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Around Malakoff: Two wonderful things

Loretta Humble at the Clothesline Project.

By Loretta Humble/Special to HCN

I was fortunate to be in the midst of two wonderful things this week, both of which are certainly worth telling you about. I just don’t know how to do either of them well — how to use the little space I have here, and my own limited knowledge of either to do them justice. All I can hope to do is to make you want to know more about one or both of them.

The thing they have in common is art, and love, and the human spirit reaching out to do good, and to remember those who have gone.

First, I was fortunate that Jo Ann Surls gave me a little job to do on the day the new sculptures were being set up at the Joe Surls Memorial Sculpture Garden. If anybody still doesn’t know the story, Jo Ann and her husband Joe lived very happily on this beautiful place for many years, where they created magnificent natural-looking gardens, and Joe’s son, the world-famous sculptor James Surls, placed numerous sculptures throughout the house and grounds. Besides being a superb gardener, Jo Ann is also a lover of history, filling every nook and cranny with wonderful old and unique things. After Joe’s death, Jo Ann, with James’s help, came up with the idea of a way to memorialize Joe and preserve and share the exceptional treasure they built there. Jo Ann has created a foundation which will support the Gardens long after she has gone to meet Joe, and James has contributed more of his art, plus helped to create a program that brings excellent new sculptures to the Gardens every year.

The new arrivals are here in time for the Sculpture Garden Tour put on by the Greater Malakoff Area Garden Club, which hopes to make some money to restore the historic Bartlett House grounds in Malakoff.

I got to eat lunch with the artists, who are outstanding people, but I spent most of my day in the house doing my assigned job, so I’ll let somebody else tell you about the fantastic art, or you can come see it yourself on the Garden Tour April 27-28.

The next day I went to take pictures of the Abuse Awareness Event at the Henderson County Courthouse. I am a new board member to the Family Peace Project, which is one of many organizations in Henderson County formed to protect and serve victims of abuse. I knew there were other groups, but I didn’t realize just how many people are quietly going about the job of helping. And I don’t think I really realized how much abuse goes on. The Clothesline Project brought that home to me in a new way. Strung out in rows and rows of clothesline were decorated t-shirts, every one signifying a victim or survivor of some kind of abuse. The white ones were created by loved ones of those who had died through abuse, and the various colors represented different kinds of abuse, created by survivors of that abuse.

Marlena Taylor, who is the exceptional woman who heads Family Peace Project, told me she has three t-shirts hanging there. I didn’t understand at first. She explained she has three t-shirts there to signify the three kinds of abuse she herself has experienced in her own life. Though she has been serving other abuse victims for years, she is just now starting to get past the shame to admitting it happened to her too.

There is a lot of ugliness in this world. I just hate to imagine anybody being bad to the beautiful person Marlena is, but that kind of thing happens all the time. The wonderful thing is, people are out there trying to help, and people can overcome the ugliness and create beauty and good lives.

I saw a lot of beauty and good lives this week. I wish I could do a better job of telling you about it.

Help me Walk a Mile in Her Shoes

By Michael V. Hannigan

That will be me in the photo on June 1 …. the shoes, not the tattoo.

I have signed up for the Henderson County Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event, which is an “opportunity for men to raise awareness in their community about the serious causes, effects and remediations to sexualized violence.” … we will be doing four laps around the county courthouse.

The event will raise money for the East Texas Crisis Center, a wonderful organization in our area on the front lines helping the victims of abuse.

I know many of you don’t have a lot of extra money laying around — who does — but if you can spare $1, $5 or $10, it would really go a long way toward a very good cause.

If you can help, send a check to Walk a Mile, C/O Weinstein Law, 518 East Tyler Street, Athens, Texas 75751 (that’s my office). … If you want, you can even give Jasmine a call at 903-677-5333 to let her know a donation is coming.

Make checks payable to the East Texas Crisis Center.

If you are a man who would like to join the walk, call the East Texas Crisis Center at 903-675-2137.

Thank you so much for helping me to do at least a little bit to try and stop a big problem.

Henderson County marks Child Abuse Awareness, Sexual Assault Awareness month

By mvhannigan

April is Child Abuse Awareness and Sexual Assault Awareness month in Texas and, as is the custom in Henderson County, time for the people who fight against the violent scourge to come together.

They did that on the courthouse lawn Tuesday afternoon — law enforcement, advocates, volunteers, victims and their families — for a proclamation reading.

A visual reminder of the problem was provided by the blue and teal ribbons worn by everyone, and by the Clothesline Project, hanging t-shirts that represent victims of domestic violence.

“Every year that T-Shirt Project grows larger and larger,” said East Texas Crisis Center Director of Outreach Donna Johnson, “and I like to think it is not necessarily because we have more victims, but because more survivors are coming forward and telling their stories.”

Getting the victims to come forward is no easy task. Johnson said it was recently reported that just 18 percent of sexual assaults are reported.

“That leaves 80 percent of offenders that are never detected,” Johnson said. “Those are staggering numbers.”

Even with just one-fifth of assaults reported, Texas still handled more than 19,000 cases in 2011.

The East Texas Crisis Center, with the help of a sexual assault lawyer, has already helped 15 victims of sexual assault in just the first three months of 2013.

Elvis Allen of CASA of Trinity Valley said there were 161 confirmed cases of child abuse in Henderson County. Nearly half of those ended up in foster care.

