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Sport Shorts

Fri, 01 May 2026 06:00:00 -0500

Tioga golfer wins STATE gold
Tioga senior Zander Zafar won the Class 2A individual State golf Tuesday and set a record along the way.

Zafar brought home the 2A State Championship from Lions Municipal Golf Course in Austin by shooting a two-day total of 135 that is a 2A State record.

He followed his opening 67 with a 68 that included an eagle on the par-five eighth hole that played at 467 yards.

Zafar was seven-under par overall and finished one stroke ahead of Farwell’s Cooper.

Last year, Zafar was 35th after just a single round counted for the tournament when rain cancelled the final round and as a sophomore he placed 25th.

Bearcats end year
The Whitesboro Bearcat baseball team ended their year Friday with an 18-5 loss to Paradise on the road.

Wyatt Winchester went 2-for-2 with a triple and three RBIs.

Justin Knight went 2-for-2 with two doubles, drove in a run and scored twice.

Luis Rojas singled, drove in a run and scored.

Korbin Ross singled and scored once.

Jace Bomar doubled and walked.

Whitesboro ended the season 7-18 and 2-10 in district play— missing the playoffs.

Pirates parade to post season
The Collinsville Pirates ended the regular season last week with a double-header sweep of Whitewright at home.

Game two ended in a 7-3 Pirate.

Paxton Davidson went 2-for-2 with a double, walked twice and scored three times.

He also struck out five and walked one in two and two thirds inning.

Rider Patterson went 3-for-3 and scored once.

Peyton Davidson drove in two runs and scored.

Nate Hicks and Noe Cantu each walked and drove in a run.

Jaxon Spivey walked twice.

Collinsville went to 16-2 on the year and 14-2 in district play.

They opened the postseason Wednesday with a double header against Celeste at Prosper Rock Hill.

Results were not available as of press time.

Collinsville opened the Whitewright series with a 4-2 win.

In that affair, Caysen Schafer and Paxton Davidson combined on a two-hitter with 10 strikeouts and five walks.

Schafer also singled, walked and drove in two.

Spivey singled, walked and scored twice.

Peyton Davidson singled and walked three times.

Cantu walked and drove in a run.

Lady Cats advance
The Whitesboro Lady Cat softball team throttled Dallas Madison last week with a 16-0 final at home to open the bi-district round of the playoffs.

Reagan Downs went 2-for-2, walked, drove in three and scored twice.

Avery Howerton threw a perfect game with eight strikeouts.

She also walked twice, drove in a run and scored twice.

Kaydence Thomas singled, walked, drove in two and scored twice.

Sydnie Duhon singled, walked, drove in two and scored once.

Breighlin Rupert walked three times, drove in a run and scored twice.

Jenna Cole walked twice, drove in a run and scored twice.

Fallon Perkins walked, drove in a run and scored twice.

Kennadi Fuller drove in two and scored.

Cameron Ortiz walked twice and scored twice.

The win took Whitesboro to 24-9 on the year.

They opened the area round Wednesday against Winnsboro at Farmersville. Results were not available as of press time.

Game two was Thursday.

Lady Rams move on
The S&S Lady Ram Softball team blasted Paris Chisum last week with a 13-0, in five innings, to open their 2026 playoff run.

Hayden Kight went 3-for-4 with four RBIs and scored once.

Lana Walters went 2-for-3 with a double, four RBIs and scored twice.

Hayden Mowrey threw a one-hitter with seven strikeouts and no walks.

She also went 2-for-4 and scored once.

Brynlee Mullican went 3-for-4 with two doubles, drove in two and scored.

Tynslie Adcock singled, walked twice and drove in two runs.

Brooklyn Sterling and Izzie Talamantes each singled and scored.

Saryn Dowell walked twice and scored three times.

The win took S&S to 24-7 on the year.

They opened round two against Boyd Thursday at Denton High School. Results were not available as of press time.

Game two is 6 p.m. tonight in Denton.

Cats drop to Paradise
The Whitesboro Bearcat baseball team fell to Paradise with a 4-3 final last week in district play.

Ayce Nelson went 2-for-3, walked and drove in two runs.

Andrew Quick and Brody Colvin each went 2-for-4 and scored.

Brayden Johnson went 2-for-3.

Parks Ramsey walked and scored once.

Wyatt Winchester allowed two earned runs on three hits with six strikeouts and five walks in six and two thirds innings.

The loss took Whitesboro to 7-17 on the year and 2-9 in district play.

They ended the season Friday at Paradise.

Lady Rams lose tie-breaker
With a softball district as stacked as 11-3A, a tiebreaker was needed last week to determine playoff seeding.

S&S and Bells split the series early in the season and one of them needed a bump.

Bells got it with a 4-3 win last week at Sherman in a tie-breaker.

Tynslie Adcock was 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs for S&S.

Lana Walters tripled, walked twice and scored.

Hayden Mowrey doubled.

She also allowed three earned runs on three hits with 11 strikeouts and six walks.

Saryn Dowell drove in a run.

S&S fell to 23-7 and took on Paris Chisum to open the postseason.

Bells moved to 26-3 and faced Mount Vernon in the bi-district round later last week.

Bulldogs beat by Dodd City
The Tioga Bulldog baseball team topped Dodd City 13-1, in five innings last week, at Gainesville.

Cameron Askew allowed an unearned run on three hits with eight strikeouts and two walks.

Maddox Hurst went 2-for-2 with a home run, walked twice, drove in four and scored three times.

Logan Netterville tripled, walked, drove in three and scored once.

Calan Sweeney doubled, walked twice, drove in a run and scored twice.

Caleb Moncrief went 2-for-3 with two RBIs.

Hayden Roberts singled, walked, drove in a run and scored twice.

Luke Roberts walked twice, drove in a run and scored once.

The loss took Tioga to 7-18 on the year and 4-11 in district play.

They ended their season Friday at Ector.

Benjamin Franklin: Printer, Philosopher, Patriot (part I)

Fri, 01 May 2026 06:00:00 -0500

“Those who would sacrifice a little liberty for a little security shall get and deserve neither.” This was the warning of Benjamin Franklin, a scientist, thinker, and defender of American freedom. He became one of the most well-known figures of the American Revolution for his sharp observations of human nature, quick wit, noted inventions, and steadfast principles.

Franklin was born in Boston in 1706. He was one of 17 children. Franklin loved to read as a child, teaching himself grammar, philosophy, and math. His father, Josiah, a candlemaker and an English immigrant, had hoped for his son to become a minister, but he could only afford to send him to the Boston Latin Grammar School for a couple of years. At the age of 12, his father sent Franklin to be an apprentice to his 21-year-old brother James, a printer and also publisher of the New-England Courant. After five years, Ben Franklin decided to leave Boston and start a life on his own.

He was 17 when he arrived in Philadelphia. He took a few jobs working for local printers. In 1727, he formed the “Junto,” an organization of young professionals to discuss ideas. The organization helped form Philadelphia’s first library by 1731.

In 1728, Franklin set up his own print shop and began publishing The Pennsylvania Gazette, a newspaper which quickly became popular through Franklin’s own witty observations. Franklin had a keen sense for opportunity and developed partnerships to start other newspapers. Within 20 or so years, Franklin was part owner of nearly half the English-language newspapers in the colonies. In 1732, he began publishing Poor Richard’s Almanac, which he wrote under a series of pen names. It sold thousands of copies each year, and its success gave Franklin financial security.

He had a strong sense of civic duty, often using his imagination and creativity to benefit Philadelphia. In 1736, he created one of the first volunteer fire departments in the colonies. Officials named him postmaster of Philadelphia in 1737. Soon after, Franklin founded the American Philosophical Society in 1743 to promote science and education, becoming the first scholarly organization in the colonies. Working with a group of prominent Philadelphians, he co-founded the College of Philadelphia in 1749, which would later become the University of Pennsylvania. By 1748, he was elected to the Philadelphia city council. This was followed by a brief turn as a justice of the peace and then to the Pennsylvania legislature by 1751. While in the legislature, he quickly pushed for a charter to establish the first hospital in Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Hospital, which was only the second hospital in North America.

Franklin’s scientific achievements were widely respected. He became one of the foremost experts on electricity in the world. In 1749, Franklin developed the lightning rod, a simple device that saved countless lives and property from the destructive force of lightning. Instead of patenting it, he made the design free to the public. In 1752, he conducted his famous experiment with a kite and key during a storm and was able to prove that lightning was electricity. He would go on to develop bifocals and the Franklin stove among other inventions. Because of his achievements, he was inducted into the Royal Society of Arts in 1756.

As early as 1754, Franklin supported the Thirteen Colonies acting more in unison. This would become even more important with the French and Indian War. By 1757, the colonies hired Franklin to act as a lobbyist in London to speak to Parliament for American interests. He noted that with the rising economic development of the colonies that one day the economic center of the British Empire would be in America. After the war, Britain’s increasingly heavy-handed tactics toward the colonies brought Franklin into a far more visible position in defending the colonies and becoming one of the leaders calling for independence.

Capital Highlights

Fri, 01 May 2026 06:00:00 -0500

Texas awards first $400 million in school vouchers
State officials began sending out the first notices to families awarded education vouchers last week, the Houston Chronicle reported. In the first round, 42,644 qualified, mostly students with special needs who are considered the highest priority.

More than a quarter-million students have applied to the state’s voucher program, with a lottery determining who gets a spot. Initial funding for the program is $1 billion, and it is projected to support 100,000 students in its first year.

The program offers taxpayer money to help pay for private and homeschool education. The amount of each voucher awarded in the initial round varied, from $2,000 each for the 11,000 children applying for homeschool funding to an average of $15,585 for parents who documented their children’s special educational needs.

Smokable hemp ban temporarily blocked
A ban on the sale of natural smokeable hemp products has been blocked, possibly until the end of April, by a Travis County district judge. A court hearing is set for this week.

