Built on one of the highest points in the county, the clock-domed structure daily guides the public not only directionally but also through the business transacted in its hallowed halls. “It’s sitting there saying, ‘Come fix me up,’” Judith Steely, chairperson of the Corsicana Preservation Foundation (CPF), stated.

Designed by famed Dallas architect James E. Flanders, who was responsible for many Texas courthouses that still stand today, the Navarro County Courthouse is an example of Beaux Arts Classical Revival architecture — a style that was considered progressive as the 1800s turned into the 1900s. The previous courthouse, the county’s fourth, had proven to be too small for the amount of business the booming oil fields were producing. It was experiencing foundation problems that brought about its eventual condemnation. Navarro County had to build another courthouse when most courthouses were already built.

With boom time’s oil money plentiful and fresh memories of the mistakes that had resulted in the condemnation of the previous courthouse, the county built the current facility to high specifications. First, it is one of only two courthouses in Texas built in the Beaux Arts architectural style. Secondly, stained glass windows and gold trim were used as decorative treatments, and the original vault was not only able to protect treasures but is a treasure itself. However, the most unique architectural component is the scagliola technique used on freestanding iconic interior columns. Only three courthouses in the United States have incorporated this technique.

Visitors to the courthouse may believe the interior columns are marble, but that is the secret of scagliola, created in Tuscany in the 17th century. Marble is mimicked on the plaster of paris columns by using a composite of pigmented gypsum, glue and other natural pigments. Various methods were used to create the marble veining; for example, one method uses strands of raw silk saturated in pigment and drawn through the plaster-gypsum mix. Once an authentic marble effect is achieved, flax oil brings a brightness and smoothness to the surface and then the surface is waxed for protection. While less expensive than natural marble, columns built using the scagliola technique are labor intensive and still costly. “Each one is a handmade piece of art,” Michael Steely, Judith’s husband and CPF board member, said.
Today, the priority for the foundation is to slow the process of decline in the building, beginning with the columns. Each column has a different set of problems as assessed by professionals such as Jhonny Langer, paint conservator, and Karalei Nunn, president of 1113 Architects.

Other needs, such as an electrical and overall renovation, are necessary. Technology requirements have far outstripped the current electrical wiring. The county has outgrown the current space, as it is configured, with too many employees working in crowded office spaces and a busy courtroom docket bringing visitors to the courthouse. Records are kept in a basement, which floods during rainy weather.

Photographs of earlier times show that much of the furniture has not been replaced; the oak chairs and desks are original to the courtroom. The photos also show the placement for the stained glass windows that need to be returned to their original positions and the gold trim that was painted over and needs to be restored. Judith recalled a tour of the courthouse during which the group noticed a window that was propped open with of all things — a hacksaw file!

The Corsicana Preservation Foundation is working with County Judge H.M. Davenport and the Commissioners Court as well as other interested groups in restoring the courthouse to reflect its true historical beauty, while making it a functional structure in this modern business and political world. Aware that funds have been made available through grants from the Texas Historical Commission, as part of the Texas Courthouse Preservation Program, the foundation has proposed repainting the courthouse an esthetically and historically appropriate color and restoring the columns. The county secured the required master plan in 2003. “We have done everything we were supposed to do,” Hugh Stroube, CPF board member, said.

Pictured L to R: Michael Steely, Judith Steely and Jerry Steely.

However, renovating a courthouse is not an inexpensive undertaking. The grants from state and federal sources for this proposed renovation amount to about 60 percent of the total cost, making the courthouse renovation a possibility with the county matching those funds. The CPF and its coalition of other interested groups and individuals want to make the public more aware of this unique jewel of a building so that citizens will wish to donate time and money to save it. The painting alone will cost approximately $394,741. Judith is positive the job can be done.

“We are very good in raising funds; we have had lots of experience,” she said. “This is a city that cares.” The CPF has given money to aid in the restoration of the Temple Beth-El, and in April 2010, donated to the city of Corsicana the Town Oil Field Plaza. “The modern oil industry started here,” Michael said.

Other projects of interest to the foundation are improving the entrance to Oakwood Cemetery and working with the Main Street Project to promote the brick streets and restoration of downtown buildings. “We want to give incentives to residents to take care of their own buildings,” Hugh stated, as property values could increase and Corsicana could be proud of its heritage as well as its future. Improvements could also promote more tourism. “There’s no reason why Corsicana can’t have that kind of economic influence,” Hugh added.
May is National Preservation Month, and the 2011 theme is “Celebrating America’s Treasures.” The 167 members of the CPF hope Navarro County residents will join the financial drive to save the Navarro County Courthouse by making tax-deductible donations and contributing their change in the collection boxes located around town. “We all grew up here and know what it can be again,” Jerry Steely, another CPF board member, said. “It’s almost a question to the community: Why not?”

Written by Virginia Riddle

From left to right: Amy Stirman, Barbara Detmore & Dr. Donna Fuller.

The organization, Friends of Tri- City Animal Shelter, was charged with assisting the local pet facility owned jointly by the cities of Cedar Hill, DeSoto and Duncanville. The board of eight to 10 volunteers started with no money and no real direction. “I was already a shelter volunteer and became president of the board when the Friends officially incorporated as a nonprofit. We started with no money and decided to put out donation jars around communities the shelter served,” Barbara explained.

While that brought in some money, the Friends’ first gala event garnered big bucks in September 2009. “We expected to maybe bring in about $5,000. I could have cried when I read the total was $15,000,” Dr. Donna Fuller, Friends’ board member and local veterinarian, said. “It’s just a casual gathering geared toward pet lovers — where you eat, socialize and spend some money on good  things to help animals. I think that is what made it wildly successful.”

