Gause Baptist tees up youth fundraiser
Roy McCoy roy@robconews.com Robertson County News GAUSE — Gause Baptist Church is taking its youth fundraiser to the golf course this summer, inviting golfers, church families and community supporters to spend a Saturday morning playing for a purpose. The church will host its 1st Annual Youth Group Fundraiser Golf Tournament on Saturday, June 13, at Caldwell Municipal Golf Course, 150 FM 2726 in Caldwell. Check-in will run from 7 to 7:45 a.m., with a shotgun start set for 8 a.m. The tournament will be played as a four-person scramble, giving teams a relaxed format that works well for regular golfers and those who are mostly there to enjoy the morning and support a good cause. The entry fee is $400 per team. The fundraiser will help support the church’s youth group and provide resources for young people connected to the ministry. In a post promoting the tournament, Gause Baptist invited players of all ages and skill levels to take part, making the event as much about fellowship as competition. For Gause Baptist, the tournament is another way for the congregation to invest in the next generation. The church has deep roots in Milam County, dating back to 1877, and has long been part of the Gause community. The day is expected to bring teams together for golf, friendly competition and community support. Whether players are chasing birdies, saving par or just hoping to keep the ball out of the rough, each team’s entry will go toward helping the youth group continue its work. For more information or to register a team, call 979-571-2227.
Owensville Cemetery events honor past while caring for future
Roy McCoy roy@robconews.com Robertson County News FRANKLIN — Community members will soon have two chances to gather at Owensville Cemetery, first to help care for the grounds and then to celebrate the history tied to the cemetery. A Community Volunteer Cleanup Day is planned for Saturday, June 20, at the cemetery. Volunteers are invited to bring a little time, a little energy and, if possible, a few tools to help keep the cemetery clean and well cared for. The work may include mowing, trimming, picking up trash, clearing brush and other small jobs around the grounds. Those who can help are encouraged to bring rakes, shovels, trash bags, gloves, weed eaters, small trimmers, clippers, loppers, pruning shears, chainsaws, pole saws or wheelbarrows. Water, Gatorade and refreshments will be provided for volunteers. A time for the cleanup day will be announced later. For many families, the cemetery is more than a piece of land. It is where parents, grandparents, neighbors and friends are laid to rest. Keeping the grounds clean is one way to show respect for those who came before and to make sure families have a peaceful place to visit. The following week, the cemetery will host its Cemetery Homecoming and Texas Historical Marker Dedication on Saturday, June 27. The homecoming will be a day of remembrance, fellowship and community pride as families, descendants and supporters gather to honor the people buried at Owensville Cemetery and the history they left behind. The event will include a short service, a brief meeting and a chance for members to pay dues or make donations to help with the cemetery’s upkeep and beautification. The Texas Historical Marker dedication will add another meaningful piece to the day, recognizing the cemetery’s place in local history and the generations connected to it. Everyone with a connection to Owensville Cemetery, or simply an interest in preserving local history, is invited to attend.
RobCo OKs Juneteenth fireworks
Roy McCoy roy@robconews.com Robertson County News ROBERTSON COUNTY — Robertson County residents will have a short window to purchase fireworks for Juneteenth after county commissioners approved an order allowing retail fireworks sales for the holiday. The Robertson County Commissioners Court approved the order May 12, authorizing licensed retail fireworks permit holders to sell fireworks to the public beginning June 14. Sales may continue until midnight June 19, unless drought conditions force an earlier stop. The order allows fireworks sales in celebration of Juneteenth, which marks the end of slavery in Texas and is now recognized as a federal holiday. For local families, the approval means fireworks stands with the proper permits may open for the holiday period, giving residents another way to celebrate with gatherings, cookouts and community events. There are still limits in place. The order does not allow the sale, detonation or use of certain fireworks classified as “skyrockets with sticks” or “missiles with fins” in specified areas of Robertson County. Those restrictions are commonly included in county fireworks orders because those types of fireworks can travel farther and create a greater fire risk, especially in dry conditions. The approval also depends on weather and fire danger. If the Texas A&M Forest Service determines drought conditions exist in Robertson County before June 19, the order will expire early.
What’s down the road?
Jada B. Terry Jada@robconews.com Robertson County News CALVERT— Some people recognize from a young age that their life path will be different than most; they develop a unique perspective that shapes how they engage with their communities and tell their stories. What began as a troubled lifestyle has grown into one defined by wisdom, leadership, and giving back. That transformation eventually led Dwayne “Scoop Dee” Jones, owner of J.U.S.T. Wings-N-Burgers, to launch his business in his hometown Hearne in 2017. “The main reason I came back to this area is for the people. I wanted to show my community that somebody that came out of the projects, who went to prison, and had a troubled past, can find it within themselves to do better,” said Jones. He continued, reflecting on the eight years he spent in prison and how that shaped the path he’s on today. “People ask me about J.U.S.T. Wings all the time, and I tell them, when I was in prison I thought of this. This didn’t come into fruition until after I did my time,” Jones began. “This vision came about four years into my sentence, and I still had four years before I was even released, but it was already manifesting.” Today, Jones is a pillar of his community, not only sharing his passion for cooking, but his commitment to inspiring troubled young men and women. “My story is God’s glory. This is my purpose, this is my passion. This is every day for me. This is a blessing because I know where I could’ve been, where I have been,” said Jones. “I always tell the younger generation to look for positive people that are doing positive things, because you can do the same thing. Whatever you see, and whoever you see, start doing it now because it takes time.” The same community that once watched Jones struggle now witnesses his testimony. From a vision formed behind prison walls to a thriving business dedicated to serving others, his journey stands as a reminder that transformation is possible when purpose meets determination. “You have to have something that’s sustaining you, and driving you, and for me, that was my freedom, my children. I look back like, what was I thinking? But I know now that I can tell others, you don’t have to go down that road because I can tell you what’s down there.”
