Mason Spiller of Jacksboro recently received his license as an Attorney and Counselor at Law from the Supreme Court of Texas and the State Bar of Texas. The Honorable John H. Fostel, District Judge for Jack and Wise Counties, administered the oath in the District Courtroom of the Wise County Courthouse in front of family and friends, including numerous attorneys. Mason has returned home to join the law firm of Spiller & Spiller in Jacksboro. 

Mason graduated as Valedictorian from Jacksboro High School in 2008. Mason attended Baylor University and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Biology in 2011. While at Baylor, Mason was named to the Dean’s List and served in many leadership, service, and honor organizations. Mason went on to attend Baylor Law School. Mason graduated from Baylor Law School in February of 2016 with a Juris Doctor degree. While at Baylor Law School, Mason was inducted into the Baylor Law School Order of Barristers – a society for top advocates at Baylor. He was also a member of Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity. Mason was a finalist in the Naman, Smith, Howell, & Lee Client Counseling Competition and represented Baylor Law School at the Regional American Bar Association Client Counseling Competition. He also served as a brief grader and judge in the Dawson & Sodd Moot Court Competition. While in law school, Mason interned for The Honorable Elizabeth D. Frizell in Dallas County Criminal Court 11 and clerked at Spiller & Spiller. Since graduating from Baylor Law School, Mason has lived and worked in Jacksboro. Mason’s wife, Alex, teaches fourth grade at Jacksboro Elementary School. 

“I’m excited about being able to practice law, and to be able to do it in my home town,” said Mason. “I look forward to serving the needs of the people of Jack County and the surrounding area.”

Spiller & Spiller is a family-owned and operated law firm located in Jacksboro, Texas, practicing in and around Jack County, the North Texas area, and the entire State of Texas. The law firm was founded in 1986 by James M. Spiller and his son, David Spiller. The firm handles a huge variety of different types of cases and legal matters, routinely dealing with the following areas of practice: general civil and trial practice, real estate, oil and gas, family, criminal, wills, probate, estates, trusts, creditor-debtor, business entities, commercial litigation, banking, condemnation, personal injury, municipal, governmental, healthcare, and mediation.

The Jacksboro Chamber of Commerce hosted two ribbon cuttings in recent weeks. On Friday, Nov. 4, the Chamber welcome new member Seams Sew Right quilt shop.

On Friday, Nov. 11, the Chamber welcomed new members Silver Bullett Computer Services and Total Technologies.

Thursday, Nov. 10, the Chamber recognized the staff of the Jack County Tax Assessor/Collector's office as the Chamber Spotlight of the month for November.

The North Central Texas College Graham campus offers Dual Credit Welding courses for Graham High School students. The Fall 2016 semester marked the first dual credit class for welding on the campus, with nine students.

Welding Instructor Brian Hearn has more than 50 years of experience welding. Hearn has taught welding classes at NCTC for two years. He said he has seen a surprising amount of dedication from these high school students.

“I’m really happy with this class,” Hearn said. “They are very dedicated and talented welders who are eager to learn. I open the doors to the welding lab 15 minutes before class starts and they are always here early, ready to get started.”

The students have also been pleased with their own progress in the class. Saul Hernandez is one of those students who is already seeing the benefits of Dual Credit.

“I like that we actually get to weld in this class,” Hernandez said. “We get a lot of hands-on experience. I think we’re really getting a feel for what it will be like to be on the job.”

The students in the dual credit classes can continue after high school in the regular open enrollment welding courses. The classes are designed to make this transition as easy as possible.

“Taking welding classes while still in high school helps expedite the process for these students,” Hearn said. “If they want to continue once they’ve graduated high school, they’ve got a leg up.”

Currently the students are in Beginning Welding. Next semester they will return to NCTC for Intermediate Welding.

Though Hernandez isn’t sure what his future holds, he’s not ruling out welding as a career.

“I’m not sure what I want to do, but I have learned that this is a really big industry and a good career,” Hernandez said. “For now, I definitely want to keep taking classes.”

Intro and intermediate welding courses will be offered to anyone interested for the Spring Semester. For more information, contact the Graham campus at 940-521-0720, or visit www.nctc.edu.

Tim Cassle, right, Legacy Texas president, presents a check for $2,750 to the Jack County Welfare Board Directors Leslie Jackson and Debra Tillery recently. “The bank continues to be committed to assisting local  charitable organizations that benefit the many needs of our  community,” Cassle said.  

The First Baptist Church of Jacksboro will present its Christmas Cantata, “Christmas, We Remember, Rejoice, Worship” at 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 17 and at 10:50 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 18.