Dollars raised by Friends go toward animal care beyond what is funded by the sponsor cities each year, and the group managed to raise another $14,000 through its laid-back gala in the fall of 2010. This year’s event is set for September 11. “It is always fun to work with the dedicated people in Friends to prepare the gala, and to see it all come together for the best interest of the shelter and its animals is just incredible,” said Amy Stirman, director of fundraising for Friends. The group also hosts Smooches for Pooches wine and beer tasting and an annual garage sale benefiting the shelter.

The shelter opened in 1996 as a joint effort of its three host cities, which had meager animal facilities of their own. By joining forces, a larger, more modern shelter was born. In 2009, Tri-City was completely renovated and, today, houses an average of 160 dogs, cats and other animals at any given time. “When I first came to Duncanville, the shelter was a sad little trailer, as were the other cities’ shelters. Now we’ve got this beautiful building — because the cities came together. I was amazed things could go so smoothly between the three entities, but they really made it happen,” Donna said.

Amy’s job with the city of Duncanville inspired her to be part of the Friends’ board. “I grew up in Duncanville, so I was familiar with the shelter, but when I started working for the city, I really realized what the shelter was all about,” she said. “As a kid, when I saw an injured animal I would cry knowing it was hurt.

I’ve always loved animals, so helping the shelter has been a natural fit.”

Being owner of Pet Medical Center, Donna, too, was a logical choice for the Friends’ board. “I’ve practiced in Duncanville for 30 years and was always looking for a way to give back. Nothing I have been involved in is as close to my heart as this. I really enjoy stopping by the shelter and giving advice on animals whenever I can,” Donna said.

As a retired executive secretary, Barbara is described as the glue holding the Friends’ board together. “Animals can’t do a thing for themselves, and moving them through the shelter requires our help,” Barbara said. “I have the time to sit down and make calls, handle paperwork, send e-mails. Each board member brings different strengths, and I’m just really honored to bring them all together.”

To raise awareness, the Friends organization hosts Second Saturday adoptions each month. They also subsidize food and veterinary care for animals fostered at local vet clinics and Camp Bow Wow, a dog day/night camp, where they are available for adoption. “It’s another way to show more people pets available through the shelter and, most importantly, to get more animals in front of the public to help them find a home.” Barbara said, noting that animals housed at Pet Medical Center and Camp Bow Wow have, thus far, always been adopted. “The program has been very successful — these animals never come back to the shelter.”

Amy encouraged anyone considering pet adoption to think of the shelter first. “I was amazed at the number of dogs and cats that come through the shelter — some never get a chance to go to a good home. Many animals spend a much longer time at the shelter than you might expect, when staffers think there is still a good chance of adopting them out,” she said. “I’m glad to see the rescue groups come in to save some of these animals and give them a second chance at finding a home. I encourage everyone looking for a pet to do the same through our incredible shelter.”

People can adopt pets for a nominal fee, after visiting all the animals at the site to ensure a good personality fit. Those not needing a pet, but still interested in helping, can become a member of Friends for $25 per year. “Along with our continued assistance toward animal care, awareness is our primary goal. We are raising lots of money and doing many good things, but people still don’t know about us or the shelter,” Barbara said. “I am available to visit clubs or organizations to let more people know about us.”

One such visit resulted in a $500 grant from Cedar Hill Rotary Club, a pleasant surprise for Barbara. “And this year, they decided to give us another grant!” she said.

Enthusiastic about every penny, the Friends of Tri-City Animal Shelter ultimately just want what is best for the animals. “Eventually, an on-site shelter veterinarian would be a dream come true,” Donna said.

Until then, they will do whatever else possible to help the shelter. “If you’ve never been there, go to the shelter and see what it’s all about. You will fall in love with the animals and the kindhearted staff,” Barbara said. “Remember the shelter when you want a pet. And tell your friends to remember it, too!”

Written by Angel Morris

After a few years, they began the adoption process, first with identical twins, Jordan and Haley, now 10, and then with Caleb and Noah, now 7. “We call Caleb and Noah our virtual twins,” Tim said. “They were born on the same day in the same country, but with different birth parents. They came to us two-and-a-half years apart and the fact that they were born on the same day can only be explained by God.”

It was a normal Monday for Tim, with the exception that Laurie was in East Asia with a group of volunteers. He dropped their children off at school and made a trip to the Mansfield Post Office. While Tim was sitting at the red light next to the post office, a Ford F350 driving 60 miles per hour plowed into the back of the Kutch family van, launching it onto the car directly in front of him.

On impact, Tim hit his head. His chair snapped forcing him into his son’s booster seat directly behind him. The back row of seats was uprooted and disfigured. Tim, the lady in the car he landed on and the driver of the F350 were transported to Harris Methodist Hospital via air ambulance. “Everyone survived the accident,” Tim said. “I was stitched up and had a major concussion, but luckily nothing was broken and no limbs were lost. My van was completely totaled. If that is the worst thing, I am OK with that. Things we can replace. People we cannot. I am so thankful that my kids weren’t with me.”

When Tim was brought into the hospital, nurses started going through his belongings looking for information and discovered he was scheduled to pick up the children at 3:00 p.m. Tim’s parents live in a house adjacent to theirs and the nurses were able to contact them to pick up the children. His father then drove up to the hospital just as Tim was checking out. The next morning when Tim woke up in his bed, he wondered how he had gotten there. The only thing he remembered was taking his children to school and going to the post office. Through his father and police reports, Tim was able to put together the pieces of the previous day. “It was a miracle that I was able to check out the same day,” Tim said. “I should have been dead, but it wasn’t my time. I literally walked out of there with no broken bones under my own power.”

Prior to his accident, Tim was in the process of planning a trip to East Asia with his twin daughters. In January of 2009, he began by sending out e-mails to orphanages asking if he could bring the girls over to work with the children. Each e-mail Tim received back declined their request. Still he kept trying and began researching flights. He planned to use frequent-flyer miles, but all of those seats had been booked months, and even years in advance. There was nothing available. “June came around and I thought I was going to have to postpone the trip,” Tim said. “There still weren’t any airline seats available and nobody wanted us to come. That is when I shared my concerns with our Life Group.”

