Features
Bee Cab: at your service
By Lindsey Shaffer
3-2014
Karl Kreindl comes across as a 50-something-year-old, with an old soul with a youthful smile, and a thousand stories hiding behind his kind eyes.
One would never guess that Kreindl, who is actually 73, has been in the transportation field most of his life, retiring just last year from a 35-year trucking career.
Kreindl moved from the country of Austria, where he was born, to Canada, accompanied by an uncle.
With high hopes of becoming a professional truck driver, Kreindl got a job with large construction company on Vancouver Island.
He met his wife, Sheena, in Canada. The two have been married for 35 years.
Armed with two cars each, Kreindl and his wife began multiple cab services during their time in Canada.
“I started three cab companies in Canada; in Calgary, Toronto and Victoria, British Columbia,” he said. Kreindl raved about the success of his cab companies. “Cabs in Canada are big money, like New York,” he said.
He credits his supportive wife for much of their success. “I couldn’t have done it without her help.”
After 15 years of working as a truck driver and running cab companies in Canada, Kreindl moved to the U.S., along with his wife and their 5-year-old son, Scott.
Kreindl worked for 20 more years as a truck driver before finally retiring, just a year ago.
After 35 years, and hundreds of thousands of miles, Kreindl boasts a clean driving record. “No accidents and no tickets,” he said proudly, “I retired undefeated!”
Sheena, Kreindl’s wife, accepted a job offer in Kenedy two years ago, and the family moved once again. “Sheena is an RN, she works in the prison system,” Kreindl explained.
With the success of his past cab companies in mind, Kreindl decided to start a cab business in Beeville.
After waiting four months for his license, Kreindl was eager to start the cab service when his license finally arrived in October. He did so, officially, on November 6, 2013 – four months ago.
Kreindl said the only advertising he did consisted of handing out business cards and talking to people, letting the news of Bee Cab Services travel by word of mouth. He just recently gave his business a simple Facebook page, and the number for his cab service also pops up in a Google search.
His four months in the Beeville area have been quite successful – maybe even too successful.
“I have been so busy that I am now in the process of getting another car,” he said. “I haven’t had a day off since I started; I work seven days a week, from 6 a.m. to midnight.”
Kreindl services all local hotels, does “bar sweeps” nightly, drives into George West often, and even offers airport service to San Antonio and Corpus Christi. “I would like to branch out into Kenedy, too,” he said.
Picking up and dropping off are not Kreindl’s only concerns. “I do a bar sweep at the end of the night to see if anyone needs a ride,” he said, “and I always wait until the person is inside their home before I leave; it’s a safety thing, I make sure everyone gets home safely.”
“A lot of people who have multiple DWI’s and no longer have a license really appreciate what I’m doing,” he added.
After a second car is up and running, Kreindl said he plans to become a 24-hour service.
“Some people think I’m packing it in but I’m here for the long run,” he laughed. “I like driving. I’m used to being on the highway; I enjoy it.”
The number for Bee Cab Services is 319-TAXI (8294).
With the comfortable ride comes a safe trip, and a kind driver who might just share a story or two.
By Lindsey Shaffer
3-2014
Karl Kreindl comes across as a 50-something-year-old, with an old soul with a youthful smile, and a thousand stories hiding behind his kind eyes.
One would never guess that Kreindl, who is actually 73, has been in the transportation field most of his life, retiring just last year from a 35-year trucking career.
Kreindl moved from the country of Austria, where he was born, to Canada, accompanied by an uncle.
With high hopes of becoming a professional truck driver, Kreindl got a job with large construction company on Vancouver Island.
He met his wife, Sheena, in Canada. The two have been married for 35 years.
Armed with two cars each, Kreindl and his wife began multiple cab services during their time in Canada.
“I started three cab companies in Canada; in Calgary, Toronto and Victoria, British Columbia,” he said. Kreindl raved about the success of his cab companies. “Cabs in Canada are big money, like New York,” he said.
He credits his supportive wife for much of their success. “I couldn’t have done it without her help.”
After 15 years of working as a truck driver and running cab companies in Canada, Kreindl moved to the U.S., along with his wife and their 5-year-old son, Scott.
Kreindl worked for 20 more years as a truck driver before finally retiring, just a year ago.
After 35 years, and hundreds of thousands of miles, Kreindl boasts a clean driving record. “No accidents and no tickets,” he said proudly, “I retired undefeated!”
Sheena, Kreindl’s wife, accepted a job offer in Kenedy two years ago, and the family moved once again. “Sheena is an RN, she works in the prison system,” Kreindl explained.
With the success of his past cab companies in mind, Kreindl decided to start a cab business in Beeville.
After waiting four months for his license, Kreindl was eager to start the cab service when his license finally arrived in October. He did so, officially, on November 6, 2013 – four months ago.
Kreindl said the only advertising he did consisted of handing out business cards and talking to people, letting the news of Bee Cab Services travel by word of mouth. He just recently gave his business a simple Facebook page, and the number for his cab service also pops up in a Google search.
His four months in the Beeville area have been quite successful – maybe even too successful.
“I have been so busy that I am now in the process of getting another car,” he said. “I haven’t had a day off since I started; I work seven days a week, from 6 a.m. to midnight.”
Kreindl services all local hotels, does “bar sweeps” nightly, drives into George West often, and even offers airport service to San Antonio and Corpus Christi. “I would like to branch out into Kenedy, too,” he said.
