Latest articles - Whitesboro News-Record

Free hummingbird workshop for kids at Hagerman NWR

Fri, 19 Jun 2026 06:00:00 -0500

This Saturday, June 20, at 10 a.m., kids ages 5-10 can participate in a free Refuge Rocks program at Hagerman Natural Wildlife Refuge (NWR). This month’s program entitled “What’s the Buzz About Hummingbirds?” will teach children about the amazing world of one of nature’s tiniest — and busiest — birds.

Young nature lovers will flutter into the fascinating lives of hummingbirds through a mini lesson, hands-on activity and fun craft as they learn how these tiny birds hover, zoom, migrate and help pollinate flowers. Kids will discover what makes hummingbirds so unique while enjoying an engaging morning of nature exploration and creativity.

Refuge Rocks is a monthly youth nature program designed to spark curiosity and encourage children to connect with the natural world through fun, interactive learning experiences.

Although the event is free, registration is encouraged. Visit www.friendsofhagerman.com

Cheshire sworn-in as Collinsville Police Chief

Fri, 19 Jun 2026 06:00:00 -0500

Collinsville Police Lt. Jon Cheshire was sworn-in as the official Police Chief at Monday’s City Council meeting. Cheshire has been serving as Interim Police Chief since March 5 when then-Chief Jeff Ashabranner tendered his resignation to the City Council after accepting a Chief’s position at Bartonville.

Cheshire is a veteran police officer. Of his 20 total years of service, 15 of those have been spent with the Collinsville Police Department. He is a 2001 graduate of Collinsville High School.

Also discussed during the meeting was an update on the city’s ongoing water well project. Clint Bissett of the Westwood engineering firm explained that the firm is bidding the project as three separate pieces. First is the water lines, which will also provide water to the work site and save money in the long run. This is expected to go out for bid in July.

Second is the water well, which will be drilled 1,700 feet into the ground. The firm is waiting on hydrogeologic reports (studying the distribution and movement of groundwater in the soil) to be finalized, but bids are expected to be advertised in September.

Third is “everything else” – fencing, ground storage tanks, etc, which will be sent out for bid once the rest of the project is about halfway done for proper timing of overall project completion (likely November or December, but possibly January to get past the holiday season).

The plan is for the water well to be producing during the ‘26/’27 budget cycle.

The Council also approved Ordinance 905-2026 which is an update to the International Fire Code They moved to the 2024 International Fire Code, meeting the goal of remaining two years behind. The city haf been using the 2018 Fire Code.

The Council also approved Julie Carney as a Park Association Board Member.

In department reports, Betty Graham with Keep Collinsville Beautiful (KCB) informed the room that KCB has put up about 45 American flags around town to fly from Flag Day through the 4th of July. The gazebo will also be decorated for the upcoming July 4th holiday.

KCB will hold its annual ice cream social on July 9, which will be an opportunity for the organization to give a state-of-the-union and welcome guests to learn more about KCB.

Graham has notified business owners about the upcoming TxDOT sidewalk project, and she confirmed with Council that the city will take over the mowing and weeding in the downtown square and fire station. They’re still looking for a solution for help with maintaining public flower beds.

The Chamber of Commerce is preparing for its Sept. 19 Pioneer Day, which will feature all of the fun events and activities that people look forward to. The Southern Cross Car Club will manage the car show, with proceeds benefiting the Grayson County Children’s Advocacy Center. Looking ahead, the Chamber is also exploring options for purchasing a new city Christmas tree, as the current tree is about nine or 10 years old and is ready for a replacement.

Things are “rockin’ and rollin’ at the Collinsville Library” according to Library Board President Kelly Smith. May’s gate count was 266, June’s is looking like it will reach 400 and July is anticipating a record-setting number of visitors. The Summer Reading Program is about halfway finished, and they’ve met maximum capacity for their weekly events. Story time is still a big draw every Friday, and the library is attracting visitors and wonderful volunteers. The library recently received a generous donation from Collinsville Area Youth Sports Association (CAYSA) that will help fund some summer programs.

