The Cuero Volunteer Fire Department, in collaboration with the Cuero Citizen Police Academy Alumni Association, hosted a charming Community Pancake Breakfast on Saturday, September 28, 2024. The gathering took place at the Walkway to Main Street, situated at 123 W. Main.
A cozy crowd relished the warm and welcoming ambiance, complemented by the enticing scent of fresh pancakes. The community leaders excelled in preparing and serving the breakfast, ensuring a hospitable and valued experience for all.
The breakfast gathering on the walkway at 123 W. Main Street holds historical significance as it commemorates Manuel Carmona, Sr., the founder of Carmona’s Hair Company. After its sale in 2019, the property was acquired by the City of Cuero and transformed into a public walkway.
After breakfast, the participants enjoyed visiting the Cuero Municipal Library Market Pavilion and exploring the Cuero Downtown Farmer’s Market on Main Street. It was a picturesque day, perfect for embracing the charm of small-town culture and strengthening community ties.
A pastor transformed himself into a homeless person and went to the church that he was to be introduced as the head pastor at that morning. He walked around his soon to be church for 30 minutes while it was filling with people for service. Only 3 people said hello to him, most looked the other way. He asked people for change to buy food because he was hungry. Not one gave him anything.
He went into the sanctuary to sit down in the front of the church and was told by the ushers that he would need to get up and go sit in the back of the church. He said hello to people as they walked in but was greeted with cold stares and dirty looks from people looking down on him and judging him. He sat in the back of the church and listened to the church announcement for the week. He listened as new visitors were welcomed into the church that morning, but no one acknowledged that he was new. He watched people around him continue to look his way with stares that said you are not welcome here.
Then the elders of the church went to the podium to make the announcement. They said they were excited to introduce the new pastor of the church to the congregation. “We would like to introduce you to our new Pastor.” The congregation stood up and looked around clapping with joy and anticipation. The homeless man sitting in the back stook up and started walking down the aisle. That’s when all the clapping stopped, and the church was silent. With all eyes on him, he walked up to the altar and reached for the microphone. He stood there for a moment and then recited so elegantly, a verse from the bible.
“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
The King will reply,
‘Truly I tell you whatever you did for the least of my brothers and sisters, you did for me.’ After he recited this, he introduced himself as their new pastor and told the congregation what he had experienced that morning. Many began to cry and bow their heads in shame.
“Today I see a gathering of people here, but I do not see a church of Jesus. The world has enough people that look the other way. What the world needs is disciples of Jesus that can follow these teachings and live as he did. When will YOU decide to become disciples?’ He then dismissed service until the following Sunday as his sermon had been given.
This story has been widely circulated on the internet and often attributed to a pastor named Jeremiah Steepek. However, there is no definitive proof that Pastor Steepek actually exists or that the events described in the story took place.
The tale has been shared extensively on social media and various websites, but it appears to be a modern parable meant to convey a moral lesson about compassion and humility rather than a factual account.
If you’re interested in similar real-life stories, you might want to look into Reverend Willie Lyle of Clarksville, Tennessee, who lived on the streets as a homeless man for five days and shared his experiences with his congregation3.
Cuero, Texas – The DeWitt/LaVaca County Democratic Women is calling on all like-minded individuals to join us for a pivotal meeting as we prepare for the upcoming elections. This is a crucial moment for our community, and your involvement is essential.
You are invited to our October meeting on Friday, October 4th from 11 am to 1 pm at the charming Maya’s Restaurant in Cuero. This is a wonderful opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals, share ideas, and make a positive impact in our community.
But that’s not all! We’re also thrilled to announce our second Get Out the Vote postcard writing workshop on Sunday, October 6th at 1 pm, also at Maya’s. This is your chance to get involved in a meaningful way and help encourage voter participation. All are invited to join us in this important effort.
As we approach what promises to be a closely contested race, we need your support and input. This meeting will focus on strategies, initiatives, and ways to mobilize our community to drive positive change.
Your participation is not only welcomed but vital. Together, we can ensure that our values and vision for a better future are represented in this election.
Join us as we work towards empowering our voices and making a difference in our community. We look forward to seeing you there! For more information, visit our website https://dewittlavacatxdemocratwomen.wordpress.com/
or contact Margaret Vandeveer at dewittlavacatxdemocraticwomen@yahoo.com.