Picking up and dropping off are not Kreindl’s only concerns. “I do a bar sweep at the end of the night to see if anyone needs a ride,” he said, “and I always wait until the person is inside their home before I leave; it’s a safety thing, I make sure everyone gets home safely.”
“A lot of people who have multiple DWI’s and no longer have a license really appreciate what I’m doing,” he added.
After a second car is up and running, Kreindl said he plans to become a 24-hour service.
“Some people think I’m packing it in but I’m here for the long run,” he laughed. “I like driving. I’m used to being on the highway; I enjoy it.”
The number for Bee Cab Services is 319-TAXI (8294).
With the comfortable ride comes a safe trip, and a kind driver who might just share a story or two.
A modern day flint-knapper
By Lindsey Shaffer
1-2014
“As a kid, we had a family dinner every Sunday. After dinner, the adults would play dominos and drink coffee, and the kids would wander outside. We would go out and pick up rocks and artifacts, and I would marvel at the artistic and functional value. I thought, ‘these people (Native Americans) had nothing and they produced this great art,’ and that was my driving force. I wanted to know how they did it.”
Richard Dobie considers himself to be a modern knapper. He practices the art of flint knapping, the process used to produce the majority of all stone tools. There are many techniques that can be used, but the tools are generally made by removing flakes from stone or a similar material, to shape and produce a cutting tool, or a point.
“Points are an original art form,” Dobie explained. “They were used for skinning, cutting, killing... they’re bigger than one use. I think the Native Americans that were here had a big sense of God. They made tools for more than daily use; they put them in graves and buried them with their loved ones to protect them in the afterlife.”
The handmade wooden frames in Richard Dobie’s small workshop showcase just a handful of pieces from his collection of points, which numbers in the thousands.
“We have a family collection that everyone has contributed to over the years,” Dobie explained. “My father and grandfather put them in frames.”
Dobie said he has about 8-10 frames of artifacts, some measuring as big as 2 ft by 3 ft.
Born and raised on the same ranch he calls home today, Dobie is surrounded by both memories and history. “My father and grandfather loved the land; they grew cotton in the early 40’s,” he said. “The majority of my frames were built out of scrap wood, and they also contain the cotton that my father and grandfather grew, so there is a lot of historical and sentimental value to me.”
Dobie boasts a collection of books about points and flint knapping, including one that portrays his own work, and several typology books. “All points are put into types so they can be identified,” he said, as he held up an old, worn book titled “Story in Stone.” “This is like the Bible for knappers,” he said. “This is one of the first books I got; then I started building points and I really enjoyed it,”
As a modern knapper, Dobie said he is somewhere in the middle of the two ends of the spectrum when it comes to the knapping process. “I use copper, which mimics bone so well that you can use it more efficiently,” he said. “Some people use the exact methods that the aborigines used, and it’s very slow. Others cut up stone to mimic flaking, which is the modern method. It comes out so perfect and beautiful, it looks like it’s machine- made.”
Dobie uses stone, copper and antler materials, and billets and pressure flakers in the process.
“You take a flake or a cobble, generally more flat than thick. You can use a billet of stone, bone or copper to drive off the flakes.”
Dobie said the process of flint knapping has similarities to whittling, but it is less controlled. “With whittling you have more control, because you can direct how you take the wood off,” he explained, “but with stone, when you strike it you aren’t sure how it’s going to come off.”
“The modern billet I use is made from copper, and I use an abrading stone to strengthen the sharp edges. If you get going too fast you, can break it, and of course I’ve made a lot of gravel over the years,” Dobie said with a laugh.
“The fun part is the creativity of it- taking something small and creating a thing of grace and beauty.”
Dobie said his hobby and collection has somewhat of a stigma attached to it. “Archaeologists don’t want you to pick up a point, because they feel you’re robbing them of historical information. On the other hand, you have artifacts on the ground that have been moved around by natural causes. The purest archaeologists will still tell you not to touch them; but everyone does. A gross amount of historical information is lost because of pickup, but archaeologists can also get a lot of information from surface hunters, so I understand both sides,” he said.
“There is a huge interest in artifacts all over the world, from Native American points to pots and pans from ancient China,” Dobie said. “Artifacts that are sold, bought or traded have to be perfect, and finding a perfect artifact is very, very difficult. A surface collector will find thousands of broken pieces for every perfect artifact he finds in his lifetime.”
Dobie has done presentations about knapping and its history from the college level down to kindergarten. His work has been published alongside some of the best, and he travels every so often to showcase his work. He also has a booth every year at the George West Storyfest.
The majority of points in his collection were found on the ranch he calls home, and the rest were found in surrounding areas.
“I would never sell or trade my collection,” Dobie assured. “They aren’t the best artifacts, but they’re all from this area and that means a lot to me.”
By Lindsey Shaffer
1-2014
“As a kid, we had a family dinner every Sunday. After dinner, the adults would play dominos and drink coffee, and the kids would wander outside. We would go out and pick up rocks and artifacts, and I would marvel at the artistic and functional value. I thought, ‘these people (Native Americans) had nothing and they produced this great art,’ and that was my driving force. I wanted to know how they did it.”
Richard Dobie considers himself to be a modern knapper. He practices the art of flint knapping, the process used to produce the majority of all stone tools. There are many techniques that can be used, but the tools are generally made by removing flakes from stone or a similar material, to shape and produce a cutting tool, or a point.
