Tyler County 2009 - Tyler County Booster

Transcription

Tyler County 2009 - Tyler County Booster
Tyler County 2009
Featuring Woodville
&Surrounding
Featuring Woodville & Surrounding
Areas Areas
Inside
Cypress Creek Ranch - Investment in Exotic Animals
Tyler County Dogwood Festival
Allan Shivers Library & Museum
Steinhagen Lake - Ready For Recreation
Heritage Village & Museum
Woodville & Tyler County Maps
Tyler County Art League
Off The Tracks In Colmesneil - W.T. Colmesneil House
Advertisers Directory
Page 4
Page 6
Page 10
Page 12
Page 16
Page 18
Page 22
Page 34
Page 34
On The Cover: The Annual Tyler County Fair gives
2009
Tyler County young people an opportunity to show
Discover Tyler off their talent in many areas. These young men were
County Magazine “hanging out” during the livestock auction.
Editor
Jim Powers
Graphic Design
Cyndie Schmidt
Advertising/Writer
Kelli Barnes
Advertising
Becky Byley
Discover Tyler County Magazine 2009 is published by
Polk County Publishing Company, Livingston, Tx. Serving
Chester, Colmesneil, Doucette, Fred, Hillister, Spurger,
Warren and Woodville, Discover Tyler County Magazine is a visitors’ guide to the pineywoods of Deep East
Texas, with emphasis on Tyler County and surrounding areas and is dedicated to the people and businesses
that make Tyler County such a wonderful community
to work, live and play.
Tyler County Art League
Fine Art Centre & Gallery
Gallery Showcases Original Art of Exceptional Quality
Classes and Workshops Available
(Youth & Adult)
HOURS:
Tuesday - Friday 10:00am - 5:00pm
Saturday 10:00am - 3:00pm
After Hours by Appointment (409) 283-2788
WE ACCEPT ALL MAJOR CREDIT CARDS
Located 1 block West of the Courthouse
210 West Bluff (Hwy 190 West)
Page 4
Discover Tyler County 2009
Cypress Creek Ranch: Hurricane Leads
by Kelli Barnes
Stories from the aftermath of Hurricanes Rita and Ike continue to circulate
in Tyler County. The next generation
will have a lot to share on the subject.
Phil McClure, local business owner,
has one of those stories.
“Our family has owned 400 acres just
North of Warren since the early 1900’s.
I have been contemplating for years,
how I can help our family’s future
generations to afford keeping this land
as part of our heritage,” said McClure.
“ The idea of exotic animals has always
interested me, because I truly love hunting and the outdoors.”
One of the biggest expenses in housing exotic animals is fencing. When
hurricane Rita devastated our area,
the McClure family lost a tremendous
amount of fence and was faced with
re-fencing the entire property. “ This
is when I decided to get proper fencing
to begin investing in exotic animals,”
McClure said. “ The investment has
Invites you
to become a
Partner
For LIFE
Partnership Levels
$25 - $49........................................................General
$50 - $99................................................Foundational
$100 - $499...............................................Traditional
$500 - $999............................................Generational
$1,000 - $4,999.........................................Centennial
$5,000 and above.......................................Millennial
a guaranteed return because of four
specific reasons: hunting, selling to
breeders, selling to hunt ranches and
the venison market. Today, protein in
the European diet consists of eighty
percent venison - the meat is so lean
and healthy.”
An interesting fact: In comparison,
America’s protein consumption is
about two percent venison. According
to McClure, the United States could
not change this percentage overnight
because there is currently not enough
supply to meet that kind of demand.
On Cypress Creek Ranch, there are
currently six types of exotic animals.
1. Indian Blackbuck Antelope, with
tan to black coloring and white eye
rings, ears, chin, rump, chest and belly.
Their horns are corkscrew, projecting
up in a high V.
2. Axis Deer with crisp white spots on
a bright chestnut coat and white bib at
throat and black stripe down the back.
Gloria Russell Children’s Ministry
• Kids’ Crusades • After School Bible Clubs • Summer Camp
• Homeland Teen Missionaries • Bible Teacher Training
(409) 837-9990
www.changinggenerations.org
Please Join Our 2009 Project
Your contributions will support
Capital Improvements at the Hospital.
For more Information visit www.tchospital.us
Or Call (409)283-6401
Tyler County Hospital Foundation supports the
Tyler County Hospital District.
Phone: (409) 283-8737
TYLER COUNTY’S SALES LEADER - WE GET RESULTS!
802 West Bluff Street
Hwy 190 West - Woodville, TX - 75979
http://www.mmoffett.com
http://easttexaslandco.com
Milton F. Moffett, III, Broker
Bela N. Nagypal, Sales Assoc.
Judy S. Brown, Sales Assoc.
Tillman T. Johnson, Sales Assoc.
Discover Tyler County 2009
Page 5
To Exotic Animals
Their antlers are tall and simple with long brow tines.
3. European Fallow Deer vary in color from tan, black, spotted
on brownish coat and rusty colored with white spots. Males
develop palms on antlers as they mature.
4. Symitor-horned Oryx are beautiful with a white coat and
chestnut neck/chest. The horns are long, ringed and bend back
from the top of the head.
5. European Red Deer are also beautiful animals with a red to
brown color coat. Males develop long hair on the neck in the
winter months. The antlers with brown tines grow to circle in
at the top for a classic round shape.
409.283.3601
708 S. Magnolia St. • Woodville, TX 75979
See ‘Cypress Creek Ranch Pg 6
Jarrott’s Pharmacy
Since 1952
You’ve planned everything
in your life....together.
Make sure you have the
end planned as well....together.
Preplanning can give you peace of mind.
113 W. Holly
Woodville, TX
283-8218
Highway 96 N
Jasper, TX
384-5781
FM 1414 Chapel
Burkeville, TX
565-2216
Bridal Registry & Gifts
205 S. Magnolia • Woodville
(409) 283-2550
Monday - Friday
8:30 am - 5:30 pm
Page 6
Discover Tyler County 2009
Lindsey B. Whisenhant
Attorney
Trial lawyer practicing in Civil Litigation,
Personal Injury, Commercial and Probate Litigation
Cypress Creek Ranch
Continued from Pg 6
6. Texas Dall Sheep are the white variety of Corsican
sheep, a registered trademark of the Y.O. Ranch, Mountain Home, Texas. The coat is course, straight hair on top
covering a woolly undercoat. These sheep were bred to
enlarge the horns for hunting appeal.