On Saturday, September 21, 2024, the First United Methodist Church in Cuero hosted a delightful brunch catered by “A Taste Above” and a style show featuring local businesses. The event was a resounding success, with proceeds benefiting Norma’s House, a new children’s advocacy center in DeWitt County.
The style show was a spectacular event where the models not only looked stunning but also radiated joy and enthusiasm. They had a fantastic time showcasing the latest fashion trends, and their smiles and laughter lit up the runway. It was evident that they were thrilled to volunteer their time for such a worthy cause, making the event even more special and memorable.
Norma’s House is committed to offering vital services to children at risk from drugs, those who have witnessed violent crimes, or who have suffered sexual or physical abuse. As a satellite office of the Gonzales Regional Children’s Advocacy Center, located at 1105 N Hunt Street, its goal is to bolster support for children and their families in the area.
Services Offered by Norma’s House
Norma’s House offers a comprehensive range of programs to support child abuse victims, including:
Pediatric Forensic Interviews: Conducted by trained professionals to gather accurate information from child victims.
Forensic Medical Exams: Ensuring thorough medical assessments for victims.
Family Advocacy: Providing support to families throughout the process.
Post-Crisis Counseling Services: Addressing trauma and promoting healing.
Coordination of Multi-Disciplinary Team Investigations: Collaborating with local agencies.
Community Education and Training Programs: Raising awareness and empowering the community.
History and Impact
The Gonzales Regional Children’s Advocacy Center, known as Norma’s House, has a rich history of service. In 2001, it became an Operating Member of the Children’s Advocacy Centers of Texas, Inc. (CACTX) and adopted the name “Norma’s House” in honor of Charter Member Norma Ehrig. The center joined the National Children’s Alliance (NCA) in 2002.
Over the years, the center has expanded its reach. In 2013, Lavaca County was added to its service area, leading to the opening of a satellite office in Hallettsville in 2014. Now, DeWitt County joins the list, reinforcing the commitment to local and timely recognition of child abuse and victim treatment.
Executive Director Deane Novosad emphasized the center’s mission: “Our mission is to provide compassionate care and support to child abuse victims. This new satellite office allows us to reach even more families in need.”
The brunch and style show event not only showcased the community’s support for Norma’s House but also highlighted the importance of the services they provide. The funds raised will undoubtedly make a significant impact on the lives of many children and families in DeWitt County.
Fentanyl is a deadly synthetic opioid that is impacting communities across Texas and endangering Texans of all ages. Fentanyl-related deaths reported in Texas increased 89% from 2020 to 2021, and the time to combat the infiltration of this drug into our state is now.
Under the direction of Governor Abbott, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) is working to raise awareness about the dangers of this drug to save the lives of Texans. Often, people don’t even know that they’re taking this deadly drug.
Mexican drug cartels are mass-producing and trafficking counterfeit prescription pills laced with fentanyl into Texas. The reality is that many of these fake pills look so real that it’s hard to tell the difference between fake and real prescription pills. So much so that even experts have a hard time telling the difference. Don’t fall victim to the deadly dangers of fentanyl.
DANGERS OF FENTANYL
Fentanyl is often pressed into fake pills or cut into street drugs, such as methamphetamine, heroin and cocaine — often without the user knowing it — and the outcome can be deadly. In fact, most people who die from fentanyl didn’t know that they were even taking this deadly drug. One of the challenges in combating this crisis is the fact that these “fake” pills are everywhere. They are widely available. They aren’t hard to purchase.
In this video, you’ll hear the story of the late Ryan Bagwell, a victim of fentanyl poisoning, from his mother, Sandra Bagwell. She shares his story in the hopes of helping protect others from the dangers of fentanyl.
Fentanyl dangers are impacting Texans of all ages. Fentanyl is 50–100 times more potent than morphine — just 2 milligrams could be lethal. According to U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) lab tests, “four out of every ten fake pills with fentanyl contain a potentially lethal dose.” The impacts of fentanyl are devastating — and deadly.
What can you do? Learn the facts about fentanyl and start sharing your knowledge with loved ones. Raising awareness about this crisis is vital to helping protect lives. Many people don’t know about the dangers of fentanyl ― and the outcome can be deadly.