The Texas Tribune reported that lawyers for the hemp industry argue that state agencies overstepped their constitutional authority by imposing new testing requirements that created a 0.3% total THC threshold. The industry says that effectively eliminated smokeable products by essentially rewriting the statutory definitions of hemp created by legislators in 2019.

While that 2019 law also limited THC levels to 0.3%, manufacturers got around it by cultivating hemp plants with another type of THC called THCA, which produces a high when ignited. The newly written limits on any type of THC mirror those that will be imposed by the federal government in November.

Appeals court rules for Ten Commandments in classrooms
A federal appeals court last week ordered public school districts to place copies of the Ten Commandments in classrooms, the Austin America-Statesman reported. Parents and a group of faith leaders in nine school districts sued over a 2025 law that requires public schools to post donated posters of the Ten Commandment in classrooms.

By a split vote, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decided the law does not violate the U.S. Constitution, overturning a San Antonio federal judge’s ruling last year. The case could be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court.

“Students are neither catechized on the Commandments nor taught to adopt them,” the judges wrote. “Nor are teachers commanded to proselytize students who ask about the displays or contradict students who disagree with them.”

Six judges on the appeals court dissented, with Judge Leslie H. Southwick writing that “S.B. 10 is facially unconstitutional under the Establishment and Free Exercise Clauses.”

STAAR ends after this spring
After about 15 years, this spring marks one of the final times Texas students will take the STAAR, according to the Chronicle. Beginning with the 2027-2028 school year, that end-of-year assessment will be replaced by three shorter tests.

Backers of the change say it will reduce classroom time spent preparing for the test and be a more accurate measure of students’ progress. Critics say the changes will still place too much emphasis and classroom time preparing for the tests.

“The only evidence is that it will create more testing,” said state Rep. Gina Hinojosa, Gov. Greg Abbott’s Democratic challenger for governor. “We’re going from 15 tests to 51 tests by the time a kid’s done with eighth grade. It’s outrageous.”

The new Student Success Tool will provide three tests through the school year, instead of a single high-stakes test at the end of the year. Results will be available within 48 hours of each test, unlike STAAR results, which are usually released in mid-June, months after students take the test.

Workplace fatalities dipped slightly in 2024
The Texas Department of Insurance has reported that 557 workplace fatalities were reported in 2024, the latest year for which statistics are available. That is down slightly from the 564 workplace fatalities reported in 2023. More than 90% of the fatalities occurred in the private sector.

The most fatalities were reported in the trade, transportation and utilities sector at 175; construction fatalities, with 128, followed. The most common occupation involving fatalities was motor vehicle operators

A total of 75 fatalities were due to violent acts in 2024.

Men accounted for 92% of the 557 total incidents in 2024.

Texas economy hits record $2.9 trillion
The Texas economy expanded to $2.9 trillion in 2025, growing faster than the nation as a whole at a 2.5% rate, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. The state maintained its ranks as the world’s eighth-largest economy, based on preliminary estimates from the International Monetary Fund.

“The Texas economy expanded to a record high of $2.9 trillion thanks to the productivity of our skilled workforce and the entrepreneurs and businesses investing here with confidence,” said Greg Abbott.

The state’s economy has grown by 46% over the past 11 years.

Gary Borders is a veteran award-winning Texas journalist. He published a number of community newspapers in Texas during a 30-year span, including in Longview, Fort Stockton, Nacogdoches, Lufkin and Cedar Park. Email: gborders@texaspress.com

From the Archives

Fri, 01 May 2026 06:00:00 -0500

20 years ago…

May 4, 2006

GILL TO TAKE OVER AS WHS ATHLETIC DIRECTOR
The Whitesboro ISD Board of Trustees made it official Monday night when they unanimously agreed to employ Eddie Gill as the successor for departing athletic director Adam Rupert.

The decision came after a one-hour executive session during the special called meeting.

Gill, 46, has spent five years at Class 3A San Antonio Poteet. Gill led Poteet to a 27-26 record overall and led the Aggies to two consecutive appearances in the state tournament for the first time in school history. The team also earned their first district title during that time for the first time in 58 years. Gill was also named the 2005 District 28-3A Coach of the Year.

30 years ago…

May 2, 1996

BANDS SWEEP UIL COMPETITIONS
Whitesboro Middle School and High School bands both swept the UIL competitions last week with six Division I “Superior” ratings, in both concert and sight reading contests.

The high school band made up of 54 students traveled to Carroll High School in South Lake on Tuesday, April 23, for the high school UIL contest. In both the concert performance and the sight reading contest, the band received three Division I ratings from all three judges, format total ranking of six. This is the fifth year in a row that the concert band has been ranked “Superior,” and the fourth consecutive year that the sight reading performance has been ranked “Superior.”

A total of 12 Class III A bands performed in the competition, with only two other bands receiving all Division I “Superior” rankings.

40 years ago…

May 1, 1986

LOCAL TEXAS BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION MAY 17
With less than three weeks away, the “Happy Birthday, Texas!” celebration, which is scheduled Sat., May 17 at the Whitesboro High School grounds, is on countdown for launch time to an exciting and fun sesquicentennial-filled day.

The Whitesboro Sesquicentennial Committee received word recently from the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. that F-4 Phantom jet fighters will fly over the event at a low altitude to thrill the crowd with aerial demonstrations and maneuvers.

The 301st Tactical Fighter Wing, Carswell Air Force Base near Fort Worth will provide the jet demonstrations sometime between noon and 1 p.m.

Hot air balloon rides will kick off activities beginning at 8 a.m. until 10 a.m., and again from 6-8 p.m.

A reputable carnival firm will provide an exciting midway of six major rides and six kiddie rides.

Carden-Johnson and Clyde Brothers Circus will be presenting a thrilling show beneath a huge “big top” colorful tent that will seat approximately 1,200 people.

An entertainment stage will also feature live bands throughout the day.

Your talent can be your side hustle

Fri, 01 May 2026 06:00:00 -0500

Dear Dave,
I’m currently in Baby Step 2 of your plan, and I’ve been intense about paying off debt. I make about $80,000 a year in sales and recently received a tax refund of $4,400. I have an idea to use the refund money to open a trailer rental business as a side hustle to pay off debt faster. Do you think this is a good idea, or should I use all the money to help pay off debt?
Mike

Dear Mike,
I like that you’re trying to find a way to pay off your debt even faster. But no, I wouldn’t use the tax refund to open a trailer rental business.

I want you to get rid of your debt as fast as possible. But the problem with throwing all that money at two or three trailers is that you might not rent them one single time. That’s a very real possibility. You’ve got to consider all the downsides and all the possible negative scenarios. If there are more negatives than there are positives, your idea’s probably not going to work.

Now, I don’t mind the idea of you taking a small part of the $4,400 to get something going on the side. I’d rather see you take $400-$500 of the refund money and put it into something where you’re pretty sure you’re going to get $500-$1,000 back within the first month or so. In that kind of situation, even if the idea doesn’t work out, you’ve only burned a little bit of the money. You’d still have around $4,000 left to help pay off debt.

But here’s something else I want you to think about: It sounds like you’re making a pretty good living as a salesman. If I were in your shoes, I’d find a part-time job selling a quality product I was excited about and believed in, something that doesn’t compete with what I’m selling at my day job. I mean, selling is selling. If you could get with a company that would let you sell on nights or weekends, you could probably make a nice chunk of cash. That’s a lot better plan than setting a couple of trailers in your yard and hoping someone rents them.

And hey, adjust your W-4 so you don’t get a refund next year. A tax refund isn’t free money, and there’s no reason to give Uncle Sam an interest-free loan for a year — especially when that money would do more good in your own pocket.

Good luck, Mike!
— Dave

Dave Ramsey is a nine-time national bestselling author, personal finance expert and host of The Ramsey Show. Since 1992, Dave has helped people take control of their money, build wealth and enhance their lives. He also serves as CEO for Ramsey Solutions.

Who will you ‘see’ today?

Fri, 01 May 2026 06:00:00 -0500

“Pastor D!” Marcus exclaimed, as he and I walked into the convenience store together, him holding the door for me. “Haven’t seen you in a while!”

Marcus, the store’s manager, was adorned in a fluorescent vest indicating that he’d been working outside.

Just inside the double doors to my favorite morning pitstop, Marcus looked over to Mason who was working behind the cashier’s desk and said, “Look who I found!”

Mason happily chimed in, “Marcus was just saying this morning that we haven’t seen you in a while. We’ve been wondering where you were! Where were you getting your coffee?”

Isn’t it wonderful to be “seen?”

No, seriously! Doesn’t your world light up when someone takes a moment just to acknowledge you as a person, someone whom they are delighted to see?

Admit it: We all crave to be seen by others. This is a basic human desire, and when we lack it, all sorts of bad happens. We see the effects of this in people’s lives every single day at our shelter.

Jesus knew this too. Why do you think he went out of his way to “see” people wherever he traveled?

Remember, Zacchaeus, the tax collector? Yep, Jesus spotted him and called him by name, inviting him into a new life and restoring his dignity.

In the Gospel of John, Jesus tells Bartholemew (Nathanael), one of the first dozen apostles, “I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you.”

The list of people that Jesus saw, and the world didn’t, is long: the woman at the well; the disciples, all of whom were not a “who’s who” before they followed Jesus; a blind beggar; the widow at the treasury. You get the picture!

We do a lot of important work -- no, life-saving work -- at the mission. Sheltering people, feeding people and hopefully ultimately housing people. Hundreds of people, every single day.

But after two years of working with this team of superheroes, you know what I’ve learned the most critical thing is that our team does? Seeing people. Hands down.

Seeing people for the unique and beloved child of God they are.

On occasion, I have the great fortune that one of our guests takes a few minutes to share with me. And almost to a person, when they thank me for what the staff at the shelter does, it’s not about the physical needs that we address for which they are grateful.

