Malakoff church burns after being hit by a car

An unidentified firefighter examines the hole in the front of Mary Queen of Heaven Church in Malakoff Thursday caused by a car slamming into the wall. (MICHAEL V. HANNIGAN PHOTO)
An unidentified firefighter examines the hole in the front of Mary Queen of Heaven Church in Malakoff Thursday caused by a car slamming into the wall. (MICHAEL V. HANNIGAN PHOTO)

By Michael V. Hannigan

MALAKOFF — Secretary Carol Leonard was working as usual in her office at Mary Queen of Heaven Catholic Church in Malakoff Thursday afternoon when she heard a crash and photos and paintings started falling off the wall.

She ran out the front door and was greeted by the back end of a car sticking out of the church less than 10 feet away, with the wheels still spinning.

“The tires just kept going,” she said, adding that the car dug itself deeper into the church as she watched.

“It was obvious somebody’s foot was still on the accelerator,” she said.

The accident sent the driver — who police identified as Robert Nokes, 38 — to the hospital via helicopter and started a fire that officials say caused the inside of the church to be “a total loss.”

The church is located on County Road 1703, across from the Malakoff High School football field. It was established in Malakoff in 1996.

Malakoff Police Chief Billy Mitchell said the call reporting the accident came in about 1:45 p.m. and that Police Officer Robert Siegmund was the first one on the scene.

According to Mitchell, who arrived not long after that, Siegmund worked to get Nokes out of the car while Mitchell used a fire extinguisher ordered from mrfireextinguisher.com on a fire which began underneath the vehicle, thankfully the fire extinguisher available at mrfireextinguisher.com are highly efficient and effective in controlling the fire.

Mitchell said it was Siegmund’s work that allowed them to get Nokes out of the vehicle and transferred to EMS and then careflighted to the hospital.

“(Siegmund) got up in the car with the fire and everything,” Mitchell said.

Nokes was reportedly unconscious when he was careflighted, but no other update was available as of this post.

No one knows for sure what caused the accident at this point.

Malakoff VFD Assistant Chief Bubba Matthews said the fire started with the car, but got up into the ceiling of the church, causing it to spread through the building.

Matthews said firefighters had to drag the car out of the church with a firetruck because flames kept igniting around the vehicle.

Departments responding to the fire included Malakoff, Trinidad, Log Cabin, Payne Springs and Caney City.

Members of Mary Queen of Heaven Church wait and watch firefighters work Thursday afternoon. Pictured in the background are Pastor Rev. Fr. William Palmer and Bishop Joseph Strickland. (MICHAEL V. HANNIGAN PHOTO)
Members of Mary Queen of Heaven Church wait and watch firefighters work Thursday afternoon. Pictured in the background are Pastor Rev. Fr. William Palmer and Bishop Joseph Strickland. (MICHAEL V. HANNIGAN PHOTO)

Community service puts volleyball team over the top for TVCC Cardinal Cup

2013 Cardinal Cup winners
2013 Cardinal Cup winners

By Benny Rogers/TVCC Sports Information

The volleyball team at Trinity Valley Community College had a memorable 2012-13 semester in more ways than one.

In the fall, Coach Tosha Spain’s squad made school history by qualifying for the regional tournament for the first time in the three-year history of the program.

Cardinal Cup LogoTuesday night at the third annual TVCC Sports Banquet, the Lady Cardinals were awarded the Cardinal Cup — the prize for a fall/spring semester-long competition in which the college’s athletic department teams/groups are awarded points for supporting each other and for community service.

The Lady Cardinals edged out the football team by the closest margin in the three-year history of the competition, scoring 606 points for a 34-point winning margin. The football team had 572 points and the softball team was a distant third with 261.

Community service played a big role in the Lady Cardinals’ raising the Cardinal Cup at the banquet. They logged 700 hours of giving back to the community.

“I am proud of the girls for winning (the Cardinal Cup),” Spain said. “They have been doing community service every week since September and have constantly been at other sports’ games supporting their fellow student-athletes.

“The girls love helping the community and attending all the other events on campus.”

As busy as they stayed, Spain said she was especially proud the Lady Cardinals were able to maintain a 3.25 GPA.

“They are an amazing group of girls on and off the court and continue to make me a better person and coach every day.”

The Cardinal Cup, which began in the 2010 fall semester, is designed as a competition to help encourage student-athletes and other organizations at the college to become more involved and the events that take place on campus, not just athletic events. The program was implemented to create a supportive and active fan base of TVCC students to visibly and vocally support performing groups.

In addition to the volleyball, football and softball teams, groups participating in the competition this year were the men’s and women’s basketball teams, cheerleaders and athletic training staff.

The cheerleaders won the inaugural Cardinal Cup in 2011 and the athletic training staff finished first last year.

