Karnes Co. TX - NEWS - April 2004 This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Kimm Antell Copyright. All rights reserved. http://files.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ************************************************ Copyright 2004 News 9 San Antonio (http://news9sa.com/) Panna Maria celebrates pope 10/16/2003 10:25 AM By: Jennifer Cavazos, News 9 San Antonio The small town of Panna Maria, which is about 55 miles southeast of San Antonio, is a large Polish community. "Our parish has always been like a big family," Loretta Niestroy said. People there held a special mass Wednesday evening in honor of Pope John Paul II. "The mass itself will be for health and welfare for the pope as all Catholics pray for certain intentions," Niestroy said. Thursday marked the 25th anniversary of his election. In 1978, Pope John Paul II became the first pope chosen from Poland. So, people in Panna Maria feel a special bond with him. "This one is just very special. And the last 25 years he's been there," Niestroy said. "And it's not just the Polish people. I think most Catholics relate to him this way." Choir members from around Karnes County voiced their blessings in song, and others prayed for the Pope's health and welfare. Many parishioners remember the pope's visit to San Anotnio -- a memory they will never forget. "To be able to see this holy person this close -- it was really wonderful, a wonderful feeling," Rosalie Kotara said. The pope gave some special gifts to the people of Panna Maria during his trip: A gold chalice engraved with his insignia that's used for communion and three hand-carved chairs that were used during his mass. Thirty priests from across Texas attended Wednesday night's special mass. ************************************************ Copyright 2004 Victoria Advocate Online (http://victoriaadvocate.com) The Victoria Advocate - http://TheVictoriaAdvocate.com Workshop will explain cattle prices April 13, 2004 KENEDY - Order buyers will set the price on different classes of cattle and then explain why at a cattle marketing workshop from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday at the Karnes County Livestock Exchange in Kenedy. Twenty 500- to 600-pound calves and 10 cull cows will be used in the workshop. Audience members will be able to ask the order buyers questions about the cattle. A free meal will be provided. In order to have an adequate food supply, anyone planning to attend should RSVP by today to Kim Lucas at Texas Farm Bureau in Waco at 254-751-2258. Workshop sponsors include Karnes County Livestock Exchange, Texas Farm Bureau and Karnes County Farm Bureau. ************************************************ Copyright 2004 Victoria Advocate Online (http://victoriaadvocate.com) The Victoria Advocate - http://TheVictoriaAdvocate.com Bluebonnet Days queen crowned tonight April 16, 2004 ANN RUNDLE Victoria Advocate KENEDY - The annual Bluebonnet Days Festival in Kenedy will begin with a queen's coronation tonight and will continue Saturday with a parade followed by activities and entertainment at Joe Gully Park. Regina Rodriguez, who was chosen the Bluebonnet Days queen in March, will be crowned along with her court at 7 p.m. at the Kenedy High School gym. Cost is $5 per person. Saturday's events will kick off with a parade at 11 a.m. followed by the festival at the park. "There will be just plenty of food. I mean we have got food booths galore. We will have booths, games, arts and crafts, and there are going to be three large inflatables, including a rock climbing wall, an obstacle course and, for the little ones, a Mickey Mouse slide combo. And there will be a tractor pull for the kids," said Carolyn McDonald of the Kenedy Chamber of Commerce, which sponsors the event. "It's just our annual Bluebonnet Days Festival, just like the Peanut Festival in Floresville and other festivals in other places." Other activities Saturday will include a softball tournament, which will continue on Sunday; a triple heat cook-off, featuring categories for chili, brisket and ribs, and wild hog; and a carnival, which will also run through Sunday. Entertainment Saturday will include the Lackland Band of the West, the Bluegrass Gospel Group and the Drugstore Cowboys Band. McDonald said the gospel group, which is from Kenedy, and the cowboys band from San Antonio, are new to the festival. The Lackland group has performed before, she said, explaining that the band participates in the parade and then performs in the park for 15 or 30 minutes. "We're hoping for good weather," McDonald said Tuesday. "Last night they said it'd be 78 and sunny to partly cloudy, and I'm holding them to it. But, you know, that changes every day." Ann Rundle is a reporter for the Advocate. Contact her at 361-741- 2566 or arundle@txcr.net. ************************************************ Copyright The Countywide - The Countywide (published on April 21, 2004) A very special publication By Joe Baker Something very special is inside this newspaper. Karnes County - the first 150 years, a special publication about the history of Karnes County, has been a labor of love for many folks. Early on, sesquicentennial volunteers indicated an interest in doing something similar to what was done for the centennial celebration 50 years ago. The key event of the 1954 centennial celebration was a pageant, and for the pageant, a special program was prepared, which included a history of Karnes County. This program has stood the test of time and fifty years later, it continues to reflect the spirit of the centennial celebration, but even more so, it reflects the history and the spirit of the people of Karnes County circa 1954. Our goal was to emulate what our forefathers had done before us, but we also wanted to "kick it up a notch." We wanted a high quality publication, printed on quality paper, not just ordinary newsprint, with a full color cover and an updated and detailed history of Karnes County in both photos and words. This was an ambitious