Carter honors 11 veterans
Ninth annual Congressional Veteran Commendation Ceremony held at Temple College.
U.S. Rep. John Carter presents a flag to honoree Captain Gary L. Gosney, U.S. Army (Retired) during the 2024 Congressional Veteran Commendation Ceremony at Temple College. Steve Lemmons photo
DAVID STONE | OUR TOWN
Rep. John Carter honored 11 US military veterans Saturday for their service to the country and their commitment to local communities during a ceremony at Temple College.
A large crowd of family, friends and community members gathered in the Temple College Pavilion to recognize the honorees during the ninth annual Congressional Veteran Commendation Ceremony.
Following a welcome by Dr. Christy Ponce, Temple College president, Carter welcomed the gathered guests and spoke about the honorees.
“They learned service in the military and they carry on service,” Carter said of the veterans, as he explained to the audience why he launched this recognition ceremony nearly a decade ago.
“We ought to recognize that these people go off and fight wars for us, and then they come home and settle down and make the peace of this country work, too,” Carter said.
Those honored were:
Master Sergeant Duane C. Bygum Jr., US Air Force
Lieutenant Colonel Jeffrey Davison, US Air Force (Retired)
CID Lieutenant Brian M. Frick, US Navy
Captain Gary L. Gosney, US Army (Retired)
Major General Patrick Hamilton, US Army (Retired)
Commander Jon Lux, US Navy (Retired)
Lieutenant Colonel Barbara MacMillan, US Army (Retired)
Colonel Garry Patterson, US Army (Retired)
Lieutenant Colonel Spencer Smith, US Marine Corps (Retired)
CSM Angela Wilson, US Army (Retired)
Colonel Terry Wilson, US Army (Retired)
The veterans’ community service activities following their time in uniform ranged from social to religious to political and many areas in between.
The event featured keynote speaker Lt. Gen. J.T. Thomson, US Army (Retired), who shared that veterans – following their official military service – bring home a wealth of strengths to their workplaces and communities.
“Veterans bring loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity, courage, commitment and excellence,” he said, taking time to recognize that family members work just as hard to support their soldiers.
Ponce took time during her welcome to provide an update on the construction projects happening on the Temple College campus, the programs that have been added, and to share that the Temple College Main Building (scheduled to open in 2025) will be a new home to the College’s Veterans Affairs office.
“We’re excited today to celebrate the incredible honorees before us,” Ponce told the crowd. “We were so honored that Congressman Carter asked us to host this special celebration here.”
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More rainbow trout coming soon to Bell County ponds, streams
DAVID STONE | OUR TOWN
Santa Claus and a bunch of rainbow trout are coming next month, and both will have local kids — and many adults — in jolly spirits.
Texas Parks & Wildlife announced plans today for stocking trout in three Bell County streams and ponds as part of its 2024-2025 Community Fishing Lake schedule.
The Bell County ponds to be stocked included Nolan Creek in Belton, Lions Park Pond in Temple and Carl Levin City Park Pond in Harker Heights.
Nolan Creek will receive 1,800 trout split between Dec. 12 and Dec. 28, Temple Lions Park will be stocked with 1,850 fish spit between Dec. 15 and Feb. 23, and Carl Levin pond will get 1,600 fish on Dec. 11 and Dec. 26.
According to TP&W regulations regarding Community Fishing Lakes, there is no minimum length limit and catches are limited to five trout per day.
The fish will be stocked by the AE Wood Fish Hatchery in San Marcos, according to Carl Kittel of TP&W’s Inland Fisheries Division.
“The rainbow trout stocking program is very popular at community fishing holes around the state,” Kittel said. “Sometimes the stocking truck is greeted by families ready to fish.”
“Since rainbow trout generally do not reproduce in Texas and because they are unable to survive a hot Texas summer, the species is primarily used for winter put-and-take events,” he said.
Most trout species — including the rainbows — will live until water temperatures start to approach 80 degrees. The fish thrive in 45 to 60 degree water and become less and less active as temperatures reach the 70s.
Stockings keep lakes hot for bass fishing
DAVID STONE | OUR TOWN
More than 1 million new bass were introduced into Lake Belton this year, and 2025 will bring thousands more fish to both Belton and Stillhouse lakes.
According to Carl Kittle, program director of Texas Parks & Wildlife’s Region I Hatchery, this year’s stockings included thousands of fish from the state’s Lone Star program.
“Lake Belton received about 100,000 Lone Stars, and Stillhouse got approximately 56,000,” Kittle said.
In addition to the Lone Star bass, Lake Belton also received a whopping 780,000 Sunshine bass fingerlings and about 150,000 smallmouth.