Life Group is a weekly meeting that Tim and Laurie attend with other members of their church. They study the Bible and spend time praying. Tim shared the trials of the trip with them on a Sunday night before the Fourth of July, and they began praying for the Kutch family. “That next morning I woke up to find 25 to 30 frequent-flyer seats had opened,” Tim said. “Now we had tickets, but nowhere to volunteer. By Wednesday that same week, I had three orphanages that I had e-mailed months earlier respond wanting our help.”

With details coming into place a new fear crept into the plans. From the concussion Tim suffered after the car wreck, he developed Strabismus, a condition where his right eye was not able to straighten like the left leaving him unable to see clearly. Each day he had to wear a special pair of glasses to straighten out his eye. If the eye was not able to heal with the help of the glasses after four months, Tim would have to undergo surgery. “As the time got closer to our trip, I started getting really concerned about my vision,” Tim said. “What would happen if I was over there with these two girls and I lost my glasses or they broke? We would be stranded.”

Each night Tim and Laurie have a time of prayer with their children. Since the day of his wreck, Haley prayed specifically that her father’s eye would be healed. It had already been four months and the glasses had not helped the eye straighten out. Tim began making arrangements for surgery at the end of the year. On July 24, 2009, two weeks to the day from when they were to leave for China, Tim woke up early as usual and started getting ready so he could take the children to school. After his shower, he put on his glasses and everything was blurry. Thinking that maybe his eyes were not adjusted yet, he carried the glasses with him as he went through the day. To this day, he has not put the glasses back on. “Haley was so confident that my eyes would be healed,” Tim said. “I would tell her that I believe God can do miracles, but maybe this time this isn’t meant to happen. As an adult, I’m a person of faith who believes in miracles, but I was trying to do everything on my own. I was not confident that God would heal my eyes. She taught me that we have to come to God with faith like a child on our knees.”

Tim, Jordan and Haley’s trip to the orphanage in Langfang, China, was a trip they will never forget. Both girls eagerly recounted tales of their trip from loving on children to eating new and unusual food. They are already planning their next trip. “Through all of this I’ve learned to appreciate the little things even more,” Tim said. “I’m a very orderly person who values a schedule, but life does not work on a schedule.”

Written by Sydni Thomas

“It’s important to look at the needs of our children, understand how to fulfill those needs and examine our progress,” Deborah said. “Our school district has adopted a program based on the Baldridge Criteria for Performance Excellence, which is a comprehensive plan toward continuous improvement across an organization.” She also participates in the Quality Texas Foundation, which helps Texas businesses and associations improve performance. “I have been asked to serve on the Quality Texas Foundation board, and I am thrilled to be part of such an important organization.” The Baldridge program encourages a focus on quality and improvement. “It is easy to get caught up in the blowin’ and goin’ of everyday tasks,” Deborah explained, “and this data-driven study enables us to monitor our performance. We have scorecards and ‘secret shoppers’ who regularly measure our attitudes, service and appearance so we can get better. Recently, we learned that we have become so busy we are forgetting to smile, and we are working on that!”

According to Deborah, the biggest issue facing education in Texas is a potential shortfall of $25 billion in state funding over the next two years. “We are blessed because our community has approved a shift in tax money toward maintenance,” she said. “We’re well within our capacity for serving students, but have a need to maintain our facilities. This forward thinking has helped to ease concerns.”

The newest challenge for Texas schools, according to Deborah, will arrive this fall in the form of a new accountability system. The State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) is significantly more rigorous than previous tests and will measure a child’s performance, as well as academic growth. “This is not a bad thing,” Deborah explained, “but it is a challenge. We want every child to be successful, and transferring to a new system will involve a lot of planning and training.”
Deborah sees her relationships to the school principals as central to her job. “Every six weeks I visit schools, talk with each principal and visit classrooms. This allows me to stay in touch with the most important thing we do, which is to teach.”

Deborah was born in Hamlin, Texas, just outside of Abilene. Her family eventually settled in Garland, which became her home from the fourth grade through high school and, ultimately, through a 29-year career with the Garland Independent School District. “I graduated from the University of North Texas in Denton, and taught
high school English in Garland for nine years,” she said. “I loved teaching and thought I would do it forever. Back then, administration was focused mostly on discipline, and I didn’t see anything interesting about that.”

While it may have seemed her path was decided, and she would forever be a teacher, Deborah was destined to move beyond the classroom. Her abilities and commitment led her through a series of accomplishments, connections and opportunities. She earned a master’s degree, and then a doctorate degree. With each step in her career, she also acquired the necessary accreditations. After teaching in Garland for nine years, she became an instructional administrator and an assistant principal. Then, for three years, she served as the Garland ISD director of communications, and ultimately, the assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction. “That was my dream job for 15 years,” she said, “and although I was encouraged to apply toward becoming a superintendent, I loved being involved with the classroom and felt it suited my skill set.”

Once more, though, destiny prevailed. By the time Weatherford announced an opening for a new superintendent, Deborah was ready. Her parents had retired and moved to Mineral Wells. By taking a position in Parker County, she would be closer to them, and importantly, she was qualified and ready for the new challenge. “Weatherford has been a blessing to me,” she said. “We have a strong board and a caring staff, and I love being part of the team.” Coming from a much larger district, she was quickly impressed by how supportive the Weatherford community is. “Garland has multiple high schools and over 60 school principals,” she explained. “We are a one- high-school town with seven elementary schools, two middle schools and one ninth-grade center. With 11 principals, we can sit around a table and talk.”