Horns are heavy, circling and turning downward and
then curl outward at tips, forming at least one complete
curl.
more
more
in stor
130 South Charlton • Woodville, TX
1-800-397-4989
office (409) 283-8288 • fax (409) 283-8078
more
in store
for you!
now you can
bank smart while you shop
in for
store
you
for you!
bank smart
nowbank
you can
smart while you shop whi
now you can
now open!
now op
Visit our new
Visit our new
Grand openinG
EducationFirst branch inside
celebration Grand o
EducationFirst
branch inside
brookshire
brothers - Woodville
saturday, Dec. 6 celebra
520 s. magnolia
brookshire brothers - Woodville
520 s. magnolia
saturday
Register for a $200 Brookshire Brothers
Gift Card* and other prizes.
Winner must
* be a member of EducationFirst and need not be present to win.
Rules and regulations apply and are posted at EducationFirst FCU branch. $200
reported on information return (Form 1099) for income tax purposes.
Register for a $200 Brookshire Brothers
Gift Card* and other prizes.
Winner must
* be a member of EducationFirst and need not be present to win.
Rules and regulations apply and are posted at EducationFirst FCU branch. $200
reported on information return (Form 1099) for income tax purposes.
Visit our new
EducationFirst branch inside
brookshire brothers - Woodville
520 s. magnolia
now open!
Grand openinG
celebration
bank sm
saturday, Dec. 6
Bank Smart.
409.898.3770 • 800.456.4684
www.educationfirstfcu.org
Register for a $200 Brookshire Brothers
Gift Card* and other prizes.
Winner must
* be a member of EducationFirst and need not be present to win.
409.898.3770 n 800.45
www.educationfirst
Discover Tyler County 2009
Page 7
McClure also has Whitetail Deer currently undergoing
the process of artificial insemination to produce “monster
bucks”.
“I have been blessed and this is a good investment, but I
also love driving the property each evening and watching
the animals. It is my favorite time of day,” McClure said. “
I do most of the work involved in the upkeep of the place, so
exotic ranching is definitely my second full time career.”
McClure also loves seeing people drive by to observe the
animals.
“Currently, there are over 300 animals and within twelve
months the number will double, “McClure said. “I have
been told that 2000 exotics would not be too many for this
Ranch, so I will keep adding…I love it.”
Serving Tyler County for over 30 Years
Bob Boykin
Photography
(409) 283-5919 • (800) 439-2698
FINE PORTRAITS
COMPLETE DIGITAL SERVICES
• Families
• High School Seniors
• Sporting Events
• Reunions & Weddings
• Animals
• Copy & Restoration
• Graduations
• Dogwood Festival
• Event Videos
Kenner’s Pit BBQ
& West Magnolia Grocery
Chevron Gas • Full Deli • Clean Restrooms
1109 West Bluff • Hwy. 190 West • Woodville
(409) 283-5179
R
ILEY FUNERAL HOME
904 W. Bluff
Woodville, TX 75979
(409) 283-8727
95 Hwy 190 W • 283-8131
Visit to our website to:
Martindale
Find info on a loved ones
funeral service & visitation
Online Guest Book
Real Estate Investments
Funeral Tribute Videos
Norvelle Rogers, Sales Associate
Michele Martindale, Broker
www.martindalerealestate.com
www.rileysfuneralhome.com
MLS
MULTI LISTING SERVICES
Page 8
Discover Tyler County 2009
Tyler County Dogwood Festival:
It may happen every spring
in Tyler County, but there is
always something unique about
every Tyler County Dogwood
Festival. In 2007, it snowed! On
an April day, during the Queen’s
Weekend Parade, when the sun
should have been shining and
the temperature moderate, parade goers were delighted (snow
is rare in S.E. Texas) when real
snow fell on their parade. And
then in 2008, it was a beautiful
sunshiny day!
For three magical weeks from
mid-March to early April, dogwood trees grace Tyler County
with their white-f lowered
blossoms. If there’s one thing
residents of Woodville and
Tyler County love, it’s their
trees. After all, the county is in
the heart of the Big Thicket.
And almost as much as they
love their trees, they love to
celebrate. Combine the two
and you get the annual Dogwood Festival, Tyler County’s
premier event each year. The
three-weekend event will kick
off with the Festival of the Arts
at Heritage Village Museum on
March 21 & 22, followed by
Western Weekend on March 27
& 28 and the Queen’s Weekend
on April 4.
Historical perspective
The Dogwood Festival dates
back to 1940, when it was founded by lifelong Tyler County
resident James Edward Wheat.
After taking a brief hiatus during World War II, the festival
returned and has become firmly
established as an East Texas
tradition.
“The Dogwood Festival is the
root of our hometown,” former
Make Every Room
Your Favorite Room.
Financing Available
FURNITURE & APPLIANCE
1123 S. MAGNOLIA • WOODVILLE
Across from Wal-Mart
(409) 283-8286
Discover Tyler County 2009
Page 9
Family Fun For Everyone!
Woodville Mayor Jimmie
Cooley says. “It’s so good that
we can do this because our town
and county are so pretty in the
springtime.”
The continuation of the festival, which has lasted more
than 60 years, is a tribute to the
commitment of volunteers, says
Fred Sullivan, a president of the
Dogwood Festival Permanent
Directors.
Dedicated volunteers
“As one group of volunteers
moves away or passes on, there
has been somebody else to step
in and take their place,” he says.
“I think the Dogwood Festival
has meant a lot to Woodville and
Tyler County through the years
because many people associate
Woodville and Tyler County
with the festival.”
The event kicks off with the
Festival of the Arts at Heritage
Village Museum. The 19th-century-era buildings of the Village
come alive with blacksmithing
demonstrations, spinners and
weavers, quilters, painters, period music and food vendors.
This year the Festival of the
Arts Festival includes two full
days of activities.
Happy trails
The second weekend of the
festival, Western Weekend,
includes arts, crafts and food
vendors on the courthouse
square in downtown Woodville,
one of the largest trail rides
in the state with trail riders
converging on Saturday for a
parade through downtown and
the Western Weekend Rodeo.
The final weekend of the
festival features the Big Thicket
Arts and Crafts Fair on the
courthouse square, a classic car
show, a colorful parade through
downtown, the regal coronation
of the Dogwood Queen, the
oldest outdoor historical drama
in the South and a fireworks
show.