“We’re blessed with a great librarian and a great board,” Smith said.

The next Collinsville City Council meeting is slated for Monday, July 20 at 6:30 p.m. at the Collinsville Community Center (111 N. Main Street). Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend.

WMS goes to Washington D.C.

Fri, 19 Jun 2026 06:00:00 -0500

Whitesboro Middle School students had an exciting opportunity this summer to visit Washington, D.C. through an Educational First (EF) Educational Tours field trip. From May 31 to June 3, a group of roughly 20 students and parents joined tour guide Timothy Burns for a sightseeing-filled experience in the nation’s capital.

Throughout the trip, students visited many of the city’s most iconic landmarks and memorials, including the Pentagon Memorial and the World War II Memorial.
They also toured the United States Capitol, explored several exhibits at the Smithsonian museums and visited Arlington National Cemetery, where they observed the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and paid respects at the Kennedy gravesites.

Evening activities added another memorable dimension to the experience, including a guided night tour of the Lincoln Memorial, the Korean War Veterans Memorial and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, along with colonial walking tours in nearby Alexandria, Virginia.

Mostly made up of 7th and 8th graders, the group captured plenty of photos, deepened their understanding of American history and created lasting memories along the way.

EF Educational Tours provides a structured educational tour that allows students to experience the nation’s capital through guided learning rather than traditional sightseeing. EF Educational Tours focuses on “learning through experience,” designing trips so students connect classroom lessons with real-world historical and civic sites while participating in structured educational activities and discussions.

To learn more about educational travel opportunities through EF Educational Tours, visit www.eftours.com

VAW Festival slated for Saturday

Fri, 19 Jun 2026 06:00:00 -0500

This Saturday, June 20, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., the Veterans Association of Whitesboro (VAW) will hold its long-awaited Military Festival and Car Show in downtown Whitesboro.

This free, family-friendly event will be held on Center Street and in the parking lots surrounding Past and Blast and the adjacent ATM. Attendees can explore a car show featuring restored military vehicles, classic cars manufactured before 1990, tractors and motorcycles.

Visitors will enjoy a variety of vendors and food trucks on-site. Families can enjoy a dedicated kids’ zone featuring a bounce house (for a recommended $5 donation and parents must sign a release form), face painting and temporary tattoos.

Music will be provided throughout the day by a live DJ specializing in popular hits from the 1940s and 1950s.

Car show awards will be presented at 1 p.m., with first- and second-place honors awarded in each category by on-site judges. Attendees can also vote for their favorite entries through the People’s Choice competition by scanning a QR code or visiting CarShowPro.com

A cornhole tournament is scheduled for 2 p.m., and event attendees are invited to sign up and participate.

For more information, contact VAW President Keisha Head at 940-445-3729 or whitesboroveterans@yahoo.com

W’boro woman honored as ‘Living Legend’ by Gospel Music Fan Awards

Fri, 19 Jun 2026 06:00:00 -0500

Whitesboro woman Ava Kasich, a longtime country gospel artist, was recently honored by Christian Voice Magazine in their 2026 Gospel Music Fan Awards as a “Living Legend” recognizing her decades of faithful ministry through gospel music.

Ava has spent the past 46 years sharing the gospel through song, fulfilling a dream she says began at the early age of three.

“To say I am blessed would be an understatement,” Ava said. “These awards are very much appreciated, and I am truly honored. But I am longing for the great reward when Jesus says, ‘Well done, thou good and faithful servant.’”

The 2026 “Living Legend” honor follows another significant milestone in Ava’s ministry. In July 2025, the International Country Gospel Music Association inducted her into its Hall of Fame, one of the highest honors in country gospel music.