Deborah and her husband, Bill, made the decision to move to Weatherford in 2001, knowing that his position at Southern Methodist University in Dallas would involve a long commute. “The superintendent is required to live in the school district,” Deborah explained, “so we purchased a home in Lake Weatherford.” Thankfully, Bill’s commute lasted only one semester before he was asked to join the Neely School of Business at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth as the associate dean for graduate programs.

Deborah and Bill have parented three children, all of whom are now educators. “Our son, Christopher, is an English teacher in Switzerland,” she said. “He and his wife wanted to teach and see the world. So far, they’ve taught in schools in Portugal, Morocco and Switzerland. Our grandson is 20 months old and he was born in Morocco.” Deborah and Bill’s daughters are also teachers. “Jennifer is a health teacher and head volleyball coach at Plano Senior High School, and Jessica is an assistant principal in Aledo.” The couple has three grandchildren. While Switzerland is a little far to visit that one, the other two often spend weekends with the Crons.

“I am so fortunate,” Deborah said, “to work in a job that I love, to live in an active community like Weatherford and to be part of such a great family.” When she is not at work or spending time with a grandchild, Deborah loves to garden; meet with her Mahjongg group and book club; play with their 10-month-old Bichon Frise, Baxter; watch hummingbirds in the spring; and work out with Bill three mornings a week. “It isn’t that I like to exercise,” she smiled, “but it is something we have done together for 10 years. We work with a trainer at a gym. We start the mornings together, and it sets up the day!”

Written by Carolyn Wills

“What the Makeover has to offer everyone involved, from the dogs to the adopters, trainers to the spectators, is something special that is hard to define,” Blake said, “kind of like the way you feel when you’ve accomplished something that has taken a lifetime to accomplish — when you reach that goal that you have been working so hard to achieve. Lance Armstrong has the Tour de France, Tiger Woods has the Masters, Michael Phelps has seven Olympic medals in swimming, politicians have elections and for me, just competing in the Makeover and seeing these dogs do what they do, I know how all of those people feel.”

Both dogs that Blake trained in the eight weeks prior to the televised event have been adopted into loving homes, and that is the main reason Blake participates. “There is a competition; there is a first place. But the whole thing about it is if the dogs get a good home, then we all win. It’s about knowing that any dog, a mutt, can be a good dog if you take the time to love and work with it.” Sophie, a Lab-Shepherd mix, had spent a long time in Dallas Animal Services and was less than 24 hours from euthanization when Extreme Mutt Makeover pulled her for the competition. “Sophie’ll do pretty much what you ask her to do if she knows what it is, and it’s up to the people to let ’em know,” Blake said. “Now, she is in New England with a young couple who are very active. I think her new family is a great fit for her, and I’m excited that she has found the perfect forever home!”

The other dog Blake worked with was Cowboy, a Lasa/ Maltese mix. “Cowboy was actually the first dog from this year’s competition to be adopted. He’s a little ball of energy that I suspect is keeping his new mommy on her toes, but last I heard, she is extremely happy she made the choice to adopt him.

“I’ll do the Makeover for as long as they keep inviting me,” Blake exclaimed. “It’s such a great event that draws hundreds of prospective adopters to become aware of what shelter dogs have to offer. After you see how amazingly shelter dogs can perform with only a short training time of eight weeks before the Makeover competition, imagine what shelter dogs can do with even more training and the love of a forever home.”

Since they started fostering dogs 20 years ago, Blake and his wife, Kim, have cared for over 200 dogs that have all been adopted into good homes. High school sweethearts who have reared three children together — the youngest 21 and out of the house — the Ovards sometimes joke that their children were taking up spots that their foster dogs could have. “Now, dogs are spread throughout the house, one in our guest bedroom and one in our bedroom. One is in the sun room! They stay in crates when we’re not here. They’re out with us when we’re home, and they act like wild children. We try to spend a couple hours every day with them. If they don’t get along when they get to our house, they learn to get along.”

The couple keeps each dog an average of one-and-a-half months, and usually fosters 10 in a year. “I just really enjoy spending time with them every day. When they give me kisses, that’s awesome!” Blake said. “For dogs like Sophie and Cowboy and any fosters I train, the satisfaction is in getting them good homes. I know that here’s a dog nobody wants, for whatever reason, and I work with the dog and get it to have manners and be a dog that somebody does want — so there’s a dog that’s spared.”

In order to coach people on how to help their own dogs be winners, Blake spends some of his off-duty time in the local libraries, service club meetings and businesses. He gives a talk introducing the Extreme Mutt Makeover, detailing what it is about and answering questions about dogs and dog training. He and some of his dogs have appeared at PetSmart numerous times. “We just go there because it’s a good place to socialize the dogs,” Blake said. “People like shopping; the dogs like shopping. I want to show people that dogs can be great companions.”

Blake and Kim — both animal control officers for the city of Fort Worth — do not leave their work at the office. They picked up a little pup named Tugg last summer. “Eighty percent of Tugg’s body was covered with demodex. Because of that he had open lesions, scabs and secondary infections. The police officer that found him on the side of the road said he was wrapped in a blanket, staked to the ground, with a sign that said DOG. He went to the shelter for about a week. After no rescue wanted to take him, we said we’d take him. We took Tugg to the emergency vet, who said he probably wouldn’t make it and should be put down. We took him the next day to our vet, who said it would just take time, love and energy. He got better day by day, and is just a little fun character, kind of like a clown in a dog suit.

“We knew he would stay a part of the family not long after we took him in. He just tugged on our heart strings,” said Blake, who began documenting Tugg’s recovery on Facebook in order to show people that it is possible to overcome great things — if you have the time, love and right outlook. “Our goal with Tugg is to take him through therapy training and have him become a certified therapy dog. We then plan on taking him to schools, tell his story and help teach kids all the valuable lessons Tugg can help teach.” Now who is the real winner? Tugg? Blake? Perhaps all the little dog lovers in Burleson.

