A & M University-Commerce Host Celebration of Storied Forklorist
By Scott Cason
COMMERCE, TX—Texas A&M University-Commerce will host a celebration of the life and works of storied folklorist J. Mason Brewer on Monday, January 30, 2017. The series of events will begin with a 10 a.m. reception in the fourth floor Special Collections offices of the James G. Gee Library. Following a break for lunch from 11:45 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. (attendees will be provided a list of suggested Commerce restaurants at the morning reception), the day will continue with a 1:45 p.m. book signing in the Sam Rayburn Student Center with Bruce A. Glasrud and Milton S. Jordan, co-editors of the book, “J. Mason Brewer, Folklorist and Scholar: His Early Texas Writings.” The event will continue at 2:30 p.m. with a panel discussion to include former students and colleagues of Dr. Brewer, and conclude with selected readings and a discussion of J. Mason Brewer’s life and legacy led by Glasrud and Jordan.
About J. Mason Brewer
John Mason Brewer was known as one of the early authorities on African American Folklore. He was born on March 24, 1896, in Goliad, Texas to J.H. Brewer and Minnie T. Brewer. He was one of five children born into a family of distinguished educators and folklorists. Father, J.H. Brewer, worked in a variety of jobs throughout his life and his stories about his experiences influenced young J. Mason Brewer’s interest in folklore.
After attending public schools in Austin, Dr. Brewer attended Wiley College in Marshall, Texas, and received a Bachelor of Arts in English in 1917. After a year teaching in Austin, Dr. Brewer joined the U.S. Army during World War I. He was stationed in France as a Corporal and served as an interpreter due to his ability to speak French, Spanish and Italian. After returning from the war, he worked in public education. During a brief time working in an oil company in Denver, Colorado, he began to write stories and verses for his company journal and, later, the monthly periodical The Negro American. Dr. Brewer’s interest in writing stories of folklore and history brought him back to education when he received a professorship at Samuel Huston College in Austin (now Huston-Tillotson University).
During his time in Austin, he would meet influential folklorist and member of the Texas Folklore Society J. Frank Dobie. Dobie’s suggestion that Dr. Brewer collect and publish black folklore influenced Dr. Brewer’s career as a folklorist. Starting in 1933, Dr. Brewer would enroll at Indiana University to continue his studies, earning a Master of Arts in 1950. In 1951, he received an honorary doctorate from Paul Quinn College in Waco.
Dr. Brewer’s influence on African American folklore was displayed by the depth within the stories he collected from interviews in the U.S. South. Dr. Brewer folktales focused on people, with tales of preachers, workers, and families and how they dealt with the hardships of everyday life through strength and humor. During his career, he was compared to Harlem Renaissance writer Zora Neale Hurston and Alain Locke for his work to promote Texas folklore.
During the 1930s and 1940s, he published in journals his work on folklore. His first major book, “The Word on the Brazos,” was published in 1953, followed by “Aunt Dicy Tales” (1956), “Dog Ghosts and Other Negro Folktales” (1958), “Worser Days and Better Times” (1965), and the anthology “American Negro Folktales” (1968). “American Negro Folktales” won the Chicago Book Fair Award in 1968 and the Twenty-first Annual Writers Roundup award for outstanding book written by a Texas author in 1969. A number of his early works of poetry and Black history of Texas were republished in the 1970s, including “Negrito” (1933), “Negro Texas Legislators of Texas” (1936).
Dr. Brewer became the first black member of the Texas Folklore Society and Texas Institute of Letters (1954). He was the first black man to serve as an officer in the American Folklore Society as vice president. Dr. Brewer was very active as a member of various folklore and poetry societies throughout his life, participating in symposiums and lectures around the United States.
As a professor, he briefly taught in Claflin College in South Carolina before returning to Austin to teach at Huston-Tillotson College from 1943 to 1958. In 1959, he accepted a position in the English Department at Livingstone College in Salisbury, North Carolina. He would finish his career at East Texas State University in Commerce, Texas. He was hired as a distinguished visiting professor and was one of the first black professors hired at ETSU in 1969. During his time there, he taught courses in African American folklore and organized symposiums on writing, poetry, and folklore with other faculty members on campus. Dr. Brewer’s papers reside in the Special Collections Department at A&M-Commerce.
Dr. Brewer died on January 24, 1975, and was buried in Austin.
Bright Star Trumpeter Performs in Four-States Honor Band
Parker Tillery, son of Michael and Amanda Tillery, lead trumpeter for the Bright Star Christian School Band was awarded a position in the Four States Honor Concert Band. The performance was held on January 14th, 2017 at the Performance Arts Center in Texarkana, TX.
Over 200 students from Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma formed 2 concert bands, and one jazz band. Rehearsals were held for 3 days prior to the event.
Parker says, “This had been an experience I will never forget. I hope to place in the Four States next year.” Students can try-out for the Honor Band during their sophomore, junior and senior years.
Bright Star Christian School band director Richard Shanks said, “Parker is an inspiration to the future B.S.C.S band members to work towards in the years to come.”
Parker Tillery, son of Michael and Amanda Tillery, lead trumpeter for the Bright Star Christian School Band was awarded a position in the Four States Honor Concert Band.
