People-Henderson County Now

Around the Town: A Nasty Knot for Thanksgiving

By Loretta Humble

If this column doesn’t make much sense, I’ll admit it won’t be the first one. But this time I have an excuse: I just got a big knot on my head. I mean, I saw white light and heard strange noises. I don’t know if I was headed for the light, but if I was, they didn’t take me in. I woke up in about a second. I did get a lot of attention out of it, as I did it right in the front parking lot of Cedar Lake Nursing Home. Actually it was kind of spectacular, as I fell flat on my back, on the concrete, and just lay there for a minute before I was discovered.

I had my hands full with two plates of scraps for my dogs, and I was trying to open the very back door of my old SUV without putting them down. I just lost my balance and went down. Of course, if you are going to hurt yourself, the nursing home is a good place to do it. I was soon surrounded by nurses, who took good care of me and wouldn’t let me move around until they had watched me for a long time. That was yesterday afternoon. This morning my knot is gone, and I think I’m as good as new, but now I have to write a column quick, so this did at least help me fill a couple of paragraphs. Continue reading “Around the Town: A Nasty Knot for Thanksgiving”

Athens Brothers Bring Out Best in Each Other in Air Force

Air Force Senior Airman Juan Antonio, left, is stationed with his brother, Air Force Airman 1st Class Antonio Antonio, at Langley Air Force Base, Va. Both brothers earned early promotion to senior airman. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Natasha Stannard)

By Air Force Staff Sgt. Natasha Stannard/633rd Air Base Wing

JOINT BASE LANGLEY EUSTIS, Va., Nov. 24, 2014 – Growing up in Athens, Texas, in a single-income home didn’t leave Juan Antonio and his brother, Antonio Antonio, much to fall back on, but they never dwelled on what they didn’t have. They just did the best with what they had, which was each other.

“There have been many things that we have been through [that] not many others experience, but no matter what the struggle was, we overcame it,” Juan said.

They overcame difficulties not only by sticking together, but also by setting goals and helping each other achieve them. Continue reading “Athens Brothers Bring Out Best in Each Other in Air Force”

Triplets Delivery at ETMC Athens Goes ‘Smooth As Silk’

Anna Martinez-Espinoza with her babies (from left) Sol, Pablo and Astrella.

By Toni Garrard Clay

Anna Martinez-Espinoza and her husband, Pablo Espinoza, were surprised when they found out they had twins on the way, although they probably shouldn’t have been. Both have a set of twins in their family a generation back. Then about two months before delivery came the news that they were not having twins after all. They were having triplets.

“When they told me, I said, ‘Get my husband,’” said Martinez-Espinoza. “I was happy when I found out and surprised. I never imagined I was going to have twins … or triplets.” Martinez-Espinoza did not use any type of fertility drug, which increases the chances of multiple births.

A C-section was scheduled for Martinez-Espinoza this past Monday morning. ETMC Athens and a team of doctors and nurses prepared to the last detail for the procedure — including having a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) team on hand from Methodist Hospital of Dallas should critical care be needed. Continue reading “Triplets Delivery at ETMC Athens Goes ‘Smooth As Silk’”

Larson Overall Winner at Lady Cards Run for Funds

Kennedy Larson, a 12-year-old seventh-grader at Brownsboro Junior High, was the overall winner at the Trinity Valley Community College Run for Funds 5K held Saturday, Oct. 25, at the Cain Center in Athens. Members of the three-time-defending national champion Lady Cardinals basketball team were on hand for the event, as well as other supporters and runners. Sponsors of the event were Athens Screen Printing; Qdoba Mexican Grill; Kevin Lilly’s McDonald’s; Taco Shop; Mark A. Roberts, D.D.S.; Wade’s Place in Chandler; Henderson County Now; Edward Jones Investments – Tony Kalawe; Best Western Plus; Dr. Francine McCain, M.D. (Athens Women’s and Children’s Center); and Max Smith. (Courtesy Photo)

Teachers Dress Up to Read to Students

First-grade teachers at Bel Air Elementary dressed up as storybook characters Thursday to read to their students. Pictured are (from left) Sara Chamblee as Snow White, Heather Davis as The Very Brave Witch, Antonia Moreno as the Queen of Hearts, Maria Contreras as Pinkalicious, Chrystal Smith as Junie B. Jones, Jodi Padgett as Thing 1, Adonica Smith as the Cat in the Hat, and Rebecca Hall as Thing 2. Teachers at both Bel Air and South Athens elementaries transform themselves into storybook characters this time of year to encourage reading. (Toni Garrard Clay/AISD)