The fireworks show provides
quite a flourish to an event that
draws visitors from hundreds
of miles away and follows the
Queen’s crowning.
“The tradition of crowning
a Dogwood Queen has been
a beautiful thing for all these
years,” 2002 Dogwood Queen
Sara Erdek said. “If anything, it’s
more special now than ever.”
Page 10
Discover Tyler County 2009
Woodville United
Methodist Church
508 West Bluff Street
(Hwy 190 West, 2 doors down
from City Hall, west of the Courthouse)
409-283-2471
www.woodvilleumc.com
Sunday Worship: 10:50am
Sunday School for all ages: 9:45am
Youth: 6:00pm
GracePoint Worship
Sunday nights at 6:00pm
Our hearts, our minds,
and our doors are always open.
Hometown People
You Know
www.fnbjasper.com
Main Bank: 301 E. Houston • Jasper • 409-384-3486
Woodville: 2873 Hwy 190 E. • 409-283-8231
Allan Shivers
Library & Museum
Governor Allan Shivers
(1907-1985) might have been
born in Lufkin, but he grew
up in Woodville across the
street from the courthouse in
Tyler County, so Tyler County
folks consider him a “native
son.” Allan Shivers Library
and Museum, located at 302
N. Charlton Street in Woodville, has become a repository
of many historical documents
and objects related to this
popular Governor’s life.
The building housing the
Museum was built by Robert
A. Cruse in 1881 and moved
from its original location in
1963 to make way for a motel. The Shivers secured the
building and had it moved to
the present location where it
was restored and converted
into a museum for the collection and display of mementos of the Allan Shivers gubernatorial service.
At this same time, they also
built a completely equipped
library.
The museum, which offers tours Weekdays from 9
a.m. until 4:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. until 2
p.m., is filled on two floors
with the historical and the
simply interesting. The first
room to the right when you
enter the museum is decorated as a typical Victorian
parlor, complete with sofa,
chairs, chandelier and an old
family album bound in Velvet.
B&C
Taxidermy
4230 Hwy 69 S. • Woodville, TX 75979
(409) 283-3141
White Tail Shoulder Mounts
Soft Tan Skins &
Wild Game Rugs
Headquarters of the Annual
Tyler County “Best Rack Contest”
References Available
Discover Tyler County 2009
Page 11
Page 12
Discover Tyler County 2009
Ross Shelton, Senior Pastor
Mark Tolar, Music
Todd Pounds, Minister of Youth
Steinhagen Lake:
by Kelli Barnes
One of the areas biggest recreation draws for many years has
been through some hard times lately. Vegetation overgrowth
in Steinhagen Lake, located on Hwy. 190 between Woodville
and Jasper, Tx, pretty much prevented boating and fishing
activities for several years. But, that has changed, and the lake
is returning to a great spot for boating sports of all kinds.
Regular Weekly Schedule
Sunday Services:
Bible Study 9:30 AM
Worship 10:45 AM & 6 PM
Wednesday Services:
Prayer Services 6:15 PM
Youth 6:30 PM
Prayer Room:
(409) 283-8557
202 S. Charlton Street · Across from Courthouse
(409) 283-2588 · Fax: (409) 283-2580
www.fbcwoodville.com
The Lake At Dam B Before Treatment
76 Hwy 190 West • Woodville, Texas • (409) 283-8147
Discover Tyler County 2009
Page 13
Recreation Ready
Have you seen Dam-B lately? Things look so nice around
the lake, it will make you want to go fishing and enjoy the
water. For years, the problem of growth at Dam-B has been a
mystery to some who did not ask questions, but the sign near
the dock explains it all. We contacted the Corps of Engineers
to see what is changing, and this is what we found out.
According to Floyd Boyett, on site Manager of the Town Bluff
Project for the Corps of Engineers, the nuisance aquatic vegetation herbicide project for 2008 was a joint effort between the
local Texas Parks and Wildlife Fisheries and Wildlife Offices,
the Lower Neches Valley Authority, and the Corps of Engineers. TPWD provided the management plan and technical
guidance for the effort, as well as periodic surveys of the lake
to track progress. LNVA, which owns the water in the lake,
provided funding for the dedicated airboat application crew
(Sprayco from Houston). The Corps (Town Bluff Project,
Fort Worth District) provided the herbicides and the QA/
QC for the project. Spraying began in May of 2008, focusing
primarily on boat ramps, park shorelines, boat lanes and other
recreation or scenic areas, as well as the powerhouse intake and
floodgate structure at the dam. Target species included water
hyacinth, alligator weed, and both common and giant salvinia. As some control was made in these areas, efforts expanded to
more remote portions of the lake. Spraying continued through
mid-October, with a brief break due to Hurricane Ike. Over 2000 acres were treated (at an average total cost of
Continued on Pg 14
115 Cobb Mill Rd
Woodville, TX
(409) 283-8248
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Woodville, Texas
Next Door To Brookshire Bros.
409-283-5222
Dealer Name/logo Here
409-283-2570
www.tylercountytractor.com
Dealer Name/logo Here
© 2006 CNH America LLC. New Holland is a registered trademark of CNH America LLC.
© 2006 CNH America LLC. New Holland is a registered trademark of CNH America LLC.
For solid performance at a value price, choose a NEW TT-A Series tractor from
For solid performance at a value price, choose a NEW TT-A Series tractor from
New Holland. Both the 56- and 75-horsepower models feature time-proven
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engines, axles and transmissions with controls and a price that are easy to handle.
engines, axles and transmissions with controls and a price that are easy to handle.
Page 14
Discover Tyler County 2009
Continued from Pg 13
$108 per acre), extending from The Forks of the Neches and
Angelina Rivers in the north to the dam in the south. Initial
assessment of the effort by TPWD is very positive. All 3
agencies plan to continue the project for the next few years,
hopefully gaining a little more control each year, and expanding even further to the north to include some of the lakes
and sloughs in the northern reaches of the project to reclaim
access for both hunters and fishermen. Due to its relatively
shallow, nutrient-rich nature, the floating nuisance vegetation
will never be eradicated from the reservoir, but it is believed
that this program will keep it in check, allowing the public to
once again enjoy this unique resource.
The public is very excited about the improvements at Dam-B
Discover Tyler County 2009
Page 15
and also a little more informed about why things have been
so bad there and all the effort it takes to control the problem.