Written by Melissa Rawlins

In that first flush of puppy love it is difficult to remember that: 1. Puppy will grow up to be a dog; 2. Puppy will need to be housebroken; 3. Puppy will need immunizations every year and food every day; a place to sleep and exercise; and its needs will be your responsibility for the next 10 or 15 years. Oh wait! I think I need to think this out again.

There is help for anyone who is thinking of having a pet. The Web site www.Petfinder.com has information about different breeds of dogs, tips on training puppies and older dogs, estimates of the costs involved in pet ownership and much more. The main focus of this service is dog and cat adoption and prospective owners are directed to the Web pages of participating animal shelters where they can see pictures and read stories about available animals. The Corsicana Animal Shelter (CAS) uses this service to find homes for its animals.

Julianne Burkhalter, Katy Watkins and Julie Maupin with a grown puppy.

The city of Corsicana took ownership of CAS seven years ago and, in 2009, Julianne Burkhalter became the director of animal services with oversight of CAS and Animal Control Services. Katy Watkins became the manager of the shelter located on South 12th Avenue. The two most important elements of proper animal care are sanitation and ventilation, and the existing systems are inadequate relics of earlier times. Also, there is no room for the much needed expansion of space to house more animals. While the city manager and city council, along with Chief Bratton, are supportive of the work of the shelter, the city is not able to fund the cost of a newer facility.

This is where the Humane Society stepped in to raise money to build a new animal shelter. Julie Maupin, president of the Humane Society said, “The animal shelter is a very old facility housed in a metal building held together with Band-Aids. Chicken wire holds up the insulation on the inside, and its location next to the railroad tracks means that many times during the day and night the staff and the animals are treated to the deafening roar of a passing train.” Because of the poor condition of the shelter, the staff feels that the people in the community are reluctant to come there to consider adoption of an animal. “They even have trouble finding the place,” Julie added. “If it was located in a better place and it looked clean and neat, people would stop by. There could be space where a family could spend some time with a dog or cat and play with it to see if its personality would fit with the family.

“We are excited about the plans for a new facility,” Julie said. “We have done the preliminary studies and worked with an architect to design a new shelter with state-of-the-art ventilation to keep animals safe from airborne viruses and separate plumbing in the kennels to facilitate cleaning and disinfecting them. Even the fencing and flooring are designed to be easily cleaned. CAS, Animal Control and Humane Society staff will each have office space, and there will be a surgical suite and a pet visiting room. “Our Cause for Paws campaign is underway,” Julie added, “and we will be vigorously pursuing various donations and funding sources so that construction can begin as soon as possible.”

Like the other members of the board of the Humane Society, Julie cares about animals. She and her husband, Bill, share their home with two shelter dogs, one rescue dog and a stray who dash happily around the house and yard. “We all celebrate when the staff at the shelter finds a home for a healthy, good- tempered dog that has been neglected, and it is now in a family that takes care of it. Once they had three blind dogs, Molly and Jack, brother and sister puppies and Inca, an older dog. Lynn Gatlin, who had a blind dog herself, was determined to find them homes so she wrote touching biographies with pictures and all three were adopted. One family even kept Molly and Jack together. Working with the Humane Society has been an education for me,” Julie said. “There are always new challenges, but the staff and volunteers at the Animal Shelter are wonderful people to work with.”

The Humane Society has raised funds for a trailer that CAS uses to transport animals to adoption events. You may have seen CAS staff and Humane Society volunteers in front of the Collin Street Bakery on a Saturday morning, or at Day in November or at Derrick Days. People who come to the bakery on a Saturday morning stop to meet the dogs and cats. One such event resulted in 18 adoptions.

The Humane Society has also focused on fundraising to support a spay/neuter program. The most effective way to prevent over- population is to encourage pet owners to have the surgery done on their pets,” Julie said. “Hundreds of animals have to be euthanized each year for lack of space to house litters of unwanted puppies and kittens. It is cruel to turn a pet loose in the country to be attacked by a pack of coyotes or to starve because it is used to living in a home where it is fed by the owner. There is no excuse to neglect this important step in animal care because the Humane Society has obtained grant funding to help people who cannot afford to pay for the procedure.”

CAS depends on donations from individuals who donate money for medicine and food, but there is always a wish list for such things as towels, collars, cat litter, blankets and cleaning supplies. Veterinarians in town contribute some of their time to do spay and neuter surgeries. Volunteers are always welcome to donate time to walk or play with the dogs, and, of course, dollars are also welcome at CAS to help pay for the basic items on the shelter’s wish list. Come on in and meet the perfect Christmas puppy who is waiting for you!

Written by Joan Kilbourne

Additional resources:
The Humane Society of Navarro County
The Corsicana Animal Shelter

Something important happens when the future comes face-to-face with life’s battles won and lost: generations connect and history is preserved. On Memorial Day 2010, Burleson Mayor Ken Shetter announced the launching of a project called Operation Remember. The objective? To archive the personal accountings of local veterans and to make those histories available online and through an interactive kiosk at Veteran’s Memorial Park.

Milton, along with Dale Dexheimer, reached the frontline of Operation Remember at its inception and both are quick to say it is a service they are honored to perform. “We have a lot of people to thank,” Milton said. “The Burleson Heritage Foundation (BHF) for giving us the opportunity; the city of Burleson for supporting our efforts, St. Matthew Cumberland Presbyterian Church for generously allowing us to use their equipment and facilities; and, above all, the exceptional veterans who have allowed us to record their stories so that history will not be lost.”