“Points are an original art form,” Dobie explained. “They were used for skinning, cutting, killing... they’re bigger than one use. I think the Native Americans that were here had a big sense of God. They made tools for more than daily use; they put them in graves and buried them with their loved ones to protect them in the afterlife.”
The handmade wooden frames in Richard Dobie’s small workshop showcase just a handful of pieces from his collection of points, which numbers in the thousands.
“We have a family collection that everyone has contributed to over the years,” Dobie explained. “My father and grandfather put them in frames.”
Dobie said he has about 8-10 frames of artifacts, some measuring as big as 2 ft by 3 ft.
Born and raised on the same ranch he calls home today, Dobie is surrounded by both memories and history. “My father and grandfather loved the land; they grew cotton in the early 40’s,” he said. “The majority of my frames were built out of scrap wood, and they also contain the cotton that my father and grandfather grew, so there is a lot of historical and sentimental value to me.”
Dobie boasts a collection of books about points and flint knapping, including one that portrays his own work, and several typology books. “All points are put into types so they can be identified,” he said, as he held up an old, worn book titled “Story in Stone.” “This is like the Bible for knappers,” he said. “This is one of the first books I got; then I started building points and I really enjoyed it,”
As a modern knapper, Dobie said he is somewhere in the middle of the two ends of the spectrum when it comes to the knapping process. “I use copper, which mimics bone so well that you can use it more efficiently,” he said. “Some people use the exact methods that the aborigines used, and it’s very slow. Others cut up stone to mimic flaking, which is the modern method. It comes out so perfect and beautiful, it looks like it’s machine- made.”
Dobie uses stone, copper and antler materials, and billets and pressure flakers in the process.
“You take a flake or a cobble, generally more flat than thick. You can use a billet of stone, bone or copper to drive off the flakes.”
Dobie said the process of flint knapping has similarities to whittling, but it is less controlled. “With whittling you have more control, because you can direct how you take the wood off,” he explained, “but with stone, when you strike it you aren’t sure how it’s going to come off.”
“The modern billet I use is made from copper, and I use an abrading stone to strengthen the sharp edges. If you get going too fast you, can break it, and of course I’ve made a lot of gravel over the years,” Dobie said with a laugh.
“The fun part is the creativity of it- taking something small and creating a thing of grace and beauty.”
Dobie said his hobby and collection has somewhat of a stigma attached to it. “Archaeologists don’t want you to pick up a point, because they feel you’re robbing them of historical information. On the other hand, you have artifacts on the ground that have been moved around by natural causes. The purest archaeologists will still tell you not to touch them; but everyone does. A gross amount of historical information is lost because of pickup, but archaeologists can also get a lot of information from surface hunters, so I understand both sides,” he said.
“There is a huge interest in artifacts all over the world, from Native American points to pots and pans from ancient China,” Dobie said. “Artifacts that are sold, bought or traded have to be perfect, and finding a perfect artifact is very, very difficult. A surface collector will find thousands of broken pieces for every perfect artifact he finds in his lifetime.”
Dobie has done presentations about knapping and its history from the college level down to kindergarten. His work has been published alongside some of the best, and he travels every so often to showcase his work. He also has a booth every year at the George West Storyfest.
The majority of points in his collection were found on the ranch he calls home, and the rest were found in surrounding areas.
“I would never sell or trade my collection,” Dobie assured. “They aren’t the best artifacts, but they’re all from this area and that means a lot to me.”
War heros will make 500-mile bike ride, pedal through Beeville Nov. 10
By Lindsey Shaffer
11-2013
BEEVILLE– A group of war veterans young and old will be bicycling through Beeville on Sunday, Nov. 10 with the Warriors on Wheels Cycling Club, an event called Ride Texas 2013.
The participants will begin their 6-day trip in Wichita Falls and make a journey of over 500 miles to Corpus Christi, to raise money and awareness for U.S. troops.
U.S. Marine Vietnam Veteran and Beeville community member Rudy Garcia is helping to organize the event.
“Most of the soldiers who are riding have been wounded in action,” Garcia said. “They have gone through tremendous personal tragedy and are still able to keep a positive attitude.”
The bikers will arrive at Coastal Bend College on Nov. 10 around 4 p.m. Garcia asked members from the fire department, police department, and motorcycle Veteran’s groups to escort them on their ride through Beeville from the college to the courthouse.
Donna Richmond of Beeville has chosen to be part of the event for the third year in a row.
“Three years ago, a man from the club called me and said they (Warriors on Wheels) were coming through Beeville and needed someone to feed them when they stopped here,” she said. “So we took them out to eat when they got here and talked and laughed and I really enjoyed getting to know them.”
“The next year (2012) we had a small parade. I asked for Rudy’s help and the guys from the Beeville Community Veteran’s Group, and Commissioner Eloy Rodriguez welcomed them.”
During the Warriors on Wheels ride last year, several of the bikers blogged from the road. “One of the bloggers wrote that Beeville was the most patriotic city that they stopped in during their 500-mile trip,” Richmond said. “I said ‘next year will be bigger and bigger’. These are heros and they deserve a hero’s welcome.”
Richmond set to work on 2013’s bike ride. She called a war veteran with Beeville roots, Staff Sergeant Nieves Rodriguez, to ask if he would be interested in participating.
“Nieves is a big, avid rider so I asked if he would do it,” she explained. “He agreed and I am so excited for him.”
