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1 hometown living at its best

2 san angelo lifestyles | hometownmedia.group

3 hometown living at its best

4 san angelo lifestyles | hometownmedia.group 8 HOMETOWN GRADUATES Join us in celebrating the class of 2025! 12 TALE OF TAILS Meet the pups that inspired local children’s author to write her Adventures Dogs Series. 20 CAREER PREPPING FOR THE FUTURE SAISD’s CTE program equips students with career-ready skills through courses, certifications, and hands-on learning. 28 HEART TO HEART Chairperson Berkeley Puckitt leads the American Heart Association Circle of Red women’s group in the Concho Valley. 36 HOMETOWN HAPPENING Bentwood Bash Annual Pickleball Tournament On the Cover 40 BEAUTIFUL BLESSINGS After moving to Texas, finding a midwife proved challenging for Midon, which led her to become a midwife in a “maternity desert” in San Angelo and beyond. 48 HOMETOWN HAPPENING Children’s Advocacy Center Pinwheel Ceremony 52 A PASSION FOR PEOPLE Dusty McCoy, CEO of West Texas and Permian Basin Counseling & Guidance has a heart for mental health, reducing suicide rates, and making counseling services accessible to everyone. 60 ROLLING TOWARDS PROGRESS Having experienced the benefits of rollerblading firsthand and seeing the positive changes that skating and blading have made others’ lives, Kevin Little has made it his personal mission to raise funds to improve San Angelo’s skate spots. 66 SPRING TIME DECORATING TIPS Refresh your winter-weary rooms with these 10 tips of inspiration from top Designers from “Home Decorating for Dummies, 3d Edition”. Contents 20 48

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6 san angelo lifestyles | hometownmedia.group San Angelo Lifestyles Magazine© is published bi-annually by Hometown Media Group, LLC. hometownmedia.group 502 N Main Street PMB 116 | Weatherford, TX 76086 817.599.6167 | PROUDLY PRINTED IN THE USA WRITERS Connie Lewis Leonard Rebecca Sanchez Becca Sankey PHOTOGRAPHERS Nizhoni Photography Samantha Roberts Photography Carissa Ramirez Photography God’s Creation Photography ON THE COVER Nevaeh Flores, Jonathan Hairston Jr., & Jazmine Vargas Photo by Ellie Ruth Photography Casey Perkins Executive Publisher Lindsey Kruger Marketing & Client Relations lindsey@hometownmedia.group Brooke Graham Social Media Editor Camela Dietrich Accounts Recievable accounting@hometownmedia.group S “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” - Romans 15:13 Brooke Graham Spring is in full swing, and few things make me happier than the feeling of warmth and sun on my skin. The start of the season brings an awareness to the beauty of newness and the promise of beginnings; flowers blossoming, birds singing early morning praises, longer days and a renewed sense of life. I kept a blog for many years throughout the pregnancies, births and the first few years of my children’s lives. After many years of sitting dusty in a corner on the internet, I recently reread it, which was a journey itself. I look back on those times with rose-colored glasses but reading my words reminded me how deep in the trenches I was and how, as time passes, our trials and tribulations that we go through become a mere blip on our radar of life and there is always a ‘spring season’ around the corner. As the world turns (literally), we will eventually cycle back around to those dreary cold months full of hope and longing for brighter days, but through it all, we have the wisdom and insight to know that they will return. Just like the seasons, the people, places, and organizations between these pages have their own highs and lows. This issue features Hometown Graduates (congratulations c/o 2025!), a booming career and technology program within SAISD, a group of powerhouse women promoting heart health awareness, and much more. I hope you enjoy this issue and as always, my favorite person to hear from is YOU reading this right now! Send me your stories, baby bundles, graduates, recipes and ideas to office@hometownmedia.group With Love, Happy Spring San Angelo! Our family’s favorite spring tradition? The start of baseball season! Play ball and go Rangers! “If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant: if we did not sometimes taste adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome.” -Anne Bradstreet Susan Avery Lead Creative Design Elias Avery Creative Design Intern

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10 san angelo lifestyles | hometownmedia.group COME AND LET ME FIT YOUR Crown!