project, and early on, I knew that our newspaper could not do it on our own. So I proposed a partnership: A partnership between The Countywide and the Karnes County Sesquicentennial Association (KCSA). The idea was to combine resources and work together to publish one truly special publication, instead of working independently of one another to publish two separate publications. Like neighbors who partner to build a fence, I suggested we could work together to reach a common goal. Why build two weak fences parallel to one another when you can build one strong fence together? And here was the kicker: We wanted to include this booklet inside the newspaper, as a special section, so that everyone, who has access to two quarters, could have a copy of their very own. This part of my proposal took some KCSA board members aback, and there was some initial resistance to the idea. The resistance, I believe, was based on a feeling that somehow, that by including the booklet in the newspaper, it would have less monetary value. I have always felt that the history of this county belongs to everyone. Our history is what ties us together. It is ours. It runs through all of us and belongs to all of us. And this is why I thought it should be a publication for the masses. The wealthy businessman would have this booklet on the polished shelves of his library, but also, the third-grader, whose sneakers are falling apart, could have this booklet in the hip pocket of his ragged jeans. Honestly, the things in this world that mean the most to me, have never had a price tag attached. However, when you're talking about 340,000 printed pages - 1.5 tons of paper, ink and aqueous coating, money was still a necessary consideration for this project, and so an important practical question came up: How do we pay for this? My suggestion was to sell ads inside the publication as a way to defray the expense in the design, printing and distribution of the booklet. And here's a good example of why sometimes two heads - or in this case, six or seven heads, are better than one. The KCSA Board suggested that only sponsors of the event would have ads inside the booklet. This turned out to be a great idea, because as word spread that we were producing 5,000 copies of a high-quality sixty-eight-page publication documenting the history of Karnes County, sponsorships began to sell like the proverbial hotcakes. A lot of work went into this project, and everyone who contributed will surely enjoy the satisfaction that comes at the end of a worthwhile effort. Yes, the project was ambitious, and while there was some stress, and more than a few sleepless nights, in the end it has proved to be a learning experience for everyone involved. A famous philosopher said, "That which does not kill me makes me stronger." We are all stronger, having produced this publication. Every organization, business and individual who is a sponsor of the Karnes County Sesquicentennial deserves a tremendous amount of thanks. Whether the sponsorship was in cash, or in some other valuable contribution, the sponsors are really the ones who have made this special publication and all the other facets of the celebration of our county's first 150 years, a reality. If nothing else, this project has strengthened my belief in the power of teamwork. People from all over Karnes County worked together, side by side, to make this publication a reality and they continue to work to make this yearlong celebration something really special. It is truly amazing what can be accomplished when we all work together. Come celebrate with us on May 1. It's going to be a great party. ************************************************ Copyright 2004 Victoria Advocate Online (http://victoriaadvocate.com) The Victoria Advocate - http://TheVictoriaAdvocate.com Sheriff candidate touts community involvement April 22, 2004 ANN RUNDLE Victoria Advocate KARNES CITY - Driving from Falls City to Kenedy last week to help with that city's annual Bluebonnet Days celebration, David A. Jalufka stopped on the side of the road to discuss his victory in the recent Democratic runoff for Karnes County sheriff. "It seems like every time I talk to you, I'm on the road somewhere," Jalufka, 53, said via cell phone. Jalufka, who lives in Kenedy, defeated incumbent sheriff, Bobby Mutz, in the April 13 runoff to earn the Democratic nomination for that office. He will have no Republican challenger in the November election. Mutz, a 53-year-old resident of Falls City, did not return four phone messages left at his office and home over a three-day span last week. "The runoff election was hard, because you had to go back and reintroduce yourself to all the people again," said Jalufka, who received 1,643 votes in the runoff. Mutz, who has been sheriff for 19 years, had 1,522 votes in the runoff, losing by 121 votes total. Jalufka said, "Without the help and support of everybody in Karnes County, I wouldn't be here today. They were looking for a change. And, there again, there were more people looking for a change than weren't. That's how come there was kind of a narrow margin in the runoff, because a lot of people liked the way (things) were, and there were just a few more people that wanted to see something different." In the March 9 primary, Jalufka won 1,361 votes, Mutz had 1,233 and Terry Schmidt had 482. Jalufka said one of his campaign promises was to get involved in the community, as well as to have his sheriff's deputies get involved with community activities, such as Bluebonnet Days or Little League. He said he intends to follow through with the promise. "They are citizens of Karnes County. They work for the citizens of Karnes County, and they are part of the community. And, if they desire, they should be involved. And I want all my people to be involved," Jalufka said. "They need to be involved. I guess that's what the whole deal is - get involved in the community and try to make it better. I think that's what everybody needs to do." Jalufka retired from the Texas Department