered with the Drug Enforcement Administration and other programs to launch a fentanyl awareness campaign, including billboards throughout the area. The physical billboards are scheduled to be up in the next few weeks. The digital billboards, which will appear at 15 locations in Victoria for 10 seconds at a time, were up as of Wednesday.
Two billboards will be located in Victoria with one at North Navarro Street just south of Business 59 and another at South Laurent Street just south of East Santa Rosa Street. One will be located in Cuero on U.S. 59 about 0.6 miles south of SH 72. Another will be in Goliad on U.S. 59 about 0.25 miles east of Wright Street. In Port Lavaca, there will be one at SH 35 about 0.75 miles west of the causeway bridge and another in Ganado on County Road 710 just north of U.S. 59.
The billboard campaign is the result of a partnership between officials from the Victoria County Sheriff’s Office, Houston High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas program, Drug Enforcement Administration, Texas A&M University Opioid Task Force and Billy T. Cattan Recovery Center in Victoria.
The billboards feature the photo of a Ian Mackay, 19, who died of a fentanyl overdose from a single pill laced with the drug. Beneath the photo, viewers will find phone numbers for addiction recovery services.
“We hope a quick glance at these billboards will start off conversations and enhance our enforcement operations in the area,” Sanchez said.
Sanchez added that fentanyl is manufactured in labs in Mexico and delivered illegally to the Crossroads.
Texas A&M Opioid Task Force Project Coordinator Charles Boswell said that the Golden Crescent Regional Recovery Initiative will host a Substance Use Disorder Symposium May 25-26 at the Victoria Community Center.
The symposium will focus on harm reduction tools, including treatment and prevention. The event is free to attend.
WHAT: Substance Use Disorder Symposium
WHEN: 9 a.m. May 25-26
WHERE: Victoria Community Center, 2905 E North St.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Search Facebook for Golden Crescent Substance Use Disorder Symposium, visit shorturl.at/syUV5 or call the Cattan Center at 361-576-4673.
Anyone who needs help with drug or alcohol addiction can contact the Billy T. Cattan Center at 361-576-4673.
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2022-05-11T22:39:58Z
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www.victoriaadvocate.com
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DEA unveils new fentanyl awareness billboard campaign in five Crossroads cities | Crime & Courts | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/crime/dea-unveils-new-fentanyl-awareness-billboard-campaign-in-five-crossroads-cities/article_bc8121a4-d14b-11ec-87c2-8b518c3c65e1.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/crime/dea-unveils-new-fentanyl-awareness-billboard-campaign-in-five-crossroads-cities/article_bc8121a4-d14b-11ec-87c2-8b518c3c65e1.html
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St. Joseph's Harper Edwards, second from left, poses with other competitors after the TAPPS Class 5A golf tournament in Glen Rose.
GLEN ROSE — For the second consecutive year, St. Joseph’s Harper Edwards is coming home with a silver medal after missing out on a championship by one stroke.
Edwards shot a 2-under two-day total of 142 (72-70) finishing behind Fort Worth Christian’s Madison Ude (73-68-141) at Squaw Valley Golf Course.
Edwards’ even-par opening round gave her the 18-hole lead after Monday before Ude fired a 4-under final round on Tuesday.
The sophomore was the top finisher for the Lady Flyers.
Senior Callie Nelson shot a 191 (100-91) as the second lowest score for St. Joseph.
The team of Edwards, Nelson, Bethany Wright and Elise Sparkman combined for a two-day total of 867 (440-427).
Corpus Christi Incarnate Word won the team title with a team-score of 713 (369-344).
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2022-05-12T00:59:02Z
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St. Joseph's Edwards finishes second at state | Advosports | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/advosports/st-josephs-edwards-finishes-second-at-state/article_570d1ab4-d17b-11ec-81c4-1b995953c335.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/advosports/st-josephs-edwards-finishes-second-at-state/article_570d1ab4-d17b-11ec-81c4-1b995953c335.html
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A staging point near Ganado established on May 6 after a tractor-trailer was found carrying immigrants.
Immigrants told authorities they thought they were going to die while riding in a tractor-trailer found near Ganado last week, according to court documents accusing the driver of human smuggling.
"It was hot like fire. We couldn't breathe. We were all going to die," said Ruben Oriana-Munroy, of Guatemala, in the federal court documents.
"Before the trailer door was finally opened, (Leyda Roxana Berdua-Agustin, also of Guatemala) had begun choking and felt as if she was dying," according to the court documents.
Codi Denise Hartman, who has a driver's license listed in Nixon, is accused of knowingly transporting immigrants in the back of a tractor-trailer that was found by a state trooper along the side of U.S. 59 about 2 miles northeast of Ganado on May 6.
According to court documents filed on May 8 accusing Hartman of a federal crime, the immigrants said they endured severe heat, low oxygen and dehydration in the back of the stifling tractor-trailer, in which the air-conditioning was broken.
Charging document for Codi Denise Hartman
About 7 a.m. May 6, Trooper Josue Alvarez stopped to assist the stopped tractor-trailer and found the trailer's door slightly ajar. According to the immigrants' statements included in court documents, the trailer was opened only once before being discovered by Alvarez.
When people inside began banging on the doors and walls, Alvarez opened the trailer, and all but about 12 of the immigrants ran in different directions.
As of Tuesday, 69 immigrants had been found, but authorities estimated there were between 70-100.
When asked about the cargo, Hartman told authorities she had never opened the trailer and thought she was carrying energy drinks.
During an interview with authorities, Hartman told investigators she was to be paid $800 to drive the tractor-trailer to Houston. She also said she had been coerced into the job.
But in a voice message found on Hartman's phone, she was heard saying, "The door was not locked. They would not let me lock it, so I just started driving."
A separate message found on Hartman's phone sent to her said, "Look, I'm sorry to bother you a lot but at the next truck stop I need u to stop and back the truck in where no one will see u n open the truck n check on the people make sure there good but check with your own eyes ... But please check on them make sure they breathing."
Immigrants interviewed in the court documents said they had entered the U.S. by crossing the Rio Grande River. The immigrants whose statements were included in court documents were from Guatemala, El Salvador, Mexico and Honduras.
After moving between stash houses, their phones were taken away from them, and they were loaded into the tractor-trailer about midnight.
Hartman said she picked up the tractor-trailer at Love's Gas Station in Donna, according to documents.
One woman said the trailer was hot when they entered and never had gotten cool. She added no water was offered to them.
Another immigrant said she and others began eating spoiled tomatoes in the trailer in an attempt to gain some moisture.
Another immigrant said after he exited the opened trailer, he fell to his knees because he could not support himself.
All of the immigrants included in the court documents said they were fearful of dying from the extreme conditions.
"Oriana-Munroy stated that he was grateful to law enforcement for saving them because he thought he knew he was about to die," according to court documents.
Codi Denise Hartman
Josue Alvarez
Rio Grande River
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2022-05-12T00:59:08Z
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www.victoriaadvocate.com
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Court documents: Immigrants feared death in tractor-trailer found near Ganado | Jackson | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/counties/jackson/court-documents-immigrants-feared-death-in-tractor-trailer-found-near-ganado/article_c12c4c88-d173-11ec-a10c-0f4657445531.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/counties/jackson/court-documents-immigrants-feared-death-in-tractor-trailer-found-near-ganado/article_c12c4c88-d173-11ec-a10c-0f4657445531.html
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Chester F. Tobola
VICTORIA — Chester F. Tobola, age 86, of Victoria began his eternal rest peacefully on May 10, 2022 surrounded by the love and prayers of his family. Chester was born July 3, 1935 in Hallettsville, Texas to Henry A. and Olivia M. Tobola. Chester was introduced to Beatrice Pekar by her father. They later married on September 15, 1956.
He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Beatrice, son Mark (Lisa), daughters Deborah (Ron) Willms, Vikki (Pat) Taylor, and their beloved cat Lexi.
Chester is preceded in death by his parents and 2 sisters.
Chester retired from Krogers where he was the Market Manager for many years in Victoria and Kingsville. After retirement, he continued to work at Neumann’s Food Store and Harwell’s Processing.
Chester enjoyed coaching baseball and watching his children participate in sports. He was passionate about his cattle, shredding, deer hunting and always looked forward to the annual sausage making event. Over the years Chester taught family and friends how to perfect the craft of sausage making. Additionally, he loved to garden and would always share vegetables with family, friends, and neighbors.
Serving as pallbearers are his children and their spouses.
A visitation for family and friends will be held on Friday, May 13, 2022 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. with a rosary at 2:00 p.m. followed by a chapel service beginning at 2:30 p.m. at Grace Memorial Chapel, 8819 US Hwy 87, Victoria, TX with Fr. Dalton Ervin, officiating. Interment to follow at Memory Gardens Cemetery.
