6th Annual National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association Rodeo

TVCC

By Jayson Larson/TVCC Public Information

Trinity Valley Community College welcomes the public to the 6th Annual National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association Rodeo! The rodeo will be held Feb. 7-8.

Performances will begin at 7:30 p.m. each evening at The Henderson County Fair Park Complex with slack beginning at noon Friday and 11 a.m. Saturday. Each night during the rodeo performance, children can compete in a Calf Scramble to win prizes.
All proceeds generated by the rodeo are given back to the students to further their education.

General admission tickets are $5 each and may be purchased in advance at Lone Star Western Wear in Athens, or on the night of the performance at the gate. Free admission will be given for those with a current TVCC ID.

Each NIRA member college has its own club composed of student members and sponsored by a faculty adviser who supervises the club’s activities. Each year, a men’s team consisting of six members and a four-member women’s team is chosen from each school. These team members travel to the regional rodeos competing against other NIRA member schools. Those not chosen for the team may compete on an individual basis and still be eligible for all prizes except those given to the team. The top three contestants in each event from each of the NIRA’s 11 regions qualify to compete in the CNFR. The top two men’s teams and women’s teams also qualify from the regions.
Coming from as far away as Louisiana, the event will feature approximately 400
contestants representing 20 colleges and universities including: Hill College, Southwest Texas Junior College, McNeese State University, Trinity Valley Community College, Northeast Texas Community College, Lone Star Community College – Montgomery, Panola Junior College, Texas A&M University, Sam Houston State University, Stephen F. Austin State University, Texas A&M University – Kingsville, and Wharton County Junior College.

Several local hotels are offering competitive rates for rodeo competitors and families. Please contact the Holiday Inn Express, Best Western Royal Mountain Inn, and Super 8 to learn more. Don’t forget to mention that you’re with the TVCC Rodeo event to receive these special rates.

Our sponsors who make this possible are: Living For The Brand Cowboy Church, Henderson County Farm Bureau, Athens Bank, Kevin Lilly’s McDonalds, Citizens National Bank, Red Line Power Equipment, Best Western Plus, Holiday Inn Express, Super 8, ETMC EMS, Bent Bucket Ministries, Mark Roberts D.D.S., Miars Enterprises LP, Southside Feed, Reynolds New York Store, Mills Feed, First State Bank, Ag Power Inc., KCKL, Whataburger, Texas Farm Credit, Champion Genetics, TVEC, Heritage Land Bank, Tractor Supply, Wal-Mart, Lone Star Western and Casual, Athens Cleaners and Laundry, Prosperity Bank, Henderson Veterinary Clinic, Athens Tractor and Equipment, Athens Equine, Action Cattle Company, Spencer Hardware, East Texas Ag Supply, Athens Lumber and Supply, and Morton Small Animal Clinic.

Rootseekers Elect New Officers

Rootseekers

Rootseekers elected new officers recently. Pictured are, from left, Julie Gustafson-1st VP/Editor; Marian Tillery-Treasurer; Margaret Ann Trail-President; Nina Hendricks-Historian/Public Relations; Carolyn Bostain-Recording/Corresponding Secretary; Diane Reese-2nd VP. Not shown, Frank Stokes-Web Master.

County Schools Earn Comptroller’s Honor

honorsCircleTexas Comptroller Susan Combs recently announced the 2013 Texas Honors Circle. This award recognizes school districts and campuses that have achieved significant student academic growth while keeping spending relatively low.

Campuses honored in Henderson County included:

  • Cross Roads Junior High School
  • Murchison Elementary School

Each Texas public and charter school campus receives a Financial Allocation Study for Texas (FAST) rating from one to five stars. Each campus’s FAST rating is determined by taking the average of the district’s composite academic progress percentile and its spending index. The Texas Honors Circle recognizes campuses that have achieved superior student academic growth while keeping spending low.

To achieve Texas Honors Circle designation, an elementary school must have a five-star FAST rating, while middle and high schools must attain a rating of at least 4.5 stars.