11 hometown living at its best WWhen she prayed for God to use her, Rachel Juarez wasn’t sure where the Lord would lead. Rachel turned to God, asking Him to show her His will. “I asked him to help me empower others even as I was trying to rebuild myself. After I wrote down my prayer, a lady contacted me and asked me if I would be interested in buying her wig business. I immediately said yes but later realized I didn’t have two nickels to pay her. I had been a hairdresser for years but didn’t know much about wigs.” The woman, Beverly Montford trained Rachel and allowed her to make payments on the business. Rachel started educating herself about wigs and is now a certified professional wig stylist. She has been a hairdresser for 33 years and in the wig business for 18. She owns Crowned by Rachel Salon and Private Wig Studio where she empowers woman to feel their most beautiful. “Our hair is often our crowning glory. We don’t go around wearing tiaras, but hair is the crown on the head. I want every woman to feel like a queen.” Hair loss can be a traumatizing experience, which is why Rachel provides one-on-one attention. “I offer a private consultation where we try on different styles and colors. We learn what the client needs whether it’s a wig, a topper, clips or extensions. Then you must learn how to wear and maintain your wig. Most wigs need fluffing and must conform to your head. You can’t just take it out of the box to wear.” Rachel understands how to cut and alter the caps on wigs. “I am able to personalize each piece so that it looks natural.” Rachel offers consultation services to any woman actively undergoing cancer treatments whether they purchase a wig at her store or elsewhere. Not all customers are experiencing hair loss. Some, who Rachel calls luxury clients are simply seeking a crown to look their best. “I try to meet a woman where she is on her journey. Some people just need a new look to feel more confident.” On one side of the studio, Rachel has her hair salon. On the other side, she has over 100 quality wigs, toppers, extensions and ponytails. It wasn’t until after she started Crowned by Rachel, that she realized God had answered her prayer about empowering women. “A client thanked me and told her how much the wig had helped and what a blessing it was. I realized that God had given me the opportunity to make a living while helping people.” Rachel believes that her clients are already queens. She just helps them adjust their crown. Crowned by Rachel 325.656.7085

12 san angelo lifestyles | hometownmedia.group Provided by KATHY PRIEST-SMITH Meet the pups that inspired local children’s author Adventures Dogs Series books. Tale of

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14 san angelo lifestyles | hometownmedia.group SSan Angelo children’s author, Kathy PriestSmith, has been busy creating books and adding to her four-legged family. She now has four dogs and the first three books in the series of her pup’s adventures, “Millie’s Great Dane Adventures”, "Huntin’ Annie Oakley - German Shorthaired Pointer" and her new release "Thunderstorm Comes to Texas". She is wrapping up the fourth book, “The January Puppies-The Covid Litter.” is the oldest fur baby, and thinks she is a German Shorthaired Pointer instead of a Great Dane. When Millie arrived, she was the only dog they had. She got lots of attention. Now, with four dogs, she has had to learn to share. Some days are better than others. When Millie has had enough of being ignored, she uses her size and strength to push the others away. Millie has a deep bark, so when she wants to talk or let you know how she feels, she drowns out the other dogs. When she plays ball, she does not give the ball back, so playing catch with her can end the game very quickly. With the first litter of pups, she was "Aunt Millie”, wanting to nose and play with the pups, even though mom, Annie, was very protective. is the “mommy” dog. She’s definitely the alpha of the pack. Annie is very laid back and a great mother to each of her litters. When Annie had the third litter, the family decided to build a birthing box for the ten pups. Kathy was in her room cleaning, Annie showed up and barked at her. Kathy followed her to the birthing. Kathy counted them, saw no obvious problems, and walked away. Annie followed her and started barking. Kathy followed and retuned to the birthing box while Millie Annie

15 hometown living at its best Annie climbed in and out of the box. Annie stuck her nose on the bedding and then stared at Kathy. Kathy looked at Annie and said, "the bed is too wet, and you want it cleaned up?" Annie wagged her tail. Kathy laughed the whole time she was changing the bedding and still laughs about it today. loves to play ball and would play twenty-four seven if they would let him. When Storm does not get his way, he gets up near you and puts his paw on you to get your attention. He's very persistent and if you don't do what he wants he’ll lay down and pout while staring at you with his big brown eyes. Storm also is a very good hunting dog. He’s been able to find birds that other dogs have missed and watching him hunt is truly amazing. German Shorthaired Pointers are so methodical on finding the prey. Storm

16 san angelo lifestyles | hometownmedia.group were a little over a month old when Kathy and husband Greg went out to celebrate Valentine's Day. The grandchildren helped put the pups in their kennels and lock all the doors after they had left. Apparently, the latch on the kennel was not secure and for some reason, Annie was left outside. When they returned, all the puppies were in the living room and kitchen along with their bodily functions. Greg looked at the mess and informed everyone he was going to bed. First Kathy let Annie inside to assist, next she got the puppies back in the kennel, and then it was time to start cleaning up the mess! She got the pups cleaned up and kenneled, but as she was mopping, out of the corner of her eye she saw several pups. They had pushed the kennel and squeezed through the fence! Kathy fixed the kennel and fence so no little ones could fit through and at this point was in tears. Millie could tell she had to do something, so she got off the couch and started barking at the pups. One by one, they went into the kennel, laid down, and went to sleep. She then barked at Annie, who climbed on the couch and went to sleep. Mission accomplished, Millie also went to the couch and went to sleep. Kathy said that it took her three hours to get everything cleaned and back in order. She did manage to get Millie's reactions on video. is one of the puppies from the first litter. She is the spokesperson for the pack. Dixie will get Greg or Kathy or both and sit there and bark talk until you understand what she The puppies Dixie Rose