The family would like to sincerely thank Dr. Tyson Meyer, nurses, and staff of Hospice of South Texas, Dornburg Center for their compassionate care.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of South Texas, Dornburg Center of Compassion, 1005 Mallette, Victoria, TX 77904. To leave a comforting message, or to share a fond memory, please visit www.gracefuneralhome.net.
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2022-05-12T06:59:52Z
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Chester F. Tobola | Obituaries | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/obituaries/chester-f-tobola/article_3c020678-8217-50c7-8c8b-0403e9990fe9.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/obituaries/chester-f-tobola/article_3c020678-8217-50c7-8c8b-0403e9990fe9.html
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Ronnie Lumpkins
BLOOMINGTON — Ronald G. Lumpkins, 67, passed away April 20, 2022 surrounded by his loving family. Ronnie was born August 13, 1954 in Victoria, TX to Elvie Jean Andrews and Charles William Lumpkins, who preceded him in death.
Ronnie is survived by his wife of 41 years, Lea Anne Loest Lumpkins, his two daughters, who he was immensely proud of, Melanie Lumpkins Broome (Jarrett), Melissa Lumpkins Gray, and son Brian Worthington. He was a Popo to 3 granddaughters; Kylee Jean Gray, Kyndall Leann Gray, and Brooklynn Nichole Gray who he loved 2-1, 2-1, 2-1, with all his being. He is also survived by his brothers Richard, Robert, Phillip, and David Lumpkins along with numerous other loving family members and friends.
The family invites you to a Life “Celebration” on Sunday, May 15, 2022 at the Bayfront Pavilion, Bay Avenue, Seadrift, TX 77983, at 3:00 PM. Bring your favorite drink, chair, and if you wish, your fishing pole.
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2022-05-12T07:00:28Z
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Ronnie Lumpkins | Obituaries | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/obituaries/ronnie-lumpkins/article_943365fc-e522-5299-9663-467c3f545c34.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/obituaries/ronnie-lumpkins/article_943365fc-e522-5299-9663-467c3f545c34.html
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Saturday marks the 19th anniversary of the death of 19 immigrants who died inside an abandoned tractor trailer south of Victoria in what is considered the deadliest smuggling incident in U.S. history.
On May 13, 2003, smugglers left Harlingen after packing at least 74 immigrants who entered the country illegally into a sealed tractor-trailer. The next morning, the driver abandoned the trailer outside a convenience store south of Victoria. The immigrants were left with no water.
Sheriff’s deputies found the bodies of 19 people, including a 5-year-old boy, who died from heat, dehydration or suffocation. Investigators said it was likely about 170 degrees inside of the tractor-trailer. The driver who abandoned the tractor-trailer, Tyrone Williams, was initially sentenced to life in prison. In total, Williams was convicted on 58 counts of conspiracy, harboring and transporting illegal immigrants.
Father Jacob Koether, pastor of Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church, said it was a tradition in the Catholic Church to celebrate memorial masses to not only pray for the souls of the departed, but to celebrate their lives as well.
"Typically we see some family come down from Houston," Koether said.
Although the size of the ceremony has diminished in recent years, especially after the COVID outbreak, Koether said that people should still remember the fears that cause people to flee their homeland in search of a better life.
"It's so sad," Koether said. "We must pray for all those deciding to make this trip."
The ceremony will be held at noon on Saturday at U.S. Highway 77 and Fleming Prairie Road, where another convenience store was located at the time. By holding a memorial, Koether said it helped with grief and reminded the community that the threat still exists to those crossing the border into America.
That threat is "so rampant, so prevalent," to those attempting to seek asylum, that prayers must be said for those attempting such a journey so they won't be taken advantage of, Koether said.
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2022-05-13T00:19:17Z
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anniversary | | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/anniversary/article_f13e2d20-d244-11ec-bc19-e7b2b0dc990d.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/anniversary/article_f13e2d20-d244-11ec-bc19-e7b2b0dc990d.html
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hurricaneprep
The time to prepare for hurricane season is now, a National Weather Service meteorologist told a crowd of about 20 at the University of Houston Victoria Thursday morning.
"People wait until the storm is in the Gulf of Mexico before going to the grocery store or talking to their insurance agent," Melissa Huffman, Warning Coordinator Meteorologist with the NWS, said.
Hurricane season starts June 1. Victoria County Emergency Management Coordinator Rich McBrayer said it was better for people to pick up items they need with each visit to the store, rather than waiting to the last minute.
The meeting was aimed at letting residents know what they may have to prepare for. Huffman said it was better to prepare a storm kit now, so it would be ready if needed. Among items that ready.gov recommends residents have for such a kit include: prescription medications, cash as electronic payment methods may go with power outage, water, food, a NOAA Weather Radio, first aid supplies and food for children and pets.
If prepared, residents can be ready for whatever the situation calls for. If they are to stay in their home, they can keep these supplies there. If they are ordered to evacuate, they can take their emergency kits with them.
The 2022 South Texas Hurricane Guide states that Federal Emergency Management Agency surveys show that nearly 1/3 of residents at risk for hurricanes are not prepared at all. Less than 1/4 of those who responded to the survey said they are well prepared.
Before to Hurricane Harvey in 2017, it was 47 years since a major hurricane made landfall along the Middle Texas Coast. Extended lulls between storms can make residents think their overall risk is low, so they downplay their preparations.
Hurricanes form over warm ocean waters, like those found in the Gulf of Mexico. The hurricane season starts June 1 and ends November 30. The peak threat for the Texas coast exists from August through September. However, hurricanes can and have struck the Texas coast during every month of the hurricane season.
According to the National Hurricane Center, the greatest loss of life associated with hurricanes comes from the storm surge, which can see waters flooding far inland from the Gulf of Mexico, depending on the elevation of the land. Storm surge flooding is often the greatest threat to life and property from a hurricane and poses a significant threat of drowning. Storm surge can cause water levels to rise quickly and flood large areas in just minutes.
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2022-05-13T00:19:30Z
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www.victoriaadvocate.com
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hurricaneprep | | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/hurricaneprep/article_04d7f650-d249-11ec-bbff-8f5b51ed97e7.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/hurricaneprep/article_04d7f650-d249-11ec-bbff-8f5b51ed97e7.html
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Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive returns Saturday, May 14
The National Association of Letter Carriers will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive with a food drive on Saturday.
Stamp Out Hunger, the country's largest one-day food drive, provides communities with an easy way to donate food to those in need.
Residents can simply leave their donations of non-perishable food items such as canned soup, vegetables, meats, pasta, rice, cereal in a sturdy bag next to their mailbox before mail delivery on Saturday.
City and rural letter carriers will collect these items, which then will be distributed to food banks and pantries, churches and shelters in the community.
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2022-05-13T00:19:48Z
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www.victoriaadvocate.com
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Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive returns Saturday, May 14 | Local News | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/local/stamp-out-hunger-food-drive-returns-saturday-may-14/article_facc2850-d213-11ec-bcd6-6b5513ee2a2f.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/local/stamp-out-hunger-food-drive-returns-saturday-may-14/article_facc2850-d213-11ec-bcd6-6b5513ee2a2f.html
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Goliad's Kyla Hill soars in the Class 3A girls triple jump Friday at the UIL state track and field meet in Austin.
Industrial's Tanner Woodring clears the bar in the Class 3A boys pole vault Friday at the UIL state track and field meet in Austin.
El Campo's Oliver Miles competes in the Class 3A boys triple jump Friday at the UIL state track and field meet in Austin.
Getting a Jump
AUSTIN — Goliad’s Kyla Hill made the decision not to compete in the long jump at the UIL state meet.
Hill, a sophomore, knew her chances of earning a medal were much better in the triple jump and decided to save her legs with four hours between the start of the two events.
The decision paid off as Hill won the Class 3A girls triple jump with a personal-best jump of 39 feet, 1.75 inches.
“I definitely think it did help,” Hill said of her decision. “ I definitely had a lot more energy than if I would have long jumped.”
Hill was one of five area athletes to medal in Thursday’s early session at Mike A. Myers Stadium.
El Campo’s Oliver Miles, Industrial’s Tanner Woodring and Karnes City’s Jaiden Robinson captured silver medals. El Campo’s Rueben Owens claimed a bronze medal.
Hill, who also ran a leg on Goliad’s 400- and 800-meter relays and the 300-meter hurdles Thursday night, was pleased with reaching the 39-foot mark.
“I felt very good actually,” Hill said. “I feel like I definitely jump my best at state with the adrenaline flowing.”
Hill wasn’t crazy about jumping first, like she did last year when she finished third in the triple jump, but was able to pass on her final attempt.
“I wouldn’t prefer going first,” she said. “But I don’t mind it at all. I went first last year so I kind of already knew what that was like.”
Silver is sweet
Woodring, a junior, started the silver medal haul in the boys Class 3A pole vault, Robinson was second in the girls Class 3A high jump, and Miles was second in the boys 4A triple jump.
Woodring cleared a personal-best 15-9 after opening the competition at 14 feet.