Over the years, Ava has received numerous awards and recognitions, including Female Vocalist, Gold Cross Female Artist, Award of Excellence, and Song of the Year, among others. She has also had the privilege of sharing the stage with some of the greatest names in gospel music including Howard and Vestal Goodman, Barbara Fairchild, Jason Crabb, Karen Peck and Aaron Wilburn, and more.

Ava credits God’s faithfulness for sustaining her throughout her ministry.

“If you are faithful to God, He will be faithful to you,” she said. “Has it been easy? Absolutely not. But He has never left me nor forsaken me, and He has always provided. I want to reach as many as I can for the Kingdom before it’s too late.”

Kasich expressed gratitude for the support of her family, including her husband, Jerry, and son, Chad Sanders, as well as her church family at Faith Church of Sherman, Texas, and Pastor Ryan and Carrie Cernero.

Her ministry is rooted in the scripture Matthew 22:14: “For many are called, but few are chosen.” Kasich believes the calling of God requires sacrifice, faithfulness, and a willingness to serve.

Ava Kasich is available to minister at churches and venues, sharing her music, testimony, and the message of God’s miraculous healing power. Learn more at www.avakasich.com.

Postman’s ‘technopoly’ has come to pass

Fri, 19 Jun 2026 06:00:00 -0500

It’s election season— again.

The primaries are sinking in the rearview and all roads lead to November.

Campaign signs will fill the highway ditches, and a record-breaking amount of money is about to gush into Texas for our senatorial election.

As we find ourselves once again immersed in the throes of another election cycle, it’s hard to ignore the collective sigh of exhaustion from political bystanders.

Unending elections leaves us all feeling drained and weary.

It often feels as though the last election ended only to make way for the next one, creating an unending loop of political ads, fundraisers and rallies.

Incumbents are always campaigning, leaving little time to govern. The result is a diluted focus on policy discussions and an increased emphasis on political gaming.

Candidates, pressured by the need to stay in the public eye, resort to sensationalism and mudslinging rather than engaging in substantive policy discussions.

Who cares about policy when there are likes to be gained on Instagram and culture wars to be fought on Facebook.

Incrementalism has become old-fashioned, and compromise has become a bad word.

Technology has taken hold of political discourse in the form of social media and we are all being held hostage by it.

The late Neil Postman was a cultural critic and media scholar. He coined the term “technopoly” in 1992 whereby he warned of the dangers of a culture dominated by technology.

Postman said a “technopoly” was a society where technology is the dominant force in shaping the culture and values. It is a state where technology not only permeates all aspects of life but also becomes a governing ideology.

He said there would come a day where technology would replace religion.

He warned that in a technopoly, there would be a tendency to adopt technology without concern for its consequences. He said, we would become enamored with technology and fail to question its impact on our lives.

Postman worried that the rise of technopoly would lead to the erosion of traditional cultural values.

He suggested that technology could lead to the dehumanization of culture. The focus on technological solutions would undermine human connections and relationships.

Furthermore, the abundance of information and entertainment would distort reality, making it challenging to distinguish between meaningful and trivial aspects of life.

He said there would be a shift from a focus on meaningful discourse to an overwhelming influx of information.

Postman encouraged us to critically assess the impact of technology and resist the idea that technological progress is inherently positive.

Though Postman did not advocate for rejecting technology, he suggested we engage with it, question its effects and ensure that it serves our values rather than dominate them.

Postman’s prophecy of the technopoly, (again) first published in 1992, has come to pass and is especially pronounced in our political discourse and our elections.

Candidates feel the need to entertain rather than inform.

Postman believed our democracy would be in jeopardy when entertainers became policy makers and, in turn, our policy making became entertainment.

We are there.

This focus on theatrics over substance among our policy makers has eroded public trust in the political system and has diminished the importance of critical issues facing the nation.

So, what do we do about it?

We should silence the noise and focus on the issues that matter.

We should ask the tough questions of our political candidates and hold them accountable to answer the questions fully.

We should get involved. We should vote.