All who attend will remember the birth of Jesus; rejoice in the festive music; and worship in praise and adoration to King Jesus through the beautiful music.

Solos will include: Emily Hillhouse, Bobby Matlock, Peggy Clayton, Audrey Hillhouse, Nicaela Wells, Danny Guinn, and Jane Ann Rhoten. Kevin Kelly will be narrating though the music. There will be a children’s choir along with the sanctuary choir.

The First Baptist Church invites the community to come and experience Christmas with the Music Ministry of the Church. 

Faith Community Hospital has announced its second annual Shape Up in Faith Weight Loss Challenge, which will kick off Monday, January 9 in Jacksboro. This community weight-loss program follows a very successful first year of helping residents shed holiday weight while adopting a healthier lifestyle.

“After the huge success of our first-ever weight-loss challenge in 2016, we’ve decided to bring back the competition annually,” explains Joe Copeland, director of the Swan Family Wellness Center. “We are looking forward to helping our community get fit and lose weight in the new year.”

Copeland says that in the program’s first year, participants lost a group total of 1,281 pounds in just 12 weeks. 

“When we first launched the challenge last year, we knew we were going to help participants shed weight, but we had no idea we’d achieve a group count of more than a thousand pounds,” Copeland adds. “We’ve learned a lot about ourselves and the community and are anxiously looking forward to helping participants lose even more weight this year.”

Cash prizes will be awarded to each of the top three male and female participants: $500 for the first-place winner, $200 for the second-place winner, and $100 for the third-place winner.

With an entry fee of just $30, each participant is offered a 25 percent discount off their first month’s membership to the Swan Family Wellness Center, plus free fitness classes, a T-shirt and a free breakfast at every Monday morning weigh-in.

Proceeds from the challenge benefit the FCH Charitable Foundation, who graciously raises money for the hospital and Swan Family Wellness Center to ultimately benefit the community.

The 2nd annual Shape Up in Faith Weight Loss Challenge begins Jan. 9, 2017, and runs through April 1. The program’s first weigh-ins take place starting at 6 p.m. on Jan. 9 at the Twin Lakes Community Activity Center (1114 State Highway 59) in Jacksboro. 

To obtain more information and preregister, please call Joe Copeland at 940-216-2257 or email jcopeland1@fchtexas.com. Interested participants may also sign up on Jan. 9 during the first weigh-ins.

Midwestern State University recognized 1,068 honor students for the Fall 2016 semester. The President’s Honor Roll included 372 students, the Provost’s Honor Roll included 294 students and the Dean’s Honor Roll included 402 students.

From Jacksboro, Ashley P. Littleton made the President’s Honor Roll and Rosa G. Gonzalez and Matthew D. Matlock both made the Provost’s Honor Roll.

Haylee R. Fowler of Perrin made the Dean’s List.

A student who completes a semester schedule of at least 12 hours in one semester with no grade lower than A (4.0) will be included on the President’s Honor Roll. Provost’s Honor Roll requires is a GPA of 3.75 to 3.99 and Dean’s List is 3.50 to 3.74 and all with no grade lower than C will be included on the Dean’s Honor Roll. The student cannot have semester grades of I, WF or NC.

The Texas Soil Health Short Course will be held on February 22-23, 2017 at the Region 9 Education Service Center in Wichita Falls, Texas. The short course will offer the opportunity to gain a better understanding of soil properties including water infiltration, water holding capacity, and organic matter content. It is being hosted by the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board (TSSWCB) and the Association of Texas Soil & Water Conservation Districts (ATSWCD). 

“Our conservation partners and I are thrilled to bring this rare learning opportunity to landowners in Texas. Soil health is a hot topic as natural resource conservation continues to remain a top priority across the nation. As conservation practices change it is essential that we keep our producers abreast of the latest trends,” said Barry Mahler, Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board Member of Iowa Park, Texas.

It’s that time of the year again; clean your closets, reorganize your pantry, break New Year’s resolutions in record time and get your Jacksboro Community Food Pantry 2016 update to the community. In 2016, food pantry saw an increase in the number of people requesting food assistance with early monthly averages around 380, and year ending average at just over 500 people per month. 

Executive Director Sheri Kettlety said there is really no way to pinpoint the exact reason for the increase, other than the economy, the price of oil and its impact on a person’s ability to put food on the table. 

“Today’s food pantries no longer operate on an emergency basis,” said Kettlety. “Most of our clients are forced to use food assistance programs as a strategy to exist without starvation. We must continue to keep our minds open and allow our heart to be moved beyond our own will.”