“We’ve been practicing real hard and we’ve been messing with 16 feet,” Woodring said. ”We knew it was going to get up there. I was looking for it today.”
Woodring is certain he’ll jump higher next year.
“I know that I’m capable of getting these heights,” Woodring said. “It’s just jumping with confidence that’s what I do. I just work and let the heights come.”
Robinson, a senior, has been a reliable jumper all season, and continued the trend at the state meet.
“Last year, I got fourth in the high jump,” Robinson said. “My improvement was just consistent practice and consistent coaching. It helps out.”
Robinson got the silver medal by virtue of fewer misses.
“I’m usually like a first jump person so it felt pretty good to get those first jumps in,” she said, “and get them out of the way.”
Miles, a sophomore, took the lead with his first jump and lost it on the last jump, despite going 48-0.5 for a school record and a personal best.
“It feels good,” Miles said. “I have a couple more years left. I’ll gain some strength and should be back here next year.”
Miles attributed his improvement to the work he put in during the season.
“I improved along the way,” Miles said. “My coaches helped me get better every day. I do a lot of weightlifting and conditioning and it helped.”
Double bronze
El Campo junior Rueben Owens did not go home empty handed from his final appearance at the state meet.
Owens won a bronze medal for the second consecutive year with a jump of 23-0.25.
“I feel I jumped alright,” he said. “I could have done better. After my first jump, I didn’t hit the board. I hit my heel so it was hurting a little bit.”
Owens, who is one of the nation’s most-highly recruited running backs in the nation, plans to graduate at mid-term of his senior year.
“I’m cool with it,” he said. “I could have done better, but it’s alright.”
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2022-05-13T02:12:20Z
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Area athletes win five medals in field events | Advosports | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/advosports/area-athletes-win-five-medals-in-field-events/article_de79759a-d259-11ec-a1d2-838c0d6a4a31.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/advosports/area-athletes-win-five-medals-in-field-events/article_de79759a-d259-11ec-a1d2-838c0d6a4a31.html
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Karly Taylor Day, standing, was arrested on human smuggling charges in Wharton County on Thursday.
Two people were arrested Wednesday in a Wharton County traffic stop and charged with human smuggling.
Karly Taylor Day, 23, of Houston, was driving a Jeep Renegade with Manuel Maldonado, 25, also of Houston, riding as a passenger, according to a Wharton County Sheriff's Office Facebook post. They were arrested and charged with human smuggling, a third-degree felony.
Three undocumented immigrants were found hidden in the Jeep by Wharton County deputies during a traffic stop near the El Campo Truck Stop on U.S. 59 Wednesday morning.
Deputies saw several indicators of criminal activity during the traffic stop and found the undocumented immigrants. Two are from Chiapas, Mexico. The other is from El Salvador.
The investigation revealed that Day and Maldonado were being paid to illegally transport the three immigrants. All three were turned over to the custody of the U.S. Border Patrol.
Karly Taylor Day
Manual Maldonado
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2022-05-13T02:12:33Z
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Three undocumented immigrants found during traffic stop in Wharton County | News | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/three-undocumented-immigrants-found-during-traffic-stop-in-wharton-county/article_369709be-d24f-11ec-8653-070307b2de39.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/three-undocumented-immigrants-found-during-traffic-stop-in-wharton-county/article_369709be-d24f-11ec-8653-070307b2de39.html
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Bay City's Brice Turner crosses the finish line to earn his second gold medal of the night in the Class 4A boys 200 meter dash Friday at the UIL state track and field meet in Austin. Turner won the 100 meters earlier in the evening.
Finishing With Style
AUSTIN — Bay City’s Brice Turner kept his promise, and Goliad’s Kyla Hill continued to fulfill hers.
Turner and Hill led an area medal rush at Thursday night’s UIL state meet at Mike A. Myers Stadium.
Area runners brought home 13 medals in running events, including six gold medals.
Turner vowed to do better after bringing home a silver medal in the 100-meter dash and a bronze medal in the 200-meter dash at last year's state meet.
Turner won both races, turning in a personal-best time of 10.25 in the 100, and finishing the 200 in 21.04.
“It was just all work and listening to some of my coaches and just doing what I do every single day at practice and having fun,” Turner said. “It means everything to me. I always talked about doing this since last year”
Turner intends to continue working so he can repeat next year.
“It’s a good feeling,” he said. “To go back home with these medals and start doing football and 7on7 and start doing summer track.”
Kyla Hill brought home two gold medals and two bronze medals from the state meet as a freshman.
Hill left with three gold medals and one bronze medal as a sophomore. Hill won gold medals in the triple jump, 300-meter hurdles and 800-meter relay, and a bronze medal in the 400 relay.
Her performance helped the Tigerettes finish third in the team standings with 52 points.
“I’m just so grateful that God blessed me with these genes from my parents,” Hill said. “I’m glad that I have the coaching staff that I do and the teammates that I have. They work really hard.”
Hill was at her best in the 300 hurdles, leading from wire to wire and winning in a time of 43.73 seconds.
“My plan was to go full speed the entire time,” she said. “Regional definitely prepared me for that. I was dead tired after the second day. For this day, it was like one day of practice. It was one day and that was perfect.”
Hill also ran the anchor leg on the 800 relay that edged meet champion Universal City Randolph with a time of 1:41.67.
“I was just praying all day that God gave me the strength to do it,” Hill said, “and he did it.”
Bryan Thomas could sense early in the season that Palacios’ 1,600-meter relay could be special.
“I’ve been working with these guys for three years,” Thomas said. “You could tell it was bound to happen.”
Thomas made sure it happened by running a strong anchor leg that allowed the Sharks to finish first in Class 3A in a time of 3:22.79.
Thomas also claimed a silver medal in the 400-meter run in a season-best time of 48.95.
“This is what we wanted to happen,” he said. “We worked hard all season to do this.”
Edna’s Kila Rodas had not won a medal at the state meet.
Rodas, a senior, was especially disappointed in her performance last season.
But she had no such issues in the 800-meter run, leading from start-to-finish and winning in a time of 2:19.41.
“My plan was to stay with the front of the pack and not get boxed in,” Rodas said. “I got out and then when it was time to cut in, I just was comfortable with where I was. On the second lap at the 300 mark, I could feel them coming. But I told myself not to kick too early.”
Rodas was happy to see the reward for four years of hard work.
“It’s a dream come true, especially after what happened last year,” Rodas said.
Keeping up with the pack
Industrial’s Jackson Fluitt was involved in one of the most competitive races of the meet.
The top five finishers in the Class 3A 110-meter hurdles were within .45 seconds of each other.
Fluitt finished second in a personal-best time of 14.80 seconds.
“That race was one of the closest races I’ve ever been in,” he said. “Every single runner out there was amazing. If you ran your best race, you were running really well. I ran my best race and I got second place.”
Fluitt has no doubt the competition he saw at the end of the season helped him turn in faster times.
“Competition has always helped me run better times,” he said. “Early in the season, I was never getting in the times I was getting in the district, area and regional meets. I started running really good times. That’s what it takes for me. I need somebody next to me pushing.”
Bronze it is
The Goliad girls Class 3A 400-meter relay (48.10), the Yoakum boys 3A 300-meter relay (42.11), and the Cuero 3A boys 800-meter relay (1:27.34) each finished third.
Cuero’s LeBron Johnson placed third in the Class 3A boys 100-meter dash (10.49), and Goliad’s Reese Ruhnke was third in the 3A 300-meter hurdles (39.16).
Kila Rodas
Jackson Fluitt
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2022-05-13T04:01:01Z
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www.victoriaadvocate.com
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Medal count adds up for area athletes at state meet | Advosports | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/advosports/medal-count-adds-up-for-area-athletes-at-state-meet/article_ea29f39a-d26a-11ec-b8c8-97aa40fcd7e7.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/advosports/medal-count-adds-up-for-area-athletes-at-state-meet/article_ea29f39a-d26a-11ec-b8c8-97aa40fcd7e7.html
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Jose "Joe" Ramon Trevino
Jose “Joe” Ramon
Trevino
EDNA — Joe Trevino, 78, of Edna, passed away on Wednesday, May 11, 2022. Joe was born on Saturday, October 23, 1943, in Edna, Jackson County, Texas to Joe Ramon Trevino “BB” and Lucia Espinoza Zambrano Trevino. Joe is survived by his loving family, daughter, Lucia Trevino Espinoza and her husband Hector, Jr. and his son, Joe Ramon Trevino, Jr. also his sisters, Rachel T. Zuniga, Janie Trevino, Irma Trevino and Anita Figerova. He has been preceded in death by his parents, also brothers, Robert Garcia and Ruben Trevino, Jr. There will be a visitation on Friday, May 13, 2022, from 5:pm to 7:pm with Rosary being recited at 6:pm at Slavik Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will be at a later date. Services have been entrusted to Russell Todish of Slavik Funeral Home, 209 N. Allen St. Edna, TX 77957, 361-782-2152.