No, what fills their eyes with tears is how one or more of our staff has seen them for the fellow human being they are.

And I truly believe that as faithful people, that is the kindest way we can love our neighbor, just as Jesus commands us to do. Amen.

Devlyn Brooks is the CEO of Churches United in Moorhead, Minn., and an ordained pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America serving Faith Lutheran Church in Wolverton, Minn. He blogs about faith at findingfaithin.com, and can be reached at devlynbrooks@gmail.com

Sherman-Hagerman Bird Festival slated for May 16 at Hagerman NWR

Fri, 01 May 2026 06:00:00 -0500

Save the date on Saturday, May 16 for the Sherman-Hagerman Bird Festival at Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) on Lake Texoma.

This festival is a multi-location, multi-activity celebration of our feathered friends in nature and art as spring migration is in full swing at the refuge. Events will take place at both the refuge and throughout the Downtown Sherman Cultural District.

Hagerman NWR serves as refuge and breeding grounds for migratory birds and is well known for the diversity of birds that can be found there. In all, 338 species have been counted, including American white pelicans, warblers, hummingbirds, nesting tanagers, painted and indigo buntings and nesting bald eagles.

Hagerman activities run from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and include bird walks, tram tours, children’s activities, three lectures and book signing with Sam Crowe – Photographic Guide to the Birds of North America.

Sherman Cultural District will complement Hagerman activities by celebrating all things bird in fine art and avian-themed offerings starting at 8 a.m. Come for Breakfast with the Birds, then visit shops and restaurants for the Birds of a Feather Art Walk, gallery shows, fantasy birdhouse competition, bird merchandise, culinary specials and drink flights to finish the evening. Sherman Public Library will host family activities and bird talks. Five original bird sculptures will be dedicated, part of a new public art collection honoring Sherman’s unique connection to Hagerman NWR.

The festival is organized by the Friends of Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge and Sherman Cultural District.

Free educational bird watching opportunity, photo club meeting at Hagerman National Wildlife Reserve

Fri, 01 May 2026 06:00:00 -0500

If you want to learn how to identify the birds of North Texas, this Saturday’s “Little Sit” at Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) is the perfect way to start.

At this free event, attendees will meet the Bird Census Team while learning how to identify the birds of North Texas and enjoy the beautiful sunrise over Lake Texoma. Modeled after Cornell’s national “Big Sit” event, a group of dedicated birders invite you to join them at sunrise to conduct a bird count as multiple species fly to the water and the surrounding land to feed. Leaders will bring spotting scopes and will provide tips for identification of the many species you will see.

This event begins at 7 a.m. at Pad-H on the west side of Hagerman NWR and lasts a couple of hours, but all are welcome to come and go as they please. Participants are advised to bring a chair, binoculars and water.

For more information, a map to Pad-H and to register to receive event updates (registering is recommended to be informed of location change) visit www.friendsofhagerman.com

Then, at 1 p.m., everyone is welcome to attend the Photo Club meeting. Have you ever admired some of the great photos posted on Friends of Hagerman NWR Nature Photograph Group and wondered where to find these great creatures? Join photographers to learn the many photography opportunities at the refuge, where to find them and the best time to see them.

History Club of Whitesboro earns top district honors

Fri, 01 May 2026 06:00:00 -0500

On April 20, the GFWC History Club of Whitesboro announced its Trinity District Award Certificates for 2025 reports. The club won several awards in a variety of categories.

In GFWC Special Programs: Advocates for Children, the group won 2nd place for its April 2025 “Pinwheels for Prevention on Main Street” to raise awareness for National Child Abuse Prevention Month (Wanda Godso).

In Civic Engagement and Outreach, the club won 2nd place for “Dress a Girl Around the World,” First Responders and Dispatchers, Flags for Veterans, National Day of Service, Your Neighbors House, National Night Out, Crisis Center, Heifer International, Silver Star Room and Whitesboro Veterans Association (Keisha Head).

In Communications and Public Relations, the club won 2nd place for Facebook, articles in the newspaper, History Club of Whitesboro QR code, its tri-fold brochure, Chamber of Commerce membership and an email from GFWC Texas YouTube video, “That’s How Club Women Roll,” fashion show and other information to the public about the history club (Carla Woolsey).

In Dollars for Delegates, the club won 2nd place for providing financial assistance to members attending state events and the Peanut Festival booth Plink game, which raised $106 (Donna Parkinson).

In Environment, the club took 1st place for its program on State Parks safety and security, History Club of Whitesboro members helping Keep Whitesboro Beautiful with the butterfly garden, Adopt-a-Highway, E-Waste Recycling and decorating for downtown special events (Betsy Price).

For GFWC Special Program, Domestic and Sexual Violence Awareness and Prevention, the group won 1st place. Their program, Hope for Justice, recognized indicators of human trafficking, International Day of Service to collect art supplies for Monarch Academy Girls Growing in Grace, Crisis Center, one purple fingernail in October to promote awareness and Austin’s Day at the Capitol to share trafficking concerns with local representatives (T.R. Fletcher).

In Epsilon Sigma Omicron (ESO), the club won 1st place. They took a field trip to Denton’s Recycled Books, Records and CDs Store, participated in National Night Out reading to children who were given activity books and proclamations presented to city and school librarians for National Library Week (Wanda Godso).

In Fundraising and Development, the club earned 2nd place for M.D. Anderson, Silver Angel Star Room, Spring Fling and Fashion Show, National Night Out, Heifer International, a Peanut Festival gift card basket and game, screening of “The Girl Who Wore Freedom,” Your Neighbors House, Tour of Homes, September membership dinner, a Jenga game for human trafficking and collection of annual dues (Donna Parkinson).

In Leadership, the club won 1st place for its focus on President Parkinson’s leadership, guidance and stewardship of the club’s mission (Donna Parkinson).

For Legislation and Public Policy, the group earned 1st place. Locally, it has focused on Texoma Drive improvements as clubwoman Carla Woolsey serves on the City Council. At the State level, three members attended “Day at the Capitol” and five members communicated with the GFWC Legislative Action Center to keep up to date with legislative action pertaining to GFWC issues (Betty Capehart).

The club won 2nd place in Membership, for sending birthday and sympathy cards, recognizing years of service, bringing community awareness of the History Club of Whitesboro with a presence at the Peanut Festival and other city events (Carla Woolsey).

The club’s public screening of “The Girl Who Wore Freedom” earned them 1st place in Outstanding Club Program (Mary Nan Story).

Their program, “A Taste of the Past: Sourdough Bread – The History and Science of Sourdough Bread in Texas,” earned them 1st place for Outstanding Club Program (Donna Parkinson). This program also earned them 1st place in the Texas Heritage – Places/Things category.

In April, the club held a reception to celebrate its 110th anniversary, which earned them 2nd place in Outstanding Federation Program (Donna Parkinson).

For President’s Special Project, the club held a program to educate members to recognize and report warning signs of human trafficking. This earned 1st place (Donna Parkinson).

The club won 1st place in Scholarships for awarding five $1,000 scholarships to local high school graduates, plus $93 to district and state scholarships (Carol Pike).

Also, thanks to its donation of $210 to M.D. Anderson, the GFWC History Club of Whitesboro earned 1st place in the UT M.D. Anderson Cancer Center category.

Lastly, for her spirit of volunteerism, member Keisha Head was recognized as the Trinity District Clubwoman Volunteer of the Year.

Subsequently, member Patricia Davis was installed as the Trinity District president-elect for the 2026-2028 term and Head was installed as the Trinity District second vice president for the 2026-2028 term. Regular installation for the club will take place at their May meeting.

WPD Arrests

Fri, 01 May 2026 06:00:00 -0500

These are reports of arrests. This is a snapshot of an event rather than containing all the details. There may be more to the story. Also, a person is considered innocent until found guilty in a court of law. The Whitesboro Police Department reported the following arrests between April 20 and April 26.

April 20
At 9:03 p.m., Angela Danielle Malone, 34, of Whitesboro, was arrested at 1000 Hwy. 82 on a warrant from another agency.

April 24
At 3:28 a.m., Jeffrey Brian Hickok, 44, of Carrollton, Texas, was arrested at Main and Elm Streets in Whitesboro on charges of driving while intoxicated, evading arrest and tampering/fabricating physical evidence with intent to impair.

Whitesboro Area Chamber of Commerce to host Miles for Mom 5K, fun run next Saturday

Fri, 01 May 2026 06:00:00 -0500

Next Saturday is the Whitesboro Area Chamber of Commerce community event, “Miles for Mom” — a 5K, Fun Run and concert, in downtown Whitesboro. The race will begin at 8 a.m. The concert will feature Ellie Jo Mac from 9-11 a.m. and Zachary Lee from 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

In an effort to highlight and support local businesses, the event will not include outside vendors. The goal is to encourage the many attendees expected for the race and concert to explore, shop and dine at the businesses that make Whitesboro so special.

As part of the event, the 100 block of Main Street will be closed to accommodate race activities and the concert. The Chamber hopes this will create a fun, walkable environment that brings more visitors directly to the doors of local businesses.

Registration fees range from around $24 to around $40, depending on categories which include a 5K, 5K Mom with Stroller, 1M Run Run and Whitesboro Cross Country Runners. Award categories are:
-    Overall male and female for 5K (gift baskets donated by local businesses)
-    5K: 12 and under; 13-19; 20-29; 30-39; 40-49; 50-59; 60-69; 70-79; 80+ (first, second and third place in each group will receive medals)
-    5K Mom with Stroller (three fastest receive an award)

All 5K runners will receive a race t-shirt and swag bag. All 1M Fun Runners will receive a t-shirt.

A portion of the proceeds from event registrations will benefit the Whitesboro High School Cross Country program. Register to participate and learn more about the race route at raceroster.com (Registration prices increase the day of the event, so signing up early saves you money and secures your place in the fun.)

