“SAIL AWAY WITH ME” That’s what members of the Diboll High School Dazzlers got to do recently. Because of the impressions they made at summer camp of not only talent and skill but their personal character, attitude, mannerisms and courtesy toward others caused a representative of the Houston Texans Cheerleaders to fall in love with this little team from East Texas. He was so impressed he invited them to perform on a Carnival cruise ship as part of HTE Dance on Tour! Their director, Gina Souto, brought the cruise idea to the Dazzler Booster Club, submitted it to the DISD Board of Trustees and with their approval, the fundraising began. The Dazzlers’ Booster Club was able to offset parent costs by paying $300 for each girl. That’s an amazing $4,200 in just four months!
As the Carnival Triumph sailed out of Galveston, the girls were entertaining the guests on the Lido deck. They performed again on stage in the ship’s awesome theater. If you remember a couple of weeks ago I wrote that the president of the DISD school board, Trey Wilkerson and his wife Michelle, just happened to be aboard the same cruise and changed their dining schedule just to attend the Dazzlers’ performance. Trey and Michelle were very impressed as well as many of the Carnival professional dancers who also attended. There were many guests from all across the US who were very complimentary of the girls and have now heard of Diboll, Texas thanks to be Diboll Dazzlers.
Some of the girls made personal comments of how this adventure impressed them: From the Dazzlers’ Captain, Ashley Coleman. “The cruise was an absolutely incredible experience. For many of us, it was the first time leaving the state of Texas, let alone the country! I loved the opportunity we had to be able to dance in the main ballroom of the ship for hundreds of people. Every time someone that attended the show saw me around the ship, they would stop me and tell me how wonderful we did and how sweet, respectful, and ladylike our team is. I couldn’t dream of any better experience or opportunity, and I am so grateful to the school board and Mr. Clements for allowing us to take this trip, and to Mrs. Souto and Mr. Jeffrey for making it possible.”
Jazlynn Mark, “I am so grateful to have gone on a cruise with my team mates! I had so much fun experiencing a different country with them. We may have our ups and downs but I am so blessed to have shared this memorable moment with my sisters.”
Tristan Rice, “It was such an amazing experience getting to travel with our team mates and being able to perform on the cruise! I had so much fun spending time with my team! A big thank you to the school board, HTE, Dazzler Booster Club, and our sponsor, Gina Souto, for the wonderful opportunity!”
Peyton Morgan, “The fact that the farthest we have traveled in the Dazzlers since I’ve been on the team has been Lufkin, the cruise was a truly amazing experience for all the girls. I mean how often can you say that you’ve danced for an audience on a cruise ship? I was definitely impressed with the whole trip.”
Rebecca Banuelos, “The cruise was probably the most fun I have ever had. I loved the experience we went through, like dancing for the other guests, that was a thrill! Going to see the prettiest places in México was amazing. I really just thought the whole thing was fun!”
Following is everyone that cruised with the Dazzlers and the names of the Diboll Dazzlers are in bold print: Gina & Sergio Souto; Sarah Kuehn; Kristina and Robert Inman; Ashley and Lamona Coleman; E’vion Davis; Yesenia Gonzalez; Brittney and Karen Barkley; Comeshia Robertson; Casandra Meza; Tonya Driver; JoLynn Baker; Tristan and Judy Rice; Peyton and Jennifer Morgan; Celeste & Liz Monrroy; Dina Hernandez; Isreal Moreno; Rebecca Banuelos; Cynthia Ramos; Romie and Julie Castilleja; Carlos Plascencia; Davina Rogers; Jazlynn Mark; Jaydon Mitchell; Jezrell Mark; Larry Gene and Larry Joe Rice; Andrew Rice; Justin and Clint Barkley and Bruce Thompson. The Dazzlers, their booster club and sponsor are very grateful to the people who contributed toward this memorable experience.
I received the following email from Pam Burnett from the Burke Methodist Church. We will be doing our teacake ministry this year to help David Ray Crunk. He is 34 years old and is in need of a heart transplant. The medical costs are tremendous and we will be taking orders for teacakes to help this young man. David is the grandson of Dean and James Hines of Diboll and the nephew of Phyllis Baxter Barfield. The teacakes are $5.00 per dozen and will be baked the week of March 9 – 13th at the First Methodist Church in Diboll, beginning at 9:00 am each day. If you would like to help make tea cakes or place an order please contact Pam Burnette at 829-4631. I have set a goal of 600 dozen tea cakes, so we will need everyone’s support. If you would like to make donations of ingredients that would be wonderful. We need 175 pounds of flour, 100 pounds of sugar, 20 dozen eggs, 20- 3 pound cans of butter flavor Crisco, 2 large boxes of baking soda, 7 half gallons of buttermilk and 3 boxes each of gallon and quart freezer Ziploc bags. Prayers are also needed for this family and this project. Thank you for your support.
Eddie and Carolyn Smith of Diboll have a new grandbaby. Callie Mae Smith is their 6th grandchild and she was born December 29th. Her parents are David and Shana and her big brother, Carter, is only 20 months older. They live in Kingwood. Callie was born exactly 5 years apart from a cousin, Sophia Rose Arendt. Dwayne Stanford came in with his 2-year-old grandson, Ryder Rio. They were headed to the deer stand in the hunting club for what Ryder calls PawPaw’s Hunting House.
The time is almost here for Project Celebration’s Valentine “Dining Delight by Candlelight” Saturday, February 14th at 6:30 – 8:30. Call Andrea Swor 829-4040 or Lacy Chandler at 676-3236 for reservations.
It’s a miracle that Joe Parish was sitting at the RT last Saturday morning wearing a neck collar. Only seven days before he had fallen 15 feet from a trailer loaded with large bales of hay and learned in the ER his neck was broken in several places. Doctors advised that he be flown to a trauma center but dense fog prevented the helicopter from flying. Hospital staff located a medical plane in the area returning from Houston and it was dispatched to pick up Joe at the Burke airport. Joe’s wife Kathy and nephew, Bobby Lee, left by car to meet Joe at Hermann Hospital in Houston. Joe’s flight went well and when he arrived at the trauma center in Houston he argued with the nurses that told him his wife was in the waiting room; and she was! Joe had surgery the following Monday to the amazement of the doctors who couldn’t believe the extent of his injuries without any paralysis. I believe it is God’s Amazing Grace. Amen.
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