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2022-05-13T08:22:26Z
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Jose "Joe" Ramon Trevino | Obituaries | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/obituaries/jose-joe-ramon-trevino/article_99391fc2-3265-50da-a170-eb8130160e29.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/obituaries/jose-joe-ramon-trevino/article_99391fc2-3265-50da-a170-eb8130160e29.html
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HOUSTON — Larry McWherter passed away on Sunday, the 8th of May 2022, at the age of 79.
A memorial service is to be conducted at two o’clock in the afternoon on Monday, the 16th of May 2022, in the Jasek Chapel of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston.
Immediately following, all are invited to greet the family and share remembrances during a reception in the adjacent grand foyer.
A more detailed and specific obituary is to be published in this weekend’s Sunday’s edition of the Houston Chronicle. In the interim you may opt to receive updated information by visiting his page at GeoHLewis.com and selecting the “Receive Updates” icon. While there, fond memories and words of comfort and condolence may be shared electronically with his family.
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2022-05-13T08:22:32Z
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www.victoriaadvocate.com
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Larry McWherter | Obituaries | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/obituaries/larry-mcwherter/article_0fd6b1cc-82b6-5d1c-a133-6192c92c3dbe.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/obituaries/larry-mcwherter/article_0fd6b1cc-82b6-5d1c-a133-6192c92c3dbe.html
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A track of Flight UA5069 shows it touched down but then veered right off the runway.
A SkyWest Airlines flight from Victoria to Houston skidded off the runway at George Bush Intercontinental Airport on Wednesday, officials said. No one was seriously injured.
SkyWest operates two flights a day from Victoria Regional Airport to Houston under the United Airlines label. The plane, a Bombardier CRJ200, was carrying 13 passengers and three crew members, the airline said. The aircraft can seat up to 50 passengers.
SkyWest will continue to service Victoria until new air service is found, officials say
Flight UA5069 arrived in Houston nearly 40 minutes early, according to a track on FlightRadar24.com. It departed Victoria at 1:51 p.m. and landed at 2:19 p.m., gliding onto the runway at about 148 mph. It was scheduled to arrive at 2:59 p.m.
After touching down, the plane veered to the right and left the runway. It came to a stop near a construction site, the airline said in a statement.
"SkyWest flight 5069, operating as United Express from Victoria Regional Airport to Houston International Airport, experienced a steering issue and rolled off the runway at the end of its landing," the statement says. "There were no reported injuries and we bused our customers to the terminal. Our maintenance team will fully inspect the aircraft."
The aircraft was certified to fly 2003, according to Federal Aviation Administration records. That certification ends in 2024.
The FAA has not responded to questions from the Victoria Advocate regarding the incident.
It was at least the second incident this year involving a SkyWest flight in the United States.
In January, a Delta flight operated by the regional carrier with about 70 passengers made an emergency landing in Freeland, Michigan, as it headed to Minneapolis from Hartford, Connecticut. No one was injured.
SkyWest in March filed with the U.S. Department of Transportation to stop serving Victoria and 28 other small communities, but the request for Victoria was rejected until a replacement is found.
This is a developing article. Please check back for updates.
George Bush Intercontinental Airport
Bombardier Crj200
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2022-05-13T15:02:02Z
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www.victoriaadvocate.com
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Plane from Victoria skids off Houston runway, officials say | News | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/plane-from-victoria-skids-off-houston-runway-officials-say/article_fd071208-d2c0-11ec-b542-cfa32b781687.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/plane-from-victoria-skids-off-houston-runway-officials-say/article_fd071208-d2c0-11ec-b542-cfa32b781687.html
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58th Appelt Reunion planned for June 5
The Appelt Family will celebrate its 58th reunion on June 5 at Appelt's Hill Hall in Hallettsville.
Registration will begin at 10 a.m., and lunch will be served at noon.
A meal of stew, sausage, and assorted side dishes will be provided by the reunion, as well as individual cans and bottles of cold drinks.
Members are asked to bring an item for the prize drawing, a small dessert and any updates to the family tree.
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2022-05-13T19:53:25Z
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www.victoriaadvocate.com
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58th Appelt Reunion planned for June 5 | Lavaca | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/counties/lavaca/58th-appelt-reunion-planned-for-june-5/article_d2661584-d212-11ec-86e5-875df5d14597.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/counties/lavaca/58th-appelt-reunion-planned-for-june-5/article_d2661584-d212-11ec-86e5-875df5d14597.html
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Bread Crumbs: The shadow of death
In the immensely quotable and hilariously entertaining movie, “The Princess Bride,” the villain Vizzini again and again says in exasperation, “Inconceivable!” At one point, one of his henchmen looks at him and says, “You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.”
I have often thought of that scene when studying Psalm 23.
Psalm 23 is the Good Shepherd Psalm. In it, David talks about how the Lord is our Shepherd, and how he provides everything we need for our bodies and life. Then in verse four, David says, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”
Almost without fail, when I hear fellow Christians explain that verse, they talk about how God takes away our fears as we face death. For them, “the valley of the shadow of death” refers to when we face our own death or the death of someone we love.
At those moments, I hear in my head the voice Vizzini’s henchman saying, “I don’t think that phrase means what you think it means.”
In the Hebrew language, the phrase “shadow of death” is an idiomatic expression which can mean “a really, really dark place.” David’s focus doesn’t seem to be on death, but rather on the darkness.
In other words, David is saying, “Even though I walk through the darkest of valleys, I will fear no evil.” In ancient times, traveling through a dark valley was dangerous. You could get lost or injured. Robbers could hide and attack.
A modern paraphrase might be something like, “Even when I’m walking through a dark alley in the bad part of Houston at 2 o’clock in the morning, I will fear no evil.” When we find ourselves in the darkest and scariest places and moments in our lives, we don’t need to be afraid.
Why? Because our Good Shepherd is by our side the entire way. His “rod and staff” give us comfort. Shepherds used their rods and staffs to chase away predators and keep their sheep safe. Our Good Shepherd is by our side watching over and protecting us every moment of every day.
That’s why we don’t have to be afraid, even in our darkest days. Even though I walk through the valley of COVID or cancer, even though I am going through the dark days of divorce, even when the economy is crumbling or war rages around me, I do not need to be afraid. My Good Shepherd will be by my side, watching over me and making sure it all works together for my good (Romans 8:28).
But in the end, that phrase does also include the dark days of death. Even as we stand at the bedside of our loved ones watching them gasp their last breaths – even as we close our own eyes to death – we don’t need to be afraid. Our Good Shepherd will be by our side the entire time.
Remember, this is the Good Shepherd who gave his life for us, his sheep. This is the Good Shepherd who suffered our punishment in our place so we could be forgiven. This is the Good Shepherd who rose on the third day and conquered death so we could be sure that we will live even though we die. This is the Good Shepherd who, at our dying breath, will take our hand and lead us home to heaven.
So, in the end, I guess it’s OK for people to think of death when they hear the phrase, “the valley of the shadow of death.” But understand, it is saying much more than that.
When you find yourself facing dark days and deep valleys in your life, when you find yourself in danger or even facing death, you never have to be afraid. Your Good Shepherd is there with you every step of the way.
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2022-05-13T19:53:31Z
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www.victoriaadvocate.com
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Bread Crumbs: The shadow of death | Faith | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/features/faith/bread-crumbs-the-shadow-of-death/article_e3345ab0-cfc4-11ec-90ee-73d47e3a0af9.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/features/faith/bread-crumbs-the-shadow-of-death/article_e3345ab0-cfc4-11ec-90ee-73d47e3a0af9.html
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Wade Powell
Let’s get together
By Wade Powell
Churches across the country and the Crossroads have ridden the COVID-19 roller coaster watching cases rise and fall and rise again; we’ve been dancing with strategies to encourage people to re-engage with in-person worship and ministry opportunities.
Let me begin this article by first stating that I don’t want anyone to feel like I am pressuring them to do anything they are uncomfortable doing. I fully respect everyone’s right to make decisions about their health and wellbeing.
But, we were made to worship in community.
Gallop produced a recent study that showed some very interesting information about mental health and the pandemic. Across the board, people report that their mental health is worse today as compared to their mental health in 2019… that is, except for people who attend weekly religious services. Politically speaking, Republicans and Democrats report a double digit drop in mental health; whites and non-whites both experienced substantial decrease in mental health. Those that are married and unmarried, those that are in different age categories and income levels all report double digit or near double digit decreases in mental health.
The only, and I mean only, group that reported an increase in mental health rating are those who attend religious services on a weekly basis. That group reported a 4 percentage point increase.
Church isn’t just where we worship, it’s where we worship together.
It’s not just where we pray, it’s where we pray together. Zoom, facetime, online worship, television worship. First United Methodist Church airs Sunday mornings on KAVU-TV …shameless plug, I know. These are decent alternatives when being together isn’t an option, but there’s just something different and special about gathering together as the body of Christ.