17 hometown living at its best wants: treats, attention, go outside, come back inside, or if one of the other dogs is locked in the garage or in a closed-up room. She is the social butterfly of the pack. Dixie loves the outdoors no matter what the weather conditions are, and she loves to ride in the car or golf cart or anything that moves. Kathy's goal is still to accomplish a ten-book series on her Adventures Dogs Series. It all started when she got Millie at fifteen months old, Kathy started writing by making notes about Millie and continued to do the same as her dog family grew. Millie, Storm, and Dixie are all dogs that needed a different family when the first one did not work out. Kathy loves to write about the dogs and says when she reads to children of all ages, her heart continues to grow. The look on their faces is testament to her that this is what she is meant to do. † If you are interested in a visit from Kathy and her pups for an author reading, email kathyp@wcc.net or visit her website, AdventuresDogs.com. Local places to purchase books: Cactus Book Store, Eggemeyer's General Store, Fancy Pants in Southwest Plaza, and College Hill Animal Hospital.

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CAREER PREPPING for the Future 20 san angelo lifestyles | hometownmedia.group

hometown living at its best Written by BECCA NELSON SANKEY | Photos provided by STRYDER HICKS SAISD’s CTE program equips students with career-ready skills through courses, certifications, and hands-on learning. LLindsay Ward’s excitement for her work as a Co-Op Marketing Entrepreneurship teacher and DECA advisor at San Angelo Central High School is evident in her voice. That enthusiasm, which she said is shared by her co-workers in Central’s Career Prep Program, is also contagious among its students, as evidenced by the myriad who have graduated with real-life work experience, fasttracks to college degrees, job certifications, and business acumen they wouldn’t otherwise possess.

Career Prep has existed in the San Angelo Independent School District for several years, albeit on a significantly smaller scale. Today, Central offers a dozen industry-based certifications in everything from floral design and welding to teaching and child development to automotive maintenance and repair to nurse aide and phlebotomy, among others. The school also has 25 different technical dual-credit courses through Howard College. As of Sept. 1, 2024, 905 SAISD students were enrolled in technical dual-credit. Eighth-grade SAISD students are provided the opportunity to identify their career interest and begin taking classes in that specific field once they reach high school. As seniors, eligible students may attend school in the mornings and leave for their paid job or internship during the afternoons. Students who have taken a Career and Technical Education (CTE) class are eligible to join Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA), an organization that competes in business- and marketing-related events within the district, state, and at the national level, the latter of which is an international competition held in the U.S. that students all over the world attend. Central student Canon Griffith’s took CTE classes in social media marketing and advertising at Central his junior year, the same year he joined DECA at the urging of a friend. He’s since won competition awards in DECA, and, his senior year, secured a marketing internship at Concho Valley Gymnastics in San Angelo. “I am pretty introverted, but DECA has definitely given me more skills when it comes to presenting, communicating, and speaking with confidence,” Griffith said, adding that the attributes of DECA he enjoys comprises “a long list.” “The biggest thing is DECA is very helpful in helping you pick your career,” he said. “Anyone, no matter their career interest, can learn from it; you can benefit from it just as much or maybe even more than you can from your actual classes.” As far as Career Prep is concerned, Ward said, “San Angelo ISD wants our classes to produce future-ready graduates. They want students to learn to be a communicator, a collaborator, a critical thinker, and a creator.” To help fulfill that mission, Ward’s classroom was remodeled prior to the 2024-25 school year. “Having laptops instead of computers allows 22 san angelo lifestyles | hometownmedia.group

23 hometown living at its best students to move around the room and collaborate with each other,” she said. “Having the ability to cast to TVs provides upto-date technology where they have opportunities to be more creative and think critically together as a team." Ward often incorporates DECA activities into her lessons, which helps the dozens who are a part of the team prepare for competitions. Among the competitions are categories including Role Play, an impromptu event in which the student has 10 minutes to read through a business scenario and develop a plan, then another 10 minutes to pitch their business ideas to judges. In Integrated Marketing Campaign, another event, students create a marketing campaign for a local business, then take a multiplechoice question test. “The Project Management event is probably my favorite and one we’ve done the best in at competitions,” Ward said. “There are different categories; you can do community service, create a fundraiser, do a business solutions project, which is creating a more in-depth elaborate marketing campaign for a business and actually executing it, and then there's financial literacy and career development, which is promoting career development and financial literacy in your peers.” Ward worked in graphic design/marketing and banking before becoming a high school teacher at Central more than six years ago. Since then, she has had students advance to state or internationals every year but the first one. In the Spring of 2023 and 2024, respectively, 11 students advanced to internationals in Florida, and eight made it to internationals in California. In 2022, one of her students placed Top 10 at Nationals. “I think that we work really hard and get very focused on details of projects,” Ward said of DECA’s success. “I attribute that to community partnerships because we work with local businesses to create marketing campaigns for them, and those business owners have really done a lot to work with these kids. We also do a lot in class and spend time editing papers, rehearsing presentations, and doing everything we can to prepare.” Canon Griffith advanced as the District 9 candidate for the Texas DECA State scholarship and was one of 4 recipients across the state to receive this year's scholarship.