“We stocked 1.5 inch fingerlings in these Central Texas lakes,” Kittle said. “The fingerlings were delivered throughout the year as they were produced.”
In the past three years, millions of Sunshine and Palmetto bass were released into Lake Belton waters. In 2022, TP&W introduced 2.2 million Sunshine bass into the lake, and in 2023 400,812 Palmetto and 687,307 Sunshine bass were released.
“Lone Star bass fingerlings are second-generation offspring of pure Florida strain ShareLunker largemouth bass that were at least 13 pounds,” said Michael Baird, district supervisor for the Waco Inland Fisheries District of Texas Parks & Wildlife.
“They have taken the place of Florida largemouth in our hatcheries and are being stocked statewide,” Baird said.
Sunshine and Palmetto bass are crosses of white and striped bass. Sunshine bass are a hybrid of female white bass and male stripers, and the Palmetto bass are the opposite — a hybrid cross between a male white bass and a female striper.
Baird added that smallmouth stockings also are common in Lake Belton.
“Lake Belton is a smallmouth bass brood fish source for our state hatcheries, and it consistently gets smallmouth stocked, mainly for that purpose,” he said. “But it is one of the best smallmouth reservoirs in Texas for angling.”
Fishing is a major draw for bringing visitors to Belton and Bell County. The area has long been known as home to massive medical and military communities, and both bring a large number of folks to the area every year. But one of the biggest attractions for visitors is world-class fishing at Belton and Stillhouse Hollow.
“The fishing here is excellent,” said local guide Bob Maindelle, owner of Holding the Line Guide Service. “I’ve been fishing Stillhouse and Lake Belton for more than 30 years. Occasionally I get a client who wants to fish Georgetown or one of the Austin-area lakes, but most of my trips are here in Bell County.”
“There’s really no reason to go anywhere else,” Maindelle said. “We focus on white bass on Stillhouse, and on whites and striped bass on Belton. The hybrids are a sterile fish and can’t reproduce, so they have to be restocked. Belton is one of the lakes Texas Parks & Wildlife uses to invest their hybrid sources.”
Detailed fish stockings for 2025 will be announced in March, Kittle said.
Four-year-old Remi Wissinger (far right), the daughter of Belton firefighter LJ Wissinger and his wife, Alyssa, is suffering from leukemia. A benefit fundraiser is being held on Nov. 17 at KC Hall in West to help the family with escalating medical bills. Venmo donations can be made @RemiWissingerBenefit. The Wissinger’s 3-month-old daughter, Ember, is also pictured. Courtesy photo
Nov. 17 fundraiser to benefit the ill daughter of Belton firefighter
4-year-old Remi Wissinger battles leukemia; West event to help with escalating medical bills
DAVID STONE | OUR TOWN
A benefit fundraiser for the family of 4-year-old Remi Wissinger will be held at 11 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 17, at KC Hall in West.
Remi, the daughter of Belton firefighter LJ Wissinger and his wife, Alyssa, has been battling leukemia for the past 10 months.
LJ, who has served Belton’s Fire Department for six years, said the fundraiser will help his family with medical expenses.
“My insurance is great, but it doesn’t cover all of Remi’s medical bills,” he said. “We’re hoping to have a big turnout for the fundraiser.”
The Wissingers live north of Waco in the Chalk Bluff community, and LJ commutes to Belton for work. Alyssa is a student and takes most of her classes online.
“We also have a 3-month-old daughter — Ember,” he said. “We found out last December that we were having a second child, then the next month Remi was diagnosed.”
Remi is undergoing chemotherapy treatments at McLane Children’s Medical Center in Temple under the care of Dr. Cristabel Torres-Colon.
“She gets really sick on chemo days, but treatments are working,” LJ said. “But, life has really changed for our family.”
“Remi loves being outside, and we used to go to the zoo, playgrounds, movies and water parks,” he said. “We are really not able to do that now. We try to avoid public places because of germs — Remi’s immune system is depressed.”
“Life has become a daily battle,” LJ continued. “Initially we were shocked and torn with the diagnosis — we never thought this would happen to us. We didn’t have a clue what to expect, but now we just help Remi be comfortable. It’s been a hard transition.”
Dr. Torres-Colon, a pediatric oncologist at McLane Children’s for about a year, agreed that Remi is showing signs of improvement, but she said the battle is far from over.
“Remi had a great response to her first month of chemo, but it’s important that she completes all of her treatments,” the Temple doctor said.
“It varies depending on white blood-cell counts, but the typical treatment is two years to more than two-and-a-half years. It’s a long treatment and it’s hard on the family.”
