Grimes County Junior Deputy Sheriff's Mounted Posse forms

Leaders of the newly-formed Grimes County Sheriff's Junior Mounted Posse which made its debut at two county parades on Saturday, Dec. 13, are shown. They are, from left on the front, Tommy Barling, quartermaster, Samantha Gregory, parliamentarian, Brooke Maldonado, secretary, Emily Hibner, vice president, Ashley Sowell, treasurer, Skylar Harsh, assistant junior drillmaster and Kaci Gregory, president. Back: Sheriff Don Sowell, assistants Anthony Sechelski, Mike Wetuski, Leslie Douget, Sharon Barman, Lori Edgley,Sonya Floyd, coordinator, Ethan Floyd Jr., drillmaster, Nick Falco, drillmaster and Bill Williams, assistant drillmaster.

By Gail Sowell

Sheriff Don Sowell served for many years as the Sheriff's Coordinator under Sheriff's Heard, Klevenhagen and Thomas for the Harris County Junior Deputy Sheriff's Mounted Posse. He also served as President of the organization for a long time, too. His dream has always been to get a mounted posse started in Grimes County. This idea has been on the minds of Sowell as well as a group of people for a few years now, but that's as far as it got.

A couple of months ago, Sheriff Sowell's dream came true when Nick Falco and his daughter Sonya Floyd approached him about getting something going. They discussed the idea in length with Sheriff Sowell and told him that Falco was interested in the drillmaster position and Floyd would take the coordinator position. At that point, Sowell took up the sponsorship and off it went.

In September and October, word was put out and organizational meetings were conducted to see if enough kids from age 6 to 18 would be interested. The response was overwhelming, and to date, between 35 and 40 kids have signed up.

On Monday, Nov. 17, the election and installation of officers and swearing in of posse members took place at the Go-Texan Building at the Grimes County Fairgrounds in Navasota. Elected as president was Kaci Gregory, vice president Emily Hibner, secretary Brooke Maldonado, treasurer Ashleigh Sowell and parliamentarian Samantha Gregory. Serving as Jr. drillmaster is Ethan Floyd, assistant Jr. drillmaster is Skylar Harsh, quartermaster is Tom Barling and Bill Williams will be assistant drillmaster to Falco. Adults currently assisting during parades and such are Anthony Sechelski, Mike Wetuski, Bo Imhoff, Leslie Douget, Sharon Barkman and Lori Edgley. Other parent volunteers are stepping up and helping out, too.

The mission of the posse is to improve riding skills and abilities on horseback, as well as learn meeting rules and teamwork. Members will become ambassadors for Grimes County and the Grimes County Sheriff's Office in parades, rodeos and other public events. The organization encourages adult/youth working relationships, which so far has been excellent.

The posse made its debut on a float in the Grimes County Chamber of Commerce Christmas Parade. They have had several practices at the rodeo arena at the fairgrounds to prepare for their first parades. On Saturday, Dec. 13, the group took part riding horseback in the Plantersville Christmas Parade that morning, taking home their first trophy for "Best Trailride Group." Later in the evening, the youngsters headed for Bedias, where they led the first annual parade on horseback for that town. Their next event will be during Go-Texan weekend in February.

The Grimes County Junior Deputy Sheriff's Mounted Posse is a non-profit organization that depends solely on donations of citizens and other organizations who have graciously funded the group to get started. Grimes County Crime Stoppers and the Grimes County Peace Officers Association have given substantial donations, as well as others throughout the county. Jimmy Willhite of Plantersville donated an Uzi Eagle 9mm Pistol valued at $599 to raffle off. The drawing will be conducted on Sunday, Feb. 8, during Go-Texan festivities. Any contributions will be gladly accepted and appreciated. Donations can be sent to: The Grimes County Junior Deputy Sheriff's Mounted Posse (or GCJDSMP), P.O. Box 733, Anderson, Texas, 77830. For more information, contact drillmaster Nick Falco at 825-1206, coordinator Sonya Floyd at 894-2166 or Sheriff Don Sowell at 873-2151 or 825-5726.

Besides the officers listed, posse members to date include Rebecca Barling, Brandi Barnes, Drew Boeker, Justin Brooks, Haley Douget, Nickayla Floyd, Nikki Hale, Cody Harman, Hunter Harsh, Naomi Harsh, Brennan Imhoff, Westin Imhoff, Grant Lambert, Tonia Lambert, Blake Maldonado, Brett Robinson, Wren Robinson, Sarah Robinson, Lauren Roese, D'Lynn Sechelski, Courtenay Self, Adam Sevcik, Sarah Sowell, Mason Sword, Jared Wetuski, Sean Winn and Cody Wright.