Keep up the good work!
Monday thru Saturday
9 am - 5 pm
Two Locations to Serve You!
105 E. Bluff (Hwy 190) • Woodville • 283-7691
Hwy 190 West Shopping Circle • Newton • 379-2057
Russ Nalley, Agent
403 West Bluff
Woodville, TX
(409) 283-8105
Get affordable coverage from State Farm.
See me to find out why State Farm insures more
cars and homes than anyone.
Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there. ®
AUTO · HOME · LIFE · HEALTH
258 FM 1013 off Hwy 69 · Hillister
(409)283-3350
“The Church Where
Everybody Is Somebody
and Christ is Lord”
“The Home With Heart”
102 N. Beech Woodville, TX
Sunday
School
9:45 am
Morning
Worship
11:00 am
Evening
Worship
6:00 pm
Wednesday
Bible Study
6:00 pm
(409) 283-2554
Located next to the Tyler County Hospital
Page 16
Discover Tyler County 2009
Tyler County History Comes Alive:
A stroll through the grounds
of Heritage Village Museum
with longtime Tyler County
resident Jack Whitmeyer is a
walk through history.
The 86-year-old retired
electronics engineer is as
responsible as any one person
for the vibrancy of the Village
today, but you’d never hear
such words from his lips.
Indeed, Whitmeyer, who has
had a hand in constructing
or restoring most of the
buildings in the Village
shrugs off any praise.
“I was raised in the country
80 or so years ago,” says the
affable Whitmeyer. “Grandpa
used to say, ‘If you want a
house, get out there and build
the darn thing.’ ”
And that’s exactly what
he has done at the Village.
Whitmeyer recalls that he
got involved in construction
at Heritage Village when he
told Village founder Clyde
Gray, “If I ever retire, I’m
going to come up here and
straighten this darn mess
out.”
He did that and then
some. Whitmeyer has done
everything from restoring the
City of Houston’s 1903 clock,
which once was on display
at the Village, to building
a schoolhouse and other
structures. His passion for
history is reflected in the way
he relates the story of how
the Village came to be.
What eventually has become
the premier pioneer historical
setting in East Texas began
in the early 1950s when
Clyde Gray and his wife,
Bill, moved from Beaumont
to Tyler County and began
a goat farm. Fittingly, Clyde
was an artist.
Rodney Bendy
diRt WoRk
PRODUCT:
Cypress Mulch • Hardwood Bark Mulch •
Landscape Mix • Pine Bark Mulch (Red) • Top Soil
Sand • Clay • 60/40 • Crushed Stone • Pea Gravel
Limestone Base • 1x3 Rock • 3x5 Rock • 1x12 Rock
Reject Asphalt • Blue Rock • Road Base
Concrete Washout • River Rock
Backhoe, dozer, dump truck, House
Foundation, Ponds, Roads, Clearing,
General dirtwork, etc.
936-969-2335 • 936-676-5568 cell
Tyler County’s “A-Team” for Great Deals!
Hwy 69 South • Woodville, TX
(409) 283-7605
Discover Tyler County 2009
Page 17
Heritage Village
“The first time I ran into
him, Woodville’s finest had
U.S. 190 blocked off, and
he was sitting in the middle
of the street painting the
building where the Tyler
County Booster is now,”
Whitmeyer says. “The police
put a barricade around Clyde,
and there was about one car
an hour that passed by.”
Anchor started it all
company owned by Bill
Gray’s family dredged up a
Civil War-era anchor, and
Clyde and Bill brought it
to Tyler County for display.
The anchor, according to
Whitmeyer, could have come
from a Union gunship.
That was the beginning of
the rich historical collection
at what would become
Heritage Village Museum.
Soon thereafter, Gray added
the 19th-century vintage Tolar
Cabin and the old Midway
School, which since the
early 1970s has housed the
world-famous Pickett House
restaurant.
The couple bought the old
Rainey Strawberry Farm,
the current site of Heritage
Village.
“For something to do, Bill
went out behind their house
and planted a little garden,” A place to find one’s roots
Whitmeyer says. “She put
out fliers that read, “Heritage People come from all over the
Garden – view it while Clyde world to tour the Village and
paints your picture.”
dine at the Pickett House, says
Soon thereafter, the shipping
Continued on Pg 21
100% Pure PharmacySM
Hours
Monday - Friday
9 am - 6 pm
Rodney Derouen, Pharmacist
1010 W. Bluff • Woodville, TX 75979 • 283-3073
Terracewood Apartments
Senior Citizens • Handicapped • Disabled
TDD Available
Rental Rates Based on Income
One & Two Bedroom
Handicapped
Tyler County...
Office Hours: Monday-Friday 9 am - 1 pm
300 Cobb Mill Road • Woodville, TX 75979
(409) 283-3592
TDD (800) 735-2988
This institution is an equal opportunity provider, and employer.
62 years of age or older, handicap/disabled, regardless of age
What A Beautiful
Sight
Dr. Veillon
Dr. Ruckman
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c
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OuIrs FYou!
Dr. Rushing
200 Ogletree Dr.
Livingston, TX
(936) 328-5600
Dr. Saldaña
2 Medical Center Blvd.
Lufkin, TX
(936) 634-8434
WWW.THECENTERFORSIGHT.COM
Page 18
Discover Tyler County 2009
City of Woodville
Tyler County Booster
Serving the People of Tyler County for 82 Years.
205 West Bluff · Woodville, TX 75979
(409) 283-2516
www.easttexasnews.com
Poplar
Kirby
Redbud
Magnolia
Couthouse Square
Shiver St.
Tyler County Chamber of Commerce
(409) 283-2632 · 717 W. Bluff · Woodville, TX
www.tylercountychamber.com
Barclay St.
Willow St.
Willis
Blackgum
Walnut
Griffin
Hyde
Live Oak St.
Cedar St.
Martin Luther King Dr.
Sweet
Gum
190
Hwy 69/287
Johnson
Holly
y
Hw
Willis
Wheat
•
Booster
Village
Reid
Bluff
Charlton
Suton
Nellius
• City Hall
Hyde
Cooper St.