The best way to get involved is to attend a city council or school board meeting. See for yourself.

Take your seat at the table. See how the sausage is made— and many other colorful cliches.

But I should warn you, if you attend too many of these meetings, you might feel the urge to run for office.

And that’s okay. Too many local elections are cancelled due to lack of interest.

Get involved, ask questions that matter, write letters to the editor, advocate your point of view and remember the filing deadline for city council and school board elections will be here before we know it.

The importance of the Public Safety Chaplain

Fri, 19 Jun 2026 06:00:00 -0500

When most people think about emergency response, they picture police officers, firefighters, paramedics and dispatchers rushing to help during a crisis. What many may not realize is that another vital member of the public safety team often arrives alongside them but not to fight a fire, make an arrest or provide medical treatment. They are there to provide comfort, compassion and support.

For the City of Whitesboro, that person is Brother Mike Flanagan, who serves as the department’s Public Safety Chaplain, and has for many years.

A public safety chaplain plays a unique role within emergency services. While first responders focus on addressing the immediate emergency, chaplains focus on the emotional, spiritual and human needs that often accompany tragedy and crisis. They stand beside families after the loss of a loved one, comfort victims following traumatic incidents and provide a reassuring presence when people find themselves facing one of the worst days of their lives.

Whether responding to a fatal accident, a house fire, a medical emergency or a community tragedy, a chaplain helps bridge the gap between emergency response and emotional care. Their role is not limited to any particular faith or belief system. Instead, they serve all members of the community with compassion, dignity and respect.

Brother Mike has become a trusted and valued part of Whitesboro’s public safety family. His willingness to answer the call, often at all hours of the day and night, demonstrates a commitment to serving others that reflects the very best of our community. His calm presence, listening ear and genuine concern for others provide comfort when it is needed most.

The importance of a chaplain extends beyond serving citizens. Public safety professionals regularly encounter situations that most people will never experience. Serious injuries, fatalities and emotionally difficult incidents can take a toll on responders over time.

Chaplains serve as a confidential source of support, encouragement and guidance for firefighters, police officers, EMS personnel, dispatchers and their families. They help foster resilience and remind responders that caring for their own well-being is just as important as caring for others.

While chaplains often work quietly behind the scenes, their impact is profound. They bring hope in moments of despair, comfort in times of grief and compassion when it is needed most.

The City of Whitesboro is fortunate to have Brother Mike Flanagan serving in this role. His dedication to both our community and our first responders serves as a powerful reminder that sometimes the most important help we can offer is simply being there for someone when they need it most.

Jeff Patterson is the Fire Chief and Director of Public Safety for the City of Whitesboro. He can be reached at jpatterson@whitesborotexas.org or by phone at 903-564-7533.

The governor is asking the wrong question about data centers

Fri, 19 Jun 2026 06:00:00 -0500

This week the Governor did something rural Texans have been asking Austin to do for two years: he told state regulators that data centers — not households — should pay for the power lines their machines demand, and he called for an end to some of the tax breaks that lured them here in the first place.

His directive orders state regulators to reduce the risk that ordinary Texans subsidize data center growth, calls for new reporting of electricity and water use, encourages water-efficient cooling technologies, and proposes ending certain tax incentives while studying additional ways to reduce impacts on local communities.

It’s a real step, and I’ll give credit where it’s due.

But we’re still talking about the wrong thing.

Abbott’s whole order is about cost. Who pays the electric bill. Who eats the transmission charge. Who absorbs the tax break.

And cost, while important, I’m here to tell you, is the smallest part of what’s barreling toward the Texas Panhandle.

I know because I just spent the morning in a room full of people who are already living it — ranchers, a city councilwoman, a mayor, a woman who drove from a few counties over to be there, grandmothers who had never spoken at a public meeting in their lives. Before it was over I’d stood up and said my own piece, and it was this:

We cannot let Austin turn this into a math problem about our power bills.

