This has been a memorable week in many ways. The news that Dolly Parton had passed away was a huge shock.
I have written before about her philanthropic work, one of which is the Dolly Parton Imagination Library. Since Coldspring Library started this program in our county about 4 years ago, many parents have enrolled their babies. From 0 to 5 years old, children receive a free book every month.
Dolly's father never learned to read, and this is her legacy to him. He was a hardworking man with a large family living in poverty and she determined to give back from her wealth to help others using this program.
Shepherd Library partnered with Coldspring in this endeavor and from an initial 18 children there are now nearly 200 registered. Some have moved on after they reach 5 years old, but they have a grounding in books and reading for themselves by then. Anyone may donate to this cause. Call your library to know more.
•Coldspring Library is now selling tickets to the Murder Mystery Dinner on Oct. 3 at the Community Shelter in Coldspring. Tickets are $70 each, which includes a wonderful dinner by Mary Gray Catering and the show. Actors move among the guests to create the cast for the murder mystery. This is a lot of fun and very cleverly done by the actors.
There will be a raffle and dressing up from a particular decade is suggested. You can be a flapper or a Victorian lady or gentleman or whatever you decide suits you.
•Shepherd Library will host a Trivia Day on Oct. 24 at the Coldspring Methodist Fellowship Hall. This will be a lunchtime event with food served. More information on this soon about tickets etc.
•Many family and friends enjoyed a wonderful party celebrating Wanda Gardner's 90th birthday. Held in the Texas Grill in Coldspring, in the private room, it was a most warm, loving and happy occasion. Wanda is well named as she is a past president of Coldspring Garden Club and very involved with it still.
The first meeting will be Thursday, Sept. 3, at 1:30 p.m. in the Community Center. Members are asked to bring a plant to play Flower Bingo after the business meeting. Refreshments will be available.
•Last week the City of Shepherd held the Ballot Draw which gives the order of names on the ballot for those who have put their names forward for a place on the City Council. Sometimes there are several people vying for a place and the place on the ballot may help those who come out first.
This time there are two candidates for the position of Mayor. Incumbent Charles Minton is first on the ballot with William LaCoste second. Only one person is on the ballot for council person, Yvonne Cones. Yes, that's me. I have been on the council for a long time now.
City Secretary Debra Hagler invited the new SISD Superintendent Dr. Todd Davis to draw the names from the pot. It was a good way to meet him.
Later in the week I visited Dr. Davis again to talk about the Christmas event that Shepherd Chamber and Shepherd schools put on. He graciously said he would visit the Chamber at our next meeting.
Administrator Charline Smith welcomed everyone, and the program was a wonderful collection of talent with skits, singing, and some dancing too. Charline did her Patsy Cline number where she produced an incredible number of items from her dress. The two largest groups on stage were the Old Folks Home and Tina Turner & The Ikettes.
Diane Clevenger was the nurse in the Old Folks skit and Judi Benestante was Tina with the dancing Ikettes performing behind her. Both were hilarious as were the whole group.
Singing included “Sentimental Journey” by an excellent group accompanied by Jo Clarady on the piano. Sandra Schultz sang “Crazy,” Gregg Cones sang “A Song For You,” Roger Samoff sang “Peacespeaker” and Ken Janik sang “Cold, Cold Heart.”
It was a great night, lots of laughter at the skits, appreciation for the singers and all the effort put into the show. The whole show was recorded by our local TV station, San Jacinto County TV & News, which will post it on YouTube.
During the intermission, Cathy Wagner of the Coldspring-Oakhurst CISD Education Foundation spoke about the fundraiser currently being held. This fundraiser raffle benefiting teacher grants is for a 7-Day Caribbean cruise for two on the Norwegian Viva. Tickets are $20 each, the draw will be on Oct. 30, the cruise will be for March 20-27, 2027.
This incredible raffle includes a balcony cabin, all-inclusive drinks, wi-fi, gratuities, insurance and more. It will visit Cozumel, Roatan, Belize and Costa Maya. Tickets can be purchased at El Taquito, People's State Bank, Coldspring ISD Administration Office and at some football games. You can go to linktr.ee/COCISDEF. What a great prize.
Contact the Shepherd Chamber of Commerce at (210) 995-7420 or the Coldspring Chamber at (936) 653-2184.
Yvonne Cones is president of the Shepherd Chamber of Commerce and a member of the Coldspring Chamber of Commerce.