The Chamber is seeking sponsors at a variety of levels, from Gold, Silver and Bronze to main stage concert and hydration station sponsors. To learn more, contact the Whitesboro Area Chamber of Commerce at chamber@whitesborotx.org or 903-564-3331.

Public schools are the launchpad

Fri, 01 May 2026 06:00:00 -0500

The Texas Constitution doesn’t leave much wiggle room when it comes to schools. It says a “general diffusion of knowledge” is essential, and then it gets right to the point: it is the duty of the Legislature to provide for an efficient system of public free schools. That’s been the deal since 1876, and it doesn’t say anything about where you live.

I kept thinking about that this weekend after the Los Angeles Chargers drafted a kid from my hometown of Spearman.

If you know Spearman, it looks like a lot of rural Texas—about 3,000 people at the top of the Panhandle, one school district, one high school, one football field. That’s where Brenen Thompson learned to run a 4.26 forty, the fastest time at this year’s NFL Combine. The football story is impressive, but it’s not the point.

The point is how he got there.

In a town like Spearman, there isn’t a menu of options. There’s one system that carries the load: the public school.

There isn’t a private campus down the road. There isn’t another system waiting if something doesn’t fit. There is one school, and it is expected to meet the needs of every student who walks through the door.

And in rural Texas, that school does more than educate. It functions as the center of the community, but more importantly, it is the only institution responsible for preparing the next generation.

That’s not unique to Spearman. It’s the reality for close to a million rural Texas students, many of whom do not have alternative options. They can’t transfer across town or opt into something else if the system falls short. What they have is the public school in front of them.

So when we talk about education policy in rural Texas, we are not talking about expanding choice in any meaningful sense. We are talking about whether the one system these students rely on is strong enough to do its job.

“Good enough” doesn’t work in that environment.

That system has to be capable of serving every student in the building—not just the ones who stand out or the ones who will leave, but the ones who will stay and build their lives in these communities.

Because while we are so proud of Brenen Thompson, his story is the exception, not the model.

Most students aren’t headed to the NFL. They’re headed into the workforce, into local businesses, into classrooms as future teachers, into hospitals, farms, and small-town main streets. Their outcomes depend on the same classrooms, the same teachers, and the same system that produced a top draft pick.

If that system is strong, they have opportunity. If it’s not, they don’t.

That is the responsibility the state accepted when it put public education into the Constitution—not to create pathways for a few, but to ensure a foundation for all.

And that’s why this moment matters.

Because at the same time a kid from Spearman is stepping onto an NFL field, the state of Texas is preparing to roll out a $1 billion private school voucher program.

Supporters call it choice. In rural Texas, that’s not what it is.

There are no private schools waiting to take those dollars. There is no network of education options to take on our students. In most of these communities, a voucher doesn’t open a door—it simply shifts public dollars out of the only school they attend.

And when you pull resources out of a system that has no backup, you’re not creating competition. You’re creating strain.

Fewer teachers. Fewer programs. Fewer opportunities for the majority of kids who will still be sitting in those same classrooms.

That’s the part of this conversation that rural Texas can’t afford to ignore.

Because the kids in those schools don’t get a second system if the first one weakens. They don’t get a workaround or a quiet exit. They get what’s left.

Back home, there will be students on that same field this fall, running the same drills and figuring out what comes next. What the state owes them is not complicated. It owes them a public school system strong enough to carry them forward—every one of them, not just the few who are able to break through.

That’s the deal.

The rise, fall and rising again of U.S. Senator John Tower

Fri, 01 May 2026 06:00:00 -0500

Older readers of this newspaper will remember U.S. Senator John Tower, a man who at least almost came to national greatness.

Tower had been born in Houston and was a 1942 graduate of Beaumont High School. He was very well acquainted with Southeast Texas and East Texas because his father, Joe Tower, had been a Methodist minister, pastoring in several different cities in those areas while John Tower was growing up.

Early in my newspaper career, in the 1960s, I worked for the Wichita Falls Record-News and took some courses at Midwestern State University. Everyone at Midwestern was proud of the fact that the man who had become such a popular Republican senator had taught political science at Midwestern.

Tower served as a U.S. senator from Texas for almost 24 years, from 1961 to 1985. He had replaced Lyndon Johnson in the senate after Johnson became vice president under Kennedy.

During his first 10 years in the Senate, Tower gained in popularity not only in Texas but nationwide. He had served on several major boards and commissions which had dealt with significant issues of those days.

In 1971, speculation began to increase about the possibility that John Tower might run for president.

I was working for the Tyler Morning Telegraph at that time and pastoring a small church at Troup, just southeast of Tyler.

One afternoon, a reporter on the evening shift brought a stack of cardboard campaign posters into the newsroom. They were about three feet high and about four inches wide. In large letters printed vertically up and down the poster was the statement, “TURN TO TOWER.”

Tower was not really a towering man. He was actually shorter than most men, with a stocky build.

Due to speculation across the nation that Tower might be considering a bid to run for president, one political cartoonist drew a vertically deep cartoon showing five or six outhouses stacked neatly on top of each other. Underneath the cartoon was the two word caption: John Tower.

In 1971 I had invited an evangelist named Little George Havens to come and preach a revival at my little church in Troup. George, who had moved to Dallas, had gained some fame as a stunt man in Gene Autry westerns and in other movies.

He and his wife had come to our home for dinner on the first day of the revival.

Sitting in the living room, Havens said to me, “I hope John Tower will run for president.”

I replied, “I’m sorry, but I have interviewed him three times in the last year and he was drunk every time.”

Havens said sadly, “I am so sorry to hear that.”

Interestingly enough, Havens and his wife were back with us for another meal the following Saturday night.

While watching the 5 o’clock news, a segment came on about how Tower had reportedly been drinking excessively. Although married with three children, he was also accused of womanizing.

After watching that segment, Havens looked at me and said, “You knew it first.”

After that segment, there was little to no more talk about Tower running for President.

However, he did get re-elected twice more to the senate in the 1970s.

His wife, Lou Bullington whom he had met while a professor at Midwestern, stayed with him through his drinking and alleged womanizing until they divorced in 1975.

In 1977, I was working for the Lufkin Daily News. One afternoon, Sen. Tower walked into the newsroom smiling broadly as he was accompanied by a beautiful blonde woman who appeared to be a few years younger than he was.

Editor Joe Murray, City Editor Keith Allred and several of us reporters sort of gathered in chairs in a semi-circle with Tower and his friend and for several minutes we all just had a friendly chat.

His blonde friend told us she had helped Tower get his life straightened out. She said he had stopped drinking, now was totally committed to her and was focusing on his duties as a U.S. Senator.

I was so glad to hear that. I had had a tremendous admiration for Tower even during his drinking years and had agreed with most of his stands on the issues.

Tower retired from the Senate in 1985. In 1989 President H.W. Bush nominated Tower as Secretary of Defense, but the Senate rejected the nomination. Somehow they seemed unable to get past Tower’s former drinking and alleged womanizing.

About 14 years after Tower had visited the Lufkin Daily News newsroom, he and his middle daughter Marian and astronaut Sonny Carter were among those killed when an Atlantic Southeast Airlines plane crashed on approach for landing in Brunswick, Georgia. This was on April 5, 1991.

It’s sad how so many people, when they think of John Tower, only remember his drinking and womanizing. Instead, we should be remembering all of his great accomplishments which are far too numerous to begin to name in a column like this.

Tower and his daughter Marian are buried in the family plot at Sparkman-Hillcrest Cemetery in Dallas.

Local elections shape us

Fri, 01 May 2026 06:00:00 -0500

City council elections have a way of revealing a community to itself. We are seeing that unfold here in Whitesboro with the current election cycle.

Sometimes local elections inspire, and other times in ways that give us pause.

At their best, these local races showcase what makes small towns and cities work in the first place: people who care enough to step forward.

Unlike national politics, where candidates can feel distant and abstract, city council hopefuls are your neighbors. They’re the ones you see at the grocery store, the ballgame or the school pickup line.

When they run for office, it’s often not for prestige or power, but because they see a pothole that needs fixing— sometimes literally— and believe they can help.

That kind of civic spirit tends to bring out the best in others, too. Residents who might otherwise stay disengaged begin attending meetings, asking thoughtful questions and learning how their local government actually works.

Volunteers organize forums, moderate discussions and encourage respectful dialogue.

For a brief window, there’s a renewed sense that participation matters, that voices can be heard and that the direction of the community is something worth investing in.

You’ll hear good ideas during these election seasons— fresh perspectives on growth, infrastructure, public safety and quality of life.

You’ll also see generosity— candidates thanking one another for running, citizens offering constructive feedback and longtime public servants sharing institutional knowledge with newcomers.

In these moments, democracy feels not just functional, but healthy.

But folks have short memories and elections also have a way of stirring up something less admirable.

Because the stakes feel personal— and at the local level, they often are—disagreements can turn sharp.

A debate over zoning becomes a question of values. A budget discussion morphs into accusations about priorities or integrity.

Social media, in particular, can amplify the worst instincts.

Rumors spread quickly, tone is easily misread and the distance of a screen makes it easier to say things that would never be said face-to-face.

It’s not uncommon to see neighbors who once exchanged pleasantries now avoiding each other over yard signs or candidate preferences.

I’ve seen this all too often and it is gross.

Motives get questioned. Missteps get magnified. And occasionally, the very people willing to serve find themselves discouraged— not by the work ahead, but by the tone of the campaign itself.

That tension is not unique to any one town. It’s part of the messy reality of self-governance.

Still, it raises an important question: what kind of community do we want to be when it matters most?

City council elections are, in many ways, a test— not just of candidates, but of the electorate.

They challenge us to balance conviction with civility, to hold strong opinions without losing sight of shared goals.

After all, once the votes are counted, the yard signs come down, and the winners are sworn in, the community remains.