“Unfortunately, we see these kids on almost a daily basis,” he said.

In 2012 CASA of Trinity Valley advocated for 245 children in foster care — and nearly half of those were under the age of 5.

“Our most youngest and vulnerable citizens,” he said.

“Let us all as citizens commit to making our county a safe and nurturing place for our children to grow and prosper,” he said.

See more photos from the event here.

Go Blue T-shirts

The District Attorney’s Office, County Attorney’s Office, Sheriff’s Office and Child Advocacy Center are promoting the Go Blue t-shirt campaign for the fifth straight year.

Henderson County teachers in grades 5 and lower receive free blue ribbon t-shirts, because teachers are the frontline of defense against child abuse.

The shirts are also for sale to the public for $10, with extra large sizes $13.

This year’s campaign is: “Have a heart, do your part; Prevent child abuse.”

Proceeds from the sale of the shirts help fund a fourth-grade poster contest for Henderson County schools, which is designed to educate and raise awareness and child abuse prevention.

Tuesday, April 30, will be Go Blue Day in Henderson County.

“We are rallying the community to stand together and help us turn Henderson County blue to show support,” said DeAnna Browning, crime victims coordinator at the District Attorney’s Office. “We are asking for citizens to encourage their family, friends, and co-workers not only to wear blue but to purchase a 2013 Go Blue t-shirt to help us end child abuse and neglect.”

The Go Blue t-shirts can be purchase at Island Tans in Athens or through Betty Herriage and DeAnna Browning with the Henderson County District Attrney’s Office at 903-675-6100 (ext. 6).

CASA Superhero Run

The annual CASA of Trinity Valley Superhero 5K run will be held Saturday, April 20, at the Cain Center.

The event includes a 5K race, child’s 1K race/walk and an adult 1K fun walk. Registration opens at 7 a.m. and races beginning at 8 a.m.

You can also register here.

T-shirts will be given to the first 300 registrants. Also the 4th Annual Kids Day, sponsored by Henderson County District Attorney’s Office and the Henderson County Attorney’s Office, will be provided as wrap around activities for the races. The local Athens Police Department will be fingerprinting and photographing kids for a permanent ID. There will be lots of activities for kids and everyone is encouraged to wear their superhero costumes to the races.

TVCC Sports Notes: Time to celebrate No. 7

By Michael V. Hannigan

The official college/community celebration of the Lady Cardinals’ seventh NJCAA championship is scheduled tonight. #CELEBRATING7 is set to begin at 6 p.m. at Cardinal Gym.

Scheduled speakers are Henderson County Judge Richard Sanders, TVCC President Dr. Glendon Forgey, TVCC Athletic Director Brad Smiley, Coach Elena Lovato and Lady Cardinal sophomores Victoria Wells, Savannah Carter, Shannon Smith and Krystle Henderson.

There will also be performances by Cardinal Cheerleaders, Cardette Showgirls and the Cardinal Regiment Pep Band.

After the ceremony, the Lady Cardinals will sign posters for fans and be available for photos.

The public is invited to attend.

The event will also be webcast by the Cardinal Sports Network at www.tvcc.edu

SOFTBALL

The Lady Cardinals will join the fight against cancer Saturday with the annual Strikeout Cancer doubleheader at Cain Park. They face Kilgore at 1 and 3 p.m.

Concessions will be available. There will also be a raffle for softball items and a pink acknowledgement banner for fans to sign after making a donation.

Pink Strikeout Cancer T-shirts will also be available for $10.

The Lady Cardinals would like to recognize cancer survivors at the game. Cancer survivors planning to attend the game should contact Lucy Strom at 903-675-6359.

The Lady Cardinals are 23-16 on the year and 3-3 in conference play.

AMA: Questions about Loop 7; US 175

By mvhannigan

AMA stands for “Ask Michael Anything,” and is a chance for readers to ask reporter Michael V. Hannigan questions about Henderson County. Ask questions through our Facebook Page or our website.

QUESTION: When I mentioned AMA on our Facebook Page last week, I received several questions about TxDOT projects.

Amy Dredla would like to know if there’s anything in the plans for the intersection of Loop 7 and FM 1616, which locals know is very dangerous. “I have seen Loop traffic (on several occasions) actual come to a complete stop, obviously confused by the overwhelming intersection. Those of us who live in the area know to be cautious. It is the new drivers, and the visitors that I am concerned about,” she said.

Gage Guinn would like to know the status of the widening of Highway 175 between Poynor and Baxter.

SOURCES: Texas Department of Transportation Public Information Officer Larry Krantz, who works out of the Tyler District Office.

ANSWER: I don’t think either Amy or Gage is going to like the answers.

Amy: Sorry, there aren’t any plans at this time for that intersection.

“We were looking at building an overpass there about seven years ago, but it never moved forward,” Larry said.

Gage: Apparently the widening of US 175 is still in the plans … there’s just no money for the project. That plan is part of the Texas Trunk System series of projects, and funding for that has dried up.

Larry said TxDOT continues to do things like purchase right-of-way and continue planning so that the project is “shovel ready” if the money is ever appropriated.

“We’re ready to move forward if funding ever materializes,” he said. “We’re hopeful it will be funded sooner rather than later, but there is no money for it right now.”