24 san angelo lifestyles | hometownmedia.group Regardless of whether Career Prep students are members of DECA, they are learning life skills that reap tremendous payoffs upon graduation, Ward said. “The Board of Directors for the CTE program has discussions about what careers are needed in our community. That’s how we focus on what classes are offered so we can help build a workforce that can fuel San Angelo,” she said. In the first part of her Career Prep class, Ward teaches students about writing a resumé, interviewing, and securing a job. In the second half, they learn about everything that a career entails, from filling out a W-9 tax form to health insurance deductibles to understanding the difference between a 401k and IRA to smart money management. A common misconception is that students don’t learn real-life, practical skills in school, but the Career Prep program puts that rumor to bed, Ward said, adding that students are able to graduate with classes toward teaching and with certifications that allow them to go straight to work upon graduation. For Ward, it is a dream to combine her past careers into one in which she can help youth find and train toward their own job interests. “I don't know how I got so lucky to get a job where I get to teach what I love after having the opportunity to work in other industries that I’m passionate about,” she said. “I still get to do (those other careers by teaching them) and instill a love for that in our future generations.” It’s a passion she’s instilled in students like Griffith, who plans to major in marketing in college and eventually start his own digital marketing business. “I didn't really have a set career goal until I started doing these classes,” he admitted. “DECA, Career Prep, and the internship helped me realize I really enjoy marketing, digital marketing, and running social media. It helped me decide what my career path was going to be. It can help students determine their career path and give them skills they need to be successful in literally whatever they choose. It's also just good exploration in general, and Central High School offers it pretty much for free.” † The DECA team at the State Competition on March 8th. Students competed against more than 7,300 students from across the state.

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28 san angelo lifestyles | hometownmedia.group Y Written by REBECCA SANCHEZ | Provided by BERKELEY PUCKITT Chairperson Berkeley Puckitt leads the American Heart Association Circle of Red women’s group in the Concho Valley. Hto Heart eart Your heart is your powerhouse. Each day it beats some 100,000 times, pumping about 2,000 gallons of blood through your veins to provide oxygen and nutrients throughout all regions of your body and mind. Keeping it healthy affects countless elements in your life. To promote heart health awareness, Berkeley Puckitt chairs Circle of Red, a group of health-minded San Angelo women, who are ambassadors for the American Heart Association. Together they educate and empower people to know more and do more when it comes to taking care of their heart health. Berkeley brings over a decade of nonprofit sector experience. For many of those years, she worked at the Laura Bush Institute for Women’s Health, and more recently she leads outreach as director of marketing at City National Bank. However, it was a family connection to heart health issues that piqued Berkeley’s curiosity for involvement with Circle of Red. She has more than one family member affected by cardiovascular conditions, and she realized her own health affected those who cared about and depended on her. Comfortable with championing a larger message in the marketing world and empathetic about heart health awareness, she became involved with Circle of Red. After three years on the committee, she is now leading their cause as chairperson.

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“One of my largest goals,” says Berkeley, “was actually recruiting the group. I wanted to have a larger face of San Angelo, to have more diversity in the group and make sure that they are equipped with the knowledge of the American Heart Association so they can go make healthier choices for their families.” Circle of Red meets monthly to learn from a variety of professionals connected to heart health issues from various angles. In addition to raising money to support the annual AHA Go Red for Women event, the group gains genuine insight and valuable knowledge immediately applicable in their own lives. At one meeting, a chef demonstrated revamping the popular and much-loved charcuterie board to include heart healthy ingredients. A dietitian also visited, and even financial health shared the spotlight because common money stresses can filter through to physical and emotional health thereby affecting one’s overall cardiovascular wellbeing. “We're trying to do these really fun things,” Berkeley says. “We're doing the Orange Theory fitness class. We're having speakers come, and I think they are so thought provoking that when you leave you think, ‘Oh my goodness, I would have never thought of that,’ or ‘You know, all these other people in here are going through the same things that I'm going through. I'm a mom. I have two children. I work. I have a busy lifestyle. I have a husband who travels, but we can do this if we lean on each other.’ I think what's so special about this group is that we're all community minded. We're all health minded, and we're all doing this together.”

31 hometown living at its best Hearing straight from the professionals educates the group, helps each know more about their bodies and equips them to take an increasingly active role in preventative health care steps. As Circle of Red members interact with their families and communities, they bring strategies and facts with them, passing the knowledge forward. When Berkeley and the group hear firsthand accounts from real women about heartrelated experiences, it brings home a particular reality. It may be shocking for most to hear, but among friends, siblings, colleagues and many more, according to the AHA nearly 45% of those women over the age of 20 live with heart disease in one form or another. “I think it is so powerful to hear women from all different walks of life be able to talk about their story directly to heart health,” Berkeley says. “We've heard from survivors in their 20s, in their 30s and in their 40s of all different ethnicities and backgrounds and been able to see that it’s not discriminatory, but it really is discriminatory with women because it's the number one disease that kills women. You hear about men a lot with heart attacks, but you don't necessarily hear that with women.”