The same streets, the same schools, the same shared future.

Perhaps the real measure of a successful election isn’t just who wins, but how we conduct ourselves along the way.

Do we listen as much as we speak? Do we assume good intentions before casting doubt?

Do we remember that participation— on all sides— is a sign of a community that cares?

Because in the end, city council elections don’t just shape policy. They shape us.

Knabenshue Performance Horses builds champions, community in Whitesboro

Fri, 01 May 2026 06:00:00 -0500

Among the red dirt of Whitesboro sits a facility that has quickly grown into one of the area’s premier horse training operations. For more than two decades, Knabenshue Performance Horses has combined high-level competition with client connection, creating successful riders.

What began as a leap of faith has turned into a well-known training program.

After getting married, Will and Elizabeth Knabenshue knew it was time to build something of their own. Will, who had already established himself under other respected trainers, knew he was ready to branch out.

The couple purchased their Whitesboro property in 2005 and has since expanded steadily.

Both bring their own experience from the equine industry. Will grew up working with horses in Virginia and moved to Texas after high school to pursue a training career under a well-known trainer. Elizabeth developed her passion after receiving riding lessons as a child following a family transition from Michigan to California.

Their program focuses on all-around performance horses, primarily Quarter Horses. They compete in disciplines such as trail, western riding, horsemanship, equitation, showmanship, performance halter and some hunter under saddle.

Knabenshue Performance Horses has coached multiple champions through local and national competitions.

“Local shows are the backbone of our industry,” Elizabeth said. “It’s important to support them.”

Along with attending the local shows, the couple regularly travels across the United States for larger competitions, which often span over multiple weeks.

The facility typically keeps about 20 horses in training, a size that allows for a more individualized approach.

“Individuality is what sets us apart,” Elizabeth said. “We tailor our program to each horse and rider.”

That approach includes setting daily and long-term goals while also making sure they match horses with riders based on compatibility and skill level.

“We are building a team that can grow together,” she said.

The program serves a range of clients, primarily intermediate to advanced riders, including youth, amateur and select competitors.

Daily operations begin early, with the couple meeting to discuss daily goals, followed by training sessions. The business is run by the Knabenshues along with a small staff, including an assistant ranch hand.

Working with horses presents ongoing challenges, particularly due to their unpredictable nature.

“Every day is different,” Elizabeth said. “You might have everything go as planned, or you might spend the day dealing with something unexpected.”

Elizabeth explains that one of the most common misconceptions about horse training is the expectation of fixed timelines.

“Horses are not machines,” she said. “Each one has its own timeline and learning process.”

Despite this, the program has seen consistent success over the years. Among the recent successes, the couple’s daughter earned major titles at national competitions and has committed to competing on the Texas A&M equestrian team.

The family’s connection to Whitesboro extends beyond the business. Their daughter attends Whitesboro High School while also continuing to be active in the community.

“We’ve been here for 22 years,” Elizabeth said.

Looking ahead, the Knabenshues plan to continue growing their program while maintaining its focus on individualized training.

“Our goals never stop growing,” she said. “We’re always challenging ourselves and our clients to be better.”

In Whitesboro, that commitment has built more than a business.

It’s built a community.

W’boro Fire Chief Steve Pinkston retires after 40-year career of service to others

Fri, 01 May 2026 06:00:00 -0500

An impressive 40-year career will come to an end for Whitesboro Fire Chief Steve Pinkston as the community gathers for a celebratory reception at the Fire Station this Saturday at 2 p.m. For Pinkston, it’ll be a bittersweet event.

Anyone who’s lived in Whitesboro long enough will associate the Pinkston name with the town. After all, the family first settled here nearly 75 years ago and continues to raise generations here today.

Pinkston himself was born in Sherman and raised in Whitesboro. After graduating from Whitesboro High School in 1976, he thought he might explore a career in air traffic control. However, being a federal job, that was a hard career to get into.

In 1984, Pinkston started his own concrete business, which he would continue for 16 years. But the following year, while making a stop at the local post office to mail a letter, he struck up a conversation with postal worker Ronnie Jack, who also worked with the Whitesboro Fire Department (WFD).

Jack asked if Pinkston had ever considered volunteering with the department (which Pinkston hadn’t) and Jack asked if he could put Pinkston’s name in for upcoming elections. With nearly zero turnover at the department, Pinkston figured his chances were slim and agreed.

Imagine his surprise when Jack called him just three weeks later to tell him he was on the department! Pinkston began volunteering in March 1985 and started educating himself. He obtained certifications and took officer development and reserve classes. Eventually, he even began teaching summer classes for TECS (Training, Equipment, Consultant Specialist) Fire and Safety, something he did for a decade.

It didn’t take him long to realize that people are truly “chosen” for this job.

“We see things that other people only see in war,” Pinkston said. “Not everyone can handle it. It’s not for everyone. You really have to be chosen.”

Pinkston was among the chosen, as he volunteered with the WFD for 25 years. Throughout his career, he also worked as a firefighter at the Grayson County Airport for 10 years and for L3 Communications for six years. He ran an ambulance for Rural Metro and worked in wild land firefighting, controlling burns on federal land. He’d been gone from Whitesboro for 10 years and was eight months into serving as the Southmayd Fire Chief when the City of Whitesboro called in 2019 to offer him the role of Fire Chief of the WFD.

After discussing it with his wife Terri, the first call he made was to colleague Jeff Patterson, with whom he had previously worked at the WFD and was currently working as a firefighter in Addison.

“I called him to ask if he’d come to Whitesboro to help me,” Pinkston said. “He didn’t hesitate. He came on part-time, I named him Assistant Chief and he’s been here with me ever since.”

While Pinkston has loved his career in Whitesboro, working in his hometown has been tough.

“When you show up to a medical emergency for someone you know, it has its goods and bads,” Pinkston said. “On the one hand, you bring calm to chaos. When people in need see you and know you, they can feel relieved that you’re there to help.

“But it’s also difficult to arrive on a scene and realize someone you care about is having a medical emergency. I’ve transported my own mom and dad both to the ER,” Pinkston said. “That was really tough.”

In looking back over his career with Whitesboro, Pinkston has seen a lot of changes in the industry. From advances (and expense) in equipment to the structure of today’s command system, the thing that stands out to him most is seeing how the WFD has grown from what it used to be.

“I never thought I’d see paid firefighters in my days of working here,” he said. “We’ve had good support from the city and our citizens. It’s been fun to watch the department and the city grow.”

Pinkston has enjoyed seeing the community connection develop between citizens and the department. The WFD offers Fire Station tours to the public and leads fire prevention classes. The mutual respect doesn’t end at the city limits.

“Our department is sort of looked at as the big brothers of Western Grayson County,” he said. “Other departments look at what we do, how we train. They see that we have the equipment and the manpower to come help when needed. I’m proud of that.”

In looking toward his retirement, Pinkston remembers the 10 years he was gone from Whitesboro in the 2010s. The thing he missed most then, and what he will miss most now, will be the men and women of the department that he’s come to see as his family.

“It really is a brotherhood,” he said.

Even though Pinkston is retiring, he still plans to maintain his certifications so that he can fill in part-time as needed. In addition to spending more time with his wife, kids and grandkids and traveling to his family’s cabin in New Mexico for longer get-aways, Pinkston plans to devote more time to his latest hobby – restoring a 1956 Ford F600 fire truck that, according to its original title, was purchased new and used to operate in Whitesboro.

The truck was sold years ago and eventually donated back to the fire department by Les Roberts, a City of Whitesboro retiree, who purchased it for $312 in 1999.

“I ran fires on it in the mid-1980s,” Pinkston said. “It’s a piece of history for Whitesboro and for the department. I want to keep the history of this fire department alive, try to keep that going. I want to restore it and make it a parade truck.”

Pinkston’s last day as the WFD Fire Chief will be May 1, and he’ll leave behind big shoes to fill. But it seems Director of Public Safety Jeff Patterson will absorb Pinkston’s duties.

“Years ago, I was given great advice: surround yourself with good people and success will come,” Pinkston said. “That’s what I’ve done here. I’m leaving the department in great hands.”

This has proven to be true, especially over the past few years.

“I was nervous when we took over the ambulance service a few years ago, but it’s been very successful,” Pinkston said. “Between Jeff (Patterson) and Stephen Wilcox, it took having the right people in the right place.”

Throughout his career, Pinkston has experienced highs (cutting the umbilical cord on a freshly-delivered baby at the Whitesboro Allsup’s) and lows (realizing the heartbreaking impact from a firefighter’s perspective while watching the televised events unfold during 9/11). But if he had it all to do over again, he wouldn’t change anything.

“I’ve really enjoyed doing this,” Pinkston said of his role as Whitesboro Fire Chief. “It’s been trying at times, but it’s been one of the best jobs I’ve ever had.”

Southmayd Police Chief named City Administrator

Fri, 01 May 2026 06:00:00 -0500

Two years after being sworn-in as Police Chief of the City of Southmayd, Jeff Laughlin has expanded his title to include City Administrator for the community he serves.

At a special-called meeting on April 2, the City Council approved the decision to hire Laughlin as City Administrator and set Laughlin’s official start date as April 21. Laughlin will continue to serve as Police Chief.

“With a growing city comes the need for additional assistance,” Laughlin said. “The mayor does an excellent job keeping up with everything, but as we grow, things arise.”
Southmayd has not previously had a City Administrator – most of the city’s oversight has been done by the mayor and City Council. But as Laughlin pointed out, a council that changes every year can lead to inconsistencies. By having a City Administrator, employees have a constant they can rely on.

Hiring one person to take on the roles of Police Chief and City Administrator is not only more cost-efficient, but it also makes logistical sense.

“As Police Chief, I’m the guy that’s here every day,” Laughlin said. “I’m the guy in the office, so I’m already fielding the phone calls from citizens and doing more than the role of a police chief. The City Council felt Southmayd was in need of a City Administrator, and I agreed. I just didn’t know they were considering me.”

