Shepherd Chamber of Commerce
Shepherd Chamber of Commerce
16 N. Liberty St, Shepherd, TX 77371
210-995-7420
Old Folks Home! The nurse blows a whistle to keep them in line!
Kathy Cramer talks about after the family gathering
Did You Know?
by Yvonne Cones
This has been a memorable week in many ways. The news that Dolly Parton had passed away was a huge shock. I have written before about her philanthropic work, one of which is the Dolly Parton Imagination Library. Since Coldspring Library started this program in our county about 4 years ago, many parents have enrolled their babies. From 0 years to 5 years old, children receive a free book every month. Dolly's father never learned to read and this is her legacy to him. He was a hard working man with a large family living in poverty and she determined to give back from her wealth to help others using this program.
Shepherd Library partnered with Coldspring in this endeavor and from an initial 18 children there are now nearly 200 registered ! Some have moved on after they reach 5 years old but they have a grounding in books and reading for themselves by then. Anyone may donate to this cause. Call your library to know more.
Coldspring Library are now selling tickets to the 'Murder Mystery Dinner' on October 3 at the Community Shelter in Coldspring. Tickets are $70 each, which includes a wonderful dinner by Mary Gray Catering and the show. Actors move among the guests to create the 'cast' for the murder mystery. This is a lot of fun and very cleverly done by the actors. There will be a raffle and dressing up from a particular decade is suggested. You can be a 'flapper' or ' a Victorian lady or gentleman' or whatever you decide suits you!
Shepherd Library will host a 'Trivia Day' on October 24 at the Coldspring Methodist Fellowship Hall. This will be a lunchtime event with food served. More information on this soon about tickets etc.
Many family and friends enjoyed a wonderful party celebrating Wanda Gardner's 90th birthday! Held in the Texas Grill in Coldspring, in the private room, it was a most warm, loving and happy occasion. Wanda is well named as she is a past President of Coldspring Garden Club and very involved with it still. The first meeting will be Thursday September 3, at 1.30PM in the Community Center, Members are asked to bring a plant to play 'Flower Bingo' after the business meeting. Refreshments will be available.
Last week the City of Shepherd held the 'Ballot Draw' which gives the order of names on the ballot for those who have put their names forward for a place on the City Council. Sometimes there are several people vying for a place and the place on the ballot may help those who come out first. This time there are two candidates for the position of Mayor. Incumbent Charles Minton is first on the Ballot with William LaCoste second. Only one person is on the ballot for Council person, Yvonne Cones. Yes, that's me. I have been on the council for a long time now! City Secretary Debra Hagler invited the new SISD Superintendent Dr. Todd Davis to draw the names from the pot . It was a good way to meet him.
Later in the week I visited Dr Davis again to talk about the Christmas event that Shepherd Chamber and Shepherd Schools put on. He graciously said he would visit the Chamber at our next meeting.
Last but not least is the Senior Citizens' Small Town, Big Talent Show' held in Coldspring Senior Center on Saturday. This was a sold out show! Dinner was served before the show began and Linda Almaguer was the Mistress of Ceremonies keeping the crowd entertained while the different acts were getting set up behind the curtains. Administrator Charline Smith welcomed everyone and the program was a wonderful collection of talent with skits, singing, and some dancing too! Charline did her Patsy Cline number where she produced an incredible amount of items from her dress. The two largest groups on stage where the 'Old Folks Home' and 'Tina Turner & The Ikettes.' Diane Clevenger was the nurse in the Old Folks skit and Judi Benestante was Tina with the dancing 'Ikettes' performing behind her. Both were hilarious as were the whole group.
Singing included 'Sentimental Journey', an excellent group accompanied by Jo Clarady on the piano. Sandra Schultz sang 'Crazy', Gregg Cones sang 'A Song For You', Roger Samoff sang 'Peacespeaker' and Ken Janik sang 'Cold, Cold Heart.' It was a great night, lots of laughter at the skits, appreciation for the singers and all the effort put into the show. The whole show was recorded by our local TV station. San Jacinto County TV & News, which will post it in the next day or so on YouTube.
During the intermission, Cathy Wagner of the Coldspring-Oakhurst CISD Education Foundation spoke about the fund raiser currently being held. This Fundraiser Raffle benefiting Teacher Grants is for a 7-Day Caribbean Cruise for 2 on the Norwegian Viva. Tickets are $20 each, the draw will be on October 30, 2026, the cruise will be for March 20- March 27, 2027. This incredible raffle includes a Balcony Cabin, all inclusive drinks, Wi-FI, gratuities, insurance and more. It will visit Cozumel, Roatan, Belize and Costa Maya. Tickets can be purchased at El Taquito, People's State Bank Coldspring ISD Administration Office and at some football games. You can go to linktr.ee/COCISDEF. What a great prize!
Coldspring Chamber of Commerce
31 N. Butler St., Coldspring, TX 77331
936-653-2184
Tina and her lkettes 'rolling down the river!"
Wanda Gardner at her 90th Birthday Party at Texas Grill, about to cut her cake. Happy Birthday, Wanda!.
Charline as Patsy Cline - "I've Got Your Records ... she's got you!"
Beverly Murphre beside Dolly, Barbara Ponter with Marsha Brown behind her. We are all at Coldspring Library.