32 san angelo lifestyles | hometownmedia.group Berkeley is moved by the testimonies and has survivor stories within her own family. Her uncle depends on lifesaving heart support technology, and her grandmother is also affected by heart disease. Historical underrepresentation of women in clinical research for stroke and heart disease, and the staggering numbers revealed to date are also part of what motivates her. She and the women involved in Circle of Red actively promote women’s heart health awareness with their very focus as being the face of the AHA and a heart-healthy-living lifestyle in particular. “I hope that women make themselves a priority, for their health, for their families,” Berkeley says, and as a mother of two school-aged kids, she knows the value of living healthy and being strong mentally, physically and emotionally for her family. She adds, “I hope they realize that when they go to the doctor for annual checkups that they are taking their health seriously, whether it's mental, physical or emotional health take-aways. Sometimes we make our family our priority instead of ourselves, and that's something from personal experience that I want to remind everyone about while also making my own health care a priority so I can be healthy for my kids and for my family.” Whether Berkeley’s involvement includes supporting group projects such as establishing a university campus CPR education kiosk, chairing a monthly Circle of Red meeting or staying active with her husband and children, she is following a passion. Time and health are precious, and it’s important to her that women have heart knowledge right now. †

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HOMETOWN Happenings Photos courtesy of AJ Padilla Pictures The 2025 Bentwood Bash pickleball tournament was a huge success with 117 participants, surpassing all previous years! A huge congratulations to all the podium finishers!

37 hometown living at its best Men's Singles Skill: (4.0 And Above) Age: (Any): 1st: Jonathan Gomez 2nd: Thomas Rubio 3rd: Cedric Fuentes Women's Singles Skill: (3.0 To 3.5) Age: (10 To 49): 1st: Kendal Stroope 2nd: Jace Corbin 3rd: Archana Rao Men's Doubles Skill: (3.0) Age: (10 And Above): 1st: Clint Barta & Cody Scott 2nd: Ward Skinner & David Harrison 3rd: Earl Childs & Donald Davison Men's Doubles Skill: (3.5) Age: (10 And Above): 1st: Braulio Machuca & AJ Arteaga 2nd: Ben Mabry & River Prado 3rd: Kelly Addington & Carter Madison Men's Doubles Skill: (4.0 And Above) Age: (10 To 49): 1st: Paul Goode & Austin Smith 2nd: Frank Hines & Jonathan Voyles 3rd: Eric Fierro & Bryan Hernandez Women's Doubles Skill: (2.5 To 3.0) Age: (10 And Above): 1st: Lana Katocs & Debra Caballero 2nd: Bianca Machuca & Tanaka Chimbane 3rd: Tammy Watkins & Fay Parks Women's Doubles Skill: (3.5) Age: (10 And Above): 1st: Krista Shary & Barrie Lynn Fuentes 2nd: Tiffany Meek & Luann McCorkle 3rd: Amber Miles & Megan Herbert Women's Doubles Skill: (4.0 And Above) Age: (10 To 49): 1st: Sydney Fitch & Hailey Stelse 2nd: Anna S Reyes & Lisa Diebitsch 3rd: Valentina Penha & Amanda Sedeno Mixed Doubles Skill: (3.0) Age: (10 And Above): 1st: Elva Gaitan & Ricky Lujan 2nd: Kathy Wyatt & Ward Skinner 3rd: Amber Gallagher & J.C. Gallagher Mixed Doubles Skill: (3.5) Age: (10 And Above): 1st: Sydney Fitch & James St. Pierre 2nd: Alondra Lara & Alex Sauceda 3rd: Luann McCorkle & Travis McCorkle Mixed Doubles Skill: (4.0 And Above) Age: (10 To 34): 1st: Valentina Penha & Jared Urbantke 2nd: Rachel Hughes & Sai Gollapally 3rd: Emily Goode & Paul Goode Mixed Doubles Skill: (4.0 And Above) Age: (35 And Above): 1st: Lisa Diebitsch & Troy Jenike 2nd: Krista Gregersen & Eric Fierro 3rd: Connie Bozarth & Matt Rutherford

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40 san angelo lifestyles | hometownmedia.group Beautiful Blessings

Written by CONNIE LEWIS LEONARD | Photos provided by MIDON WINGO and by NIZHONI PHOTOGRAPHY and SAMANTHA ROBERTS PHOTOGRAPHY After moving to Texas, finding a midwife proved challenging for Midon which led her to become a midwife in a “maternity desert” in San Angelo and beyond.

42 san angelo lifestyles | hometownmedia.group SSeasons come and seasons go and come around again. The book of Exodus mentions the practice of midwifery as women helping women, and the practice has returned. “When a young mother is encouraged in her pregnancy, empowered in her birthing, and listened to in her postpartum, this changes her. A strong community of women helps build up a woman to become a great mother and amazing wife,” said Midon Wingo, who became a “doula” before she even knew what the term meant. She had a friend who needed encouragement and support during and after her pregnancy. Later she helped her sister-in-law and others who needed emotional and practical support on a personal level. When Midon was expecting her first child, believing childbirth is a natural process, she wanted a midwife. Her husband was reluctant and felt traditional treatment with a doctor in a hospital would be the safest route for the first baby. Following a difficult delivery, Midon ended up with a broken tailbone and a broken spirit. She struggled with breastfeeding, physical pain and post-partum depression.