JCFP distributed 74,775 meals to 4,985 individuals living in Jacksboro last year. Additionally, the food pantry coordinated with the Wichita Falls Area Food Bank, to bring 70,242 pounds of fresh produce via the Produce Express truck to the community. 

“It has been a transformative experience for everyone at JCFP to be a part of the collaboration of the body of Christ to unite in mind and thought to conform to His will,” Kettlety said. 

“I am humbled and honored to report, despite all the distractions and increased requests for food in 2016, JCFP average cost came in at 17 cents per meal.”

She added the cost per meal was kept low by purchasing commodities from the Wichita Falls Area Food Bank, help from successful food drives hosted by the US Postal Service and the Jacksboro Lions Club, as well as purchasing food on sale in our local stores. Additionally, there are churches that donate food to JCFP on a monthly basis which is greatly appreciated and helps manage expenses. 

“As we head into our fifth year of distribution I want to say thank you to our volunteers, donors and recipients for your continued support of Jacksboro Community Food Pantry,” Kettlety said. “Through your commitment to Christ you have made a difference in someone’s life, and I believe changed the mind-set of our community relating to feeding the impoverished. All thanks be to God for your service and dedication.”

JCFP distributes food on the third Monday of each month from 2: 30-6 p.m. at the First Assembly of God Fellowship Hall. For  questions, concerns, or to donate or volunteer, please call Kettlety at 972-922-6686.

Proceeds from the January sales of the book “Reenie’s Ranch Adventure” written by 2016 Texas Ford Leadership Scholar Katherine Fazzino of Rudder will go to the Johnny Callen Scholarship Fund

Katherine Fazzino is a member of Johnny Callan’s Ford Scholar group. Fazzino created the children’s book as her Ford Scholar project. Contact Jacksboro High School Counselor Dori Taylor to purchase a copy of the book, 940-567-7204 ext. 347 or email Taylor at taylordr@jacksboroisd.net. Paperbacks are $5 and hardbacks are $20.

Dan Fowler was left with $300 in his checking account when he took a job as Animal Control Officer with the City of Jacksboro. Many folks are glad he took the position.

Fowler was recently named Employee of the Year for the city, which surprised the unassuming Fowler, who has been in the city since 1980.

“They handed me the plaque and I was kind of like ‘who, me?’” Fowler said with a laugh. “I really felt like I was doing an average job but doing it the best I could.”

Fowler, a 1982 JHS grad, did oilfield work after school and then went to work for the Lindsey State Jail. It was his first work with dogs as he was a canine sergeant. Things didn’t work out at the jail.

“I never got to use the animal,” Fowler explained. “Stuff never came to fruition as far as the programs we were going to use the animal for.”

Fowler went back to work in the oilfields as an internal auditor where he was working two weeks on, two weeks off for years and was able to travel the world. He did that until February 2015 when he was part of the last round of layoffs at his company. 

He putout feelers for positions doing anything but the interview with Jacksboro in October was the first interview he had since being laid off. With funds becoming scarce, he was grateful for the position.

He had done some work with animals prior, raising hunting dogs in the 80s and 90s. During his tenure he has made a dent in the number of stray dogs running around town, bringing them to the shelter.

Some of them he has been able to reunite with the owners but others, despite having microchips, suffered from another problem.

“The number on the chip was no longer in service,” Fowler said. “You can only try so long before you’re forced to do something with the animal.”

Fowler is proud of the shelter’s 95-98 percent rate of keeping animals alive. A number of donations of food and other necessities have aided with that. Fowler said putting animals up for adoption on the shelter’s Facebook page has also helped. 

Fowler admits the 12 kennel facility could use some work. He is waiting for the weather to cooperate, so he can use a donation of paint to spruce the place up. He is also working on cutting down the amount of feral cats in the community, setting out traps and hopefully finding a new home for the animal.

Fowler said he enjoys the work but hears both sides of the story when it comes to animals.

“People tell me that I’m doing a good job and others say I’m not,” Fowler said. “You’re never going to keep everyone happy. I just do what they pay me to do.”

He admits he likes to "tend to my little area” out west of town on U.S. Highway 380. The shelter is open certain hours but since he lives fairly close to the facility, he is willing to come out and help an animal.

“We had a guy from Galveston who was visiting relatives from Graham,” Fowler said. “He had heard about a litter of puppies we had and came and took the whole bunch.” 

A wellness expert says there are different ways to think of dieting and ways to lose weight than what we’re used to.

Faith Community Hospital Director of Wellness Joe Copeland presented a lunchtime seminar Tuesday on intuitive eating as part of the Shape Up in Faith series. The philosophy is more of a mindful way to eat and be aware and take a more active role in what a person is eating. Becoming an “expert” of an individual body and its hunger signals are paramount to a healthier lifestyles.