Rodriguez, a veteran who completed two tours in Iraq, will make the 6-day trek from Wichita Falls all the way to Corpus Christi, stopping in his hometown of Beeville on the way.
Staff Sergeant Nieves Rodriguez graduated from A.C. Jones High School in 1991. He enlisted in the United States Marines in January 1992. He was first assigned to Marine Air Support Suqadron 2 on the Marine Corps Air Station Futenma Okinawa, Japan.
A year later, he was assigned to Marine Air Group 38 G-3 as the Commander’s Driver. His next assignment came in August 1994 when he was assigned to Marine Tactical Air Command Squadron 38 as a Squad Leader and the Safety/Hazmat Noncommissioned Officer (NCO).
In October 1997, Rodriguez enlisted in the U.S. Army, and in February 2003 he was deployed to Camp Taji, Iraq. He was deployed for a second time in January 2005 to Ballad, Iraq.
While serving as a gunner, Rodriguez was involved in a vehicle rollover on a convoy mission to Northern Iraq. He suffered a shattered femur and a near right arm amputation at the elbow. He spent about five months recovering at Walter Reed Army Hospital, undergoing two surgeries to reattach his arm and to repair his leg.
In July 2006 he was assigned to Noncommissioned Officer Academy Fort Hood, Texas as the OML NCO and Training NCO, and in January 2008 he was assigned to the U.S. Operational Test Command as the Commanding General’s Driver and Safety NCOIC (Noncommissioned Officer in Charge), where he stayed until 2011.
This is his first year participating in Warriors on Wheels. “I try to do the local club ride with the Stingers every year so Donna approached me and asked if I would want to do this ride,” Rodriguez said.
Minos Talarantas, the owner of the Beeville Diner, is another community member who wanted to get involved and contribute to the cause. The Diner will be providing a free meal for all of the cyclists when they arrive in town.
“This is a community event and everyone is so willing to help,” Garcia said.
Richmond said the people from the organization that she has come in contact with have taught her to be a better person, and she is committed to the cause.
“I’m not from a military family but I am an American citizen and I am able to enjoy my freedoms because of the brave men and women who serve our country,” she said. “I believe in what they do and why they do it.”
“I have embraced them as much as they have embraced me. They bought me a jersey and made me an honorary member and I am so proud to wear that jersey,” she said. “I love these men and women more than you know.”
“Our goal is to get as many people as we can lined up on Washington St. to wave flags and to show support by welcoming and thanking the Veterans,” Garia said.
Richmond said that all donations go back to the organization 100%. The money raised from the bike ride will benefit Wish for Our Heros, a non-profit foundation organized to grant wishes for Active-Duty military soldiers and their families. The organization seeks to relieve burdens from military men and women by helping with medical bills, college tuition and other financial hardships, marital challenges and family separation, job placement for spouses, and much more.
Both Richmond and Garcia urge community members to come out on Sunday, Nov. 10 to wave flags and welcome the war heros who will be biking through town.
“A simple ‘thank you’ means so much to a Veteran,” Garcia said.
To donate to the cause, visit www.wowcycling.org or www.wish4ourheroes.org.
By Lindsey Shaffer
11-2013
BEEVILLE– A group of war veterans young and old will be bicycling through Beeville on Sunday, Nov. 10 with the Warriors on Wheels Cycling Club, an event called Ride Texas 2013.
The participants will begin their 6-day trip in Wichita Falls and make a journey of over 500 miles to Corpus Christi, to raise money and awareness for U.S. troops.
U.S. Marine Vietnam Veteran and Beeville community member Rudy Garcia is helping to organize the event.
“Most of the soldiers who are riding have been wounded in action,” Garcia said. “They have gone through tremendous personal tragedy and are still able to keep a positive attitude.”
The bikers will arrive at Coastal Bend College on Nov. 10 around 4 p.m. Garcia asked members from the fire department, police department, and motorcycle Veteran’s groups to escort them on their ride through Beeville from the college to the courthouse.
Donna Richmond of Beeville has chosen to be part of the event for the third year in a row.
“Three years ago, a man from the club called me and said they (Warriors on Wheels) were coming through Beeville and needed someone to feed them when they stopped here,” she said. “So we took them out to eat when they got here and talked and laughed and I really enjoyed getting to know them.”
“The next year (2012) we had a small parade. I asked for Rudy’s help and the guys from the Beeville Community Veteran’s Group, and Commissioner Eloy Rodriguez welcomed them.”
During the Warriors on Wheels ride last year, several of the bikers blogged from the road. “One of the bloggers wrote that Beeville was the most patriotic city that they stopped in during their 500-mile trip,” Richmond said. “I said ‘next year will be bigger and bigger’. These are heros and they deserve a hero’s welcome.”
Richmond set to work on 2013’s bike ride. She called a war veteran with Beeville roots, Staff Sergeant Nieves Rodriguez, to ask if he would be interested in participating.
“Nieves is a big, avid rider so I asked if he would do it,” she explained. “He agreed and I am so excited for him.”
Rodriguez, a veteran who completed two tours in Iraq, will make the 6-day trek from Wichita Falls all the way to Corpus Christi, stopping in his hometown of Beeville on the way.
Staff Sergeant Nieves Rodriguez graduated from A.C. Jones High School in 1991. He enlisted in the United States Marines in January 1992. He was first assigned to Marine Air Support Suqadron 2 on the Marine Corps Air Station Futenma Okinawa, Japan.