of Public Safety in 2001 and later did some work for the 81st Judicial District Task Force. "I attribute everything to just the people getting behind me. They believe in what I believe in, and they wanted to make a difference," Jalufka said. Ann Rundle is a reporter for the Advocate. Contact her at 361-741- 2566 or arundle@txcr.net. ************************************************ Sheriff candidate touts community involvement April 22, 2004 ANN RUNDLE Victoria Advocate KARNES CITY - Driving from Falls City to Kenedy last week to help with that city's annual Bluebonnet Days celebration, David A. Jalufka stopped on the side of the road to discuss his victory in the recent Democratic runoff for Karnes County sheriff. "It seems like every time I talk to you, I'm on the road somewhere," Jalufka, 53, said via cell phone. Jalufka, who lives in Kenedy, defeated incumbent sheriff, Bobby Mutz, in the April 13 runoff to earn the Democratic nomination for that office. He will have no Republican challenger in the November election. Mutz, a 53-year-old resident of Falls City, did not return four phone messages left at his office and home over a three-day span last week. "The runoff election was hard, because you had to go back and reintroduce yourself to all the people again," said Jalufka, who received 1,643 votes in the runoff. Mutz, who has been sheriff for 19 years, had 1,522 votes in the runoff, losing by 121 votes total. Jalufka said, "Without the help and support of everybody in Karnes County, I wouldn't be here today. They were looking for a change. And, there again, there were more people looking for a change than weren't. That's how come there was kind of a narrow margin in the runoff, because a lot of people liked the way (things) were, and there were just a few more people that wanted to see something different." In the March 9 primary, Jalufka won 1,361 votes, Mutz had 1,233 and Terry Schmidt had 482. Jalufka said one of his campaign promises was to get involved in the community, as well as to have his sheriff's deputies get involved with community activities, such as Bluebonnet Days or Little League. He said he intends to follow through with the promise. "They are citizens of Karnes County. They work for the citizens of Karnes County, and they are part of the community. And, if they desire, they should be involved. And I want all my people to be involved," Jalufka said. "They need to be involved. I guess that's what the whole deal is - get involved in the community and try to make it better. I think that's what everybody needs to do." Jalufka retired from the Texas Department of Public Safety in 2001 and later did some work for the 81st Judicial District Task Force. "I attribute everything to just the people getting behind me. They believe in what I believe in, and they wanted to make a difference," Jalufka said. Ann Rundle is a reporter for the Advocate. Contact her at 361-741- 2566 or arundle@txcr.net. ************************************************ Karnes County's 150th birthday celebration begins Saturday April 30, 2004 Karnes County is turning 150 years old this year, and the county is hosting Ses Qui Fest, a sesquicentennial celebration, that includes a parade in Kenedy and events at the Karnes County Youth Show Barn. Ses Qui Fest kicks off with a parade at 11 a.m. Saturday. The parade begins on 2nd Street in Kenedy and will travel down Main Street. Parade organizers are expecting more than 800 people to participate, including 120 trail riders, antique cars and tractors. The parade will also emulate Karnes County's creation, which began with the founding of Helena in 1854. "We've lined the parade up to how the towns came into the county from 1854 to 1916," said Mary Alice May, parade chairperson. After the parade's conclusion, Ses Qui Fest will continue at the Karnes County Youth Show Barn, on Highway 181 between Karnes City and Kenedy. Admission to the events is $5 per person and children ages 12 and younger are admitted free. "We hope that people will come out and enjoy and learn about our history while they have a good time," said Bonnie Alonzo, publicity director for the Karnes County Sesquicentennial Association. Opening ceremonies will be from noon to 1:30 p.m. Karnes City High School will provide a multi-media presentation that will show the history of the Karnes County area. There will also be a video tribute to Karnes County developed by the Karnes County Sesquicentennial Association, a proclamation read by County Judge Alger L. Kendall and a historical presentation by Robert Thonhoff. Following the opening ceremony will be a day packed with entertainment, including music, dancing, storytelling and re- enactments. Inside the show barn, the Heritage Showcase of Karnes County will have more than 30 families, businesses and organizations displaying photographs and other items depicting their part in the heritage of Karnes County. Continuous entertainment throughout the day will take place in three different areas. Musical groups scheduled to perform include the San Antonio Accordion Trio, the Blue Grass Country Boys, Missy Pace, John Wayne Schultz, Kate Sczepanik and Destino Ministries from Rock of Salvation Church in Runge. Trick roper and gun spinner Doug Whitaker, the South Texas Polish and International Dancers, the Texas Ranger Re-enactors, quilters from Helena, antique tractors and Polish pastries will also be part of the fun. A pioneer village area will show how life would have been on the Texas frontier in the 1800s and an African-American Texans village area will show the part African-Americans played in the Texas pioneer experience. A Mexican-Texans village will allow visitors to examine a quinceanera dress, a charro costume, adobe bricks and a wooden tortilla press. Country musicians Danny Leigh and Sean O'Brien will take the stage at the arena for a concert and dance. Leigh is set to begin at 7 p.m. and O'Brien will begin at 9:30 p.m. For more information, visit www.thecountywide.com or call 830-780- 3112.