Copeland would know, putting on a bunch of weight after his collegiate baseball career was over and his marriage. He says small changes in diet and exercise can lead to big changes in life.

“You didn’t get that way in a short time,” Copeland said. “It’s going to take time to realize effects.”

Copeland said paying attention to your body and how it feels after every meal is important. Hunger is both physical and emotional. Replenishing nutrients every 3-4 hours is important but eating to feel “comfortable” is what gets people into trouble.

“Certain cravings can be simply due to a lack of nutrients,” Copeland said. “A need for chocolate can be your body saying it needs more magnesium and calcium, so eat some dark leafy greens of drink some milk. A zinc deficiency, for those who like to salt everything they eat, can be fixed by eating dark meat chicken, liver and eggs and oysters to a lesser extent.”

An iron deficiency can be rectified by eating spinach or even some dried fruit, Copeland said. Assessing hunger to see if you are really hungry or just emotional is important.

“Real hunger can be satisfied by anything,” Copeland said. “What am I craving and if there are other healthier alternatives to solve it. Many times exercise, going on a date, or having a simple breath mint can ward off the cravings.”

If the craving for chocolate or salt won’t go away, start small, like a chocolate chip for those needing chocolate. Move it around your mouth and chew slow. Eating slowly and being aware of what you’re eating in a busy lifestyle can take care of a craving as well.

Finally, Copeland says writing down what you eat and how you feel after eating it can help. Copeland said he has been doing this for about eight months now and has lost 25 pounds.

“Be present during every meal, get away from what you’re doing and focus on the food,” Copeland said. “Never eat when you’re busy as you tend to eat more.”

Finding food that makes your body feel its best will also help. Copeland urges people to make peace with their food.

“Get rid of the ideas of what you should and shouldn’t eat every day,” Copeland said. “Be smarter of what you put in your body, if you need to eat, eat but be aware of what you’re putting in.”

North Central Texas College Graham Campus will offer advisement sessions for those interested in becoming a licensed vocational nurse through NCTC’s LVN Program. Interested individuals are encouraged to attend one of several advisement sessions held in January and February. Attending an advisement session is the first step in the process to be accepted into the LVN program and is required to apply to the program.  Spouses or parents are welcome to attend but children are not allowed. Potential students only need to attend one session to meet the program requirement. Advisement session times and dates include:

9 a.m. Monday, January 23

Noon Monday, January 30

7 p.m. Thursday, February 2

Noon Monday, February 6

The sessions will be held in the Health Science Center Building on the Graham Campus at 928 Cherry Street. For more information about the LVN Program, call 940-521-0720.

Abbie Nicole Kinder of Jacksboro, graduated from Midwestern State University in December 2016. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Interdisciplinary Studies.

Kaycee Len Fowler of Perrin, also graduated from MSU in December with a Bachelor of Arts degree.

Midwestern State University had 442 undergraduate and graduate students who were awarded degrees in December 2016. Honor graduates receiving bachelor’s degrees included 17 summa cum laude, 27 magna cum laude, and 50 cum laude. Honor requirements are a grade point average of 3.9-4.0 for summa cum laude, 3.7-3.89 for magna cum laude and 3.5-3.69 for cum laude. Honor graduates are designated in the list below.

Private Ethan Coe Wilton, 19, of Jacksboro graduated from United States Marine Corps boot camp at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego on Dec. 16. Private Wilton successfully completed 13 weeks of intensive basic training at MCRD San Diego as one of 88 recruits in Training Platoon 3235. 

While in recruit training Private Wilton shot Expert on the Rifle Range and earned a 1st class PFT. Following 10 days home on leave he will report to Camp Pendleton for one month at Military Combat Training then Military Occupation Specialty School in Pensacola, Florida.

Reid Spiller recently graduated Cum Laude from Baylor University with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Management. Baylor University conferred degrees on more than 860 graduates during a fall commencement exercise on December 17 in the Ferrell Center on the Baylor campus. Reid was also named to the Baylor University Dean’s Academic Honor List for the 2016 fall semester. To be named to the Dean’s List, a student must be an undergraduate with a minimum grade-point average of 3.7, while enrolled in a minimum of 12 semester hours.

William “Bill” S. Simon, a member of the Board of Regents, brought greetings to the graduates at the ceremony. Baylor Interim President David Garland presided over the commencement ceremonies and delivered the message to the graduates. He conferred the degrees assisted by L. Gregory Jones, Executive Vice President and Provost, along with the dean of each school. Bearer of the Mace honors went to Donald D. Schmeltekopf, provost emeritus and professor, Educational Leadership (1990-2014). 