A year later, he was assigned to Marine Air Group 38 G-3 as the Commander’s Driver. His next assignment came in August 1994 when he was assigned to Marine Tactical Air Command Squadron 38 as a Squad Leader and the Safety/Hazmat Noncommissioned Officer (NCO).
In October 1997, Rodriguez enlisted in the U.S. Army, and in February 2003 he was deployed to Camp Taji, Iraq. He was deployed for a second time in January 2005 to Ballad, Iraq.
While serving as a gunner, Rodriguez was involved in a vehicle rollover on a convoy mission to Northern Iraq. He suffered a shattered femur and a near right arm amputation at the elbow. He spent about five months recovering at Walter Reed Army Hospital, undergoing two surgeries to reattach his arm and to repair his leg.
In July 2006 he was assigned to Noncommissioned Officer Academy Fort Hood, Texas as the OML NCO and Training NCO, and in January 2008 he was assigned to the U.S. Operational Test Command as the Commanding General’s Driver and Safety NCOIC (Noncommissioned Officer in Charge), where he stayed until 2011.
This is his first year participating in Warriors on Wheels. “I try to do the local club ride with the Stingers every year so Donna approached me and asked if I would want to do this ride,” Rodriguez said.
Minos Talarantas, the owner of the Beeville Diner, is another community member who wanted to get involved and contribute to the cause. The Diner will be providing a free meal for all of the cyclists when they arrive in town.
“This is a community event and everyone is so willing to help,” Garcia said.
Richmond said the people from the organization that she has come in contact with have taught her to be a better person, and she is committed to the cause.
“I’m not from a military family but I am an American citizen and I am able to enjoy my freedoms because of the brave men and women who serve our country,” she said. “I believe in what they do and why they do it.”
“I have embraced them as much as they have embraced me. They bought me a jersey and made me an honorary member and I am so proud to wear that jersey,” she said. “I love these men and women more than you know.”
“Our goal is to get as many people as we can lined up on Washington St. to wave flags and to show support by welcoming and thanking the Veterans,” Garia said.
Richmond said that all donations go back to the organization 100%. The money raised from the bike ride will benefit Wish for Our Heros, a non-profit foundation organized to grant wishes for Active-Duty military soldiers and their families. The organization seeks to relieve burdens from military men and women by helping with medical bills, college tuition and other financial hardships, marital challenges and family separation, job placement for spouses, and much more.
Both Richmond and Garcia urge community members to come out on Sunday, Nov. 10 to wave flags and welcome the war heros who will be biking through town.
“A simple ‘thank you’ means so much to a Veteran,” Garcia said.
To donate to the cause, visit www.wowcycling.org or www.wish4ourheroes.org.
A trip around the world with TJIS students
By Lindsey Shaffer
10-2013
Bright colors and different designs decorated 40 poster boards at the TJIS Culture Fair on Thursday, Oct. 24, one student standing proudly at each booth.
Under the instruction of Tatiana Authement, the TJIS Gifted and Talented Program students have been learning about special customs, tasty foods and the unique histories behind different countries around the world.
The students were scattered around the gymnasium on Thursday dressed in kimonos, cowboy boots, sombreros and other cultural wear native to the country they chose to study and represent. The room was filled with parents, family members, teachers and friends as they traveled from both to both, learning about far away lands.
Authement, the Gifted and Talented teacher at TJIS, came up with the idea to have her students study other cultures because she thought it would be something different for them, and she wanted to challenge them.
Authement herself is from Russia, a place much different to her new home in South Texas. So how did she end up in Beeville?
“My husband works in the oil field and he got a job here in South Texas, so we bought a small ranch outside of Skidmore and here I am,” she said.
After retiring as a teacher in Russia, Authement said she couldn’t resist going back to work. “I love kids, I love teaching and I love my students,” she said.
She was hoping the Culture Fair would show a large turnout so her students could share what they learned. “Talk to them!,” she urged, “They know all about their countries, they are so excited to share.”
Authement was beaming with pride as she hurried from both to both helping with props and decorations to make sure everything was just right.
“My students put so much work into this,” she said, “They studied and researched their countries and were very creative with how they chose to display them.”
Each student dressed in cultural clothing, put together a poster board collage with words and pictures representing their country, and created a PowerPoint presentation which they printed and displayed at their booth. Many of the students also made or bought tasty treats native to their country, to let their guests get a taste for another land.
Mya Rodriguez, one of Authement’s students, chose to represent Egypt. “We got to pick our country; I picked Egypt because I wanted to learn about a culture that was really different from mine,” she said. “They use camels to travel!”
Student Maria Bastida was dressed in a bright pink kimono to represent her chosen country of Japan. “They have emperors and they eat sushi,” she explained, “and Hello Kitty was made in Japan.” Maria also pointed out the picture of Japanese Cherry Blossoms on her board, and said that the big red circle on the Japanese flag represents the sun.
Jade Delbosque’s France booth was a hit. Her poster board was covered in photos and she set out crossaints, cheese cubes and grapes for her guests. She also took the time to make a 3D eiffel tower out of puzzle pieces which she displayed proudly. “It took me a few hours to make, its over 300 pieces,” she said.
Looking around the room, it was obvious how much time and effort the TJIS students put into their presentations, and how excited they were to be there to share what they learned.
Authement said she couldn’t be more proud of her students. “They have learned so much and I am so proud of them, they worked so hard.”