Middle and high schools have a slightly lower threshold because they are less likely than elementary schools to achieve high academic progress scores.

Masonic Youth Rainbow Girls installed new officers

Pictured are, from left, Katie Schaefer, Mrs. Donna Dean (Grand Deputy), Samantha Ramos, Mrs. Rosalie Randall (Worthy Matron, GBC #1114, OES), Michelle Sanderford, Kayla Rife, Shelby McGallian, Tara Trimmins, Kayla Glidewell (Past Grand Service), Lyndey Rushton (Grand Rep. to New Jersey, New York), and Alexis Rushton.
Pictured are, from left, Katie Schaefer, Mrs. Donna Dean (Grand Deputy), Samantha Ramos, Mrs. Rosalie Randall (Worthy Matron, GBC #1114, OES), Michelle Sanderford, Kayla Rife, Shelby McGallian, Tara Trimmins, Kayla Glidewell (Past Grand Service), Lyndey Rushton (Grand Rep. to New Jersey, New York), and Alexis Rushton.

Rainbow Girls press release

The Gun Barrel City Masonic Youth Rainbow Girls installed new officers on Jan. 25. Shelby McGallian was installed as Worthy Advisor, and the theme for her term is “Phantom of the Opera.” Her motto is “Love Despite Looks;” colors are red, black, and white; flower, the red rose; song, “All I Ask of You;” emblem, phantom mask; and her scripture is “Man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”–1 Samuel 16:7.

Michelle Sanderford advanced to the office of Charity, Tara Trimmins to Hope, and Kayla Rife was elected to the office of Faith. Katie Schaefer, Emily Currey, and Samantha Ramos were respectively appointed to offices of Love (red), Religion (orange), and Fidelity (blue), corresponding to colors of the Rainbow. Mrs. Tonya Currey serves as Mother Advisor. Mr. George Heitman was appointed as Rainbow Dad. All the girls received awards recognizing their service hours, memory work, and some perfect attendance. It was a lovely Installation Ceremony that was preceded by a delicious Mexican dinner and red velvet cupcakes. The Banquet Hall was decorated in black, red, and light gray table covers, diamond jewels, phantom masks, and red roses.

The International Order of the Rainbow for Girls is a service-oriented, leadership organization for girls between the ages of 11 and 20. Rainbow Girls participate in a wide array of activities, including leadership training, service projects, competitions, and annual retreats. Their younger group, the Pledges, have activities for girls ages 8 to 10. Please contact Mrs. Tonya Currey at 903-920-5608 or Mrs. Donna Dean at 903-345-2001 for more information about the Rainbow Girls or visit www.txiorg.org.

Obituary: Jimmy Barnett

Jimmy Barnett
Jimmy Barnett

Graveside services for Jimmy Barnett, 58, of Poynor, Texas are scheduled for 2 p.m. Sunday, January 26, 2014 at the Poynor Cemetery.

Mr. Barnett passed away Thursday, January 23, 2014 in Tyler, Texas.

Jimmy Ray Barnett was born January 11, 1956 in Knoxville, Tennessee to Freddy Yates Barnett and Oleva Pauline Humphrey Barnett. Jimmy is an avid guitar player and loved teaching people of all ages his art. He also was an accomplished guitar and amp builder who specialized in making cigar box guitars. He loved animals especially his dogs Coalie and Cotton. Jimmy was a loving father and brother who will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

Jimmy was preceded in death by his parents.

He is survived by his daughter, Adriene Barnett of Knoxville, Tennessee; one sister, Robin Claytor and husband Chris of Frankston, Texas; one brother, Mike Barnett and wife Janie of Spring Hill, Florida; 3 step-sisters, Sheri Welsh of Knoxville, Tennessee, Karen Jackson of New Market, Tennessee, and Debra Tindell of Knoxville, Tennessee.

Visitation will be held Saturday, January 25, 2014 from 6-8 p.m.. at the Hannigan Smith Funeral Home in Athens, Texas.

Services were entrusted to the Hannigan Smith Funeral Home Family.