But as some in the police department pointed out, Laughlin is a great choice for the position. Primarily, he has experience in leading and management. Not only did he spend nine years as a leader in the United States Marine Corps, but he also served 20 years in the Denton Police Department leading in several roles before moving over to Southmayd in 2024. Asking him to step in as City Administrator made sense.

“People recognize I’m invested in the city,” Laughlin said. “I relocated here, built a house here, attend all the meetings and care about who our City Council candidates are. I’m already an established leader in town – I’m just taking on some more responsibilities.”

As Police Chief, Laughlin’s focus has been building the police department to the standards he felt it needed to be, including the department’s core values, image, direction and earning respect throughout the county. He’s also proud that the department has attracted and brought in the right people to serve the community.

“For a small agency, we have a ton of experience, which is excellent news for our citizens,” he said of the police department.
In his new role, Laughlin will continue to office at the Police Department Monday through Friday. While he will still focus on the police department, he will also assist the mayor in city operations and be another set of eyes on the day-to-day running of the city. He will oversee city employees and serve as the go-between among the city’s departments.

“Decisions will still go through the mayor and City Council, as they should, but I’ll be following up on all the great things passed at City Hall,” Laughlin said. “The Council meets once a month. I’m here every day.”

Laughlin realizes his roles demand long hours that keep him at work until the job is done. However, he doesn’t see what he does as a job, but rather as a career and calling.

“Between the military, police and the community, I’ve lived a life of service,” he said. “I love being a person that’s involved, always thinking about what we could do better.”

Among his first goals in his new role is to meet with all the city employees and learn what could be done better, from work schedules to what they wear. But his first few days on the job have been spent assessing the water situation in town. He is helping the city explore a grant for water infrastructure as well as a comprehensive plan for the city that would help guide the city’s next moves. It’s a lot to learn, but Laughlin is looking forward to being able to further help his community.

“The mayor and City Council have been doing a great job leading our city,” he said. “I’m excited to maintain the relationships they’ve built and to keep us moving forward.”

Election Day for local seats this Saturday, May 2

Fri, 01 May 2026 06:00:00 -0500

Early voting for local city council and school board elections started last Monday, April 20 and concluded Tuesday, April 28 at 7 p.m. Citizens’ final opportunity to vote is Saturday, May 2 from 7 a.m.-7 p.m.

In our area, elections are being held for Whitesboro City Council, Southmayd City Council and the Collinsville Independent School District.

The City of Whitesboro has 10 candidates for three open seats.

The City of Southmayd has five candidates vying for three alderman seats.

In each of those elections, the top three vote-getters will earn those spots.

In Collinsville ISD, Place 1 is the only contested seat on the ballot. Incumbent Matt Weaver is being challenged by Derek Kays.

On Saturday, area polling places include Whitesboro City Hall, Southmayd Community Center and Collinsville Community Center.

Results should be available later that same night.

For sample ballots, voting details and more information, visit https://www.co.grayson.tx.us/

From the Publisher

Fri, 24 Apr 2026 06:00:00 -0500

A recent Los Angeles Times opinion piece argues Americans have fundamentally misread the “pursuit of happiness” envisioned by Thomas Jefferson.

Today, happiness is often defined as personal achievement. Folks frame happiness as wealth, success and individual fulfillment.

But our modern, self-centered approach isn’t just incomplete. It might be making people more isolated and unhappy.

The Times describes this mindset as a cultural inheritance of individualism and consumerism, though the writer calls this an outdated model of happiness.

Research shows that people who chase happiness as a personal goal are more likely to experience loneliness and depression, undercutting the very thing they seek.

Jefferson’s original idea was different.

Rooted in Enlightenment thinking, the “pursuit of happiness” was tied to virtue, community and the common good.

He was not preoccupied with private gain. In that sense, happiness was something built through relationships, generosity and service to others.

The takeaway is stark.

In that sense, it seems many of us haven’t lost happiness so much as we’ve misunderstood it.

By prioritizing self over community, the country has drifted away from a more sustainable model.

We need to get back to Jefferson’s intentions— one where fulfillment comes not from what we achieve alone, but from how we contribute to others.

International trends on happiness are interesting too.

Nordic countries top the rankings in terms of happiness.

Surveys say Finland is the happiest country in the world.

They are followed by Iceland, Denmark and Costa Rica— which has record high happiness levels for Latin America.

Overall, according to research, more countries have gained happiness since 2006–2010 than lost it.

This is especially true in Central and Eastern Europe.

The declines are concentrated near conflict zones, but most Western nations report lower happiness than in the late 2000s.

Youth trends are troubling.

The United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand rank near the bottom for under-25 wellbeing.

While young people globally often report higher life satisfaction than older adults, that pattern has reversed in these countries and Western Europe.

What’s going on? Could social media be a factor?

Data from Programme for International Student Assessment shows moderate internet use—especially for communication, learning and content creation— correlates with higher life satisfaction.

But heavy use— namely social media and gaming— correlates with lower wellbeing.

Studies show that platform type also matters.

Connection-driven use tends to help, while algorithm-driven content may harm at high levels

Still, context is key. Strong school belonging has a far greater impact on wellbeing than reduced social media use.

This suggests that social connection— not screen time alone— should guide policy.

So, research shows us that stronger social connections lend to greater happiness. Those who replace those connections with algorithm driven content activity (doom scrolling, etc.), report more loneliness and higher isolation.

Social connections are built by focusing on community, so maybe Jefferson was right. Perhaps his directive to chase virtue and build community is as needed now as ever.

At the end of the day, Jefferson’s philosophy has been steadily diluted into something far narrower than he intended.

The phrase itself sits at the heart of the Declaration’s most famous passage.

“We hold these truths to be self-evident…” followed by the assertion that governments exist “to secure these rights.” That last clause is critical.

Jefferson’s point was not that happiness is guaranteed, but that the conditions for pursuing a meaningful life must be protected from tyranny.

Modern interpretations flatten “the pursuit of happiness” into a defense of personal pleasure, wealth accumulation or individual preference.

But, again, that misses the point.

Drawing heavily from John Locke, Jefferson adapted Locke’s triad of “life, liberty and property” into something broader.

The shift from “property” to “happiness” was not a rejection of material well-being, but an expansion of it.

This is where he implored us to expand toward a vision of human flourishing that included virtue, civic duty and the common good— community.

In the 18th-century context, “happiness” did not mean comfort or entertainment.

It meant what philosophers from Aristotle to Locke described as a life of “purpose and moral action.”

Scholars attest that Jefferson’s “pursuit of happiness” referred to the ability to “flourish through the exercise of one’s talents” and contribute to society.

In other words, it was as much about responsibility as it was about freedom.

Equally misunderstood is the word “pursuit.”

Jefferson did not promise happiness itself— only the right to seek it.

That distinction also matters.

The Declaration establishes limits on government, not entitlements to outcomes.

It assumes that individuals, operating within a just society, will pursue lives of meaning— not merely satisfaction.

Over time, however, cultural and political shifts have reframed this ideal.

In a consumer-driven society, “happiness” is often equated with acquisition.

If anything, Jefferson’s phrase demands more of us than modern interpretations suggest.

It calls for a society where individuals are free not just to seek pleasure, but to pursue purpose; not just to live freely, but to live well.

The misinterpretation lies not in expanding the meaning of happiness, but in shrinking it.

Socrates hit on this when he said, “The secret of happiness, you see, is not found in seeking more, but in developing the capacity to enjoy less”

Happiness, obviously, means wildly different things to different people. And our own perception of it can vary depending on where we’re at in our lives.

It can be a tricky thing to unpack, but it behooves us to remember Jefferson as we try to define our own happiness.

It has been 250 years since he wrote his famous words. All that time later, virtue, civic duty and the common good should not be out of style.

Whitesboro City Council okays routine business, makes progress on water tower project

Fri, 24 Apr 2026 06:00:00 -0500

The Whitesboro City Council moved through a full agenda during its April 14 meeting, approving all listed action items, including routine financial matters, infrastructure updates and several ordinance changes affecting utility services.

Council members began by unanimously approving the consent agenda, which included minutes from recent meetings and payment of March bills.

Among the key financial items, the council approved two pay requests from Performance Services totaling $245,401.25, tied to ongoing work at the new water tower.

Updates were also provided on major projects, including the city’s water tower and a 16-inch water line, both of which remain in progress.

Work was commenced on the water line that will tie the new tower into the city with trenching planned west on Main Street towards the tower.

Several ordinance amendments were adopted that will impact utility customers.

Council approved updates to city code related to required deposits for utility and electrical services, as well as adjustments to the water rate fee schedule.

Another ordinance addressed penalties associated with unauthorized activation or deactivation of water service at the meter, reinforcing compliance measures.

In other action, the council approved a resolution supporting the Whitesboro Chamber’s “Miles for Mom” event.

Council approved the temporary closure of a portion of State Highway 56 along the 100 block of East Main Street to accommodate the inaugural fun run and concert on May 9.

Read next week’s edition of the News-Record for more information about the event.

Also last week, appointments to local boards were addressed.

Council members approving selections for both the library board and the preservation board.

Susan Vardell Cox was named to the Library Board and Brian Parish was named to the Preservation Board.

C’ville EDC explores downtown renovation, reimbursement grants

Fri, 24 Apr 2026 06:00:00 -0500

Collinsville Economic Development board president Joseph Cartwright presented two proposals at Monday’s City Council meeting that would provide financial help for downtown businesses.

The first was an Economic Development Corporation (EDC) Type B project that would award a Downtown Renovation Grant to Manuelito’s. The owners of the restaurant formerly located in downtown Collinsville is reimagining a new concept for that space, a high-end bar and restaurant.

The grant would allow EDC to use sales and use tax proceeds to fund eligible costs and expenses to promote new or expanded business development. In the instance of the new restaurant, the grant would equal $10,000.