We were made to worship together. I’ve heard the arguments that, “I’m spiritual, not religious,” and, “I can worship on the (golf course, deer blind, river, etc.)”. For some reason, many have become convinced that the only thing that matters is a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
To be sure, a personal relationship with Jesus matters, but it is not at all the only thing that matters. Jesus didn’t call his disciples to himself, and once they had a relationship with him, he didn’t say, “OK, fellas, we’re done. We’ve got a personal relationship; your journey is complete.” Heck, he even made sure that the disciples were together in a community. He didn’t send them out alone. At the very least he sent them out two by two.
When Jesus was trying to prepare the disciples for his crucifixion, he prayed for them that they “may be one.” There is strength in being part of a community of believers; to walk alongside others that encourage and lift up as well as hold us accountable to our faith.
I’m reminded of a passage in Ecclesiastes that I often read at weddings, “A cord of three strands is not easily broken.” As our lives are intertwined together along with Christ, we become a cord of multiple strands, in fact, you might say that the church, as a cord, is not easily broken, not even as it faces the gates of hell.
I hope that you will consider attending church again. You are certainly welcome at First United Methodist Church, but I also have it on pretty solid authority that just about any church in the Crossroads would be happy to welcome you and walk alongside you in your journey of faith, whether you are a new believer, not-yet-believer, or long-time believer.
Rev. Dr. Wade Powell is the senior pastor of First United Methodist Church in Victoria.
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2022-05-13T19:53:37Z
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www.victoriaadvocate.com
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Let’s get together | Faith | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/features/faith/let-s-get-together/article_f4e6db0c-d203-11ec-93e5-7fa775cdbe0e.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/features/faith/let-s-get-together/article_f4e6db0c-d203-11ec-93e5-7fa775cdbe0e.html
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Oceans for Emotions: The know-it-all
“They shall have no other gods before me.” Exodus 20: 3
Today, I decided that I am a controlling, domineering know-it-all. (Readers, please do not call me to confirm this opinion).
Admitting one’s fault is a hard thing to do. It took little children to open my eyes. Kids are good at this.
Not long ago I took these two kids and their mom on their first trip to my beach.
In my controlling way I showed them how, when, where, and what to fish for.
I dominated the day proving to them that they could learn it all from this know-it-all. I enjoyed introducing them to my beach, sharing my tackle, teaching my techniques and giving my expertise.
Today their mom called me, laughing.
She said they asked if she would take them back to the beach fishing and asked if Elaine would go. She said Elaine had other plans. The youngest replied, “Well then, will you call Elaine and ask her if we could borrow her ocean for just one day?”
Dear Lord, forgive me when I let myself become the only god that comes before You. Help me to learn that my every opinion is not necessarily fact and that You are God and I am not. It’s OK, Lord, for You to be The Know-It-All.
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2022-05-13T19:53:43Z
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www.victoriaadvocate.com
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Oceans for Emotions: The know-it-all | Faith | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/features/faith/oceans-for-emotions-the-know-it-all/article_22273a90-d064-11ec-958a-23592910de65.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/features/faith/oceans-for-emotions-the-know-it-all/article_22273a90-d064-11ec-958a-23592910de65.html
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Life is Messy, God is Good
Life is Messy, God is Good: Mary, like all mothers, is special
May is often celebrated as a month for Mary in the Catholic Church, which is fitting given the timing of Mother’s Day. I wanted to take this article to explain briefly what Catholics believe about Mary, as sometimes it may be misunderstood. Thank you for taking time to read this.
First, like all Christians, we believe that she is the mother of Jesus. But, we reserve a special title for her because of this, known as “Mother of God.” We say this because she was the earthly mother of Jesus, and we believe Jesus was fully divine as well as fully human. Jesus was God “incarnate,” which means He became human. He did this to show us the way back to God the Father. How does God have two titles, both Son and Father? Well, he is also the Holy Spirit as well, as we believe in the Trinity, but that’s a topic for another article.
Back to Mary, another thing that’s important about our beliefs regarding Mary is that we believe she was born without original sin. Like all Christians, we believe in the doctrine of original sin; basically, that all of us have been born with this innate desire to choose the things we should not choose. However, we believe Mary was pre-destined from all eternity to be exempt from this, as God Himself would take on her flesh when He became man. Therefore, her flesh should be pure and unstained by original sin. Also, if you were able to create your mother, wouldn’t you take special care to make her as perfect as possible? We all love our mother, and God no doubt loves His earthly mother immensely.
A third point I’d like to make about Mary is that we honor her as mother of all Christians. We derive this from Jesus’ last words on the cross when He tells John “behold your mother” and tells Mary “behold your son.” In that moment, John represents the entire church. As part of His last words, Jesus wanted to make sure we knew that we were to “take Mary into our home” as He instructed John to do. Like any disciple, if we want to follow Christ, having a relationship with Mary is an essential part.
There’s much more that can be said about Mary. In fact, there’s a whole field of study and theology devoted to her known as “Mariology.” But for this article, I hope this helps you understand why Catholics hold her in such high regard. I’d invite you to learn more about her, especially in this month when all mothers are honored. And I hope learning about her helps illustrate that life is messy but God is good. God chose to come into this broken world to save us and redeem us, and He chose one woman to help make that all possible, and be a mother to us all. God bless.
Justin Reyes is Director of Family Evangelization for the Catholic Diocese of Victoria.
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2022-05-13T22:30:03Z
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Life is Messy, God is Good: Mary, like all mothers, is special | Faith | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/features/faith/life-is-messy-god-is-good-mary-like-all-mothers-is-special/article_20ac299a-d227-11ec-8b7b-1369316e63c0.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/features/faith/life-is-messy-god-is-good-mary-like-all-mothers-is-special/article_20ac299a-d227-11ec-8b7b-1369316e63c0.html
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Woodsboro's Anthony Meacham flips himself toward the bar and a gold medal in the Class 2A boys pole vault at the UIL state track and field meet Friday in Austin.
Shiner's Doug Brooks throws in the Class 2A boys shot put at the state track and field meet in Austin Friday morning.
Flatonia's Ali Janecka winds up for a gold medal winning attempt in the Class 2A girls discus at the UIL state track and field meet Friday in Austin.
AUSTIN — Anthony Meacham didn’t have to be reminded how fortunate he was as he stood on the podium to receive his gold medal for winning the Class 2A pole vault.
Meacham won his third straight gold medal — he missed his sophomore year because of the COVID-19 pandemic — in the event by clearing 15 feet, 6 inches on his first attempt.
But Meacham, who won one of eight area medals during Friday’s early session of the UIL Class 2A state meet at Mike A. Myers Stadium, was afraid he might not be able to compete as a senior because of a partial tear of a hamstring tendon in his left leg he suffered in December.
“This means a lot,” Meacham said. “I had an injury earlier this season and it kind of pushed me back a lot. I wasn’t sure I was going to come over here, but I’m glad I did, and I had a great day today.”
Once Meacham had the gold medal in hand, he attempted to break his own Class 2A record of 17 feet.
“We came in not really wanting to take a lot of vaults,” he said. “We just wanted to jump, have a good time and end my senior year really good. And 15-6 was really easy so I just decided to go for the record again. I threw it up and had a good couple of jumps at it, but just couldn’t get it.”
Meacham will vault at Kansas next season and is thankful for the experience he had at Woodsboro.
“My career was all over the place,” he said. “I went as a freshman 16-1, as a sophomore with COVID coming in I went 17, and then as a junior I went 17 again, as a senior won it at 15-6 and almost got 17.25. A very long, but overall, it’s three to four years I’m glad I had.”
Doug Brooks ended his Shiner athletic career with a pair of silver medals at the state meet.
Brooks finished second in the discus (161-2) and shot put (56-0).
Brooks can add the medal to the two state championships he won as a member of the football team.
“I don’t like to be looked at as a one-way person or a one-way athlete,” he said. “To be able to compete in both sports has been good.”
Brooks came close to winning the gold medal in the shot put, but lost it on the last throw, after he had scratched on his last attempt.
“I threw great with the exception of the discus,” he said. “The shot put, I had a great throw, and I didn’t hold it. It probably would have been a PR 60 or somewhere around there. All in all, I came out and got two medals, and that’s all I could ask for.”
Flatonia’s Ali Janecka knew this would be her last opportunity to win a medal at the state meet.
She didn’t let the chance pass her by, winning the gold medal in the discus with a throw of (132-11).
“I think coming to the state meet last year helped me because I wasn’t as nervous,” she said. “I knew it was my last chance, so I had to give it my all, and that’s what I did.”
Janecka suffered a shoulder injury last season, and changed her training regimen.
“This year, when I practiced, I didn’t throw as many times,” she said. “Last year, I had a shoulder injury. This year, I decided to only throw a few times.”
First time around
Refugio’s Cierra Tilley was determined to make the state meet as a freshman, and she did so, winning a silver medal in the shot put in the process.