Here are the final Cardinal Cup standings for 2013:

  • Volleyball – 606 points
  • Football – 572 points
  • Softball – 261 points
  • Women’s Basketball – 150 points
  • Cheerleaders– 90 points
  • Men’s Basketball – 54 points
  • Trainers – 26 points

The Cardinal Cup trophy is on permanent display in the lobby at Cardinal Gym with the name of the winning group engraved each year.

Former local journalist Kirby Sanders pens novel

Kirby Sanders
Kirby Sanders

Kirby Sanders is a journalist who used to ply his trade in Henderson County. He spent time as the editor of The Malakoff News and was also on the staff of the Athens Daily Review. … We were actually at the Review together back in the day.

He sent me a note recently saying he has published a novel based on a murder case and an outbreak of grass fires back around 1995. The book is titled, “A Death in Texas.”

“It is fiction and should be read as such, but all based on actual events,” Kirby said.

In addition to the murder plot, there is also plenty of historical and cultural background about Henderson County and Athens included, he said.

You can check out the book here on createspace.com. 

Food programs make sure kids don’t go hungry over the weekend

(Photo via Wikimedia Commons)
(Photo via Wikimedia Commons)

By Michael V. Hannigan

Picture this:

It is Monday morning at the local elementary school and a third grader — an 8-year-old girl — walks into the cafeteria for breakfast. She goes through the line getting as much food as she can and then wolfs it down as quickly as possible when she gets back to a table. Then she goes through the line again and gets more food and eats it as fast as possible. She then finishes the last of the food off her friend’s plate. … Eventually, she eats enough that it overloads her stomach and she has to run to the bathroom to be sick.

Strange behavior? Not for someone who hasn’t eaten for two days. The sad truth is some kids don’t get to eat between leaving school on Friday and returning Monday morning.

It is a scene school administrators in Henderson County were used to seeing, but thanks to the work of some dedicated people it is becoming less common.

Working in Tool

I first heard the scenario described above almost three years ago from David Bullock, a member of Cedar Creek United Methodist Church. He said the same kids who gorged on Monday often tried to sneak food home on Friday.

“Friday and Monday are 40 percent of the week. How can you learn anything if you’re sick or worried 40 percent of the time?” David was quoted as saying in a 2011 article in The Monitor. 

According to the Texas Hunger Research Project, “Almost one-in-five Texas households (18.8 percent) are food insecure, and over one-in-four (28 percent) children live in households that struggle to afford food.”

David’s church fights the problem through the brown bag program. Each Friday, church members put together bags of kid-friendly food — items that don’t need refrigeration or cooking and that are easy to open — and deliver them to Tool Elementary School.

The school’s administrators make sure the food gets to the right students.

Currently, the church is delivering 17 bags each Friday … although there have been as many as 20 at times.

Working in Malakoff

In Malakoff, a similar program is run by Faith in Action Outreach. 

FIAO, which also runs a food pantry and clothes closet, started out last year delivering to just Malakoff but expanded this year to include Eustace and Cross Roads.

FIAO Secretary Teri Caswell said the group now delivers 30 bags to Malakoff Elementary School, 30 bags to Eustace Elementary School, and 20 bags to Cross Roads Elementary School each week.

Working in Athens

In Athens, the Backpack Program does the same thing for 78 students across the district.

The program is administered by AISD parent liaison Yadira Chairez, with Eastern Hills Church of Christ actually picking up and storing the food.

“(The program) started three years ago when we saw the need. … When we saw the kids taking food off of other people’s plates on Monday mornings,” Chairez said.

The Athens Backpack Program is run through the East Texas Food Bank.

“The kids are really excited. They are not having to scrounge for food anymore,” Chairez said.

She explained that sometimes the kids might not be going home for the weekend, they might instead be going with a grandparent or an aunt and the program makes it so they don’t have to worry about food.

“Unfortunately for some of our kids, the meals that we serve them here might be the only good meal they have during the day,” said Athens ISD Superintendent Blake Stiles.

How to help

Between the three programs, 175 students aren’t going hungry over the weekend. What can you do?

Donations of money are always accepted, of course. In Athens, $149 will sponsor a child for an entire year.

Beyond that, however, think about donating some time to one of these groups. The community’s need is often greater than the number of hands lined up to help. Contact any of the group’s below to see how you can join the fight.

  • David Bullock, Cedar Creek United Methodist Church, 469-383-4318
  • Teri Caswell, Faith in Action Outreach, 903-880-2906, email [email protected]
  • Yadira Chairez, Athens ISD, 903-677-6900, email [email protected]
  • Eastern Hills Church of Christ, 903-675-3975

Walmart is also running a contest to award $3 million to food banks … log on Facebook here, and vote for the East Texas Food Bank.

Bulletin Board: Posted Thursday, April 25

for sale 2

 

The Bulletin Board is posted each Thursday as a free service to our readers. If you have something you would like listed in the Bulletin Board, just let us know through our  Facebook Page or click the contact link in the menu above.