By Lindsey Shaffer
10-2013
Bright colors and different designs decorated 40 poster boards at the TJIS Culture Fair on Thursday, Oct. 24, one student standing proudly at each booth.
Under the instruction of Tatiana Authement, the TJIS Gifted and Talented Program students have been learning about special customs, tasty foods and the unique histories behind different countries around the world.
The students were scattered around the gymnasium on Thursday dressed in kimonos, cowboy boots, sombreros and other cultural wear native to the country they chose to study and represent. The room was filled with parents, family members, teachers and friends as they traveled from both to both, learning about far away lands.
Authement, the Gifted and Talented teacher at TJIS, came up with the idea to have her students study other cultures because she thought it would be something different for them, and she wanted to challenge them.
Authement herself is from Russia, a place much different to her new home in South Texas. So how did she end up in Beeville?
“My husband works in the oil field and he got a job here in South Texas, so we bought a small ranch outside of Skidmore and here I am,” she said.
After retiring as a teacher in Russia, Authement said she couldn’t resist going back to work. “I love kids, I love teaching and I love my students,” she said.
She was hoping the Culture Fair would show a large turnout so her students could share what they learned. “Talk to them!,” she urged, “They know all about their countries, they are so excited to share.”
Authement was beaming with pride as she hurried from both to both helping with props and decorations to make sure everything was just right.
“My students put so much work into this,” she said, “They studied and researched their countries and were very creative with how they chose to display them.”
Each student dressed in cultural clothing, put together a poster board collage with words and pictures representing their country, and created a PowerPoint presentation which they printed and displayed at their booth. Many of the students also made or bought tasty treats native to their country, to let their guests get a taste for another land.
Mya Rodriguez, one of Authement’s students, chose to represent Egypt. “We got to pick our country; I picked Egypt because I wanted to learn about a culture that was really different from mine,” she said. “They use camels to travel!”
Student Maria Bastida was dressed in a bright pink kimono to represent her chosen country of Japan. “They have emperors and they eat sushi,” she explained, “and Hello Kitty was made in Japan.” Maria also pointed out the picture of Japanese Cherry Blossoms on her board, and said that the big red circle on the Japanese flag represents the sun.
Jade Delbosque’s France booth was a hit. Her poster board was covered in photos and she set out crossaints, cheese cubes and grapes for her guests. She also took the time to make a 3D eiffel tower out of puzzle pieces which she displayed proudly. “It took me a few hours to make, its over 300 pieces,” she said.
Looking around the room, it was obvious how much time and effort the TJIS students put into their presentations, and how excited they were to be there to share what they learned.
Authement said she couldn’t be more proud of her students. “They have learned so much and I am so proud of them, they worked so hard.”
A devilish time, a noble cause: BBQ Cook-Off raises money for volunteer fire department
By Lindsey Shaffer
10-2013
The delicious smell of BBQ enveloped Charco Ranch on Saturday, Oct. 26, where the “Bee Fired Up” BBQ cook-off event was held to raise money for Bee County’s volunteer fire department.
The Halloween-themed event was organized and hosted by Brenda Hughes, the owner of Devil Woman’s Saloon and the Dog and Bee pub in Beeville.
Todd Schendel participated in the cook-off this year as part of the Bee County Area Go Texan cooking team, which raises money for scholarships for kids. “I’m really happy to be here; it’s a fun event and it’s for a great cause,” he said.
The Beeville Fire Department is made up entirely of volunteers and relies on the donations of community members to maintain their daily operations. It can cost over $6,000 to outfit a single firefighter, with a helmet, a jacket and pants, gloves, boots, a gas mask and an air pack. All money raised from the cook-off this past weekend will go toward a fund to help outfit the firefighters and make sure they have the clothing and tools needed to protect them, while they risk their lives to save others.
Charco Ranch owner Brenda Hughes was happy to open up her ranch for the event. “The turn out is great; we go all out to make sure everyone has fun,” she said. “Next year we plan on having more fun activities for the kids.”
While adults cooked and visited with each other, kids were loving the huge blow-up bounce houses. Everyone got their fair share of chicken, beans, ribs and brisket while they showed their support for the fire department. After the judging was complete, trophies were awarded to the teams for the best tasting BBQ in each category.
Hughes hopes to hold the event again next year to raise money for the fire department. She also spoke about the upcoming plans she has for Charco Ranch.
“I have a vision of turning this ranch into an old Western town where people can come to relax and spend time with their family,” she said. “We’re building houses to rent out, and in another four years we’ll have a train running through the ranch.”
Next year’s BBQ cook-off event is sure to be just as great as this year’s. What better way to support a local staple of the community and raise money then to be in the company of delicious food and good friends.
By Lindsey Shaffer
10-2013
The delicious smell of BBQ enveloped Charco Ranch on Saturday, Oct. 26, where the “Bee Fired Up” BBQ cook-off event was held to raise money for Bee County’s volunteer fire department.
The Halloween-themed event was organized and hosted by Brenda Hughes, the owner of Devil Woman’s Saloon and the Dog and Bee pub in Beeville.
Todd Schendel participated in the cook-off this year as part of the Bee County Area Go Texan cooking team, which raises money for scholarships for kids. “I’m really happy to be here; it’s a fun event and it’s for a great cause,” he said.