According to Torres-Colon, leukemia reduces white blood-cell counts, and that weakens a patient’s immunity. If not treated, the disease can shut down a person’s organs.
The Nov. 17 fundraiser will include a dine-in or to-go lunch of fried chicken, sausage, kraut and trimmings for $15 per plate. There will be live and silent auctions, a gun raffle, a hunting trip raffle, a gift-card tree and kid games. The auctions will begin at 12:30 p.m.
Monetary donations can be made by calling (254) 744-0770 or (254) 749-8605. Auction items can be donated by calling (321) 388-3332. Venmo donations can be made to @RemiWissingerBenefit.
Around Town
John Clark to speak at Books for Lunch
The next edition of Books for Lunch will be Wednesday, Nov. 13, from noon until 1 p.m. in the third-floor Board Room at Temple Public Library.
The speaker will be John Henry Clark of Kempner, a former reporter and middle school teacher for Belton ISD.
Clark will present his latest book, Courage in Camouflage II, a compilation of stories he wrote about the lives of area military members for the Killeen Daily Herald. These stories deal with the military careers of these people and their lives once they left the military. .
Attendees at this event may bring their lunch and the Temple Literacy Council will provide drinks. Books for Lunch is sponsored jointly by the Temple Public Library and the Temple Literacy Council. Anyone desiring additional information about this program or the adult literacy services of the Literacy Council should call (254) 774-7323 or email templeliteracy@gmail.com.
Temple accepting Holiday Lights submissions
The city of Temple is now accepting submissions for the third annual Merry & Bright Holiday Lights Tour & Contest.
Residents are invited to showcase their holiday spirit by decorating their homes, submitting a photo, and participating in this festive event.
“The Merry & Bright Holiday Lights Tour & Contest is a fun way to transform both your home and the city into a festive wonderland, spreading holiday cheer throughout the community,” said Emeile Palma, public relations specialist for the city.
“All contest entries will be uploaded to the event website, allowing the public to view and vote for their favorite decorated house,” she said. “The entry with the most votes will be declared the winner and will receive a keepsake award presented by Mayor Tim Davis.”
Submissions will be accepted until Nov. 30, and participants must be 18 years or older and residents of Temple.
For more details and to enter, visit templetx.gov/holidaylights.
Blue Santa applications now available
Applications for the Temple Police Department’s Blue Santa program are being accepted until Nov. 15.
Temple PD is partnering with the community to collect toys and books for local families in need during the holidays.
Applications can be picked up in the Temple Police Station lobby, and applicants must be Temple residents and provide proof of residency and proof of the child’s age.
For additional information, visit templetx.gov/bluesanta.
Community Thanksgiving at Wilson Park
A city of Temple-sponsored Community Thanksgiving dinner will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 19, at the Wilson Park Recreation Center.
Those attending will receive a free Thanksgiving dinner and dessert.
Registration is required by calling (254) 298-5740.
Christmas at the Plaza is Nov. 30
Temple’s Holly Jolly Christmas celebration includes Christmas at the Plaza from 3 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 30 at Santa Fe Plaza.
In addition to a sparkling Christmas tree lighting show, there will be unique holiday crafts and several food vendors.
Learn more at HollyJollyTemple.com.
Temple Christmas Parade is Dec. 2
The Holly Jolly Christmas celebration continues in Temple with the 78th annual Christmas Parade at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 2.
The parade will feature floats, bands, and, of course, Santa Claus. The parade will start at the intersection of Eighth Street and East Adams, and go west on Adams. The parade will conclude at Temple High School..
Polar Bear Express on Dec. 13 at Santa Fe Plaza
The Polar Bear Express will be the featured movie at the Dec. 13 Plaza Picture Show. The event will be at Santa Fe Plaza.
Fun starts at 6 p.m. and the move starts at dusk.
Santa at Santa Fe Depot is Dec. 7
The Temple Railroad & Heritage Museum will host Santa at the Depot from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 7.
Santa will arrive in Temple by train for photos. Registration is required at https://tinyurl.com/yck53m8f.
This is a free event and is open to everyone. There will be a Holiday Market and a Tree Lighting Show.
Santa Paws is Dec. 14 at Railroad Museum
A special day for pups is coming to the Temple Railroad & Heritage Museum.
Santa Paws will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 14. Photos will Santa will include Polaroid or digital options. Visitors can also enjoy the Working Rail Dogs exhibit at the museum, plus an agility course for the dogs.
Tickets are on sale at https://tinyurl.com/yw553esu. They are $10 a person. This event is open to people ages 18 and older.
Bring your camera.