Operation Remember evolved as a companion to the Congressionally mandated Veterans History Project (VHP). Ten years ago, VHP of the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress began collecting, preserving and making accessible the personal accounts of American war veterans, including U.S. civilians who were actively involved in supporting war efforts. After a decade and with the help of thousands of organizational volunteers who requested to be VHP Partners, over 68,000 individual collections are now available at the Library of Congress and more than 7,000 of them are also accessible through the VHP Web site.

Dale serves on Burleson’s library board and volunteers at the BHF and Visitors Center. When he was asked to help with the VHP effort, he found the local process stalled by the lack of equipment and technological expertise. That discovery preceded the launching of Operation Remember and the Veteran’s Day Celebration on November 6, as the unveiling date of the new interactive kiosk. It also, thankfully, preceded Dale’s introduction to Milton and the emerging of their dynamic team.

Dale moved to Burleson in 1978 and Milton in 1972. Both are retired: Dale from Martin Sprocket & Gear and Milton first from Winn-Dixie and then from the Southland Corporation. Yet, for these two, life is anything but retiring. Since last April, they have recorded nearly 30 American war stories told by the veteran or by the veteran’s family. Dale arranges and conducts the interviews and Milton handles the camera and production work.

With an estimated 13,000 veterans in Johnson County, the project might seem endless for anyone other than this team. “What I see is that people need to get their stories documented or they will be lost,” Milton said. “My grandfather was in the Civil War and my father was born in 1893. When I was young, I remember taking a trip with my father to find an old log cabin where he might have lived as a child. When he pointed it out, I looked at my watch as much to say, ‘Are you about through?’ Kids think they have plenty of time, but as we get older, we realize it is time to get the stories told.”

Dale maintains a stack of “calling” cards and is always ready to complete another 3 x 5 index card with the name and information of a prospective veteran. On Wednesdays, he volunteers at BHF and Visitors Center and also uses the time to make calls. “Some people say no — maybe a third of those I’ve called. Sometimes they change their minds, and some don’t believe they have done anything,” he explained. “That’s when I assure them that if they have served, regardless of whether it was on the frontline or to cook or get the mail, their story is important.”

Veterans are interviewed on Fridays at St. Matthew Cumberland Presbyterian Church with the use of the church’s equipment. “The city is in the process of buying the appropriate equipment,” Dale explained. “Some of our prospects are in nursing homes so we want to be able to go to them. Also, not everyone can come during the week, so we need to be able to meet on Saturdays. “I begin by asking the questions listed in the Field Kit provided by the VHP, such as the veteran’s name, birth date, name of the conflict, highest rank and anyone present during the interview,” Dale explained. “Then, we have a little chat before so the veteran has an idea of how and where to begin. Sometimes, they will say they don’t want to talk about a certain time or experience,” Dale explained. “I tell them it is their story, so they are free to talk only about what they want. We never edit their stories. ”

Milton records directly to a laptop as well as a tape back-up and when the interview is complete, he makes a copy for the veteran, the city and the church. The city forwards a copy to the Library of Congress. “Anyone can record a veteran’s story for the VHP,” Milton said. “We’re providing a service to give a quality video and to make sure the whole process gets done.” So far, the majority of veterans interviewed for Operation Remember have been over the age of 60 and the conflict most represented is the Vietnam War. Remarkably, the united theme to their stories, including the toughest accounts, is that, overall, they enjoyed the time and consider it to be one of the best in their lives.

“Most don’t say anything about their decorations,” Dale said, “and while some have made peace with their experiences, others are still very emotional. It’s hard to say which story has had the most effect on me, because they are all veterans. Whether they enlisted or were drafted, they did their time. From the 18-year-old sailor who joined the Navy to see the world and never left the coast of Corpus Christi; to the man who was captured in Vietnam and spent years in the ‘Hanoi Hilton’; to the one who never saw battle but started a crucial gunnery school; to the young man six months out of Iraq with a purple heart, a damaged brain and postwar distress syndrome — all of their stories are interesting because all of them are personal.”

Written by Carolyn Wills.

Editor’s Note: For information about Operation Remember, please visit www.operationremember.org, call the Burleson City Secretary at (817) 426-9661 or e-mail amccrory@burlesontx.com.

“I found out later the family was very happy, and the adults were crying when Pastor delivered the food, and it made me feel good to have helped. I started talking to Pastor, and started talking in church about it, standing up and giving a little spiel about it,” Don said. “I really believe this: if everybody in this community would give one bag of non-perishable foods and one can of food every week, I don’t think there would be anybody hungry. Harvest House, and whoever else is doing this, would be overflowing with food. We can feed the people ourselves with no outside help if the people in the community would buy one can of food every time they went to the grocery store. How much would you spend — $1?”

Don’s sympathies are rooted not just in his grocery-store epiphany. There were a few times in his life when Don found it hard to provide for his wife, three daughters and two sons, who are now grown. “I worked hard and was away from home a lot trying to feed them. We always had decent houses, and lived where there were good schools,” said Don, a veteran of three tours in Vietnam. “I spent 12 years in the infantry — what did I know how to do? By the time I got out of the Army and out of the hospital, my uncle put me in a truck. I followed the trucking business, and drove all of the lower 48 states and all of Canada. I provided for us, but of course you lose a lot when you do that. People don’t understand; long-haul drivers aren’t there for graduations, or some holidays. But no matter what, I was home for Christmas. That’s family time and needs to be.”

Now Don is always available for his wife, his daughter and grandson and his neighbors. When he buys food for needy people, he buys basic staples they can stretch. He has found good rates in stores like Restaurant Depot in Fort Worth, City Market and Walmart in Burleson. Policemen are beginning to call on Don for the Walmart gift cards he keeps on hand for when they get a spousal abuse call and discover the family’s cupboards are bare and the children are hungry. Once he received a donation from a church giving from its own tithes. “I got a good load of clothing from a thrift store in Granbury that was getting rid of it all,” said Don, who refers to his wife as the “Thrift Store Kid.” “I don’t think as many people know about their thrift store as they should.”

