Our Town Jefferson

Shoutout

Perhaps because the memory of the tornadoes of NW Marion County are still fresh on the minds, or what I would like to think more of, are Marion County folks, of all persuasions just being neighborly. It’s heartwarming to see everyone leveraging the power of technology, be it phone, internet, social media, to check in on one another.

This is how we build a community. We check in on one another, we say hi when we see each other out on the roads, and we wave when we drive by (remember those days?)

I live in the best county in Texas… bar none.

—Hunter Bonner

Upcoming Meetings

•Jefferson Tourism Board, 5:30 p.m. April 19

• Commissioners Court, 9 a.m. April 25

Upcoming Music Events

1852 on Austin

April 17: Peyton Pierce

Auntie Skinner’s: 

April 16: Del Rio Band

April 30: Pepper Holt & the Gunslingers

5D, Avinger

April 16: 6 p.m. Pepper Holt’s Birthday Bash: Pepper Holt, WTW, SOMOFO/Daniel Lee 

Legend’s Social Club, Marshall

April 16: Darren Morris

Food Pantry

• Blessings of Grace, 510 E. Bonham at back entrance: 10a-Noon Saturday, Produce 9a April 19, April 21: SVDP (201 N Vale) 10-11a, Produce 9a

• East Texas Food Bank, 9046 FM 729, Avinger (Across from Crestwood One Stop), 11:30a-1:30p, April 20

• Dream Center, 249 Avinger Cutoff off FM 729, 10a-Noon April 23

Blood Drive

LifeShare Blood Center will be at the corner of Austin and Polk Street from 10a-4p Saturday, April 16. Come look at the Outlaw National’s Car Show and help save a life! Free T-Shirt for donating.

Yearbook Photos Needed

Shirley Phillilps needs pictures for the JHS 2020-2021 yearbook. Specifically photos of Band, Baseball, Softball, and Volleyball. She would appreciate you sharing them with her at saphillips@jeffersonisd.org

HeadStart Applications

Jefferson is still taking applications for HeadStart 3 and 4 year olds. For more details contact the Head Start office 903-665-2461 ext: 3492/3493

Community Day

FRESH is sponsoring their 1st Annual Community Day from 3:30-6p at the Jefferson Community Center on Haywood Street. There will be Free Food and Drinks, Games, Cards, Dominoes, Raffles and Prizes, a DJ, and more.

Strutter Spring Show

Lights, Camera, Dancing! The Annual JHS Strutter Spring Show is set for 6:30p April 23, in the JHS Commons. Tickets are $10, Students $7, under 5 free.

Inspirational Lunch

COME TO THE INSPIRATIONAL LUNCHEON sponsored by the women of Christ Episcopal Church. Monday, April 25, 11:45a until 1pin the Parish Hall at

703 S. Main, Jefferson. Speaker: Teresa Richenberger, founder and director of Rahab’s Retreat, a ministry to women locked in the sex industry, helping them to discover their value and self worth. No Charge.

APL 

Animal Protection League will be in Jefferson twice in April and is offering FREE dog distemper/parvo (DAPPv) and free cat Distemper (Feline HCP) vaccinations. They have extended this offer until the end of April or as long as supplies last. They will be at the corner of Polk and Henderson streets from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 30th. For more information, visit their website at aplspayneuter.org.

JCA Alumni Weekend

Jefferson Christian Academy will hold their Alumni Weekend April 15-17. This is an All Honors Weekend. For more information, https://www.jeffersonchristianacademy.org/, or contact Alumni President Steve Francisco at 682-560-3684.

Candidate Forum 

The Jefferson Jimplecute will be sponsoring a Candidate Forum on Thursday, April 21 at 6:30 p.m. at the Jefferson Transportation Center. 

All candidates for City Council and JISD School Board are invited. 

It will be a Question and Answer style session. The public is invited to submit questions to the Jimplecute prior to the event at jeffersonjimplecute@gmail.com

Paddling Flotilla

The Cypress Basin Chapter of the Texas Master Naturalists are holding their 10th Earth Day Paddling Flotilla at Caddo Lake on April 23. The event runs from 7:30a-2p and starts and ends at Shady Glade Resort. Breakfast snacks will be provided, along with a Dutch oven cooking demonstration, a fishing education table, a massage chair opportunity, corn hole games, raffle, silent auction, the Rolling Stove food truck will be there, and much more. Tickets are available via Eventbrite https://tinyurl.com/2022Flotilla and range from $10-$30 depending on when you register. For more information, 22flotilla10@gmail.com or 903-736-3063.

COVID 19 Clinic

There will be a COVID 19 vaccination clinic in Jefferson, from 10a-1p Saturday, April 27th.  It is open to the public.  Both adults and children can be vaccinated and there is no cost (free to all).  It is sponsored by St. Paul United Methodist and St. Luke’s CME churches in conjunction with the Northeast Texas Health Taskforce.  If you need additional information, you can contact Ray Walker (number on the flier) or Monica Flowers at 430-258-9803.

Volleyball Tournament

Y’all Have asked so here it is!!! Yes A Volleyball Tournament . FRESH AND Ajah McCoy PRESENTS SPIKE IT VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT!!!  Each Team can have up to 3 men on the Court at one time!!!!  Get your TEAMS together!!! Contact FRESH or Jada if you have any questions!!!

Each Player pays $5.00 to play for the Day!!! 

Rules and More Details to follow later!!!

We 10 team spots!!! Inbox me to get your spot secured, they will fill up fast!!!

Chamber Ambassadors

Can you help? The Marion County Chamber of Commerce is looking for folks who would be willing to volunteer on Saturdays for a few hours in the Ambassador program. What does an MCCC Ambassador do? 

They will assist visitors downtown by answering questions (Where are the restrooms?) and passing out information to local events, attractions, and businesses. Ambassadors will be there as helpful hospitality hosts, welcoming guests to our community. 

Be prepared to have fun! Can you spare a few hours (1-4 hours) to help, 1 or 2 Saturdays per month?? This would be great for retirees and high school juniors/seniors, NHS members, Scouts, etc. who need volunteer hours. For more information contact the Chamber at 903-665-2672 or Peg Brown-Walker.

Workforce Solutions in Jefferson

Workforce Solutions of East Texas is in Jefferson from 10a-3p every Tuesday at Texas Tech Satellite Campus, 120 E. Austin Street. Their Access Point locations have a Workforce Solutions resource area where job seekers can register for WorkinTexas.com, receive assistance with job searches, resume writing, workshops and access to other resources. 

Honeybees

Jefferson’s “Bee Man” Stanford Brantley wants to remind everyone as the weather starts getting warmer honeybees will being moving around. If you find a hive of bees, he asks that you contact him to come remove the bees instead of killing them. Bees will often rest in water meter covers or other similar protected spaces. Mr. Brantley can be reached at 903-665-8343.