“This was always a goal,” she said. “I always worked so hard, and I just knew I would make it to state.”
Tilley had a throw of 39-10.5, which was not her best.
“I know I could have done better,” she said. “I was a little nervous. I was jittery. I learned not to be nervous. “I’m going to lift a lot and get better.”
Schulenburg’s Meredith Magliolo won the high jump at the regional meet by virtue of fewer misses at 5 feet, 3 inches.
She took the same approach at the state meet.
“Regionals gave me a lot of confidence,” Magliolo said. “I was able to do everything at regionals on my first attempt.”
Magliolo captured a silver medal, again clearing 5-3 and again having fewer misses.
“That was my PR, so I was really excited to get it again,” she said. “I was really stressing out over there, and I was like, ‘I’m OK. I’m OK.’”
Bronze and bronze
Refugio’s Antwaan Gross finished third in the triple jump with a leap of 44-8.75.
“It was good,” Gross said. “I just came in there trying to get points for my team.”
Ganado’s Alan Baez started out back in the pack, but came on late to finish third in a time of 9:46.07.
“When they started off, I was dead last,” Baez said. “I knew my coaches were worried. I was like. ‘I’ll just stay here comfortable,’ because I knew they were going at like a 4:30 pace. My PR is a 4:36 and I was like, ‘I can’t hang on to this.’ I was going to go with a 5:05, but I went with a 4:45 and that worked out.”
Anthony Meacham
Ali Janecka
Cierra Tilley
Meredith Magliolo
Antwaan Gross
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2022-05-14T00:53:30Z
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Area athletes continue medal rush at UIL state meet | Advosports | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/advosports/area-athletes-continue-medal-rush-at-uil-state-meet/article_34ed26ca-d30d-11ec-af7a-87bfd9dc1553.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/advosports/area-athletes-continue-medal-rush-at-uil-state-meet/article_34ed26ca-d30d-11ec-af7a-87bfd9dc1553.html
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Firefighters were dispatched to a smoke alarm at the Walgreens on North Navarro Street in Victoria on Friday.
Firefighters went to a Victoria Walgreens after a smoke alarm sounded Friday afternoon.
There was no fire, but an air-conditioning unit appeared to have malfunctioned at the Walgreens, 2701 N. Navarro St., about 4:30 p.m., said Battalion Chief Jeff Cowan.
The smoke was probably caused by a belt burnout in the air-conditioning unit on the roof of the building.
North Navarro Street
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2022-05-14T00:53:49Z
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Smoke alarm sends firefighters to Walgreens in Victoria | News | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/smoke-alarm-sends-firefighters-to-walgreens-in-victoria/article_56a341f4-d309-11ec-a96a-8bad6b944c77.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/smoke-alarm-sends-firefighters-to-walgreens-in-victoria/article_56a341f4-d309-11ec-a96a-8bad6b944c77.html
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Refugio’s Antwaan Gross splashes into the pit in the Class 2A boys triple jump at the state track and field meet in Austin Friday morning.
AUSTIN — The Refugio boys won the Class 2A state track & field championship.
The Bobcats scored 77 points to wrap up the title Friday at Mike A. Myers Stadium.
Refugio won the 400- and 800-meter relays, Ernest Campbell won the 100-meter dash, the 1,600-meter relay finished second and Antwaan Gross finished third in the triple jump.
Refugio won its record 11th boys championship and first title since 2001.
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2022-05-14T03:08:25Z
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Refugio boys win Class 2A team championship | Advosports | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/advosports/refugio-boys-win-class-2a-team-championship/article_aa6bd018-d326-11ec-bea6-b3a23fee738c.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/advosports/refugio-boys-win-class-2a-team-championship/article_aa6bd018-d326-11ec-bea6-b3a23fee738c.html
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Dr. John McNeill speaks at a daily news conference in March 2020 about COVID-19 in the Crossroads.
A: Yes, the at-home tests are suppressing the true case count of COVID-19, and while that may have been a concern in the past, it's not nearly as much as one in the current pandemic environment, said Dr. John McNeil, Victoria County Public Health Department public health authority.
Right now, the true case count of people with COVID-19 is suppressed because home tests have become more readily accessible, McNeil said.
"I can't tell you how many patients that have told me they tested themselves at home for COVID-19, were positive, stayed home and then went back to work," McNeil said.
Although earlier in the pandemic missing those data points would have been difficult for the health care community, the evolution of treatments and the understanding of the virus has made it to where the suppression of total case count numbers is less of a concern, he said.
The number that is more of a primary concern is number of patients who are hospitalized and who are dying of COVID-19, particularly for hospitals.
"Someone who dies from COVID-19 is not likely to die at home," said McNeil, noting that the data will still see critical patients.
Although over the last few days COVID-19 cases have started to trend upward in the Crossroads and nationally as people become more active with the arrival of a summer that local officials have previously stated will be critical in determining the direction of the handling of the virus, McNeil is cautiously optimistic.
With the omicron variant of COVID-19, hospitalization of patients became much less frequent and necessary compared to previous variants of the disease, McNeil said. With the rise in understanding the virus and more readily available treatments, hospitals are ready to respond should there be a significant surge this summer.
John Mcneil
Covid-19 Home Tests
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2022-05-14T09:05:00Z
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Q: Are at-home tests affecting COVID-19 case counts | Covid-19 | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/covid-19/q-are-at-home-tests-affecting-covid-19-case-counts/article_2b88d7fc-d31a-11ec-935d-dfa24f9ff0f3.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/covid-19/q-are-at-home-tests-affecting-covid-19-case-counts/article_2b88d7fc-d31a-11ec-935d-dfa24f9ff0f3.html
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Here in Victoria County, voters are blessed with a remarkable opportunity.
In this community, a single vote is actually worth many times its value.
Apparently, being able to make it to any one of the 30 polling locations all over Victoria on election day — or the entire preceding week of early voting — is a miraculous trait. And those with the remarkable time management skills to find the 10-15 minutes or less to actually cast a ballot will find their voices magnified several times over.
That’s because hardly anyone in this community votes.
On May 7’s election, one that decided a council seat, two school board trustees, two state propositions and 14 city charter amendments, a whopping 9% of registered voters made to the polls.
That means for every vote you cast, you get to speak for nine of your neighbors. It’s as if you and your extended family went out for dinner, and then you ordered everyone’s drinks, appetizers, entrees and desserts — all your own personal favorites, of course.
And the best part is they have absolutely no cause for complaint. All they can do is sit silently and enjoy the food, whether it's anchovy pizza, tongue tacos or escargot.
This deal on voting power is not universal throughout the state.
In the past election, Colorado County saw about 19% of registered voters cast votes on May 7.
Aransas County had a 16.5% turnout.
And Lavaca County saw about 13% of voters mark ballots.
Those communities have admittedly slightly higher turnouts. And those communities, like ours will suffer the consequences.
But who cares about that, right? Apparently, not us.
When few voters bother to come out to the polls, our democracy ceases to thrive.
What a gift we have been given.
The problem with hearing all our voices is that it requires people to actually find time to get out and cast a vote.
Now, we’ll never know whether the decisions made in Victoria on May 7 accurately represent the community. All we know is those voters’ decisions represented one out of 10 registered voters eligible to take part in those races. And just like the anchovy pizza, those nine out of 10 voters can’t complain should decisions be made that they disagree with.
Our historically unique and beautiful system of government is special in that we, not a king or a despot, get to decide how decisions are made. Each and every registered voter has a say, and it’s a system that has not come easily.
Those who don’t bother to vote are forfeiting the rights earned dearly by patriots who shed their blood starting 250 years ago.
They are casting aside the sacrifices paid for by countless veterans who have answered the call to defend our government over the centuries.
On May 24, we will have another election to decide the Republican nominee for Precinct 2’s county commissioner, along with a slew of important primary runoffs statewide. State offices with nominations up for grabs include attorney general, lieutenant governor and railroad commissioner.
Our community’s voters will have the chance to take advantage of a historically low voter turnout and cast a ballot for their neighbors. It’s a wonderful privilege that comes with our community’s apathy.
So get out and do the right thing, if not for our community, then for yourself.
Plus, where else can you get one of those “I voted” stickers?
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2022-05-14T10:53:37Z
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www.victoriaadvocate.com
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Low voter turnout means your vote matters that much more | Opinion | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/opinion/low-voter-turnout-means-your-vote-matters-that-much-more/article_a062cb72-d230-11ec-930c-bb49d3759e2d.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/opinion/low-voter-turnout-means-your-vote-matters-that-much-more/article_a062cb72-d230-11ec-930c-bb49d3759e2d.html
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100, 75, 50 and 25 years ago: 1947, Lawrence Turner does good dead for the day
MAY 15 – Arthur E. Sydler left Sunday afternoon for Chicago, Ill., where he will report to the World Champion New York Giants, with which baseball organization he has signed a contract for his services as a pitcher. The young man has been in this city visiting his parents, Mr. and Mrs. B.I. Vance.