43 hometown living at its best For her second pregnancy, Midon called a well-respected Arkansas Midwife, Candy Clarke, who came to her home, listened and answered all of her questions, ensuring a mutual decision-making process. Candy would present options. Midon and her husband researched, prayed, and made the ultimate decisions. This led to an amazing birth. The empowerment permeated every aspect of her life, and Candy assisted with the next two pregnancies. However, after moving to Texas, finding a midwife proved challenging. Midon ended up traveling 120 miles to a midwife. This led to her decision to become a midwife, filling in the gap in a “maternity desert” in San Angelo and beyond. There are two designations of Midwives in Texas: Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM), and Certified Professional Midwife (CPM). The nursing route requires an RN license first and then another year focused on midwifery. The CPM route requires the state approved program that takes from two to five years to complete and passing the NARM (North American Registry of Midwives) board exam. Most CNMs work in the hospital, but some work in Birth Centers or Homebirth Practices. CPMs work in either Birth Centers or Homebirth Practices. In 2020, with encouragement from her husband, friends and family, Midon applied to the National College of Midwifery of Taos, New Mexico. The distance learning degree program required eighty credit hours of academics and a community apprenticeship/preceptorship program. It took three years of dedicated commitment, being on call 24/7, attending clinic appointments with a community midwife, completing academic degree requirements, and honing the skills needed to provide competent care for clients. She also earned Certification of NRP (National Resuscitation Program) and CPR. Most midwives use the term clients rather than patients. “Client” implies a working partnership, as opposed to “patient” where the medical professional has authority. The empowered clients ultimately are in charge of their care with the guidance and medical expertise of the midwife.

44 san angelo lifestyles | hometownmedia.group Most women seeking midwifery want a different type of care than generally provided in a hospital, because birth is a natural process rather than a sickness to be managed. All women should have the choice to birth in the comfort of their own home. The midwife provides care throughout pregnancy, delivery and postpartum, building relationships with the mother and other family members. There are no shift changes, no unexpected people showing up. The baby never leaves mom’s side. The newborn exam is performed beside mom in her bed. Fathers and other family members can be as involved as they desire. Midon drives all over West Texas. She takes everything needed for the prenatal appointments, including a lab box. She generally sits on the couch with the client, discussing the progression of the pregnancy, nutrition, supplements, signs and symptoms of any issues and recommendations to alleviate problems. The mother’s and baby’s vitals are taken. The abdomen is palpated to check position, fluid levels, and growth. Fetal Heart Tones are listened to and documented. Paperwork and consents are signed, and the mother receives educational handouts. Time is spent growing the relationship and increasing trust between client and midwife.

45 hometown living at its best A midwife can never guarantee a homebirth. However, Midon can guarantee she will provide the best possible care for each unique situation. Although the ideal clients are normal, low-risk pregnancies, midwives are medical professionals that are trained to recognize when something is outside of normal and are trained for emergency situations. Through pregnancy, the midwife can prescribe when necessary or refer to an OB. In labor, a midwife is prepared with emergency equipment, including oxygen, ambu bags, LMAS, uterotonics, and can do IV meds, antibiotics, or vitamin K for the baby. In situations with RH incompatibility, testing the cord blood at birth may require RhoGam administered to the mother. About fifty percent of mothers choose to use a birthing tub at some point during their labor. Some do not deliver in the tub, but they do use it for the amazing pain relieving benefits, referred to as “nature’s epidural.” Most mothers are able, with some assistance, to get out of the tub and move to the comfort of their bed. No pain relieving drugs are given during labor. Movement, water, heat, mindfulness, preparation, encouragement and other things help the laboring mother. When able to move freely, the difference in how they feel afterwards is amazing. Many clients say, “We didn’t know it could be this way.” A few situations where homebirth would not be considered an ideal choice would be if a mother develops Pre-Eclampsia or HELPS, previous seizure disorder, diabetes, hypertension, Placenta Previa or a fetal anomaly found on ultrasound. After birth, a baby with respiratory distress or a laceration that is beyond a second degree may be taken to a hospital. Midwives are trained in suturing, and when needed, mothers will receive lidocaine and be sutured in their own beds. Insurance policies do not cover a homebirth with a CPM. All clients pay cash or use a health sharing program. A payment plan is developed at the beginning of care. Many clients find that the fee is less expensive than their insurance deductibles and copays. Midon said, “My goal is to provide this service for those who need it, to come alongside women and provide the type of care they so desire, while still providing safety. My desire is that hospitals and local OB providers would understand the value of midwifery, and we can work together to provide the best possible care for women in our community.” †