The Beeville Fire Department is made up entirely of volunteers and relies on the donations of community members to maintain their daily operations. It can cost over $6,000 to outfit a single firefighter, with a helmet, a jacket and pants, gloves, boots, a gas mask and an air pack. All money raised from the cook-off this past weekend will go toward a fund to help outfit the firefighters and make sure they have the clothing and tools needed to protect them, while they risk their lives to save others.
Charco Ranch owner Brenda Hughes was happy to open up her ranch for the event. “The turn out is great; we go all out to make sure everyone has fun,” she said. “Next year we plan on having more fun activities for the kids.”
While adults cooked and visited with each other, kids were loving the huge blow-up bounce houses. Everyone got their fair share of chicken, beans, ribs and brisket while they showed their support for the fire department. After the judging was complete, trophies were awarded to the teams for the best tasting BBQ in each category.
Hughes hopes to hold the event again next year to raise money for the fire department. She also spoke about the upcoming plans she has for Charco Ranch.
“I have a vision of turning this ranch into an old Western town where people can come to relax and spend time with their family,” she said. “We’re building houses to rent out, and in another four years we’ll have a train running through the ranch.”
Next year’s BBQ cook-off event is sure to be just as great as this year’s. What better way to support a local staple of the community and raise money then to be in the company of delicious food and good friends.
Pups Bark for Life at cancer walk
By Lindsey Shaffer
10-2013
The American Cancer Society’s Bark for Life event was a tail-wagging good time on Saturday, Oct 26 at Coastal Bend College. The event is a noncompetitive walk for dogs and their owners to raise money and awareness for the American Cancer Society’s ongoing fight against cancer.
Bee County dog owners spent Saturday morning walking and showing their support for family members and friends who have been diagnosed with cancer, while the friendly pooches at their sides enjoyed their share of dog treats.
Coordinators Normagrace Flores and Adriana McKinnon were excited about the turnout this year and the community members that came out to participate. “This is our third year coordinating Bark for Life and we’ve grown every year,” Flores said. “We had 14 dogs registered the first year, 19 the second year and we have 21 this year.”
Flores said she got involved with Bark for Life when her best friend was diagnosed with both breast cancer and thyroid cancer. “She’s been my best friend since third grade and knowing that there was nothing I could do was so hard, “she said. “It really hit home and I decided to get more involved with the American Cancer Society to help support my friend as well as the millions of other people who are diagnosed with some type of cancer.”
“My best friend is a survivor,” Flores said.
Christina Key attended the Bark for Life event on Saturday in remembrance of both her father and her father-in-law who passed from cancer. “You hear about cancer a lot but once someone you know is diagnosed it finally gives it a face,” Key said.
The walk was halloween-themed this year and the coordinators were excited to host fun activities after the walk, including contests for best trick, best dressed, doggie/owner look-alike and best in bark. The dogs were a colorful bunch in their costumes, their tails wagging as they showed off their best tricks.
All participants were also asked to wear or bring something pink for their dogs to show their support for friends and family members who have been diagnosed with breast cancer. “October is Breast Cancer Awareness month so we wanted to show our support,” Flores said.
Flores said they had raised around $900 so far and were hoping to reach $1,000 before the end of the day’s events. “We’re really happy to have sponsors this year as well,” she said.
McKinnon said she is excited that the event has continued to grow and she hopes to continue holding Bark for Life in Beeville every year. “The first year we held the walk it ended up being mostly committee members and our families, so we’re so happy to see the great turnout from community members,” she said.
Flores said she hopes to turn the walk into a big community event. “My wish is that one day, Bark for Life will be like Western Week or the Texas Mile,” Flores said. “Everyone will know when it is and be excited to attend.”
To get involved in Bark for Life or another event supported by The American Cancer Society, visit www.relayforlife.org. Check back for the date of next year’s Bark for Life event in Beeville.
By Lindsey Shaffer
10-2013
The American Cancer Society’s Bark for Life event was a tail-wagging good time on Saturday, Oct 26 at Coastal Bend College. The event is a noncompetitive walk for dogs and their owners to raise money and awareness for the American Cancer Society’s ongoing fight against cancer.
Bee County dog owners spent Saturday morning walking and showing their support for family members and friends who have been diagnosed with cancer, while the friendly pooches at their sides enjoyed their share of dog treats.
Coordinators Normagrace Flores and Adriana McKinnon were excited about the turnout this year and the community members that came out to participate. “This is our third year coordinating Bark for Life and we’ve grown every year,” Flores said. “We had 14 dogs registered the first year, 19 the second year and we have 21 this year.”
Flores said she got involved with Bark for Life when her best friend was diagnosed with both breast cancer and thyroid cancer. “She’s been my best friend since third grade and knowing that there was nothing I could do was so hard, “she said. “It really hit home and I decided to get more involved with the American Cancer Society to help support my friend as well as the millions of other people who are diagnosed with some type of cancer.”
“My best friend is a survivor,” Flores said.
Christina Key attended the Bark for Life event on Saturday in remembrance of both her father and her father-in-law who passed from cancer. “You hear about cancer a lot but once someone you know is diagnosed it finally gives it a face,” Key said.
The walk was halloween-themed this year and the coordinators were excited to host fun activities after the walk, including contests for best trick, best dressed, doggie/owner look-alike and best in bark. The dogs were a colorful bunch in their costumes, their tails wagging as they showed off their best tricks.
All participants were also asked to wear or bring something pink for their dogs to show their support for friends and family members who have been diagnosed with breast cancer. “October is Breast Cancer Awareness month so we wanted to show our support,” Flores said.
Flores said they had raised around $900 so far and were hoping to reach $1,000 before the end of the day’s events. “We’re really happy to have sponsors this year as well,” she said.
McKinnon said she is excited that the event has continued to grow and she hopes to continue holding Bark for Life in Beeville every year. “The first year we held the walk it ended up being mostly committee members and our families, so we’re so happy to see the great turnout from community members,” she said.
Flores said she hopes to turn the walk into a big community event. “My wish is that one day, Bark for Life will be like Western Week or the Texas Mile,” Flores said. “Everyone will know when it is and be excited to attend.”
To get involved in Bark for Life or another event supported by The American Cancer Society, visit www.relayforlife.org. Check back for the date of next year’s Bark for Life event in Beeville.
The Traveling dress
By Lindsey Shaffer
10-2013
Ever heard of the book-turned-movie “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants?" A group of girls share a “lucky” pair of pants and whenever they put them on, amazing things begin to happen.
That fiction came to life at the Miss Western Week Pageant in Beeville last Saturday when Teresa Olivares Trevino was crowned this year’s Miss Western Week, wearing a dress with years of history behind it.
Teresa’s grandmother, Mary Olivares, designed the gown in 1958 to wear while competing in the Ladies Auxiliary competition.
“I was about 20 years old,” she remembers, “I designed the dress on my own without a pattern and asked my aunt, Chila, to make it for me.”
Sure enough, Mary was crowned queen of the Ladies Auxiliary contest that year.
Mary never got rid of the dress after the competition. She married the late Lazaro Olivares and began a family, keeping the dress tucked away safely.
When her daughter, Dorothy, turned 17 years old, the dress was a perfect fit for her high school prom.
After dancing the night away, the dress went back into safekeeping for future use.
This year, 17-year-old Teresa Olivares Trevino decided to compete in her first pageant, Beeville’s Miss Western Week 2013.
A favorite part of the pageant for many of the girls is dressing up. Teresa would need an active wear outfit, a western wear outfit and a ball gown.
Instead of running from store to store trying on dresses, Teresa had a specific dress in mind; the one her mother and her grandmother had worn before her for special events in their lives, similar to the pageant for Teresa.
Teresa’s grandmother was excited and surprised when Teresa told her she wanted to wear the dress.
“Most girls would love to get a brand new dress,” she said, “but it was important to Teresa for her to wear mine.”
Teresa not only competed in the Miss Western week competition, but she won, wearing her grandmother’s dress.
“We have now passed this dress down to the third generation of our family,” Mary said.
The family has no plans of getting rid of the special dress. Mary said she gave the dress to Teresa so she can hold on to it, and maybe someday it will be worn again.
If you believe in good luck charms, the dress may be exactly that.
Teresa also took home the Miss Congeniality award, a top program book sales award and an Overall Most Cooperative award.
“This was Teresa’s first time entering a pageant,” her grandmother said. “So we were so surprised and excited when she took home all these awards.”
From one county queen to another, the charm of the dress is undeniable.
By Lindsey Shaffer
10-2013
Ever heard of the book-turned-movie “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants?" A group of girls share a “lucky” pair of pants and whenever they put them on, amazing things begin to happen.
That fiction came to life at the Miss Western Week Pageant in Beeville last Saturday when Teresa Olivares Trevino was crowned this year’s Miss Western Week, wearing a dress with years of history behind it.
Teresa’s grandmother, Mary Olivares, designed the gown in 1958 to wear while competing in the Ladies Auxiliary competition.
“I was about 20 years old,” she remembers, “I designed the dress on my own without a pattern and asked my aunt, Chila, to make it for me.”
Sure enough, Mary was crowned queen of the Ladies Auxiliary contest that year.
Mary never got rid of the dress after the competition. She married the late Lazaro Olivares and began a family, keeping the dress tucked away safely.
When her daughter, Dorothy, turned 17 years old, the dress was a perfect fit for her high school prom.
After dancing the night away, the dress went back into safekeeping for future use.
This year, 17-year-old Teresa Olivares Trevino decided to compete in her first pageant, Beeville’s Miss Western Week 2013.
A favorite part of the pageant for many of the girls is dressing up. Teresa would need an active wear outfit, a western wear outfit and a ball gown.
Instead of running from store to store trying on dresses, Teresa had a specific dress in mind; the one her mother and her grandmother had worn before her for special events in their lives, similar to the pageant for Teresa.
Teresa’s grandmother was excited and surprised when Teresa told her she wanted to wear the dress.
“Most girls would love to get a brand new dress,” she said, “but it was important to Teresa for her to wear mine.”
Teresa not only competed in the Miss Western week competition, but she won, wearing her grandmother’s dress.
“We have now passed this dress down to the third generation of our family,” Mary said.
The family has no plans of getting rid of the special dress. Mary said she gave the dress to Teresa so she can hold on to it, and maybe someday it will be worn again.
If you believe in good luck charms, the dress may be exactly that.
Teresa also took home the Miss Congeniality award, a top program book sales award and an Overall Most Cooperative award.
“This was Teresa’s first time entering a pageant,” her grandmother said. “So we were so surprised and excited when she took home all these awards.”
From one county queen to another, the charm of the dress is undeniable.
"There is nothing to writing, all you have to do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed."
- Ernest Hemingway