Pavilion
Beaver
•
Dogwood
• Tyler County
Chamber
Visitor
Center
Allan
Shivers
Library
Discover Tyler County 2009
Page 19
Tyler County Area Map
To Lufkin
69
PeachTree
Village
R255
Neches
River
1745
Chester
Long
Leaf
Pine
Trail
Colmesneil
• Lake
Tejas
256
256
Martin Dies,Jr. State Park • • Magnolia Ridge
287
Dam B
3065
1632
Louisiana
Pacific Trail
256
Doucette
190
To Livingston
15 miles to
Alabama-Coushatta
Indian Reservation
Heritage Village •
•
Dogwood
Hills
Golf
Course
B.A.
Steinhagen
Lake
190 To Jasper
•
Campers Cove
1746
Woodville
92
2992
• Beech
Creek
Trail
287
(30 miles to Livingston)
1013
Hillister
Spurger
Warren
1943
92
1943
Wildwood Golf Course •
(8 miles south of Warren)
69
2827
To Beaumont
Turkey •
Creek
Trail
Fred
• Watson Pinelands Preserve
Page 20
Discover Tyler County 2009
WHERE ARE YOU?
Are you a member of Generation X or Y? Are you a Baby
Boomer? Whatever your generation, what do you plan
on doing with the rest of your life?
FIRST-TIME STUDENT?
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facing a layoff or being ‘held back’ because of a
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that the kids are growing up?
WHERE’S YOUR FUTURE?
See yourself in healthcare or business? Maybe you’ve
always wanted to work in firefighting, law enforcement
or homeland security. Do you wish you could jump in on
the job boom in southeast Texas?
ARE YOU READY?
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to a job that pays well, a job that is in demand?
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1116 A South Magnolia • Woodville
(409) 283-8191
Homecare SolutionS
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Homecare Solutions
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serves a territory covering a
70 mile radius from Woodville.
We provide a variety
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Skilled Nursing • Wound Care
Therapy • Home Health Aid
Post-Operative Recovery
Call us at 409-331-9492
or toll free at 1-877-331-9492
Fax 409-331-9490
Discover Tyler County 2009
Tyler County History Comes Alive
Continued from Pg 17
Ofeira Gazzaway, Heritage
Village director. Altogether,
the Village hosts some 30,000
visitors each year.
A more recent addition to
the Village is the Whitmeyer
Genealogical
Library.
Whitmeyer says the facility
began when he donated “a
couple of pickup truck loads”
of historical books about Tyler
County. The library has now
grown to be a major East
Texas research facility.
“We have large blacksmithing,
quilting, archeological and
Indian collections,” he says.
“For years, people sat on the
steps with grandma and were
told family stories.The research
library is a place where people
find their lost family history.”
Tyler County nearly lost the
Village in the mid-1980s
when Gray, who died in 1989,
wanted to donate the property
to the Texas Historical
Commission. Knowing that
the county would then own
the Village – and might, in
the future, decide to sell it —
a local fundraising effort was
mounted instead, to buy the
Village for the perpetual use,
entertainment and education
of local residents and visitors.
The Heritage Society was
formed in 1987 and raised
$125,000 in 45 days. The
nonprofit
organization,
made up of many dedicated
volunteers, is committed to
keeping the Village operating
for many, many years to come.
Throughout the year, the
Village hosts such events as
the Whispers in the Wind
outdoor historical drama,
depicting the founding of Tyler
County through romance and
adventure surrounding the
Wilson family, who lived near
Chester; the Festival of the
Arts in the spring (part of the
annual Dogwood Festival);
the Harvest Festival each fall;
Storytelling Night in the late
summer and the Candlelight
Christmas Tour.
During most events, the
Page 21
Village comes alive with live
music, dancing, arts and crafts
demonstrators, Civil War
reenactments, food vendors
and more.
“The Village,” concludes
Whitmeyer, “is here for
everybody.”
Heritage Village is located on
Hwy 190 west of Woodville.
Tyler County
Dogwood Festival
Festival of the Arts
March 21st, 2009
Western Weekend
409-832-0011 Beaumont • 409-982-2202 Port Arthur
409-384-1400 Jasper
March 27th & 28th, 2009
Queens Weekend
April 4th, 2009
We accept Long Term Care Insurance and Private Pay
www.TylerCountyDogwoodFestival.org
ome Bed
Breakfast
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Bed & Breakfast
412 West Milam Street
Livingston, TX • 936-327-1173
www.milamhome.com
d&
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Page 22
Discover Tyler County 2009
Woodville, Texas: The Newest Art
You may not have heard it
yet, but Woodville is becoming
known around the area as an
“Art Community!” And noth-
ing could thrill Tyler County
Art League President Judith
Haney more.
Haney said that one day re-
cently some folks from Canada
had stopped by the Gallery
with the men sitting outside
on the bench while the women
were looking around inside.
One of the Docents went out
and asked the men where they
had heard about the Gallery
and they said that they had
been in Livingston and someone told them that they had to
stop in Woodville because it
was an “Art Community!”
From its birth on February
18, 2003, Tyler County Art
League has been on a steady
course of growth. This year has
seen that growth accelerate,
as the League purchased the
building housing the Gallery
and expanded next door with
new space for classes.
But art doesn’t just happen. Most artists usually
work alone in their home or
studio. Because creation is so
often done in private, most
people who have never faced
a blank canvas or sheet of
25 Years. 11,846 Ears.
That’s what we call experience.
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An Audibel Center for Hearing Excellence
SIMPSON HEARING AID CENTER
Scott Simpson, BC-HIS
Tyler County Hospital
Fridays 9am - 1pm
Call today for your free no-obligation consultation!
1-800-327-3818
*The benefits of hearing aids vary by type and degree of hearing loss,
noise environment, accuracy of hearing evaluation and proper fit.
Discover Tyler County 2009
Page 23
Community In South East Texas!
paper think that inspiration
just flows effortlessly onto the
medium until a work of art
is created. After all, the only
thing the patron usually sees
is the finished product. Well,
folks, it just doesn’t happen
that way. Artists work many
hours at times to translate their
vision into a finished work of
art. An Art Gallery doesn’t
just happen, either. Before
the first painting is hung on
the walls, many volunteers
have spent hundreds of hours
making it possible. Translating
the vision of an art gallery for
Tyler County into reality must
be a labor of love. Thanks to
the vision and tireless work of
members of the Tyler County
Art League, that dream is now
a reality.
Artistic Expressions Gallery, located in downtown
Woodville and owned by Tyler
County Art League, is filled
with art representing the talent
of over 60 artists, an amazing
number when you consider
that just a little less than two
years ago, there was no Tyler
County Art League and no
Gallery.