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HOMETOWN Happenings The Children’s Advocacy Center of Greater West Texas, Inc. hosted the Annual Pinwheel Ceremony on Tuesday, April 1, 2025 on the Stephens Campus for Children and Families. Many members of the community gathered with CAC staff, partners, and board members along with students from TLCA, Ambleside Concho Valley, San Angelo Christian Academy, Angelo Catholic School, and Cornerstone Christian Academy to plant pinwheels in the CAC courtyard. Members of the Multi-Disciplinary Team and childserving professionals were recognized for their hard work in keeping the children of our community safe. Sheriff Nick Hanna delivered powerful words about how to be an advocate for kids and shared some statistics with the crowd. Hanna stated that CAC served over 5,800 children and families through multiple programs in 2024. He also shared, “Department of Family and Protective Services conducted over 900 investigations of child abuse in Tom Green County alone and had over 250 confirmed cases of child abuse in our county.” The sheriff emphasized that every adult in the state of Texas is a mandatory reporter of child abuse, and that it is our duty as a community to unite and protect our most vulnerable members. CAC Chief Executive Officer, Justin DeLoach, closed out the presentation by leading the audience in a chant and encouraging everyone to plant their pinwheels. To learn more about the Children’s Advocacy Center, please visit cacgreaterwtx.org or call (325) 653-HOPE. CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY CENTER Pinwheel Ceremony Written by Morgan Janca | Photographs by Justin DeLoach, Morgan Janca, San Angelo Police Department & MHMR Concho Valley

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52 san angelo lifestyles | hometownmedia.group WRITTEN BY BECCA NELSON SANKEY | PHOTOS PROVIDED BY DUSTY MCCOY Dusty McCoy, CEO of West Texas Counseling & Guidance and Permian Basin Counseling & Guidance, has a heart for mental health, reducing suicide rates, and making counseling services accessible to everyone. A Passion for PEOPLE

53 hometown living at its best PPerhaps no one was more surprised than Dusty McCoy himself when the CEO of West Texas Counseling & Guidance and Permian Basin Counseling & Guidance was named the award recipient of the Roger J. Tierney Award. The award, presented in May 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada, “recognizes time and effort given to advance the American Association of Suicidology’s principles, growth, and development, and/or for applied contributions to the field of suicidology and crisis intervention,” according to a program booklet from the AAS’s 57th Annual Conference. McCoy was nominated by Jana Anderson, a volunteer colleague from WTCG, and selected among a field of exceptional individuals throughout the nation who work in suicide prevention and crisis response. Though McCoy’s career as a licensed professional counselor and eventual foray as CEO of a multimilliondollar nonprofit that helps thousands of people in crisis every year makes sense given his long history in the field, he admitted that his younger self would probably also be surprised at the path his work took.

54 san angelo lifestyles | hometownmedia.group “It wasn’t something I thought about doing when I was a teenager,” he admitted during an interview with San Angelo Lifestyles from his 6th floor office at WTCG, a room with a stunning view that overlooks the Downtown San Angelo skyline. “It’s been a gradual process. I’ve always been terrible with math, so I started looking for a career with the least amount of math in it. Psychology was one that didn’t have math, and I could work with people.” Anderson, a member of WTCG’s Survivors of Suicide support group and its Local Outreach to Suicide Survivors (LOSS) Team, knew McCoy even before her son, Christopher, died of suicide in 2001. She received an email from the AAS that discussed its award nominations and immediately thought of McCoy. “I'm always telling people the amazing job Dusty has done with West Texas Counseling,” Anderson said. “He took it from a small center to all these satellite places, and then he started the Zero Suicide program. Helping people is a passion of his, and suicide is something he just believes so strongly that we prevent, and I believe it too.” McCoy earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Angelo State University, followed by two master’s degrees from ASU, one in interdisciplinary studies and the other in counseling psychology. He did case management for several years at MHMR and was mid-level management when he began training as an LPC intern with Dr. Monica Basko, a renowned psychologist and author. Basko required her trainees to record their counseling sessions on cassette tapes, which McCoy proudly brandished from a desk drawer in his office during our interview. The other interns weren’t keen on recording their sessions for feedback, but, McCoy said, “I wanted to learn, and it was basically one-on-one support for me.” Sometimes the feedback was frustrating, McCoy admitted, but he finally improved to the point that Basko said he was ready to be part of research MHMR was conducting. During the study, he began working part time at Samaritan Counseling, now WTCG. There were just four therapists then, but McCoy knew the importance of quality training; the first year he wrote a grant for training at the Beck Institute even though Samaritan was financially hanging on by a thread.

55 hometown living at its best “Quality always had to be a part of it, so we always try to attach training dollars to our grants we write. If you’re providing services but they’re not good services, what’s the point?” he said. Still, in his early days at Samaritan, suicide rates and prevention weren’t widely discussed, even among clinicians, so tools like safety plans (wherein the clinician helps clients in crisis identify their triggers, reasons for living, and develop healthy coping skills) weren’t on mental health professionals’ radars. McCoy vividly remembers a client who was young, vibrant, and had a promising future but suffered from persistent suicidal ideation. At the time, hospitalization was the standard treatment for suicidal thoughts, so McCoy’s client was hospitalized several times. Shortly after one of his hospital stints, he promised McCoy with a smile that he would see him at their followup appointment a few days later. Instead, the client died by suicide. McCoy felt devastated. “That one hurt,” he said. “I still see that smile like he was telling me goodbye, and I didn’t pick up on it. I hammered on that a long time. At some point you have to say, ‘I didn’t have the training, and nobody else did here either.’” The tragedy planted a seed, and McCoy began researching suicides rates in Tom Green County. He found they were higher than the state and national averages since 1999. “I started reaching out to the media about it, and then everyone knew, and then it was like, what do you do about it?”