GoFundMe Account for Homeless Man Now Closed; Over $69,000 Received
Pictured: Lazarus, Anthony, and Lin
In one day, 2452 people donated $69,512 to Anthony’s Village, a gofundme.com account established by Colleen Hoover, author and owner of the Bookworm Box for a homeless 19 year old man. The gofundme account is now closed having exceeded three goals set during the day.
Wednesday, January 18, 2017 saw over $13,000 has been raised in one hour for Anthony’s Village, a gofundme.com account established by Colleen Hoover for a 19-year old homeless man in Sulphur Springs. The original goal of $5,000 was increased to $20,000 as money began pouring into the account. Some 385 people or more gave in the first hour.
A few years ago, the young man was left in Sulphur Springs by his drug addict mother who moved back to Oklahoma. He slept in alleys often. He was fed by restaurants downtown. Hoover and her husband learned his true story over a period of time and decided to establish the gofundme account.
Man Wanted in Minnesota in Hopkins County Jail
A man on the most wanted list in Nicollet County Minnesota is in Hopkins County Jail Friday morning.
Kevin Daniel Eichelberger, 42, of North Richland Hillls is being held for violation of parole for Online Solicit Minor Sex Conduct. He is also wanted for felony probation violation of a Minnesota 4th degree drug possession.
Date, Time Change for Ms Hopkins County Senior Classic Pageant
The 2017 Ms Hopkins County Senior Classic Pageant will have a new time and place this year. The event will be conducted at League Street Church of Christ, June 10th at 6 p.m. All ladies 60 years and older are eligible to compete in the Pageant. Each contestant will be judged in four categories including interview with the judges, philosophy of life, evening gown, and talent.
The winner will be eligible to compete in the 2017 Ms Texas Senior Classic Pageant in September in Tyler. To enter the pageant, call Karon Weatherman at 903-885-1661.
Lavonne Elam is the 2016 Ms Hopkins County Senior.
State Rep. Flynn Committed to Replacing A-F Grading System
Dan Flynn
State Representative District 2 Dan Flynn is concerned as the rating for performance of Texas schools is changed. Flynn said the A-F grading system is based on student achievement and progress, closing performance gaps between high income and low income students, college readiness and student’s community engagement. Several good schools in his district will receive multiple D-F letter grades which he sees as inaccurate.
Lt. Governor Dan Patrick said “Love or hate them, new A-F letter grades for Texas schools are here to stay.” Flynn said he is committed to replacing the scoring system with a system that more accurately represents the state of Texas schools and school districts, while still holding them accountable for performance. He believes parents, administrators, teacher and all others affected and opposed to the system should reach out to their elected officials and let their views be known.
Sulphur Springs ISD will conduct a public hearing Monday, February 13 at 6 p.m. for the purpose of discussing the Annual Report of Educational Performance and the Texas Academic Performance Report for the 2015-2016 school year. The hearing will be in conjunction with the regularly scheduled meeting of the board.
Tira News January 20, 2017
by Jan Vaughn
Sherry Smiddy reports that the Cross Spur Cowboy Church would like to invite everyone to their annual “Sweets for Your Sweetie” auction, on February 12th at 10:30 a.m. All proceeds go to their youth group.
Landon, Laiken, Rylan, Brailon, and Slaiden Joslin went to Piney Shores Resort on Lake Conroe last weekend. On Saturday they drove to Beaumont to pick up Dixie and let her enjoy some time playing with her brothers. They took Dixie back on Sunday and returned to Tira.
Chip and I went to watch our grandson, Kenden Joslin, play basketball on Friday evening. His parents and sister were there, too. On Saturday morning, Chip, Tiffany, Kenden, Jaidyn, and I went to Cumby for Jaidyn’s Little Dribblers game, and then we did a little shopping and went to Red Lobster for lunch.
The North Hopkins homecoming games will be played on Friday night. There are four games on the schedule, beginning at 4:30. Also, a Homecoming Queen will be crowned. Come out to support the Panthers!
Grace Vaughn joined us for lunch on Sunday, and then we all went to Posey Baptist Church for a 35th anniversary party for Tim and Lori Vaughn. Chip visited with Grace for her birthday on Tuesday afternoon.
I always need and appreciate input from my friends to help keep me informed of news in our community. If you have any news pertaining to Tira residents, past or present, please contact me, Jan Vaughn, at 903-945-2190 or 903-438-6688 or [email protected].
The Price of Beef By Mario Villarino
Local markets are an interesting subject for discussion. As a rule, the more scarce the commodity is the higher the prices to the consumers it will be. In the case of beef and because high prices causes people to consume less meat, the relationship between high prices and low consumption is true. As I was going thru some USDA studies where it is reflected this to be true, I could not help but notice the variation between prices at any given time. As I was talking to a local producer last Wednesday during the NETBIO sale, we talked about the opportunity of producers to get cattle at a good price and the great choices that those producers have to profit from those opportunities with proper marketing. Dr. Jason Banta, Beef Specialist in Overton Texas with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension made the following graphs:
As you can see on these graphs, the price of beef has the tendency to drop as time goes by (in years) but also has the tendency to increase or decrease month to month during a particular year. This will cause particular market prices to increase or decrease in a different way every month on each location even when overall the price of beef is decreasing. Without an overall understanding of the general trend in prices it will be very hard to understand a low price trend when monthly prices are higher than previous or future ones. Producers should use these market variations to fit their particular production systems according to their availability of forage or resources to make the best out of their own cattle sales. Also, new ranchers or people interested in buying cattle for the first time must understand monthly market variations to buy or sale their cattle at the best time.