Baylor University is a private Christian University and a nationally ranked research institution. The University provides a vibrant campus community for approximately 16,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continually operating University in Texas. Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 80 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 12 nationally recognized academic divisions.

Reid has been accepted into Baylor Law School, and will begin law school in the spring semester, beginning in February.

Jacksboro Lions Club recognized students with citizenship awards for the 2nd six weeks.

For the first five grading periods of the school year, middle school and elementary students who demonstrate good citizenship are selected. They are recognized at a Jacksboro Lions Club meeting and given a certificate and Sonic gift card.

Jacksboro Elementary students recognized were third grader Mayci Ryans, first grader Taylor Alsip, kindergartner Kayla Regalado, second grader Maggie Jo Sewell, fourth grader Brailyn Tullous and fifth grader Liam Branigan.

Jacksboro Middle School students, left, recognized were eighth grader Alex Holman, seventh grader Sydnee Wade and sixth grader Amy Padron.

In recent years, Faith Community Hospital (FCH) has been building its diabetes outreach program to provide the community with better resources for diabetes management and prevention. Their efforts have paid off, as the Specialty Clinic at FCH has become a Medicare-certified Diabetes Self-management Education Program. The accreditation comes from the American Association of Diabetes Educators (AADE) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. 

According to Frank L. Beaman, CEO of FCH, the accreditation allows individuals with diabetes in Jack County, as well as portions of Montague, Clay, Archer, Wise, Young, Palo Pinto and Parker counties, to have increased access to high-quality medical and education services.

“Hospitals and healthcare facilities across the nation continue to see a rise in the number of patients with or at risk for diabetes. As the prevalence of this disease grows locally, it’s important that we take important measures to provide both diabetes management and prevention programs,” Beaman explains. “Although we’ve made great strides in recent years, much work remains to get the word out and help those in our community take control of their health.”

Programs that meet AADE’s criteria are considered high-quality and have been shown to improve the health of the individuals who embrace the educational components and help to modify sometimes unhealthy behaviors.

Diabetes is a family of diseases that can have an impact on virtually all systems of the human body if not properly maintained through diet, exercise and medication. The condition can significantly impact the body if left unmanaged.

Warning signs of diabetes include excessive thirst, frequent urination, drowsiness and itching, blurred vision, excessive weight, tingling in the extremities, fatigue and skin infections. Other signs include slow healing of cuts and scratches, especially on the feet. 

In 2015 the Texas Department of State Health Services updated its diabetes fact sheet to reflect the current state of the disease in Texas. The report showed that approximately 13 percent of Texans are living with diabetes. The state also reported that an estimated 8.1 percent of Texans are in the prediabetes stage.

The diabetes education program at FCH is a collaborative process through which people with or at risk for diabetes gain the knowledge and skills needed to modify their behavior and successfully self-manage the disease and its related conditions. The comprehensive program is led by Brenda Haile, certified diabetes educator at FCH. 

“What we have found is that many people in our community simply do not know whether they have diabetes, which is in line with national statistics,” Haile explains. “It’s not that difficult to find out where you stand in regard to diabetes. All it takes is a simple blood-glucose test, which can be done here at FCH. At that point, we can advise people about the results and recommend how to move forward.”

Personalized services are available to help patients take control of their health through counseling, medications, meal planning and exercise plans. In addition to education, the diabetes program provides insulin-pump placement and training.

“We’re very results-oriented,” Haile adds. “It is our goal to educate and empower individuals with diabetes to improve their understanding and self-management of diabetes.”

For more information about the accredited diabetes education program at FCH, please call 940-567-6633.

Dan and Lorraine (Cranford) Seay of Mineral Wells, Texas are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter, Rachel Seay to John Hunter III. John is the son of Mr. and Mrs. John Hunter, Jr. of Mobile, Alabama.

Rachel is a graduate of Tarleton State University and the University of North Texas Health Science Center in Fort Worth, and Texas A & M College of Medicine where she earned a Doctor of Medicine degree. John is a graduate of the University of Alabama and the University of Alabama Medical School where he earned a Doctor of Medicine degree.

The couple are planning to be married in the spring.

Rachel is the granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jimmy Seay of Mineral Wells and Mr. and Mrs. Weldon Cranford of Perrin.

Jacksboro Chamber of Commerce welcomed its newest member business Minnows and More with a ribbon cutting last week.

Pictured are Lynda Pack, Charlotte Haston, Melanie Belcher, Rebecca Plumlee, Ginger Dennis, owners Buford and Faye Hart, Hannah Reynolds, Mike Smith and Joe Mitchell.