The business owners, Cartwright explained, had already invested $30,000-$35,000 into building renovations and that the $10,000 would help with a kitchen renovation and roofing repairs.

In a public hearing and ensuing discussions, the City Council was open to the idea but wanted to see some edits to the EDC’s grant policy. Namely, enforcement of repayment in the event a grant recipient goes out of business. The grant approval was tabled to allow EDC to make the requested amendments to the policy.

The second proposal was for a Downtown Renovation Grant for the building owner of the Collinsville Deli in the amount of $25,000. This grant would be more like a reimbursement grant to help the building owner recoup some of the costs of renovation (nearly $75,000 in total) that were needed to open the business back in December.

Cartwright further explained that these Downtown Renovation Grants apply to existing downtown structures, not new builds or décor. The intent is to put some money back into the town’s older buildings to ensure they are viable and help serve a thriving downtown.

“Our downtown is the jewel of our city,” Cartwright said.

During the public hearing and discussion of this grant approval, it was realized that an incorrect application had been submitted to the council.

As a result, they tabled the decision to allow EDC to share the correct application as well as provide receipts from the applicant and financial records from the EDC.

The Downtown Renovation Grant process is fairly new to EDC and City Council. Both parties agreed it was best to ensure they were fine-tuning the details now to set a precedent for projects in the future. Both grants will be revisited at next month’s City Council meeting.

Local veteran named Texoma Hero

Fri, 24 Apr 2026 06:00:00 -0500

At a ceremony held at the VFW Post 2772 in Sherman on March 27, local Marine Corps veteran Michael Farmer was recognized as the Texoma Hero for March.

Founded in 2015, the Texoma Hero Program recognizes local veterans for their military service and community contributions. On the last Friday of each month, individuals are awarded an American flag at a ceremony in Sherman.

Farmer was barely 17 years old when he signed up to join the Marines, foregoing his high school graduation and choosing a career of service, instead. Immediately thrust into Vietnam, he learned quickly what combat can do to a teenage boy and to a country.

It was a tumultuous time in our nation’s history, with Americans split on how they felt about the war. As a result, many troops didn’t get the warm welcome home they deserved.

“In 1969, there were protesters when we landed in El Toro,” Farmer said. “They put us in a hangar and busted us out late at night in unmarked buses. I didn’t let it bother me; I had ambitions and things I wanted to do. I adapted thanks to the people around me — my commanders, my friends — they all led me through it.”

After leaving the Marines, Farmer enjoyed a successful career as a truck driver and in law enforcement. That path ultimately led him to Whitesboro, where he lives near his family and continues to contribute to local veterans’ groups across Texas.

He currently serves as the Sergeant at Arms and board member of the Veterans Association of Whitesboro, a nonprofit who focuses on providing resources and camaraderie to area veterans. The group meets monthly and welcomes veterans and community members to gather, visit, play cards or just get out of the house for a few hours. It’s a role Farmer is honored to have.

“It’s our duty,” he said. “We wouldn’t be a nation without every one of these people that are around me right now.”

WFD Fire Chief Pinkston to retire

Fri, 24 Apr 2026 06:00:00 -0500

An illustrious career will come to an end for Whitesboro Fire Chief Steve Pinkston when he retires next month.

Friends, family and community members are invited to attend a retirement celebration on Saturday, May 2 at 2 p.m.

The event will be held at the Whitesboro Fire Station (206 West Main Street) and will be an opportunity for all to celebrate a career of service with remarks and refreshments.

Watch for a full story about Chief Pinkston’s career to appear in next week’s issue of the News-Record.

Early voting continues

Fri, 24 Apr 2026 06:00:00 -0500

Early voting for local city council and school board elections started Monday and will continue into the coming week.

In our area, elections are being held for Whitesboro City Council, Southmayd City Council and the Collinsville Independent School District.

The City of Whitesboro has 10 candidates for three open seats.

The City of Southmayd has five candidates vying for three alderman seats

And in Collinsville ISD, Place 1 is the only contested seat on the ballot.

Early voting for all of these elections will take place on the following dates:

Monday, April 20 – 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Wednesday, April 22 – Friday, April 24 - 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Monday, April 27-Tuesday, April 28 – 7 a.m.-7 p.m.

Election day is Saturday, May 2 from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Area polling places include Whitesboro City Hall, Southmayd Community Center and Collinsville Community Center.

For more information visit https://www.co.grayson.tx.us/

Letter to the Editor

Fri, 24 Apr 2026 06:00:00 -0500

On Friday, April 17, I got a text from my 77-year-old neighbor, Sharon. She was tired of looking across the street and seeing the yard of my other neighbor that resembled a jungle.

She was in the process of going over and clearing the area so people could access the sidewalk, and I couldn’t let her do it alone.

At 87 years old, I joined her.

Although the City of Whitesboro had received the complaint about two weeks prior, nothing was getting done, so us two old ladies worked and cleared the area ourselves, all the way from the street to the residence property.

After going back into my home, a young fellow knocked on my door and asked me about the house and yard next door.

He said nobody answered the door, and then proceeded to start cutting down the front trees and bushes that hide the front of the house. He said it looked like it needed help.

No one had called him. He just saw the need. You don’t find too many like that nowadays.

Sharon and I talked to him and learned he’s a Whitesboro High School student named Ryder Russell.

He worked ‘til it was dark and the whole easement was covered with shrubs and trees. Give honor to whom it’s due, the Bible states. Thank you, Ryder. God’s going to bless you.

Meanwhile, Whitesboro and TxDOT...who is responsible for the easement property from the sidewalk down to the street for the homes on Union Street? The City needs to hire a blight officer to take care of the ordinances that aren’t followed. City Inspector Dalton Fallaw was not hired for that portfolio.

Gloria Ayers
Whitesboro, Texas

The Armchair Cynic

Fri, 24 Apr 2026 06:00:00 -0500

Disclaimer: the topic of this piece excludes school systems in smaller towns and more rural communities. The research and opinion is based on national statistics and commentary on online platforms.

As a former English teacher in both middle and high school, I frequently find myself missing the 15 years I spent in the classroom, starting in the dark ages of the 1960s.

A lot of things have changed since then, but according to what I see and hear now, teaching in public schools is still the most valuable (and also one of the most underpaid) professions in existence.

In my own school days, I was a fair to middling student, but as a teacher I had to learn more and read more than I ever did as a student. The year I was moved to 11th grade and the “research paper” was part of the curriculum, I really had to buckle down on the reading part, because the list of approved books was huge, three pages of more than a hundred classic books.

I whittled the list down to 30 titles for my classes to pick from, but even so, I had to read a bunch of books I’d never read before so I could help students structure a paper around their topic. Fortunately, I’m a fast reader when I have to be.

Even today, I prefer to hold an actual book and turn a paper page, but I grudgingly admit I’m glad to find a Kindle version of a book I want to read. I’m guessing most of us have gravitated to reading what we see on smartphones, laptops and iPads. It’s literally a different world now; most general reading (outside of this newspaper, haha) comes from scrolling around online platforms.

Regardless of method of delivery, a shockingly common theme on headlines and thumbnails from podcasters is that a specific group of school age kids, Generation “A” (born from 2010 to recent years) can’t read.

“Can’t read” is all over the place, not something you have to look for in a footnote. “Can’t read” and of course “can’t write” are everywhere, common enough to be annoying and frightening at the same time. After I first noticed it, I began to listen more closely, read through the transcripts when I’m too impatient to watch and listen, and cross-reference to other channels on this subject.

“Can’t read and can’t write” explained online by teachers (and increasingly by “resigning teachers”) can mean something as simple as having trouble with similar sounding words, needing extra time. Students underperforming at statistical grade level isn’t new, but what so many are describing now equates to whole new levels of “Below Basic” reading comprehension and general literacy, backed by numerous data-gathering groups such as the National Assessment of Educational Progress.

Attention spans—fewer than 15 seconds for secondary students and under four seconds for younger grades—are a big part of the research. Studies now indicate children and teens are able to comprehend information only shown in short, cartoonish hits and flashing memes, and don’t understand themes contained in words, sentences or paragraphs.

Upcoming students seem to have lost the ability to learn with continuity of the printed word. Large groups tested at fourth grade showed 40% reading at grade level; the same groups followed to eighth grade had decreased their reading comprehension to just one-third.

Outside of statistics, online videos of teachers giving examples of what they see in class were startling to me. Geographical locations were seldom mentioned but the years of teaching spans from relatively new teachers to those who had been teaching for decades. What was interesting about the older teachers was that they had seen the point that reading ability began to decline. Not surprisingly the turning point coincided with the introduction of computers, and especially with cell phones, available to the general public.

And teachers are quitting, some deciding to leave after just a few years and some defeated enough to resign or retire early after a sizably lengthy career, the older teachers marking observations of a downward slide beginning with a plateau in the 1990s.

To be fair, part of the decisions to leave the profession did coincide with student behaviors, inability to interact socially with others in a polite manner, refusal to follow any degree of scheduling or instructions, but by far the most impactful disappointments were from not being able to help kids improve.

What can help? Not a simple thing to explore, but obviously no one is going to put away their tech devices. Our local community library is offering everything available with a full calendar of popular activities for all ages, but especially for kids.

A consensus of all experts is “Reading Aloud” to the youngest kids, and at Collinsville Community Library every Friday at 11 a.m. “Story Time” is always full.

Texas Rural Reporter

Fri, 24 Apr 2026 06:00:00 -0500

I spent some time on the road again this week, driving across Texas down HWY 287 — watching the land change, passing through small towns and thinking about the people who make this state what it is.

And somewhere between one county line and the next, three questions kept coming back to me.

First—do we matter?

Do rural communities matter to the people at the top who run Texas? Or are we mostly seen as places that produce things—fuel, food, fiber, water, wind —and not places full of people whose lives and futures deserve just as much attention?

