Lifestyle

Over 80 women attended Madisonville’s First Baptist Church’s Women’s Retreat Saturday with many area churches represented. Leah Holder Green, who serves in a full-time Christian Ministry as a Bible Study Curriculum Developer at Second Baptist Church in Houston Texas, was this year’s guest speaker. She is now pursuing a Master of Arts in Christian Education Studies at Dallas Theological Seminary. Mrs. Green’s message focused on Colossians 2:6-7, about being deeply rooted in Christ and “how what we believe determines how we act.” The music for this year’s event was by Wendy Hunt with the assistance of her husband, Warren Hunt, the Minister of Music at Madisonville First Baptist Church. Betty Coleman provided this year’s meal. COURTESY PHOTO

Coleman & Patterson expanded their business with the addition of a new auction facility in Bryan, the company announced in a Tuesday press release. The primary goal of owners David Coleman, Tom Patterson and Bret Richards is to provide the local communities of Brazos, Madison and surrounding counties the ability to help sell their assets.

Ten students from the Madisonville High School choirs participated in the regional UIL Solo and Ensemble competition in Bryan Feb. 17.

First and second graders at Madisonville Elementary participated in their annual Jumpathon in the gymnasium and are raising money for the American Heart Association through sponsors. The students’ goal was to raise $6,000 by the end of February and were well over $5,000 at the time of this writing. (Pictured: Second graders Di’lilah Rutherford and Darren Grimm) CAMPBELL ATKINS

Normangee Panthers basketball legend Joseph Jones was honored by the high school and had his number 30 jersey retired in the presence of family and friends Friday. Jones led the Panthers to a Class 1A State Championship in 2004 before joining the Texas A&M Aggies, where he earned All-Big 12 honors in each of his four seasons. He is the first Normangee player to have his number retired. NORMANGEE HIGH SCHOOL

Kanin Cleere is pictured with his Breed Champion Shorthorn and loved ones at the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo. Cleere was also awarded a $1,250 scholarship from the Texas Shorthorn Association for his efforts. COURTESY PHOTO

Michael Cooper, a candidate for governor on the Democratic ticket in the March primary election, spoke to local voters Saturday at the Senior Center. The Beaumont native, pastor and father of seven is running on education, climate change, criminal justice reform, and more. He stated that education is his top priority, but he spoke of grave concerns for the energy grid across most of our state. Affordable healthcare and voting rights were among the other topics he touched on. Cooper stressed that he’s not pushing to take our guns. He stressed “our”, saying that he is a hunter and comes from a family of hunters. Learn more about the candidate at www.cooper2022.com. (Pictured at right: Michael Cooper poses with Madison County Democrat Party Chair Gary Lindsay and Madison County NAACP President Steven Green) COURTESY PHOTO

With 2021 officially in the record books, we would like to thank all of our tremendous readers and advertisers for making it a year to remember. It is our privilege to continue serving the great Madison County, as we have since 1894.

Madisonville Elementary Students of the Month for January (back row, from left) Zacharis Bacon, Zoe Avila, Aiden Crowder, Isabella Saldana, (front row, from left) Carolina Vazquez, Miles Lindsey, Brooke Renner and John-Dale Holder pose together with their certificates. COURTESY PHOTO