He contacted Dr. Christine Padesky of California, a prolific author and considered one of the world’s leaders in cognitive behavioral training. Well-versed in suicide prevention, Padesky began training mental health professionals at WTCG and now has monthly sessions where clinicians can bring to her their difficult client cases. Eventually, Survivors of Suicide (SOS) support group was formed for individuals who have lost a loved one to suicide. The Local Outreach to Suicide Survivors (LOSS) Team followed, a group comprised of mental health professionals and suicide survivors who are on call 24/7 to respond to suicides in Tom Green County and meet with survivors – who are at an increased risk of suicide themselves – to offer support, understanding, and resources. Anderson said the LOSS Team of Tom Green County is the only one of its kind in Texas. Zero Suicide, designed by suicidologist Dr. Frank Campbell, also launched. The program provides free crisis appointments to clients of all ages who are deemed a suicide risk. During three appointments, a safety plan is established, as well as temporarily limiting access to lethal means. WTCG sees more than 50 crisis clients a week as part of ZS crisis counseling sessions, and suicide rates here have decreased considerably. “It’s frustrating because we still have high suicide rates, but I know the people who are dying are not the ones coming through our pathway,” McCoy said. “The volume of clients we see and the fact that most of those aren’t dying by suicide tells me we must be saving lives.” These days, McCoy’s schedule is too packed with administrative work to see clients, but he hopes he’ll be able to again, despite the work’s emotionally taxing nature. “If I were a therapist who didn’t have the training I have now, I wouldn’t feel confident and good about myself,” he said. “You can’t just get the degree without specialized training. Even with trauma, you hear horror stories. Still, you always believe that this is where the client is now, but they’re going to be in a totally different place in 12 weeks. When you see that change in them, there’s nothing more rewarding.” †

When I think of West Texas Counseling and Guidance, I think of light. I think of the Cactus Hotel, where WTCG is housed, and how it towers over the San Angelo skyline like a lighthouse for the shipwrecked or those simply struggling at sea. When I was 6 years old, my dad died of suicide. His death became my blueprint for death, morphing into a swift, unmerciful monster. Fortunately, even amid my mom’s blinding grief, she had the good sense to put me in therapy. I saw a therapist at Samaritan Counseling Center, now WTCG, long before it moved into the Cactus and offered the services it does today, many of them aimed at suicide prevention. My therapist was kind and soft-spoken and just what I needed because shortly after my dad’s suicide, my mom’s boyfriend began abusing her. After several unsuccessful attempts to leave, we escaped four years later. My mom began dating and eventually married a man who would become the person I consider my dad today, and I will forever be grateful to him for loving us enough to take on the task of raising me, a 10-year-old wracked with anxiety and depression. If middle school weren’t brutal enough, the bullying I endured in elementary school continued. I returned to WTCG, still in that cozy house, and saw a therapist named Mollie, whom I quickly grew to adore. Fastforward to age 21, and I was in an unhealthy relationship that led to an unplanned pregnancy, but the birth of my first child was my salvation. I finished college and eventually met the love of my life. Still, I struggled with change, so I returned to WTCG, this time in a different building and with a therapist named Dusty, who would eventually become the center’s leader. In 2019, my anxiety and depression returned and so I, of course, returned to WTCG, now in the Cactus Hotel, with a therapist named Ben. That same year, I joined the LOSS Team, which is comprised of mental health professionals and individuals who have lost a loved one to suicide. The team responds to local suicides to offer support to survivors. LOSS instilled in me a passion for mental health advocacy, and in 2022, I enrolled in the social work master’s program at ASU and eventually interned at WTCG. But just before I started my internship, my child (whom I will refer to as Sam to protect their anonymity) asked to be hospitalized for severe depression. Somehow, I summoned the strength to drive Sam to a mental health facility three hours away for a nine-day stay – the most excruciating nine days of my life. As fate would have it, I was interning at the place where I’d always found understanding and belonging, and even though I was navigating uncharted territory, I had the support of my therapist and my WTCG friends. In August, I will graduate and finish my second internship at WTCG, where I have worked in crisis counseling. More importantly, Sam is thriving thanks in large part to therapy at WTCG. I don’t want to think about what my life would look like had my mother not reached for that light all those years ago in our time of need, but I know that I am a better person - and will someday soon be a better therapist - because of it. I will share my story at WTCG’s annual gala May 22. For tickets and information, visit www.sanangelocounseling.org. By Becca Nelson Sankey 57 hometown living at its best

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