Miss Mary Kossek, housekeeper for Father L. Etschenberg, pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, left this morning for New Orleans, where she will board a ship bound for Rotterdam, Holland.
Lynwood Hiller, who is employed in Mexia, the wonder oil town of North Texas, is in the city visiting his parents, Mr. and Mrs. A.H. Hiller.
MAY 18 – Mrs. James F. Welder left Wednesday for New York City to attend a convention of the National Park Association, which will be held May 22-25. She was recently appointed by Governor Neff to represent the State of Texas before the National Park Association meeting that will be held at Interstate Park, about 45 miles from New York City.
Miss Carrie Konrad, a member of the graduating class of Nazareth Academy, was hostess Wednesday evening to her classmates and their friends at a picture show party.
MAY 16 – Prizes were awarded today to the three high school boys whose essay on “What Our Army Means to Us” were selected as the best in a contest sponsored last month by Post 4146, Veterans of Foreign Wars. Gus Ball, post commander, presented the awards as follows: Bill Coons, Patti Welder High School, first prize of $50; Joe Loos, Patti Welder High School, second prize of $25; and B.L. Payne, St. Joseph’s High School, third prize of $15.
An open house is scheduled for the Victoria Country Club Saturday afternoon, according to Mrs. J.R. Gervais, chairman of the entertainment committee. “We hope every member of the club will bring their guests Sunday and see our redecorated club house.”
Lawrence Turner stopping his taxi long enough to untangle a rope from a cow at the edge of town and thereby doing his good deed for the day.
Frank Briggs enjoying the new air-conditioning system of his cafeteria.
MAY 19 – Bill Litz and his CPL crew making an early morning call Sunday during the big rain to remove a kite tail from a couple of power lines on Bottom Street. The tail was a conductor because it was wet, and shot sparks all over the premises. The immediate neighborhood was virtually evacuated by the inhabitants until the fireworks were over.
MAY 17 – Mary Beth Arnold was named valedictorian of the 1972 Victoria College graduating class in commencement exercises held Tuesday night in the college auditorium. Salutatorian honors went to Sister Mary Jessica Heinrich of Incarnate Word Convent.
Mrs. Byron Griffin was installed as president of Metropolitan Art League of Victoria in a meeting Monday evening at McNamara-O’Connor Historical and Fine Arts Museum.
MAY 20 – Beginning Monday, the city parks and recreation department will provide citizens with free Malathion who want to spray for mosquitoes around their homes, and some sprayers will be available.
Martin Luther Lutheran Church at Coletoville, one of the oldest in Victoria County, will observe its 100th anniversary Sunday. Former members and friends of the church are invited by the Rev. George Gerber, pastor, to attend a day-long program. Former pastors who served at the church since 1966 are the Rev. David Stubbs and the Rev. E.J. Oehlke.
MAY 17 – Victoria County Sheriff Mike Ratcliff will go to the White House next week to help community leaders from across the nation come up with a plan to fight drugs in America. Ratcliff will participate in the White House Mayors’ Conference on Drug Control, in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday and Wednesday. The conference brings together 100 community leaders, including mayors, law enforcement executives and prosecutors from all levels of government. Ratcliff and the other participants will sit down with President Bill Clinton on Wednesday to present their recommendations.
MAY 21 – Many area businesses have not yet tapped into the full potential of the services that the Internet has to offer, the president of a local Internet provider said Tuesday. Chuck Simonds, president of Victoria Internet Providers, said the Internet is a way for a business to provide services to the consumer at any hour. Customers can log a complaint, browse a brochure or use their credit card to place an order as they sit at their computers. “Businesses can create a web site and whether they’re in China or in Hallettsville, everyone will see it,” said Simonds, who spoke at a business breakfast sponsored by the local chapter of the Texas Association of Business and Chambers of Commerce and the Greater Victoria Area Chamber of Commerce.
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2022-05-14T21:33:42Z
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100, 75, 50 and 25 years ago: 1947, Lawrence Turner does good dead for the day | Features | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/features/100-75-50-and-25-years-ago-1947-lawrence-turner-does-good-dead-for-the/article_60d6e390-cca3-11ec-a7e1-5bd2d9ae5d06.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/features/100-75-50-and-25-years-ago-1947-lawrence-turner-does-good-dead-for-the/article_60d6e390-cca3-11ec-a7e1-5bd2d9ae5d06.html
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Ryley Reyes
Dmitri Sobolev
With aspirations to become a physician assistant, Ryley Reyes looks forward to helping people with medical ailments by drawing from her educational background in biology and from life experiences dealing with her own health challenges.
“I’ve actually known that I wanted to go in the science direction since I was about 14,” said Reyes, who was then diagnosed with an auto-immune disorder called idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. “It was a big change in my life, so it was a big motivating factor for me.”
Though a treatment finally worked that put her into remission, she has had her share of medical appointments through the years, which gave her insight into the medical field and inspired her to become like those who had helped her.
Reyes was recently recognized for her academic excellence by the UHV College of Natural & Applied Science for the spring semester. Reyes, of Bloomington, was named the college’s Outstanding Undergraduate Student. Dat Le, of Houston, was chosen its Outstanding Graduate Student.
“These students are excellent, driven scholars,” said Dmitri Sobolev, interim dean of the college. “We are proud to see them receive this recognition for their hard work. I wish them well as they take their next steps in their careers.”
Each semester, professors from UHV’s four colleges select outstanding graduates to be honored during commencement.
Reyes received a Bachelor of Science in biology, which she has been working on for four years. She credited her family and professors with giving her the support system to succeed in college.
“My family was always there for me,” she said.
She also appreciated the advising she received from professors like Daniel White, an associate professor and director of the graduate biology program.
“If you have any questions about your degree plan or class, don’t be afraid to ask a question. That is what really helped me the most,” she said.
After graduating, she plans to work a while then apply to physician assistant schools to get a master’s degree. Afterward, she wants to specialize in hematology and oncology. The source of her inspiration came from the kindness bestowed on her and her family by Susan Kirk, a physician assistant at Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston.
“She was just so friendly. I was so nervous going to the doctor each time, and my family as well. And just seeing her each time and seeing how friendly she was to us just calmed us down whenever we were worried about things,” Reyes recalled. “Whenever we had any questions about anything, she was just a very comforting presence for us.”
Those are qualities Reyes looks forward to exuding herself as a medical professional.
“I just want to be someone patients can see as very helpful and who can explain things easily to them,” she said. “I would like to be a good source of education and a comforting presence for my patients, as my physician assistant was for me.”
She believes the challenges she has been through with her own health will make her an empathetic and helpful resource to others.
“I think it will help me be more compassionate toward my patients because I know firsthand how scary it is and how confusing it can be,” she said.
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2022-05-14T21:34:06Z
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Graduate plans to draw from her past in soothing others’ pains | News | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/graduate-plans-to-draw-from-her-past-in-soothing-others-pains/article_dd71a0e6-d1f5-11ec-b42d-87ef6912db5e.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/graduate-plans-to-draw-from-her-past-in-soothing-others-pains/article_dd71a0e6-d1f5-11ec-b42d-87ef6912db5e.html
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Shana Bohac: Myths about cats
There are all kinds of funny, quirky myths about our furry friends. Cats for some reason seem to catch the most flack. I have listed just a few myths that have been debunked about cats.
Kittens don’t need to be trained. Kittens, in fact are very receptive and can learn a lot. This is the perfect time to expand their social skills and teach them tricks such as fetching. Socialization is important for all cats and can dramatically influence how your cat responds to new visitors, human, feline, or canine. Encouraging interactions between people and pets can help reinforce positive socialization.
Cats need to drink milk. Milk can cause diarrhea. Animals do not have adequate amounts of the enzyme needed to break down milk so too much can wreak havoc on their gastrointestinal tract. Cats also do not get anything nutritionally from milk.
Cats will suck the life out of a baby. This old myth is false and there has been no proven incidence of this happening. It is best however to monitor infants and small children when around pets to be on the safe side. Children and cats can form great bonds.
Cats only purr when they are happy. Cats do purr while they are happy, but they also purr when they are very ill or frightened. A cat’s purr begins in its brain. It then sends a message to the muscles in its voice box, which twitch and cause the vocal cords to separate when the cat inhales and exhales it produces the purring sound.
A cat’s meow means nothing and cats will meow for no reason. Cat’s, in fact, meow for specific reasons. They may be hungry, thirsty, in pain, or having a medical problem that needs to be assessed. No matter what, your cat is trying to communicate with you for some reason. Excessive meowing or changes in the sound of the meow may be something that needs further investigation. Your veterinarian can assess your cat for any underlying health issues.
Cats are fine to be left home alone all the time because they are antisocial. Cats seem to have acquired the reputation of being solitary animals, when many of them are very social. They love to play, socialize, and learn. Cats that are left alone for long periods may experience behavioral problems such as using the restroom outside the litterbox or anxiety issues such as excessive grooming.