Are we part of the vision for Texas… or are we just part of the math?

Because if we’re honest, it can feel like supporting rural Texas makes for a good sound bite when it’s time to talk about values and votes—but not always when it’s time to make decisions that shape our future. We deliver elections. We anchor the identity of this state.

But too often, policy seems to drift toward the more urban places where there are more people, and leaving the folks who live in rural Texas out of the conversation.

And that brings me to the second thing I’ve been thinking about—the change in the political class in Texas.

I gave a speech this week to a group of newspaper editors and discussed how elected officials have lost their independence because they have become less connected to the communities they represent.

You see Texas leadership used to be built from the ground up.

People served on school boards, city councils, hospital districts. They learned how government actually works—how budgets balance (or don’t), how roads get fixed, how hard decisions get made.

That was the training ground.

But more and more, we’re seeing candidates who are recruited, backed, and funded—sometimes by people far removed from the communities they’re running to represent.

Campaigns are built on glossy mail pieces and messaging that doesn’t always tell the full truth. And voters are left trying to sort through it all without the kind of local context that used to come naturally.

So it’s fair to ask—is that part of why people feel disconnected from government right now?

When leadership isn’t rooted in real communities, it’s harder to govern in a way that reflects them.

And that leads me to the third thing I kept coming back to on that drive—something a little closer to home.

Local newspapers.

You may be reading this in your local newspaper right now.

In a world where information moves fast and not always based in truth, local newspapers are still one of the few places where the goal is simple: get it right, because it matters here.

Local editors don’t just cover a community—they live in it. They see the same streets, know the same people, and understand the weight of getting a story wrong. They’re not chasing clicks. They’re trying to tell the truth about a place they care deeply about.

That matters more than ever.

And so do you—the readers who still pick up a paper, who still want to know what’s really going on, who still believe that local communities are worth paying attention to.

Because they are.

Rural Texas isn’t just a backdrop. It isn’t just a resource. And it isn’t just a voting bloc.

We are people. We are families. We are communities that have shaped this state for generations.

The question is whether we’re going to keep insisting that Texas leadership see it that way too.

And from where I was sitting this week—somewhere between here and the next town over—I’d say that conversation is just getting started.

Suzanne Bellsnyder is editor and publisher of the Hansford County Reporter-Statesman and Sherman County Gazette. A former Capitol staffer with decades of experience in Texas politics and policy, she now focuses on how state decisions shape rural life through her newspapers, including the Texas Rural Reporter. Subscribe at www.TexasRuralReporter.Substack.com

Whitesboro PARD announces summer pool programs for 2026

Fri, 24 Apr 2026 06:00:00 -0500

The Whitesboro Parks and Recreation Department (PARD) has announced plans for the 2026 Community Swimming Pool Programs. The pool will open to the public for its 46th annual Splash Day on Saturday, May 23. On that day everyone will be admitted to the pool for free! Hours of operation on Splash Day will be 1-6 p.m.

The normal hours of operation will be as follows: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, 1–6 p.m.; Wednesday, 2–6 p.m.; Sunday, 1–5 p.m. On Tuesday evenings the pool is open to families from 6–8 p.m.

The pool is located at 400 Wilson Street next to the Whitesboro Community Center. The phone number for the pool during the swim season is 903-564-3039.

Admissions fees are as follows: Children ages 2 and younger—free; ages 3 and older--$3. Season passes are available. An individual pass is $75 for Whitesboro residents and $100 for non-residents; a family pass for a family of four is $150 for Whitesboro residents and $200 for a family that lives outside the Whitesboro city limits. Additional family members may be added for $10 per person. (Family members must live in the same household.) Residency may be established by providing a copy of a recent utility bill.

Swim lessons are available at a cost of $50 per two-week session. Children must be 4 years old to take group swim lessons. Private swim lessons are available; check with the pool office after May 26 for details. The PARD will began registering students for group swim lessons on May 1. The schedule for public lessons is as follows:

SESSION 1 June 8-18
9-9:45 a.m.: Level 1, Level 3, Level 4
10-10:45 a.m.: Level 1, Level 2, Level 5
11-11:45 a.m.: Pre-school, Level 2, Level 3
5:30-6:15 a.m.: Level 1, Level 2, Level 3, Level 4

SESSION 2 June 22-July 2
9-9:45 a.m.: Pre-school, Level 2, Level 4
10-10:45 a.m.: Level 1, Level 3, Level 6
11-11:45 a.m.: Pre-school, Level 2, Level 3

SESSION 3 July 6-16
9-9:45 a.m.: Level 1, Level 2/3, Level 5
10-10:45 a.m.: Pre-school, Level 2, Level 3/4
11-11:45 a.m.: Level 1, Level 3, Level 4

SESSION 4 July 20-30
9-9:45 a.m.: Level 1, Level 2, Level 3/4
10-10:45 a.m.: Pre-school, Level 3, Level 5/6
11-11:45 a.m.: Level 2, Level 4, Parent & Child

The pool schedule includes a variety of special activities with something for everyone!

Tuesday Family Swim is an opportunity for families only to swim from 6-8 p.m. Regular fees apply.

Water Aerobics classes are $4 per person per class or $40 per month. The Ladies’ Shallow Water Class will meet on Mon./Thurs., 6:30-7:30 p.m.; the Co-ed Deep Water Class will meet on Mon./Thurs., 7:30-8:30 p.m.; and the Morning Class will meet on Mon./Wed./Fri., 7:45-8:45 a.m. Classes will begin on June 1.

Lap swimming is available for swimmers 13 years and older who wish to swim for exercise from 12-12:50 p.m., Monday through Thursday. The cost is $3 and begins on June 1.

Tiny Tot Swim Time will be held on Thursdays from 12-12:50 p.m. This is a time for preschoolers and moms to use the pool. The normal fees will apply. This program begins on June 4.

Ladies’ Day will be on Wednesdays from 12-1 p.m., beginning June 3. This will be a time for ladies only, ages 18 and older. Cost is $3.

Father’s Day will be special at the Whitesboro Swimming Pool, as dads will be admitted for free when accompanied by their child. This will be on Sunday, June 15.

There will be a Back to School Beach Bash for Middle School students going into grades 6, 7 or 8 only. This Hawaiian-themed pool party for them will include music, swimming, games, snacks and fun for $3 per person. The Mixer is planned for Friday, Aug. 7 from 6-8 p.m.

Several new programs are also being planned for the 2026 summer.

Lap Swim 101 will be held on June 1 at noon. This class will include the basics of swim strokes, gear, lap etiquette and training tips. There is no fee for the class, other than the admission fee for lap swim.

Wave Club is an opportunity to join the lap swim community. Members can share workouts, compete and track progress. They can earn prizes while exercising.

Drop-In Drills is a free hour of specific swim skill instruction for children ages 4 years and older. Registration will be required for each of the two sessions on Saturdays, June 6 and 13 from 12-1 p.m. Skills include bobbing, floating, front crawl, breaststroke and treading water. Participation will be limited, and registration will be available through the online platform, Whitesboro.recdesk.com.

Sensory Splash is an opportunity for neurodivergent individuals to enjoy the pool for an hour of fun. These special times set aside for Sensory Splash will be 11 a.m.-noon on the following Fridays: June 5, June 19, July 10, July 24. Normal fees apply, and a guardian must remain on the pool grounds with participants.

Picnic at the Pool will be held on two Tuesday Family Swim Nights. Sonic will co-sponsor these two special events for brown bag dinner on the deck on June 14 and July 21.

The pool is available for rentals on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 6:30-8:30 p.m., and Sundays from 5:30-7:30 p.m. The cost is $200 for residents and $250 for non-residents. This fee is for fewer than 65 swimmers; additional fees will apply for more than 65 swimmers. The rental fee includes lifeguards. Reservations may be made online at Whitesboro.recdesk.com on or after May 1. Payment is required in full to book a rental.

No regular diapers are allowed in the pool—only “Little Swimmers.” Private swim lessons are available. Please see pool office for details after May 26 or check the Swimming Pool page of the department’s website for a QR code to sign up.

Ten minutes each hour of public swim is set aside for a safety break for ages 15 and under. Children under 8 MUST be accompanied by an adult within arms’ reach at all times who will watch and be responsible for the child.

Information regarding all of the PARD’s programs is available by visiting the website at www.whitesboro.org/pard. Those interested may also call the PARD offices at 903-564-5964.

WPD Arrests

Fri, 24 Apr 2026 06:00:00 -0500

April 17
At 12:19 a.m., Haley Nicole York, 27, of Nocona, Texas, was arrested at 1000 Hwy. 82 in Whitesboro on charges of driving while intoxicated with a child under 15 years of age and abandoning and endangering a child.

April 18
At 12:10 p.m., Harlan Eugene Smith, 33, of Whitesboro, was arrested at 201 W Main Street on charges of driving while intoxicated.

Sherman woman elected into Phi Kappa Phi honor society

Fri, 24 Apr 2026 06:00:00 -0500

Jennifer Graves of Sherman was recently elected to membership into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation’s oldest and most selective all-discipline collegiate honor society, at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center.

Graves is among approximately 20,000 students, faculty, professional staff and alumni to be initiated into Phi Kappa Phi each year. Membership is by invitation only and requires nomination and approval by a chapter. Only the top 10 percent of seniors and 7.5 percent of juniors are eligible for membership. Graduate students in the top 10 percent of the number of candidates for graduate degrees may also qualify, as do faculty, professional staff and alumni who have achieved scholarly distinction.

Phi Kappa Phi was founded in 1897 under the leadership of undergraduate student Marcus L. Urann who had a desire to create a different kind of honor society: one that recognized excellence in all academic disciplines. Today, the Society has chapters on more than 300 campuses in the United States and its territories. Its mission is to “cultivate a community that celebrates and advances the love of learning.”