To help Operation Blessing and Harvest House prepare, Don really puts out a lot of effort in the holiday season when families get together. “The little kids talk to their little friends, ‘Boy we had this big ol’ turkey, and we had that …’ and the other little kid’s sitting there thinking, ‘Boy, we didn’t have anything.’ I do what I can with what the Lord provides. And I just work harder at it on the holidays because it’s such a special time.

“But they have to eat the rest of the year, too. There are not a lot of jobs out there for people to have. I have seen quite a few women with kids coming in to the Harvest House, filling out paperwork asking for assistance, and there’s no man around. Could be he’s out looking for work, or it could be she’s a single mom trying to make ends meet. We certainly want to help them,” Don said. “This is not going to stop. There have been poor from the time the Egyptians dug their first irrigation ditch. They’ll be with us when Christ comes back again. So we also need to be there with them, helping them along the way. I don’t care who they are; they’re still your brother and sister in Christ.”

In response to Don’s leadership, Pastor Heimbigner named him to the Charity Lutheran Church council and put him in charge of the food ministry. The elders help Don immensely, and often the ministry receives donations to add to the year-round food distribution constantly funded by Don and Sandra’s fixed budget. “We try in our humble way, and we’re able to give what’s necessary. I think we get paid back,” Don shared. “When we get into a little trouble, get a little tight, we just ask in prayer and turn it over to the Lord, and in some way it comes in the door, both here at home and at church.” Don may have retired from long-haul trucking, but what he hauls around Burleson in his pickup definitely goes a long way.

Written by Melissa Rawlins

Pictured left to right: Brother John Baptist, Brother Peter Khoa, Father Dominic, Brother Dominic Dat and Brother Paul.

On January 3, 2010, this congregation of Vietnamese-born monks held a ceremony to bless their bell and bell tower. The bell is a sign in the monastic community and becomes the voice of God, inviting all to pray, to do lectio divina (spiritual reading) and to gather for meals.
Father Dominic said, “There are 21 Benedictine congregations located on every continent. They all follow the Rule of Saint Benedict that calls for work, prayer and study, but each monastery is autonomous, that is, they can set their own focus on the work they do or on prayer or on study. We see ourselves as contemplatives. We pray six times a day.”

The Rule of Saint Benedict states in part, “Let all guests who arrive be received as Christ … let all kindness be shown them.” In that spirit, the monks at Thien Tam plan to develop a pastoral center for individual and group retreats. “People are drawn to places that are set aside for religious purposes,” Father Dominic said. “For many, this is a first step to spiritual renewal, to accepting yourself as holy, to be aware of the intention to reach out to God. If it helps them to have such a place, I want this to be that place.” Future plans include facilities for outdoor and indoor events, camping sites and athletic fields. “It will be a place where people of all faiths can come,” Father Dominic said. They have added a wing to the main house with six additional rooms to house monks and visitors to the house.

In June, a three-day program dedicated to the Blessed Sacrament was held on the monastery grounds for Vietnamese members of Roman Catholic parishes from Houston to north of Dallas. The first night about 400 or 500 people participated. On Saturday, the number grew to about 1,000 people. There was perpetual adoration of the Blessed Sacrament as well as teaching about the Blessed Sacrament, and there were conferences for different age groups. Three large canopies provided shade for the dining area, where traditional Vietnamese dishes were served, for the perpetual adoration area and the seating area for Mass and meetings. Families in RVs and tents camped under the trees. A group of young girls could be seen dressed in the traditional ao dai, a tight-fitting silk dress worn over silk pants. They floated across the grass like pastel-colored butterflies to settle themselves in a circle of chairs under a tent where they pulled out cell phones and began to chat with friends.

Saint Benedict was born around the year 480 in the district of Nursia in Umbria, central Italy. He is regarded as the “Father of Western Monasticism.” Benedict had the revolutionary idea that work was a necessary instrument of virtue almost on a par with prayer, and often indistinguishable from it. To him, it was the natural condition of man, and he envisioned a state of life in which the physical components of work, prayer and reading were in all ways equal. His Rule was meant to be for the governance of the domestic life of lay individuals who wanted to live in the fullest possible way, the path that led to God. The work of the monks may include such crafts as the making of soap, candles and vestments for liturgical services. There is an emphasis at the Abby in New Mexico on sustainable and environmentally friendly building and gardening. In keeping with this effort, the monks at Thien Tan raise free-range chickens and ducks and plan to add gardens and craft work. “We choose work that can stop when the bell rings for prayer six or seven times a day; work that occupies the hands and allows you to be attentive to what you are doing, like cooking or cleaning,” Father Dominic said.

The Benedictine Abby at Christ in the Desert, New Mexico, maintains an informative Web site at christdesert.org for persons wishing to make retreats or just learn about monastic life. They describe a monk’s life as a day punctuated by regular times for prayer that keep one mindful of his or her purpose. The explanation begins with the second “little hour,” Sext, at 1:00 p.m., when the monks take their main meal in silence in the monastic refectory, listening to reading from the Bible and from a book or article chosen for the purpose of “feeding the mind” while the body is being fed. These books and articles are usually on a monastic, historical or spiritual topic.