Cats that scratch furniture are just bad behaved. Scratching is a normal and natural behavior for cats. It has several purposes including sharpening their claws, stretching their muscles, and marking their territory. If it is becoming an issue, then you will need to redirect the scratching to an object that you cat is “allowed” to scratch and reward him or her for scratching in that location. There are a variety of scratching posts and toys available.
Without whiskers, cats lose their sense of balance. Cats whiskers are feelers and have nothing to do with balance. Cats have a sensory organ at the end of their whiskers called a proprioceptor, which sends signals to the brain and nervous system. This helps a cat find its way, fit in tight spaces, and show their mood.
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2022-05-14T21:34:18Z
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www.victoriaadvocate.com
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Shana Bohac: Myths about cats | Local News | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/local/shana-bohac-myths-about-cats/article_5c564bf2-d172-11ec-be84-a341eb9c8cb7.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/local/shana-bohac-myths-about-cats/article_5c564bf2-d172-11ec-be84-a341eb9c8cb7.html
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Brittney Bradley
Brittney Bradley and Jesse “Patrick” Garcia look forward to drawing from their schooling in psychology to make a positive difference for others with their Saturday graduation from the University of Houston-Victoria.
“The field of psychology has always interested me,” said Bradley, who plans to become a school psychologist to help students with disabilities. “I look forward to helping families and parents gain more understanding and insight as to why their children do the things they do.”
Likewise, Garcia, a father of four who spent 15 years in the U.S. Army with tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, wants to help guide children and teens down the right path. As a mental health counselor in private practice, he wants veterans and others to know that they are not alone.
“I’m interested in becoming a counselor because I have a passion for helping others,” he said. “No matter what the problem or socioeconomic status of a person, I feel that my life’s experiences help me to relate to a variety of individuals.”
The two students were recently recognized for their academic excellence by UHV’s College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences for the spring semester. Bradley, of Katy, was chosen as the college’s Outstanding Graduate Student, and Garcia, of Victoria, was named the Outstanding Undergraduate Student.
“Brittney and Jesse are excellent examples of UHV’s commitment to its students and the quality of students who pursue degrees here,” said Kyoko Amano, dean of the college. “They have displayed an admirable commitment to improving not just themselves, but also the lives of others through their work in the classroom. I wish them the best in their next steps in life.”
Each semester, professors from UHV’s four colleges select outstanding graduates to be honored during commencement. UHV held its spring graduation ceremonies Saturday at Faith Family Church, 2002 E. Mockingbird Lane.
Bradley received a specialist in school psychology degree with plans to become a licensed specialist in school psychology. This semester, she worked as a specialist in school psychology intern at the Alief Independent School District.
“Coupling my interest in psychology with education, which I really value, has just been the best, along with being able to put that knowledge into practice through this internship,” she said.
After graduating and passing the licensure exam, she will continue working in the Alief school district full time as licensed specialist in school psychology whose primary focus is identifying special education needs in children and determining their eligibility for special education services. In this role, she will work with children with disabilities, their parents and teachers, as well as school administrators.
She also plans to get national certification through the National Association of School Psychologists, which will be easier since UHV became accredited by that organization in 2021, she said.
“I’m really grateful to UHV because our professors worked really hard for us to get that national accreditation,” she said, noting that national accreditation opens doors for someone to work anywhere in the country. “It will be a lot easier for me to become nationally certified because of the work that they put into getting our program accredited.”
Bradley, who worked for six years in finance, started the graduate program at UHV in fall 2018 right after getting married and switching career paths. She took one semester off due to pregnancy and gave birth to her daughter in 2020. Thankfully, she had full support from her husband, she said.
“I was coming into a whole new world,” she said. “I was working while going through school, and then having a baby. It’s just been an epic journey.”
Garcia also has had to balance parenting with school, and he overcame a number of life obstacles as a veteran. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology.
“It’s been pretty tough, but it’s also been kind of fun,” he said. “I’ve learned how to balance things out, how to be a father and how to be present. My number one goal is to be the father I didn’t have growing up.”
He volunteers his time to Toys for Tots, helping low incomed neighborhoods beautify itself, serves meals for the homeless and has built a good rapport within the community.
“I learned a lot in these last two years, not just about psychology, but about myself,” he said.
Garcia credits the encouragement of his wife and UHV’s faculty and staff for their commitment to seeing students succeed.
“That is not just in an educational sense but personally,” he said. “I think that’s what’s been really nice about UHV.”
He plans to continue his education at UHV to work toward a Master of Science in clinical mental health counseling, and continue as a positive role model for his children.
“Hopefully, down the road, if or when life’s curveballs are thrown at my children in any type of way, not just educationally, hopefully they look back and see their Dad as a positive example to push through those obstacles and make it over the top of the mountain.”
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2022-05-14T21:34:24Z
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www.victoriaadvocate.com
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Top graduates eager to apply psychology principles in careers | News | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/top-graduates-eager-to-apply-psychology-principles-in-careers/article_19bc1f82-d1f5-11ec-a051-efc32e7f5956.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/top-graduates-eager-to-apply-psychology-principles-in-careers/article_19bc1f82-d1f5-11ec-a051-efc32e7f5956.html
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While the transition has been uncertain for many patients in the programs since the decision was made in late March, other care providers are moving into the Victoria area to fill the need and let the patients remain in the Crossroads, where they can continue to receive care from those with whom they’ve developed a relationship and stay close to family.
At the time of the accident L.J. Krause described his then-college-age son as a bright student who “never had to bring a book home from school,” a gifted athlete who at 6-foot-7 played football and baseball in high school, and unfortunately, like most young adults his age had a feeling of being invincible.
Home care didn’t work
“I just want them to do as good job of taking care of him like Devereux did,” L.J. Krause said. “I can’t say enough about how well Devereux have treated him these last few years.”
The population of these programs declined and, “coupled with our inability to recruit and retain staff had further impacted the situation,” Devereux said in a statement. “And, unfortunately, reimbursement of care has not kept up with the rising cost of care in either of these programs.”
It went on, “Challenges related to the pandemic have further exacerbated the situation and necessitated a review of the long-term viability of both the on-campus Adult Residential Program and Community Living Program. Despite significant efforts and financial investments to adapt, we have been unable to recruit and retain staff or successfully advocate for adequate state funding, which has led to significant financial losses in both the Adult Residential Program and the Community Living Program.”
The Victoria Advocate reached out to Devereux’s Victoria representative, Richard Perkins, for further information on the closure, and while he did say the closure will likely affect other Devereux operations, such as the Devereux Gardens nursery, details beyond the statement were not provided.
The Gulf Bend Center had over 40 intellectual and developmental disability patients in Devereux’s care through contracted service when the change was announced.
The center previously tried to run its own care facility for these patients before contracting with Devereux, but the cost was always too much to handle, said Steve Hipes, chair of the Gulf Bend Center’s board of trustees, at its April board meeting.
“Continuity of care is critical for all individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. These individuals need continued access to medical and clinical care teams that are familiar with their case,” Mendy Blank, Gulf Bend Center IDD services director, said. “They want to remain residing in their community, where they not only feel safe and welcomed, but are also close to family, friends and caregivers whom provide a sense of comfort and stability. These supports can take years to reestablish. This can be done, but it is always best to preserve established supports whenever possible.”
Change begins soon
N2 Care Services is in discussions with Devereux to manage the Adult Residential and Community Living programs, but Emmanuel Nnaji, N2 Care Services executive director, said Devereux has not made a final decision on what company would take over.
Nnaji said he is confident N2 Care Services can succeed where Devereux and others have struggled, having previously succeeded in similar Texas markets. "We have one is Houston and Killeen. We can make a good run of it. But nothing has been decided between us and Devereux. But we've been running our company … and been successful running it.
"If we are given the opportunity to do that," he added, "we can be able to do our best and succeed and give the people what they want. If they give us the opportunity, we will do our best."
Another suitor for Devereux's operation is Bell Tech Ent.
“Never, ever give up, no matter what the circumstances may be. Always strive for the best and never let anyone or anything take you down the wrong path,” he said.
Editor's Note: Emmanuel Nnaji, N2 Care Services executive director, said earlier comments attributed to him via his phone were not, in fact, his comments. Comments now included in the article are accurate, he said.
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2022-05-14T23:39:51Z
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www.victoriaadvocate.com
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Private care providers aim to keep patients in Victoria after Devereux closures | For Subscribers Only | victoriaadvocate.com
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/premium/private-care-providers-aim-to-keep-patients-in-victoria-after-devereux-closures/article_3882e8ca-d244-11ec-b15a-6312f9c53b19.html
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https://www.victoriaadvocate.com/premium/private-care-providers-aim-to-keep-patients-in-victoria-after-devereux-closures/article_3882e8ca-d244-11ec-b15a-6312f9c53b19.html
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