Attention, Cuero community! We need your help in locating 15-year-old Nicholas Houpt, who has been reported as a runaway. Nicholas was last seen around 10:30 PM last night at his residence.
Here are the details:
Name: Nicholas Houpt
Height: 5’04″
Weight: 120 lbs
Clothing Description: Unfortunately, we do not have specific information about his attire.
If you spot Nicholas or have any information about his whereabouts, please contact the Cuero Police Department immediately at (361) 275-5734. Let’s work together to ensure his safety and well-being.
Remember, harboring a runaway child is a class A misdemeanor, punishable by confinement in jail and/or fines. Let’s keep our community vigilant and supportive.
Stay connected, stay aware, and let’s bring Nicholas home safely!
Book Signing and Presentation at the Pharmacy & Medical Museum of Texas, October 3, 2024
Cuero, TX – The Pharmacy & Medical Museum of Texas is excited to host a special Fun After
5 Chamber of Commerce event featuring award-winning author Amanda Skenandore on
Thursday, October 3, 2024, at 5:30 PM. Attendees will have the unique opportunity to meet
Skenandore as she presents and signs copies of her latest novel, The Medicine Woman of
Galveston.
Set in the late 19th century, The Medicine Woman of Galveston offers a captivating tale of
resilience, healing, and the complex intersection of medicine and culture. The Pharmacy &
Medical Museum, with its authentic period displays, is the perfect backdrop for this event,
immersing guests in the rich historical context of the novel.
Whether you’re a longtime fan of Skenandore’s work or discovering her writing for the first
time, this is an event not to be missed. In addition to the book signing, the evening will feature a presentation from the author, providing guests an inside look at her inspiration and the extensive historical research behind her novel.
This event is open to the public, and Chamber members are especially encouraged to attend for a chance to network, explore the museum, and enjoy an unforgettable evening of history and literature.
For more information, please contact the Pharmacy & Medical Museum of Texas at 361-485-8090 or afitts@cityofcuero.com.
About the Author:
Amanda Skenandore is an award-winning historical fiction author and registered nurse. Her debut novel, Between Earth and Sky, won the American Library Association’s Reading List
Award for Best Historical Fiction. She is known for her meticulously researched novels and compelling portrayals of historical medical figures and events. She lives in Las Vegas, Nevada.
About the Pharmacy & Medical Museum of Texas:
Located in the heart of Cuero, Texas, the Pharmacy & Medical Museum of Texas is dedicated to preserving the history of pharmacy and medicine. The museum offers an authentic glimpse into the medical practices of the past, making it the ideal setting for this special literary event.
For more information, please contact the Pharmacy & Medical Museum of Texas at 361-485-8090 or afitts@cityofcuero.com
More immigrants than ever before call the United States home. Many of them have become U.S. citizens through naturalization, making them eligible to vote in November’s presidential election. In fact, naturalized citizens’ numbers are growing as the federal government processes citizenship applications at its fastest rate in years.
Here’s a closer look at the nearly 24 million immigrant adults who are naturalized citizens, according to a Center analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data.
Throughout this analysis, we use the terms “eligible voters” and “electorate” to refer to U.S. citizens ages 18 and older.
Naturalized citizens make up a record number of eligible voters, according to the 2022 American Community Survey. That year, 23.8 million naturalized citizens were eligible to vote, accounting for about 10% of the U.S. electorate.
The number of adults who are naturalized citizens has grown steadily in recent decades. Between 2012 and 2022 alone, their numbers grew by 32%, from 18.0 million to 23.8 million. During the same period, the number of U.S.-born adults increased by 8%, from 202 million to more than 217 million.
2.
Most naturalized citizen eligible voters have lived in the U.S. for more than 20 years. About three-quarters of immigrant eligible voters (73%) have lived in the U.S. for more than two decades. Another 20% have lived in the country for 11 to 20 years, while relatively few (8%) have been in the U.S. for a decade or less.
This pattern reflects the United States’ lengthy citizenship process. Generally, immigrants are required to be lawful permanent U.S. residents for at least five years before they are eligible to apply for citizenship. However, the median number of years before immigrants are eligible for naturalization varies by their country of birth.
3.