“In October 2002, a few artists
got together to talk about the
idea and concept of starting an
art league,” Judith Haney, Art
League president explained.
“With researching and asking
surrounding Art Leagues about
how to do it, our group decided to
do it on our own.” On February
18, 2003 the Tyler County Art
League was officially born.
Tyler County Dogwood Festival of the Arts was the first event
the group officially participated
in.
The year 2008 has been one of
growth for the Art League. One
of the most significant events has
been the Emporium next door
to the Gallery has incorportated
and the partnership between
the Gallery and Emporium has
opened many doors. A dream
from the beginning, Haney says,
has been to feature Performing
Arts as part of the Art League’s
mission.
The Emporium, with it’s
expanded space and stage, has
enabled a Theatre Group to once
again be active in Tyler County.
The space also allows Artists
Exhibitions, and the Art League
held three last year. Three or
four plays are planned for the
Emporium this year, and six or
severn musical venues.
Continued on Pg 24
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Located across from Wal-Mart in Jasper
Locally Owned and Operated Since 1981
(409) 384-5713 • (800) 696-3782
Securities offered through BFT Financial Group - Member FINRA/SIPC
800 S. Magnolia Street • Woodville
(409) 283-2396
Page 24
Discover Tyler County 2009
Woodville, Texas: The Newest
Art Community In S.E. Texas!
Continued from Pg 17
The membership is in the Centre & Gallery is located at
hundreds and the dream has 210 W. Bluff (Hwy 190 W.) in
become a success. The Fine Art Woodville.
Hwy 69 South in Warren
(409) 547-3001
Hours: 8-6 M-F, 8-1 Sat.
Phone: (409) 283-8737
TYLER COUNTY’S SALES LEADER - WE GET RESULTS!
802 West Bluff Street
Hwy 190 West - Woodville, TX - 75979
http://www.mmoffett.com
http://easttexaslandco.com
Milton F. Moffett, III, Broker
Bela N. Nagypal, Sales Assoc.
Judy S. Brown, Sales Assoc.
Tillman T. Johnson, Sales Assoc.
Emporium for the Arts, Inc.
a non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization
Presents
Emporium Stage
Live Theatre...Concerts...Lectures
Artist @ Work
212 W. Bluff, Woodville, TX 75979 • 409-283-3832
www.emporiumstagenews.blogspot.com
Discover Tyler County 2009
Thank You
for your support
Celebrating 15 years of comfort,
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Serving Jasper, Newton, Sabine, Tyler,
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Page 25
Triple Creek RV
Music & Park
Repair & Service
6 miles E. FM 1746
(409) 283-3799 • FAX: (409) 283-2244
P.O. Box 2030 • Woodville, TX 75979
Owners - Karen & Marc McConnell
Gospel every 1st Saturday weekend
Country every 3rd Saturday weekend
Bluegrass every 4th Saturday weekend
RV Repair
254 Ethel Street • PO Box 2086, Jasper
409-384-5995 • 800-661-9047
www.lakesareahospice.org
Your Hometown Dealer
For your major repair jobs, we do
roofs, sidewalls, floors & appliances.
Qualified RV Technician
Ken Coates on site.
Year-Round Camping • Family Friendly
Investment
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Gary B. Dannar, WMS
Retirement Income & Investment Advisor
Located at Citizens State Bank since 2003
102 West Bluff - Woodville, TX 75979
12618 FM 92 South - Spurger, TX 77660
Call 409-283-2561 for an appointment
Unparalleled Resources + Personal Attention
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NO BANK GUARANTEE • NOT FDIC INSURED • MAY LOSE VALUE SECURITIES & ADVISORY SERVICES OFFERED
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Page 26
Discover Tyler County 2009
Off The Tracks
Compliments of
Sharon Fuller
County Treasurer
Tyler County, Texas
Room 100 County Courthouse
Phone (409) 283-3054
[email protected]
OPEN Tuesday thru Saturday
We carry
All Hair Care Services
All Hair Products
We also sell AVON!
Hair
Katrina’s
Salon
(409) 283-3606 • 401 N. Beech St. Woodville
by Elizabeth Adkisson
Jerri Smart is a petite powerhouse who runs a couple of
small businesses in the sleepy
community of Colmesneil,
Texas. But she is a dreamer
of the first order.
When she was growing up
there, the town still had many
businesses and even one hotel.
But she watched the businesses
and buildings disappear one
by one as what once was the
largest town in Tyler County
made the decent that so many
towns in this region did. They
shrunk as the lumber mills
closed and the railroads moved
away. One day she determined
that something had to be done
to halt the complete disappearance of the past.
That was the day she decided
to purchase the oldest house
standing, the decaying home of
W. T. Colmesneil, the conductor on the first railroad train
that came through the area
and the person for whom the
town was named. Her friend,
Billy Gregory, had already secured the old Colmesneil train
depot and had been collecting
railroad memorabilia for some
time.
Jerri began negotiating for
the house and lassoing Billy
into putting up half the price.
When the price was finally
settled, Billy said, “If you got
the money, I got the money.”
After seeing the condition
of the place, Jerri’s husband’s
response was, “You’ve lost your
mind!”
The house was built in 1883
during the period when the
railroad stopped at Colmesneil.
We’re Here For You!
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Same Day Service on Dentures & Partials • Orthodontics
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Most insurances accepted including Medicare and Medicaid.
CHARLES HUDSON, DDS
WARREN THOMAS, DDS
GRACE FERDINANDSEN, DDS
BARTON FRYE, DDS
SANDRA CULP, DDS
RAJ GURAYA, DDS MD
DERIDDER
LEESVILLE
1-800-737-8673
1-800-737-7363
(337) 463-6545
(337) 238-3384
1808 Hwy 190 W. Suite D
706 S. 6th Street
Care Credit
Caring for Tyler County Residents for Over 16 Years
Financing Available
Dental Insurance Welcome
Discover Tyler County 2009
Page 27
In Colmesneil: W.T. Colmesneil House
Trains carried away lumber
from the Yellow Pine Mill,
rocks from Rockland for the
jetties in Galveston and people
traveling to Beaumont and
beyond. At its height, the town
had three hotels, many stores,
a doctor, a pharmacy, a jail, a
saloon and an opera house.