After washing dishes, the brothers can rest or read until the office of None, the third “little hour,” chanted together in church at 3:30 p.m. After None, coffee or tea can be taken in silence in the refectory, then an hour is devoted to sacred reading and reflecting on Scripture texts. After that, there are some 20 minutes of free time followed by a common period of silent prayer for all in the church from 5:20 until 5:50 p.m., when Vespers is chanted. Vespers includes a half hour of praying, psalms, a hymn, the Magnificat, and a prolonged prayer of intercession for the needs and intentions of the entire Church. After Vespers there is time for supper, and then at 7:10 p.m., a nightly “chapter meeting,” when the monks gather to listen to a chapter from the Rule of St. Benedict and a commentary by the abbot, as well as to prayer intentions sent to the monks. At 7:30 p.m. all proceed to church for the final office of the day, Compline, consisting of a penitential rite, psalms and hymns which vary according to the liturgical season. The day officially ends at about 7:50 p.m. when the monks are free to retire for the night. Between Compline and the following day’s Mass, the monks observe “the Great Silence,” when all unnecessary conversation ceases and the monks turn their thoughts to resting in God.
In these turbulent times, it is good to know that there is a place where peace and quiet reflection can be found. The monks at Thien Tam can, by example, show us how to bring these gifts into our lives.

Written by Joan Kilbourne

Scott has taken gymnastic lessons for only about nine years. Of course, that is still over half his lifetime. The 15-year-old high school sophomore began competing at the Junior Olympics level in 2004 and was crowned State Champion in five of the last six years. And the sixth? Scott shrugged. “That was 2007, the year I broke both my arms,” he said. He also holds multistate Regional Championships from 2005, 2006 and 2009. In all, his room is festooned with 37 gold, 16 silver and 11 bronze medals.

Scott showed his talent for gymnastics long before attending a class. When he was only 3, his older sister, Jessica, took gymnastics. Scott started by imitating her exercises in the backyard, moved on to recreational classes at age 6, and was competing by age 9. He now specializes in three events. Power tumbling involves a series of flips down a long, specially-constructed mat of fiberglass and hard foam. Double mini-trampoline consists of a running start, then springing from a combination ramp/mini trampoline into a pass of flipping, twisting and landing skills. Scott’s third event is regulation trampoline, now familiar to those who watch
the Summer Olympics Games. He competes through the organization USA Gymnastics, of which the Palaestra is a member club.

Competing at this level means a demanding practice schedule: Scott makes the one-hour commute to the gym four days a week, working out for three to four hours at a time. His high school, Waxahachie Preparatory Academy, offers a three-day- a-week schedule that encourages such activities. Even so, it takes the whole family to coordinate transportation. His mother, Karin, or sister, Jessica, usually drive him to practice, but both his grandmothers step in to help when needed. “We can’t wait for him to get his driver’s license,” Karin said. Vincent, Scott’s father, works long hours and is not available for weekday practices. But he goes to competitions whenever he can. “Once he took Saturday off and drove to Tulsa just to watch Scott compete in one event,” Karin said.

Competition takes a toll not only on Scott’s time, but on his body as well. Besides the two arms broken in a practice accident, he has sustained cuts, stress fractures and some painful joint conditions. In 2009, he had to wear a back brace while two stress-fractured vertebrae healed. The brace came off just one week before he traveled to Holland for his first international trampoline competition, where he performed well, but did not medal.

Despite his injuries, Karin said, “He never once considered quitting. He gave up Scouts; he gave up soccer; we went to homeschooling, and then to Waxahachie Prep — just so he could have the time to practice and travel.”

Scott has several natural traits that make him well-suited to gymnastics. “I’m pretty calm,” he said, “whether I’m competing or just learning a new skill.” He also has a “try-anything” attitude and is very spatially aware; that is, aware of his body position. That is not to say that new skills always come easily. Scott remembers when he was trying to master the triple back flip, and landed flat on his face. “I learned that they use those big, squishy landing mats for a reason!” he quipped. Vincent noted that from a young age he was always focused, and his coaches commend his good attitude and work ethic.

Even the calmest person might shy away from risky new skills after getting injured, and Scott is no exception. “After you crash on a high-level skill it gets scary really fast — especially if it happens again. You kind of get a mental block.” His head coach, gym owner Becky Weathers, has helped him recover from these setbacks. “One thing that helped is once when I took a few months completely off practice,” Scott explained. “Other times, I will break a skill down into small parts, and drill over and over on just one thing, like a single flip or twist.” What keeps him going despite the challenges? “It’s just fun,” Scott said. “I enjoy competing — and it’s cool when you win all three events.”

Since he started competing, Scott has set a series of goals. He has enjoyed success at the state and regional levels and has been chosen twice for USA Gymnastics’ Elite Development program. Now his eyes are on at least one gold medal at the National meet, then a place in the World Competition in the fall of 2011. “At the Final Selection competition, they take the top four for the World’s. In 2009 I came in fifth — missed it by one place,” Scott shook his head with a wry grin. Yet with all Scott’s goal orientation, gymnastics is not his whole world, nor is competition. He works hard in school, where his favorite subject is science, often doing homework in the family’s van or on airplanes. He is an amateur illusionist, amasses trivia facts and enjoys art. He also volunteers at Lone Star Cowboy Church, “Jonathan’s Place” for homeless children and the Dallas Zoo. Karin added, “He is a good support for his teammates and has helped many kids learn new skills. He has a lot of patience and keeps encouraging them to improve and try again.”

Gymnastics has given Scott and his family some unexpected opportunities. Vincent pointed out, “We started out with classes for fun and weren’t really thinking of him competing.” But the meets have given them the chance to travel in 12 states, besides the trip to Holland. “We try to do fun things and learn about the history of the places we visit,” Karin said. “In Holland, we visited the Anne Frank house. And in San Francisco we bicycled across the Golden Gate Bridge.” On one trip to Los Angeles, Scott got to meet George Nissen, the inventor of the trampoline, who died in April of this year.

Scott’s parents encourage him to do his best, but to have fun and keep his priorities straight. “God, family, education and then gymnastics,” Karin said. They can see how his hard work in gymnastics is helping prepare him for adult life. His determined attitude and habit of self-motivation will serve him well regardless of his eventual career. And then, Scott has noticed the health and fitness benefits of his athletic discipline. “Without gymnastics,” Scott said, “I’d be just another skinny kid.”