News

By Jessica Coleman
Staff Writer
    Fifteen years ago, Bennett Park in LaSalle was so overgrown and under-kept that one could hardly drive a vehicle through it. Four wheel drive vehicles could, with some effort and skill, make it through, but you weren’t going to get your soccer mom coupe down there. 
    With some effort on the part of the county, the park has received some maintenance and beautification, and according to Precinct Three Commissioner Johnny Belicek, continues to be repaired.
    “I’ve gotten grants to fix erosion, and I got a grant on a boat ramp,” Belicek said, “We’ve done a lot of work.”
    Historically, Bennett Park has not been left in good shape by those that use it, and sometimes to the county, fixing it up seems like a losing battle. This is something the county hopes to change, along with some help.

By Jessica Coleman
Staff Writer
    The departure of Bobby Bell as District Attorney in Jackson County has set off a domino effect of sorts, moving Pam Guenther, former Assistant DA into the DA spot, and leaving both the ADA and Edna City Attorney seats vacant. The Assistant DA position was filled by Keith Weiser, and on Oct. 20, the Edna City Council voted to hire homegrown Edna resident Jake Srp to take the City seat.
    “When [Guenther] took on more responsibilities now that she is district attorney, she reluctantly tendered her resignation,” said City Manager Don Doering. “She didn't feel she could  do both. She was wonderful and I can’t say enough good things about her.”
    Doering said Srp almost immediately came to mind.

The 16th Annual Texana Chili Spill will be held November 10-12 at the Brackenridge Recreation Complex Main Event Center, sponsored by the Lavaca-Navidad River Authority and the Jackson County Go-Texan Committee.
    This year’s event will include a Veterans Ceremony, an Appreciation Dinner sponsored by HEB, and a fireworks display sponsored by Whataburger on Thursday, Nov. 10 beginning at 5 p.m. All veterans, family and friends are invited to the dinner.
    Friday’s events include salsa, sausage, and margarita competition and the Go-Texan Dutch Oven Dessert Cook-off. 

    Jackson County voters overwhelmingly supported Donald Trump to be the 45th president of the United States.     Straight party Republican voters made up more than half of the votes for Trump. There were 5,330 votes cast and 2,713 of them were straight party Republican votes. Democratic voters cast 596 straight party votes.     Many citizens took advantage of the early voting period, casting 3,262 votes, 1,679 were straight Republican and 335 were straight Democratic.     According to the Jackson County voter registrar’s office, there are 8,357 active voters in the county. Another 1,817 voters are suspense or military. A suspense voter is one whose voters card was returned to the post office and needs to show proof of residence before voting.     Total votes for Donald Trump were 4,247 while Hillary Clinton received 900. In races where there was a Democratic challenger, the Republican candidate received the most votes.     The full story will be in the Nov.

Debra and Danny Blakeman of Port Lavaca and Cole and Anna Stevens of Ganado announce the engagement and forthcoming marriage of their daughter, Nikki Deanne Stevens of Edna, to Quentin Tyler Guidry, son of Leroy and Evelyn Guidry of Edna. The bride-elect is a 2007 graduate of Calhoun High School and is a caregiver at The Dugger House in Edna. The prospective groom is a 2004 graduate of Edna High School and is a disabled veteran. The couple will exchange vows at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 10, 2016 at the Historic Texana Church at Brackenridge Park in Edna.

    The American Legion Auxiliary will distribute red poppies on Friday, Nov. 4 in Ganado and Edna to honor our veterans.
    “Every person should be proud to wear the red poppy, a symbol of support for our veterans,” said Frances Vesely, Auxiliary member. “So if you are offered a poppy, please accept it and wear it proudly.”
    Each year, the American Legion Auxiliary members raise funds through the distribution of the symbolic red poppies to support active duty military, veterans and their families. This is done throughout the year but especially on Veterans Day and Memorial day.
    According to Vesely, the red poppy came to symbolize the blood shed protecting Americans’ freedom following the publication of the wartime poem “In Flanders Fields” written by Lt. Col. John McCrae, M.D. while serving on the front in WWI to honor soldiers killed in battle. 

By Jessica Coleman
Staff Writer
    It was just a little brown box that made it all real. Heather Spears Kallus wasn’t even the first person to touch that box. Her daughter was. Seven-year-old Lyla checked the mail that day, and she found it. Lyla knew what was inside.
    Inside that box, in a way, was the rest of Kallus’ life. A book, titled Gabriel’s Golden Key, was waiting to escape from the box, and with it, Kallus’ official new title, Children’s Book Author. Officially being an author has a way of  making everything seem new again. You can’t un-be an author. Once you’ve written a book, you will always be one.
    “Your books!” screamed Lyla. “Your books are here!”

By Jessica Coleman
Staff Writer
    Jackson County has wrapped up another year of Relay for Life, having raised over $60,000 for the American Cancer Society. 
    While participation was down from previous years – something long-time participant Troylene Jetton said is to be expected in a new location – enthusiasm was high and emotion was almost palpable during the survivor’s victory lap, and subsequent caregivers lap, as well as during the Relay.
    Many teams donned elaborate costumes to match their team themes, and an outpouring of support for survivors combined with a deeply poignant remembrance and luminaria ceremony left few dry eyes in the Main Event Center on Saturday night. 
    Tracy Crites of Relay for Life said they’ve had $60,024.07 turned in, with some still coming. 

An accident near FM 822 around 12:45 today  involving an 18 wheeler has traffic being routed off of Hwy 59 both northbound and southbound. Fire, EMS and law enforcement personnell are all on scene. More traffic than usual can be expected on feeder roads until the highway is cleared.

    The Thanksgiving holidays bring tasty items to our stomachs in the form of cakes and cookies...but where’s the meat?
    It’s time for the Edna Lions Club Thanksgiving BBQ, and that means hams and turkeys cooked to perfection, so you can spend more time with your loved ones.
    Hams are $60 each and come with a honey brown sugar glaze, and turkeys are $40 each. Or order both for $90. The meat will be cooked on Tuesday, Nov. 22 by Dennis Ray and can be picked up that same day at Dennis Ray Repair, but orders need to be put in before Friday, Nov. 18.
    Call the Jackson County Herald-Tribune to order, 361-782-3547, or call 361-782-2338, or order from any Edna Lions Club member.
    “We do this memory of Wendy Smiga Kirk,” said Marcy Davis, 2016-17 Lion president. “She was a Lion member and we think of her every season at this time.”