When Jerri and Billy purchased the house, they found
it infested with termites and
suffering from neglect, unsubstantial add-ons and less than
adequate repair efforts. That
was 2002. Jerri sold her beauty
shop in Silsbee and began the
renovation, reclamation project.
The front porch, which faced
the railroad and not the road,
had fallen off, as had one of the
two fireplaces. Some walls were
Continued on Pg 32
shop, dine & enjoy
Lufkin Mall is home to Bealls, JC Penney,
Sears, Aeropostale, American Eagle Outfitters,
Bath & Body Works, Buckle, Victoria’s Secret
and 50 more stores, restaurants,
services and theater too!
When you want to taste,
touch, hug and hold…experience
GK
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GK Development, Inc. Properties
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936-639-1249
THE POWER OF PEOPLETM
THE POWER OF PEOPLE
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Page 28
Discover Tyler County 2009
The Big Thicket: A Convergence Of Ecosystems
Get off the beaten path.
Explore the back country.
Experience the thrill of seeing
a rare species of bird. Enjoy a
leisurely canoe trip. Soak in the
scenery beneath a cathedral of
pines.
Visitors to the Big Thicket
National Preserve can do all
these things and more in one
of the nation’s few remain-
ing pristine forests. Rich in
biological diversity, the preserve encompasses more than
97,000 acres in and around
Tyler County. The Big Thicket
Visitors Center is located just
south of Tyler County on U.S.
69 near Kountze.
A convergence of ecosystems
occurred in the Big Thicket
during the last Ice Age. It
brought together, in one geographical location, the eastern
hardwood forests, the Gulf
coastal plains and the Midwest
prairies.
On Dec. 15, 1981, the
preserve was designated an
International Biosphere Reserve by the United Nations
Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s Man and
the Biosphere Program. The
American Bird Conservancy
has recognized the preserve
as a Globally Important Bird
Area.
“The Big Thicket has an
Astonishing natural resource
as well as a close tie to ancient
history,” says Seth Davidson.
Davidson notes that Tyler
Continued on Pg 30
409-283-3332
1110 S. Magnolia St. • Woodville, TX 75979
Parker Lumber
We are part of the Do It Best Coop and
therefore have access to over 65,000 products to
help you with any project, large or small.
For over 70 years, Parker Lumber has been proud to provide outstanding
quality and service for professionals and do-it-yourselfers alike.
Our family business wants to be your hometown lumberyard of choice,
with the customer attention and low prices you deserve.
2000 Magnolia, Woodville, TX • (409) 283-7780 • Fax (409) 331-0185
Discover Tyler County 2009
The 2009 Woodville High School
Graduating Seniors
Page 29
Page 30
Discover Tyler County 2009
The Big Thicket:
We have the money you need for any occasion!
Personal loans of
$200.00 to $1190.00*
109 South Magnolia Street, Woodville, TX 75979
(409) 283-2576 • www.security-finance.com
We Do Taxes!
Ask about out Referral Program
* All loans are subject to our liberal credit policy and credit limitations,
if any and require verifiable ability to repay.
Cooper ConstruCtion
Continued from Pg 28
County makes for an ideal day
trip destination for residents of
Greater Houston. The county
is approximately a two-hour
drive from the Houston area.
“You can go from a very
urban area to some of the most
beautiful and pristine wildlife
viewing in Texas,” Davidson
says. “Tyler, Jasper and Newton
counties offer some of the most
scenic drives in the United
States.”
Boasting some 250 winged
species, the Big Thicket is a
virtual paradise for birders, he
says. The preserve is part of The
Great Texas Coastal Birding
THE INSURANCE TEXANS TRUST
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Corner of Hwy 105 and Hwy 326 • Sour Lake, Texas
Discover Tyler County 2009
Page 31
Varied Ecosystems
Trail, Upper Texas Coast.
Among the species that may
be observed in the Thicket are
shorebirds, migrant songbirds,
thrushes, herons, egrets, pine
warblers, bald eagles and
the beautiful red cockaded
woodpecker.
“The Big Thicket is a totally
spectacular birding destination
on the Upper Texas Coast that,
over the course of a few miles,
is transformed into a different
kind of habitat,” Davidson
says. “If you go to the Upper
Texas Coast to look at birds
in the spring, you look at birds
just flying through. They are
moving on and far to the north
into Eastern woodland forest
and to Canada.
“But there is a group
of those birds whose final
destination is the Big Thicket.
That’s where they will breed
and raise their young. They’re
not just flying through. You
can listen to them sing, watch
their breeding behavior and get
a completely different picture
of them than you would at
High Island or in Galveston.”
But birds aren’t the only
wildlife that may be viewed
in the Big Thicket. According
to Davidson, one might be
fortunate enough to catch a
glimpse of a mountain lion
along the Pitcher Plant Trail
near Warren, wild hogs near
the Turkey Creek Trail or
alligators at Magnolia Ridge.
Deer and wild hogs also abound
throughout the preserve.
When one considers the
myriad species of flora, fauna
and insects, along with rivers,
streams and creeks, the Big
Thicket emerges as a premier
destination for both the casual
observer and serious naturalists
and birders.
Milam
Home
B&B
Tyler CounTy
Chamber of CommerCe
[email protected]
www.tylercountychamber.com
717 W. Bluff Street
Woodville, Texas 75979
409-283-2632
Fax 409-283-6884
There are a lot of good reasons to do business with a community-owned bank.
But the best reason is that you benefit directly from every dollar you deposit or
invest. Rather than your money going out-of-town, it stays home to build the
houses, fund the businesses and build the dreams of you and your neighbors.
It’s a simple concept. Community banking is simply better.
U
where
find simply
better banking
1111 S. Magnolia
Woodville, TX 75979
409.283.8100
communitybankoftx.com
Page 32
Discover Tyler County 2009
Off The Tracks In Colmesneil:
Continued From Pg 27
standing only because they were
supported by the glue holding up
cheap paneling. It took two assaults by a termite exterminator to
get rid of the termite infestation,
but then came the discovery that
large rats had been building nests
in the walls for years. But one
would have trouble imagining all
that looking at the house today.
As of October 29, 2006, the
house was ready for the Grand
Opening. It was a quiet,beautiful
fall day. The leaves were finally
beginning to turn. Dappled
sunlight fell on the house and its
first official visitors. Walking up
the new brick path to the front
porch,those visitors had little idea
of all the labor leading up to that
moment.