Among naturalized citizen eligible voters, more than half (55%) live in just four states: California, Florida, New York and Texas. These four states are also the country’s most populous when looking at eligible voters overall. Combined, they’re home to roughly a third of the U.S. electorate (32%).
California has by far the most adult naturalized citizens of any state at 5.6 million, or 23% of the nation’s total.
4.
In 13 states and the District of Columbia, naturalized citizens make up an estimated 10% of all eligible voters or more. The states where naturalized citizens account for the largest percentage of the electorate are California (21%), New Jersey (19%), New York (19%) and Florida (17%).
In West Virginia and Mississippi, naturalized citizens make up some of the smallest shares of eligible voters overall – about 1% of the electorate in each state.
5.
The naturalized citizen share of the electorate differs widely in some potential battleground states in the 2024 election. Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin are widely considered to be among the swing states this fall. The share of eligible voters who are naturalized citizens differs considerably across these states.
In Nevada and Arizona, naturalized citizens make up 14% and 9% of all eligible voters, respectively. They account for 7% of eligible voters in Georgia, and about 5% in both Pennsylvania and Michigan. In Wisconsin, they are just 3% of the electorate.
In overall numbers, Georgia’s naturalized citizen electorate is the largest among these swing states at 574,000, while Pennsylvania is not far behind at 546,000. Both of these states were among the closest in the 2020 presidential election.
6.
The top countries of origin for adult naturalized citizens in the U.S. are Mexico, India, China, the Philippines and Vietnam. About 3.7 million immigrants who are eligible to vote in the U.S. (15%) hail from Mexico- the largest group from any one country. India (8%), China (7%), the Philippines (6%) and Vietnam (4%) round out the top five countries of origin.
The origin countries of immigrant eligible voters is somewhat in line with U.S. immigration patterns observed over the last six decades or so. Of all immigrants who’ve come to the U.S. since 1965, about a quarter arrived from Mexico. About another quarter came to the U.S. from Asia, with the largest numbers arriving from China, India and the Philippines.
7.
Most immigrants who are eligible to vote are Hispanic or Asian American. These two racial and ethnic groups have grown in number in recent years.
Hispanic adults make up the largest share (34%) of immigrant eligible voters as of 2022. About 8.1 million adult naturalized citizens are Hispanic, an increase from 7.5 million in 2018.
About three-in-ten immigrant eligible voters (31%) are Asian as of 2022. Nationwide, they account for about 7.5 million adult naturalized citizens, up about half a million people from four years earlier.
The number and share of White immigrant eligible voters have held relatively steady between 2018 and 2022 at about 4.9 million, or 21% of the total.
The nation’s 2.5 million Black adult naturalized citizens account for 11% of the immigrant electorate as of 2022 – a similar share to 2018.
8.
The naturalized citizen electorate differs from the U.S.-born electorate on a variety of demographic measures. Immigrant eligible voters skew older than their U.S.-born counterparts. They’re also somewhat more likely to have a bachelor’s degree, live in households with slightly higher incomes and have lower levels of English proficiency.
Age: About six-in-ten immigrant eligible voters (58%) are ages 50 and older, compared with 46% of U.S.-born voters. And just 8% of immigrant eligible voters are under 30, compared with 22% of the U.S.-born electorate.
Education: 39% of naturalized citizen eligible voters have a bachelor’s degree or more education, compared with 36% of the U.S.-born electorate. Naturalized citizens are also less likely than their U.S.-born counterparts to have completed some college or have an associate’s degree. This is the highest level of education for 22% of naturalized citizens, compared with 30% of those who are U.S.-born.
Family income: The median total family income among naturalized citizen eligible voters is $92,870, compared with $84,000 among U.S.-born eligible voters.
English proficiency: 37% of immigrant eligible voters say they speak English less than very well, far higher than the 2% of U.S.-born eligible voters who say the same.
Over the last decade and a half, Pew Research Center has conducted religion-focused surveys all around the world. One question we have asked in each of these surveys is “How important is religion in your life?” Another one we’ve asked repeatedly is “How often do you pray?”
Using these questions, we see a broadly similar pattern across the 102 countries and territories we surveyed between 2008 and 2023. The places that are most religious by these two measures tend to be in sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America and the Middle East-North Africa region. The places that are least religious tend to be in Europe and East Asia.
