TONY FARKAS | SJNT Volleyball players helped raise $480 that went toward senior scholarships at the Shepherd Chamber of Commerce Scholarship Fundraiser on Saturday.

Shepherd Chamber raises funds for scholarships

SHEPHERD — Townspeople, volleyball players, chess masters and singers were among the throngs of people who turned out Saturday to give toward a worthy cause — high school seniors.

Chamber President Yvonne Cones said there were upwards of 25 vendors selling everything from food to toys, and entertainers Eddie B of Albuquerque, N.M., and the band Crosstown Renegades provided musical interludes.

Chamber member and master of ceremonies Brenda Myers said 12 eight-member teams signed up for volleyball at $5 a head as part of the fundraiser; and 20 cornhole teams at $20 a pop lent close to a third of the $3,000 raised.

Cones said she was pleased with the turnout, and offered her thanks to everyone.

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TONY FARKAS | SJNT Shepherd ISD cheerleaders outclass their male counterparts in tug of war at the Shepherd Chamber of Commerce Scholarship Fundraiser on Saturday.

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TONY FARKAS | SJNT The competition on the pad in chess was fierce at the Shepherd Chamber of Commerce Scholarship Fundraiser on Saturday.

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TONY FARKAS | SJNT Eddie B, a Christian singer from Albuquerque, N.M., entertains the crowd at the Shepherd Chamber of Commerce Scholarship Fundraiser on Saturday.

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TONY FARKAS | SJNT

Children and their parents participated in a Hula Hoop contest at the Shepherd Chamber of Commerce Scholarship Fundraiser. For every child that brought a parent to the event, a…

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TONY FARKAS | SJNT Terry Holcomb was third in Volunteer of the Year.

COLDSPRING — The Coldspring Chamber of Commerce honored the top businesses and organizations in the area, as well as its own volunteers, at its annual banquet on Saturday.

Chamber President Barbara Justice said that even though 2020 was an unprecedented year, the chamber and the county managed to make it through by learning to innovate.

“We figured out how to social distance, how to mask, and all the other COVID-19 precautionary measures,” she said. “Zoom became our secondary method of meeting, and email became our primary mode of communication.”

For the first time in memory, annual events were canceled; however, alternate arrangements were made for scholarships, however, Justice said.

“We had various sponsors, and were still able to give scholarships for students,” she said.

The first event attended in 2020 was the Christmas Parade, which was exciting as residents were able to get out of the house; there were more than 30 floats and more than 120 vendors, which put the town at max capacity, Justice said.

In 2021, plans are to have more in-person events, including lunch-and-learn events held monthly, she said.

Winners of the annual Best of Coldspring awards are:

• Grand Business: Bullet Grill House, first; Brookshire Brothers, second; Sheco, third.
• Large Business: The Mason Jar, first; Browders Marina and Store, second; Eastex Title Co., third.
• Medium Business: Hilltop Ice House, first; People’s State Bank, second; Wolf Creek Air, third.
• Small Business: Camp Jason RV Resort, first; Sittin’ Pretty Pet Spa and Boutique, second; and The Dam Liquor Stor, third.
• Non-profit: American Legion Post 629, first; Republican Party of San Jacinto County, second; Heaven’s Army of Resources, third.
• Volunteer of the Year: Barbara Creel, first, Michelle Haylock, second; Terry Holcomb, third.
• Citizen of the Year: Phyliss Powdrill, first, Larissa Sustaita, second; Alvin Wyatt, third.
• Lifetime Member Award: Kathleen E. Mathieu.
• Board Member of the Year: Barbara Justice.

TONY FARKAS | SJNT Bullet Grill House was named top Grand Business.

TONY FARKAS | SJNT Eastex Title Co. was named third for Large Business.

TONY FARKAS | SJNT People’s State Bank was named second for Medium Business.

TONY FARKAS | SJNT Sittin’ Pretty Pet Spa and Boutique was named second for Small Business.

TONY FARKAS | SJNT Camp Jason RV Resort took top honors in Small Business.

TONY FARKAS | SJNT Heaven’s Army of Resources was third in Non-profit Organizations.

TONY FARKAS | SJNT Republican Party of San Jacinto County was second in Non-profit Organizations.

TONY FARKAS | SJNT American Legion Post 629 was first in Non-profit Organizations.

TONY FARKAS | SJNT Terry Holcomb was third in Volunteer of the Year.

TONY FARKAS | SJNT Barbara Creel was first in Volunteer of the Year. (front)

TONY FARKAS | SJNT Larissa Sustaita was second as Citizen of the Year. (front)

TONY FARKAS | SJNT The Lifetime Member Award, accepted by her daughter, was presented to Kathleen Matheu.

TONY FARKAS | SJNT Board Member of the Year was presented to Chamber President Barbara Justice.

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TONY FARKAS | SJNT Relson Gracie JiuJitsu celebrated its grand opening with a ribbon cutting on Saturday.

SHEPHERD — Three businesses new to the community were honored by the Greater Shepherd Chamber of Commerce on Saturday, two with ribbon cuttings and one named Business of the Month.

Fierce Nutrition, a store that specializes in nutritious smoothies, shakes and herbal teas, was named Business of the Month for March and April.

TONY FARKAS | SJNT Fierce Nutrition was named Business of the Month for March by the Greater Shepherd Chamber of Commerce.

Texas Glam Girlz celebrated its grand opening with a ribbon cutting, although owner Misty Slawson says they’ve been open since October.

Slawson, who’s been a Shepherd resident most of her life, offers several different services: there’s a boutique that offers women’s and girls clothes, shoes and accessories; a tanning salon, which has tanning beds or spray tans available; and a dry cleaning business.

TONY FARKAS | SJNT Texas Glam Girlz celebrated its grand opening with a ribbon cutting on Saturday.

The grand opening was delayed, Slawson said, because of damage done to the building during the severe winter weather, requiring remodeling.

Hours are from 8 a.m.- 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m.- 2 p.m. Saturdays.

At Relson Gracie JiuJitsu, owner Bruce McKinzie said he’s been open eight months, but has been teaching for 10 years.

He has been practicing the discipline for 16 years, but has been into martial arts for 38 years and holds multiple black belts. Currently, he has top belts in kenpo karate, taekwon do, jeet kune do, and kali, a Filipino martial art, to which he holds a rank of full instructor, the highest available.

He also holds full instructor ranking for jeet kune do, a discipline started by Bruce Lee, having trained with Bruce Lee’s friend Ted Wong.

McKinzie said he teaches jiujitsu because of his age and his retirement from competitive matches, and the art is less violent, but will teach other disciplines on a one-on-one basis.

“What I teach kids is to be bully-proof,” he said. “I teach students not to fight if they don’t have to, but to control the situation and holler for a teacher.”

Instruction is offered Monday through Thursday; kickboxing is from 6:15 - 7:15 p.m., children’s jiujitsu from 7:15 - 8 p.m.; and from 8 - 9 p.m. for adults.

Fierce Nutrition is at 11104 TX 150 Suite 300, and can be reached at (832) 946-4615.

Texas Glam Girlz is at 1281 S. Byrd Ave., and can be reached at (334) 429-0545.

Relson Gracie JiuJitsu, next door to Fierce Nutrition, can be reached at (281) 387-8782.