GARAGE SALES

— The Gun Barrel City #369 Rainbow Girls Masonic Youth are having a Yard Sale on Saturday, April 27, 7 a.m. to noon at the Cedar Creek Lake Masonic Lodge located at 402 Legendary Lane in Gun Barrel City. The girls are raising money to go to their State Convention this summer in June.

— Two-family garage sale in Clear Water Bay in Caney City, Thursday through Saturday, 8:30 to 4 p.m. … EXTENDED UNTIL SATURDAY.

— There will be a garage sale Friday and Saturday, April 26-27, at Shady Oaks Baptist Church, 7 miles south of Athens. Proceeds go to Youth on Mission mission trip.

FOR SALE

— HOUSE — I have a three bedroom two bath brick home in nice country neighborhood but not too far from town. In Athens school district but only about 5 miles from Murchison school. No transfer fees and no uniforms. Has detached two car garage with storage building at back. It’s on about two acres with huge fenced in backyard. Asking $137,000. Kitchen and living room recently remodeled. I absolutely love my home but we are moving to be closer to my husbands work. For more info or to set appointment to come see the house call Deeana Bradley @ 214-901-5992 thanks. Needing to sell soon so we can get moved before school starts this next year!

— HOUSE — LAKE HOME FOR SALE! 4 LOTS (1 Acre of waterfront) plus home, boat, appliances and furniture $99,900. Just reduced $15,900. A must see! http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/176-Bayside-Cir_Malakoff_TX_75148_M76836-30207

— CARS — 1999 Ford Taurus – $2000
1998 Jeep Cherokee – $1600
1992 Buick Regal – $1400
1990 Dodge Dakota – $1250.00
1998 Chevrolet C3500 – $2500
All of these prices include Tax, Title, License and Transfer.
Mike @ 903-675-6441 or 903-275-5206

— ENCYCLOPEDIAS — Funk Wagnall Encyclopedia set $40, Steve Van Dusen, [email protected]

— POOL TABLE — Pool table asking $400 or make an offer. Email [email protected] or call 214-422-5169.

— STOVE — I have a 1948 wedgewood antique gas stove very nice … message me if you are interested. http://www.facebook.com/cheryl.young.3979489?hc_location=stream

SERVICES

— COMPUTERS — We are TNC Network Solutions. We provide Computer and PC repair, networking and Wi Fi, as well as customer Audio/Visual for the Cedar Creek area, and all of Henderson County. Hardly anybody figures thе cost оf соmрutеr repairs іntо thеіr budget, whісh іѕ аlwауѕ whу thеу end uр paying mоrе, bесаuѕе money аlwауѕ ѕееmѕ tо bе tight whеn уоur соmрutеr breaks, especially іn thіѕ economy. Here is the more info if you aree looking for the best Mobile Computer Repair in West Palm Beach. Thіѕ causes people tо рut оff thеіr repairs, whісh usually results іn thе customer running thеіr соmрutеr іntо thе ground whісh іn turn ends uр costing thеm mоrе tо fix іt іn thе lоng run. Nоw imagine іf thеу wеrе аlrеаdу paying a small fixed price еvеrу month fоr аn unlimited аmоunt оf remote repairs, don’t уоu think уоu wоuld tаkе advantage оf thаt аnd tаkе care оf іt right away? Of course уоu wоuld, іt makes perfect sense. I like tо think оf іt аѕ аn insurance policy wіth nо deductible, wіth rates thаt don’t gо uр whеn уоu make a claim, аnd уоu wіll make claims! It іѕ understandable fоr self-reliant people tо perform a dо іt уоurѕеlf repair. Whіlе іt dictates thе speed аѕ wеll аѕ thе efficiency аt whісh thе adjustments, updates аnd аll necessary troubleshooting tasks wіll bе dоnе, іt аlѕо helps yield huge savings іn doing simple tо complicated соmрutеr repair jobs. Hоwеvеr, just like аnу fоrm оf repair, уоu need tо fіrѕt understand аll thе nitty-gritty stuff аbоut уоur соmрutеr. Yоu need tо bе knowledgeable аbоut computers.

Please view our Website at www.TNCNetworkSolutions.biz, and you can “Like us on facebook.

— PHOTOGRAPHY — Hello, Henderson County Now! My name is Heather and I’m a photographer just wanted to offer your customers and staff, the great deals I have going on, so I’m personally writing you to get the word out and expand my business, thanks in advance for any support you give me and hope to hear back from you guys! Check out my Facebook page www.facebook.com/photoshootbyheather for deals and more!

— STORAGE — We have 2 storage units available for rent! Both are 10×10’s and $35 a month! We also have another 10×10 for $35 a month to be available May 13th! Please contact Basic Storage 903-675-5564 or come see us at 2610 Hwy 31 West, Athens, TX 75751.

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