Of course, there are dimensions of spirituality that these two survey questions don’t pick up, as we’ve explored in regional surveys. At the end of this analysis, we discuss how we could incorporate new measures in the future.
Importance of religion around the world
People in sub-Saharan Africa are typically among the most likely to say that religion is very important in their lives. At least 90% of adults say this in Senegal, Mali, Tanzania, Guinea-Bissau, Rwanda and Zambia.
In contrast, people in nearly all European countries surveyed are among the least likely to say that religion is very important in their lives. In Estonia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Latvia and Finland, 10% or fewer adults say this.
The pattern in South and Southeast Asia is not as consistent as in sub-Saharan Africa and Europe. Adults in some places in this region are among the most likely worldwide to place a great deal of importance on religion. Consider Indonesia, for example, where nearly all adults say religion is very important in their lives. But far smaller shares in Singapore (36%) and Vietnam (26%) give this answer.
In the United States, 42% of adults say religion is very important in their lives. This is below the 102-place median of 55%.
Rates of daily prayer around the world
Latin Americans are among the most likely in the world to say they pray daily. In both Guatemala and Paraguay, 82% of adults say this, as do 78% in Costa Rica and Honduras.
Meanwhile, in no place surveyed in East Asia do more than 21% of adults say they pray daily. This includes 13% of people in Hong Kong and 19% in Japan.
Adults in the U.S. are in the middle of the 102 countries and territories analyzed when it comes to rates of daily prayer. Some 45% of Americans say they pray daily, which is nearly identical to the 102-place median of 46%.
The complexities of measuring religiosity globally
Asking people about the importance of religion in their lives and how often they pray can provide an important window into their religiosity. But these questions work better in some places than in others.
These two measures may be especially valuable in places where Abrahamic religions – Judaism, Christianity and Islam – predominate, because prayer and formal religious organizations are central to those traditions. In other parts of the world, we need to ask additional questions to capture key aspects of religious or spiritual observance.
A prime example is our 2023 survey of East Asian societies and neighboring Vietnam. Before this survey, we consulted with experts from the region to devise questions that would tap into the most relevant aspects of spirituality. We also conducted qualitative research in Japan and Taiwan to ensure we were taking the right approach.
The survey found that while few East Asians consider religion very important in their lives or pray daily, many people across the region hold religious or spiritual beliefs and engage in traditional rituals. For example, many East Asians participate in rituals to honor their ancestors.
We also asked tailored, culturally relevant questions in our 2019-20 survey of nearly 30,000 adults in India. For example, that survey found widespread adherence to dietary choices related to religion. We found that 92% of Jains are vegetarian, and 67% of India’s Jains also abstain from eating root vegetables. Among all Indian adults, only about half said they would ever eat in the home of someone whose religion has different rules about food.
How we plan to measure religiosity and spirituality around the world in the future
Our recent survey of East Asia and Vietnam largely marks the end of our customized, region-by-region surveys of religiosity and spirituality. But this does not mean we are done researching religion around the world.
Building on what we’ve learned, we now plan to conduct surveys in 30 or more countries at the same time. By simultaneously surveying countries in Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas, we can gain a comparative understanding of spirituality around the world.
As we survey the same countries over time, we can also repeat some questions to see how different parts of the world are – or aren’t – changing religiously.
This new approach will allow us to ask questions around the world that were originally designed for a specific region. For example, based on our work in East Asia, we plan to ask respondents across the globe whether they think various parts of nature have their own spirits. We recently asked questions like these in the U.S. and found that 48% of American adults believe that mountains, rivers or trees can have spirits or spiritual energies. This is similar to the share of adults in Japan and Vietnam who believe in such spirits.
Using measures from a variety of cultures and religious traditions will help us move toward a richer understanding of people’s spiritual lives.
Discover the amazing world of herbs with Denise Goebel, Our Family & Community Health AgriLife Extension Agent. Learn about the health benefits and culinary uses of herbs in this informative session. This is a fantastic opportunity to enhance your knowledge and connect with fellow community members.
Event: All About Herbs – The Star Plant Date: Thursday, September 26th Time: Coffee at 9:30 AM, Presentation at 10:00 AM Location: Cuero Public Library, 207 E. Main, Cuero
For more information, please contact the Cuero Chamber of Commerce at (361) 275-2112.
About the Author:
