Official site of Tribune News serving Tomball, Magnolia and Waller

Last year was the second time that Magnolia High School Principal Jeffrey Springer was selected as a regional winner for the Texas Association of Secondary School Principals (TASSP) Principal of the Year award -- but this time it was different. This time he was also chosen as 2013's Principal of The Year for Texas, which means that of more than 1,000 school districts in the state, Springer was rated the top secondary school principal. This honor makes him eligible for the national award in 2014.

"This award is not about me," stated Springer. "This is a celebration of our community, teachers and students. In fact, as soon as I heard I won, I called a meeting so I could tell my staff that the data that resulted in this honor is about them and their students. I didn't want this to just be a title, but to inspire us to work together to live up to the expectations of our state's educators."

Springer strives to create an environment at Magnolia that is a place where lives can be transformed and characters developed. He wants to reinforce the feelings of family - with all that entails, such as togetherness, compassion and pride.

"Our school is not perfect -- it has a way to go, we all do," he explained. "Public education has something of a black eye right now, but we want to change that. We are on a quest from excellence to eminence. We want people to say that Magnolia ISD has great programs and is an academic success."

Springer, a Magnolia resident, has been an educator for more than 30 years. He was selected the Region Six Secondary Principal of the Year in 2006 and received that honor again in 2012. A former teacher and high school football coach, Springer received his B.A. in teaching from Sam Houston State and a Master of Sports Administration from the U.S. Sports Academy.

The TASSP recognizes outstanding secondary school principals annually, as part of its mission to facilitate learning through best practices in school administration. The organization was established in 1922 to build a network of Texas educators that wanted to take responsibility for the quality of school leadership. TASSP is comprised of more than 5,000 secondary campus administrators and is an affiliate of the national organization (NASSP). It is committed to increasing public awareness about the critical problems facing educational leadership and engaging partners from business, government and community groups to tackle these issues and improve public schools in Texas.

Being selected Principal of the Year is a great honor for Springer, and for Magnolia ISD in general -- it shows that the district promotes leadership above just "management," which is a big step toward achieving the "eminence" that Springer is talking about, district officials said.

For many of the thousands of children victimized by abuse every year in Texas, there is no one they can turn to for help. This is the terrible problem that the non-profit Bikers Against Child Abuse (BACA) organization is trying to erase. It is hard to imagine the anxiety children feel, when their abusers are often family members or other individuals they are forced to see and interact with in their daily lives – the very adults they should be able to turn to for guidance – but instead they have learned to fear. Almost 20 years ago the national BACA organization was founded to provide the type of emotional and physical support that abused children need when other groups have failed them.

BACA members use a biker's tough image to make child abuse victims feel more secure, and they live by their motto: 'No child deserves to live in fear.' Children often think of bikers as powerful and forceful – so it is a natural transition for them to think of bikers as protective, if the bikers are on their side.

BACA members go by their "ride names" for security reasons, and they will do everything from attending a child's court hearings to staying with a victim if he or she is afraid.

"We want to allow these children to not be afraid of the world, to know that they have friends who will back them up. The message we want to convey is, 'If you try to hurt that child, you're going to have go through us.' That can be powerful help for a scared child," said Popeye, the founder and head of Texas' Seven Coves Chapter, which is based in Conroe.

The members often accompany children to court and will stand outside their home all night if needed to ensure the child's safety.

"This is a huge priority for us. Our members will make the time to take care of these children," he said.

The Seven Coves Chapter has about 15 members. It was founded in 2011 and serves the Montgomery, San Jacinto and Walker County areas. There are several other chapters in Texas, including a large Harris County Chapter. The Seven Coves Chapter has one mandatory fundraiser, the "100-Mile-Ride," which raises money through entry fees for the cause. It also holds an event in the fall at Pappas On The Lake (on Lake Conroe).  Both events are open to the public.

"We recently provided an escort and security for a child who was a crime victim in Alabama, and had to leave her Texas home to attend court in that state. We were able to provide help through the support of BACA groups in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama to support this child. We have often been told by the families and the kids themselves how much we made a difference, and this is why we do it," explained Popeye.

The BACA organization was founded in 1995 by a Native American psychologist (ride name, Chief) who worked with a young boy who had been subjected to extreme abuse and was afraid to leave his house or interact with others. The only thing that seemed to interest the child was Chief's motorcycle. So Chief and 20 other bikers rode to the boy's home and were able to draw him out of his house for the first time in weeks. Chief decided this type of organization was a great benefit to abused children. Since then, chapters have been formed all over the U.S.

BACA works in cooperation with local and state authorities to offer children an advocate they can count on, to intervene when necessary to provide a deterrent against further abuse, to accompany them to often-terrifying court proceedings, and to help the children and their families combat the situations that lead to abuse. The initial contact often begins with a ride of several BACA members to the child's location, where the BACA liaison talks with the child and gives him or her a riding vest or other gifts, along with phone numbers he or she can call if they need help. All BACA members must complete both a national and state criminal background check and at no time are any members allowed alone with a child. Violence is prohibited by members.

"Members commit to being available to these children during all hours, to stand behind them," said Popeye. "One of the biggest commitments is to go to court with these kids. Court can be especially intimidating for them because often their abuser is right in front of them."

He himself became interested in the organization by attending a meeting - then he discovered the importance of the club when he actually participated in an initial child contact.

"I got to see the impact - that's when I was hooked. That was five years ago and I feel stronger about it every day."

The Seven Coves BACA group meets on the second Saturday of each month at 10:30 a.m. at McKenzie's BBQ on North Frazier Street in Conroe. All meetings are open to the public.

Most days you can find a surprise shopping experience on the side of 34614 Texas Hwy. 249 near Coe Road in Pinehurst. The market Elysium (Elysian Fields) offers home-made crafts and fresh produce for sale weekdays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to dusk.

A larger selection is offered on Fridays and Saturdays as a greater number of vendors set up shop on the location next to the Beaver Creek Boathouse restaurant to ply their wares. Whether you are looking for a holiday gift, a unique home decoration or fruits and vegetables for your dinner table, you will usually find it at the market.

Elysium opened two months ago, in September. Rose Leverton, the market's founder, explained how she came to be the proprietor of the new roadside market.

"I had lost my job and was looking for a career alternative," she said. "I had always enjoyed making crafts and had sold them at local events, so I wanted to try selling seasonal decorative items. I did some research on rental properties and road traffic. I learned that more than 55,000 cars per day passed this location and that I could rent the property for a reasonable rate. I started out selling my crafts and almost sold out the first day. Then I added the produce. Then more vendors asked to join me. I thought that would offer a better selection and more people would stop. I was right. It just took off from there. I feel blessed to be able to make my own future."

Crafts vendors interested in joining Leverton at Elysium can pay a small daily fee of $15 for a 12-foot space on her lot, bring a table and pop-up canopy, and be in business. She has a Facebook page for those who would like more information about the types of items being offered for sale: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Elysium always offers produce, but the crafts vary. On recent days, vendors have been selling quilts, yard stones, jewelry, jams and jellies, furniture, centerpieces and bamboo plants. So far, there have been very few days the roadside market has had to close due to bad weather, so local residents will very likely be able to check it out on any weekday or Saturday.

"We are starting to get regular customers who visit all the time," said Leverton.

She said Saturday is the best day, because there are more customers and a greater selection of items to purchase.

Goblins and witches, pixies and superheroes enjoyed playing games, sampling treats and visiting with all types of animals on October 27 at the W.G. Jones State Forest on FM 1488 near Magnolia and The Woodlands. The site was the scene of the Friends of Texas Wildlife (FTWL) "Owl-O-Ween" fundraiser, which had more than 2,000 visitors. Not only did visitors come in costume, but several of the volunteers dressed as their favorite forest creature in honor of the occasion.

Highlights of the event included an hourly raffle, bungee-bounce jump, free photos with a larger-than-life raccoon, and a chance to hold snakes that were only too happy to stay wrapped around a warm wrist on the cool autumn afternoon. The Houston Zoo brought a real owl to the event - it was injured and not able to be returned to the wild, so it has a permanent home at the zoo. The owl is a perfect example of what FTWL is working for.

The FTWL is Montgomery County's only wild animal rehabilitation organization, and it depends entirely on donations and volunteers to help thousands of orphaned and injured animals every year.  The organization conducts fundraisers such as this one to operate its Magnolia wildlife care facility and to teach community residents about the perils that wild animals face trying to survive in an increasingly urban environment.

Founded by Janette Winkleman in 1993, FTWL utilizes trained volunteer "rehabbers" to care for animals in their homes or at the FTWL Intake Center on Highland Boulevard in Magnolia. Rehabilitation includes feeding, often around-the-clock in the case of very young animals, veterinary care and training the animals how to obtain food for themselves. The goal is to release them into "safe" wild areas.

Often animals that appear to be abandoned are actually not left behind, and a caring parent is close by. Concerned citizens can do more harm than good by picking up wild animals and attempting to take care of them. Knowing what to do when encountering a wild animal that appears injured or orphaned is the best way for citizens to combat the devastation of wildlife.

"This was the best-attended event our organization has had. We are pleased that so many families in Magnolia and The Woodlands turned out for our fundraiser," said Winkleman, who is the president of FTWL.  "It's important to educate young people about how they can co-exist with the wildlife in our community, and events like this provide knowledge they will carry with them into adulthood"

Several vendors provided games and crafts for sale. The Texas A&M Forest Service offered families a close-up view of some forest animals, and 911 Wildlife, a humane wildlife management organization, provided free photos with Rocky, the giant raccoon.

Besides raising much-needed funds, Friends of Texas Wildlife recruited new volunteers to help with animal care, fundraisers and activities. Their next event is called "The Enchanted Forest" and will be an educational hayride for all ages Dec. 1. It will again be held at the W.G. Jones State Forest.

FTWL's trained rehabbers have received permits from either Texas Parks and Wildlife or U.S. Fish and Wildlife. Rehabbers often begin training with someone who is already permitted and then take the training classes themselves. People who are interested in volunteering or donating should visit the website: www.ftwl.org.

Six years ago Magnolia residents Valerie Cranford and her sister Kathleen Hammers, started a small equestrian drill team because they loved to ride and wanted others to have the chance to enjoy their horses. Dubbed the Lone Star Cowgirls, the team originally consisted of four members. Cranford choreographed routines for the riders and their mounts, while Hammers designed and sewed their western-style outfits.

Today, the Lone Star Cowgirls number 12 members and their flashy paint horses are well-known to local rodeo fans. They perform at shows, rodeos and parades all over Texas, and are invited to participate in many more outside the state. 

"We try to keep the events to about 20 per year," said Cranford. "We just can't get to more than that easily, and travel gets too expensive."

Costs are important to the team, as they have a tradition of raising money for worthy causes. This year they raised money to support the Homes for Our Troops endeavor, which recently provided a veteran Marine with a home in Pinehurst.

The team performed at the area Cowboys Professional Rodeo Association (CPRA) finals Oct. 12 and 13 in Angleton. Oct. 21 and 22 they put on a show at the Antique Auto Club of America (AACA) Glidden Tour in Brenham. Originally developed at the start of the 20th century by the American Automobile Association, the Glidden Tour road rallies promoted auto acceptance and auto-friendly legislation. The Glidden Tour was reborn in 1948 as a rally for antique cars.

Coming up, the team will participate in the Professional Armed Forces Rodeo Association (PAFRA) rodeo finals in Midland Nov. 23 through 25 and in both the Tomball and Magnolia holiday parades.

"We are especially proud of our participation with PAFRA," said Cranford. "We always strive to support our military members and their families, and PAFRA is an organization dedicated to rodeo participants connected to the United States military.  Some PAFRA contestants are actively stationed on military bases overseas and still make it to the finals rodeo almost every year."

The Lone Star Cowgirls have been performing at PAFRA for several years.

The team practices at the Montgomery County/Magnolia Community Horse Club Arena every Sunday evening that they are not putting on a performance.

The Lone Star Cowgirls drill team is open to new members. A rider must be a good horsewoman, live in the area, own a paint horse and be at least 16 years of age. To obtain more information, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .