People-Henderson County Now

Animals Play An Important Part at Cedar Lake Nursing Home

Ashley Crossland, CNA helps Fella pose for his mug shot.

By Billy Bucher/Guest Columnist for Loretta Humble

You may have seen the videos a few weeks ago of two llamas frolicking madly near a nursing home in Arizona from where they had escaped while visiting to entertain the residents. Watching the police and civilians trying to catch up with the escapees brought many a laugh to viewers of TV and Internet, and reminded some people of the antics of the Keystone Cops from years ago. Finally the pair were gotten under control and, luckily, all ended well.

This got me to thinking about the pleasure animals bring nursing home residents, be they based in the Banfields Aged Care locations or elsewhere. Particularly, I was thinking about Fella, head canine at Cedar Lake Nursing Home in Malakoff where I hang out a lot.
Fella previously lived with his former owner in another nursing home. She had named him Fala after President Franklin Roosevelt’s famous Scottie. When she could no longer care for him her doctor called administrator Sonny Douglas Humble to beg Cedar Lake take him. Sonny and Director of Nurses Jo Sparks agreed it would be a wonderful idea Continue reading “Animals Play An Important Part at Cedar Lake Nursing Home”

Carolyn Ellis, Abstract Artist

((I saw this piece on Facebook and asked if I could share it here. – Ed.)

By Carolyn Ellis

Though we live outside of a town called Kemp (TX – pop. 1,000), most of my artwork and activities are in Athens (TX, pop. 12,000, 45 min. away). As small as Athens is, wealth, culture, and education (Trinity Valley Community College – TVCC) have distinguished Athens for generations, making it much more than the sleepy little East Texas town you’d expect.

TVCC was founded in 1946 when the population of Athens was about 5,000, which surely makes it clear that Athens had a master plan in place even then. I mean who starts up a college in a town of that size! The Henderson County Performing Arts Center (www.hcpac.org) being 50 years old — is a another sign that culture was active in Athens long ago! Continue reading “Carolyn Ellis, Abstract Artist”

DAR Good Citizen Award

Heather Bayless won the Good Citizen Award for her essay that was titled “Our American Heritage and Our Responsibility for Preserving it.”

Heather won first place from the Mabank High School. She was awarded $50 and a DAR Certificate and DAR Pin and flag from Nell Alspaw who is a member of the Sarah Maples Chapter of DAR. Heather is National Honor Society President, DECA President and is a member of Beta Club. She tutors elementary students at the local library. She was a Texas Bluebonnet girls state citizen runner up and Federal Senate Whip. She runs varsity cross country and was 2nd in District and a regional qualifier and newcomer of the year award in 2012 and also plays varsity tennis. Continue reading “DAR Good Citizen Award”

Barrios Is Serious About His Future

By Toni Garrard Clay/AISD Communications Specialist

As the third of five children, Jacob Barrios knows what it’s like to be “at the center of everything that happens.” But for many years, not too many people outside of his family knew him well.

“It wasn’t until the beginning of my junior year that I could really talk to people,” he said. “I got tired of being quiet and sitting in the back of class. I wanted to get to know more people.” So Barrios made a concentrated effort to stretch himself out of his comfort zone.

Today the Athens High School senior is president of the National Honor Society, was selected as student of the month in December, and gets along well with his classmates.

Currently ranked fifth in his class, Barrios will be attending Houston’s Rice University in the fall. In other words, he’s not sitting quietly at the back of the classroom anymore. Continue reading “Barrios Is Serious About His Future”

AHS Senior Delights Staff With Roses

By Toni Garrard Clay/AISD Communications Specialist

Special Education Counselor Stacey Risko was walking through the Athens High School Annex Friday morning when a well-dressed young man approached her. He wanted her to have this, he said, and handed her a long-stemmed rose. The scene was repeated over and over at the annex and main campus as Jose Rodriguez offered stunned female staff members and teachers the touching act of kindness.

“The idea came to me last night after I got off work,” said Rodriguez, a senior. “I wanted to show appreciation to teachers and make someone’s day.” Continue reading “AHS Senior Delights Staff With Roses”