Before came years of discovering
what was in the house, under the
house, missing from the house
and how to solve hundreds of
challenges. All the doors, windows, baseboards and hardware
are original. The floors are the
original heart pine and curly
pine. Many of the board walls
are exposed and painted, others
have wall paper as did the original
walls. The house is on pillars
and one of them was actually
a 340-year old stump, a section
of which has been removed for
eventual display.
The house, when constructed,
was unpainted and had only been
painted twice in its lifetime. The
second job was very incomplete,
not covering anything leaning
against the house. So, it was possible to discover the original color
of this exposed buttermilk paint.
The house now sports that paint
color. Behind baseboards were
pieces of the original wallpaper.
Under the house was the original front door and some of the
bricks from the fireplace. With
those bricks and others from
local chimneys that were coming down, the renovators have
been able to rebuild the missing
fireplace with bricks originally
made at the old brick factory in
Colmesneil .
The furnishings are of the period
but not of this particular house.
They are beautiful antiques that
might be a cut above what furnished the original farmhouse,
but they are all interesting. Some
Jerri found through her antiques
business, others were generously
Lake Tejas
The Best Swimmin’ Hole in Texas!
409-837-5757 • Colmesneil, TX
Owned & Operated by Colmesneil ISD
Discover Tyler County 2009
Page 33
The W.T.
Colmesneil House
donated. One should especially
look for the ornate pump organ,
the spinning wheel and the
wood-burning stove. The jewel
of the exhibits is the dining set
from Franklin D. Roosevelt’s
Pullman car, along with the
cabinet housing the intercom
system he used to communicate
with the engineer.
There are lots of small treasures
on display in every nook and
cranny, many of them connected
with railroad history. A room at
the back of the house is a library
Jerri hopes to fill with historical
books about East Texas and its
inhabitants.
For several years Jerri and Billy
worked on the house, but this
year volunteers began to help
with the restoration. None of
the work was easy but the results
are charming. One of the volunteers, Martha Stark, contributed
the original painting that hangs
above one of the fireplaces. It
pictures a locomotive steaming
through the piney woods, a sight
that Mr. Colmesneil must have
enjoyed from his front porch.
The Colmesneil House is
at 601 South Pitzer Street.
Take Highway 256 east from
Highway 69, turn south on
Pitzer and look for the sign
on the right. The house will be
open Fridays through Sundays
from 2-6 p.m. and by special
appointment.
It will also be available for
booking special events. For tour
and event information, contact
Jerri Smart at 409-283-1332.
Page 34
Advertisers Directory
Advanced Financial - Pg 23
AllisonChevrolet - Pg 16
AMS - Pg 2
Angelina-Kanke - Pg 29
Art Emporium - Pg 24
Automasters - Pg 23
B&C Taxidermy - Pg 10
Bed & Breakfast - Pg 11
Bob’s Pawn Shop - Pg 15
Boykin Photography - Pg 7
CBTS - Pg 28
Center For Sight - Pg 17
Childress Monument - Pg 5
Citizens State Bank - Pg 36
Community Bank - Pg 31
Cooper Construction - Pg 30
Dental Plus - Pg 26
Dogwood Trails - Pg 12
Education First - Pg 6
Elijah’s Cafe - Pg 32
Entergy - Pg 27
FBC Colmesneil - Pg 14
FBC Woodville - Pg 12
First National Bank - Pg 10
Ginni Stein - Pg 9
GRCM - Pg 4
Harwell Carpet Cleaning - Pg 32
Heritage Village - Pg 30
Hillister Baptist - Pg 15
Holiday Pines - Pg 34
Homecare Solutions - Pg 20
Investment Professionals - Pg 25
Jarrotts - Pg 5
Jasper Ford - Pg 24
Katrinas - Pg 26
Kenners BBQ - Pg 7
Lake Tejas - Pg 32
Lakes Area Hospice - Pg 25
Larry Trest - Pg 33
Lawson Insurance - Pg 30
Lindsey Whisenhant - Pg 6
LIT - Pg 20
Lufkin Mall - Pg 27
Mann Furniture - Pg 8
Martindale Real Estate - Pg 7
McDonalds - Pg 9
Medicine Shoppe - Pg 17
Memorial Medical - Pg 14
Milam Home B&B - Pg 21
Modica Bros - Pg 20
Moffett & Co. - Pg 4
Parker Lumber - Pg 28
Pine Crest Retirement - Pg 29
Pineywood Terrace- 17
Pizza Hut - Pg 8
Discover Tyler County 2009
Quality Care - Pg 21
R&D Hardware - Pg 24
Riley Funeral Home - Pg 7
Rodney Bendy Dirt - Pg 16
Security Finance - Pg 30
Service By Scott - Pg 33
Sharon Fuller - Pg 26
SHECO - Pg 30
Simpson Hearing - Pg 22
SONIC - Pg 5
Sour Lake Motor - Pg 30
State Farm - Pg 15
Stringer & Griffin - Pg 5
Subway - Pg 23
Sullivans - Pg 9
Tolar Feed - Pg 34
Triple Creek - Pg 25
Tyler County Art Gallery - Pg 3
Tyler County Booster - Pg 33
TC Chamber of Commerce - Pg 21,31
Tyler Co. Chiropractic - 26
Tyler Co. Hospital Found. - Pg 4
Tyler Co. Hospital - Pg 35
Tyler County Tractor - Pg 13
Wal-Mart - Pg 13
Woodville First Methodist - Pg 10
Woodville Health&Rehab - Pg 15
Tolar’s Feed &
Outdoor Supply
Fertilizer
Hardware
Propane
Outdoor Furniture
Pet Food & Supplies
Picture Frames
Gifts
Hunting Supplies
Square Bale Hay
Fruit Trees
Seed
Plants
Garden Seeds
Livestock Feed & Supplies
LoneStar Feed
O’Neals Feed
U-Haul Independent
Dealer
AND MORE
LONE
STAR ®
(409) 283-5235
602 N. Magnolia • Woodville, TX 75979
Continuing our role of providing
quality nursing care for Woodville and
the surrounding Tyler County area.
1201 Cardinal Drive • Woodville, Texas
(409) 283-3397
Tyler County Hospital
1100 West Bluff • Woodville, TX • 409-283-8141
We can take care of your emergencies, hospitalization, lab, and x-rays right at home.
Call us to see what services we can provide for you.