For more information on this or any other agricultural topic please contact the Hopkins County Extension Office at 903-885-3443or email me at [email protected].
How to Choose Seasonal Fruits and Vegetables By Johanna Hicks
How to Choose Seasonal Fruits and Vegetables
We all know that consuming more fruits and vegetables will have great benefits on our health. Those that are in season or at their peak harvest have the best flavor and are usually the least expensive. By choosing fruits and vegetables that are in season, you will teach your family to enjoy these good-for-you foods and save some money in the process. Include seasonal when planning your menu. When you want or need a fruit or vegetables that is not in season, check out canned or frozen for a better buy.
Farmers’ markets are a fun way to look for seasonal and locally grown fruits and vegetables. Farmers’ markets provide the opportunity to talk with the grower about their produce and get ideas they may have for selecting and preparing produce. At the farmers’ market, take your time to shop around to find the best produce and price. Below are some fruits and vegetables that are in season. Clip and post on your refrigerator for a quick reference!
Year round: bananas, apples, celery, carrots, potatoes, onions
Winter: grapefruits, oranges, clementines, tangerines, kiwi fruits
Spring: snow peas, broccoli, greens, asparagus, strawberries, spinach
Summer: peppers, cucumbers, cherries, melons, grapes, berries, corn, green beans
Fall: apples, sweet potatoes, grapes, tomatoes, pumpkin, acorn and butternut squash, pears
To get the best deal on fruits and vegetables, and to avoid waste, ask yourself these questions before you go to the store:
1) What is in season? In-season fruits and vegetables are usually a better deal.
2) How will I use it? Different forms of fruits and vegetables (fresh, frozen, canned, dried, juice) can be used in different ways.
3) Do I have room to store it? Think about available space in cupboards, the refrigerator and the freezer.
4) How quickly can I use it? Fresh fruits and vegetables usually need to be used within a week or less, while canned, frozen, and dried will last longer.
5) When will I go to the store next? Buy enough to last for the next week, two weeks, or month until you can get back to the store.
If you enjoy perusing the internet for reliable resources for recipes, tips and tricks, and family mealtime suggestions, you will probably enjoyhttp://dinnertonight.tamu.edu/. On that site, you will find a plethora of delicious recipes that are designed for flavor and health benefits. You can also find Dinner Tonight on Facebook! Check it out!
Master Wellness Volunteer Training Deadline Approaches
We are taking registrations for the 2017 Master Wellness Volunteer training. The series is scheduled for Mondays, January 30, February 6, 13, 20, and 27, at the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Office, 1200-B W. Houston in Sulphur Springs. We’ll cover topics such as nutrition, food safety, health and wellness, childhood nutrition, finding reliable sources on the internet, and much more! Upon completion of the training, a certification exam will be given (don’t worry, we’ll review each week, so it will be a breeze!). Volunteers then agree to give 40 hours of service by assisting me with programs, health fairs, 4-H events, program preparations, and other activities. You get to select how much and how often to participate, and I’ll never ask you to do anything that you don’t feel prepared to do.
This is a great opportunity to learn, and to help the community! Contact my office for times and fee. (A hybrid version is also available, but the first and last meetings must be face-to-face.)
Seating is limited to the first 15, so don’t delay – call 903-885-3443.
Closing Thought
We cannot always build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future – Franklin D. Roosevelt
02 Johanna Hicks
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
Family & Consumer Sciences
1200-B W. Houston
P.O.Box 518
Sulphur springs, TX 75483
903-885-3443 – phone
903-439-4909 – Fax
[email protected]
Cumby ISD Science Fair, January 2017
4th Place Savannah Kurn
The Cumby ISD Science Fair Showcase was held Thursday evening, January 19th, 2017. Grades 5 – 7 brought out their work for judging and public critique. Cumby ISD Science Teachers worked together to make the event happen. Principal Dracos handed out her own awards to projects that merited extra recognition. In an effort to evolve the largest number of students, the projects were judged by upper class Trojans. Their judgement was in turn graded by teachers to assure parity.
Parents and student filled the library and high school atrium while viewing the work; everyone enjoyed some light refreshments.
This marks the second Science Fair held by these teachers, and the success of this event demands a return.
Here are the Winners:
5th Grade
1st Jailyn Dixon
2nd Mallory Wheat
3rd Macie Morales
4th Kendall Dobson
6th Grade
1st Neely Hammond
2nd Jackson Evans
3rd Clay Krotky
4th Erin Morgan
7th Grade
1st Skylar Mc Johnston
2nd Fabian Camargo
3rd DJ Cota
4th Savannah Kurn