Because if cost is the only question being asked, the data centers have already won. They will always be able to write a bigger check than your county will ever see.

The Governor’s directive asks how we manage the impacts.

Rural Texans are asking something different:

Can a town our size handle something like this?

A data center needs three things — land, electricity and water — and these projects are often evaluated through those inputs alone. One woman testified that she was told the Panhandle is “uninhabited and unpurposed land.”

That’s the real divide.

The state sees a site. We live in homes and hometowns.

A site has inputs you can put a price on. Homes and hometowns have limits.

A town of 700 has only so many houses, so many water taps, one ambulance, a volunteer fire department, a two-lane road and a school that passed its last bond by a hair. Communities that are already facing infrastructure and funding challenges, and none of it appears anywhere on the Governor’s ledger.

You can cap an electricity bill from a thousand miles away. You cannot build a modest house, staff an emergency room or refill an aquifer that took ten thousand years to fill.

Supporters of these data center projects point to the jobs, tax revenue and investment they can bring. Those benefits are real. The question is whether anyone has seriously accounted for what these projects demand in return.

The construction crews come first — sometimes thousands of them — and they don’t fit inside the limits of these tiny towns. In other parts of the country, companies have responded with temporary worker housing and construction “mancamps.” If that’s where we’re headed, rural Texans deserve an honest conversation before the first shovel ever hits the ground.

The impacts hit our hometowns as rents rise, housing gets tighter and local infrastructure — much of it already due for upgrades — gets stretched even further. And the water it takes just to build these facilities gets hauled by the tanker-load from regions already struggling with drought.

That is not a simple cost problem.

You cannot be reimbursed for a town that no longer works.

The question then becomes not how much growth we can attract, but how much growth a community can absorb.

Rural Texans are being asked to trust that the experts, consultants and policymakers have already thought through the consequences. Maybe they have. But if they have, they haven’t shared that analysis with the communities being asked to live with the results.

I’m a lifelong Republican, but I need to say the hard part out loud. The same officials wringing their hands this week are the ones who spent years rolling out the welcome mat — the abatements, the incentives, the promises and the laws that leave counties with limited authority to slow, shape or reject these projects once they arrive.

The cost frame is the comfortable version of this debate. It’s the version where Austin gets to look responsible while the premise goes largely unchallenged.

Our vote is the only leverage we have that these companies can’t outspend. But it’s leverage only if we use it to protect the things that made these places worth living in to begin with.

There’s more to consider on the data center front as communities weigh the impacts on water, housing and infrastructure while trying to figure out where the line is.

For now I only want to change the question. Don’t ask simply what data centers will cost us.

Ask whether a town our size can handle something like this — and what we’re being asked to trade in return.

Suzanne Bellsnyder is editor and publisher of the Hansford County Reporter-Statesman and Sherman County Gazette. Subscribe at www.TexasRuralReporter.Substack.com

W’boro Library welcomes new pet axolotl, hosts naming contest

Fri, 19 Jun 2026 06:00:00 -0500

The Whitesboro Public Library welcomed a new addition last week, a three-year-old female Axanthic axolotl that will live permanently at the library in a 40-gallon tank.

The axolotl (which is a species of salamander) is a type of amphibian native only to Mexico City’s Lake Xochimilco.

The Axanthic axolotl is a color morph of the animal that lacks the pigment cells responsible for producing yellow pigments, resulting in her lavender coloration.

The library’s axolotl previously belonged to a local who was moving away to college and lovingly donated the critter for the benefit of the community.

“We’re really excited about it!” Library Director Christine Swiler said. “We’ve ordered some new books about axolotls for the library so we can all learn more about her together.”

To get the community even more excited about this fun new addition, the library is holding a naming contest for their new friend.

Library visitors are encouraged to fill out name ideas and drop them in a suggestion box at the library front desk. They only ask that the name have a library or book theme.

Suggestions are due by the end of June. Voting will take place next month and the top three vote-getters will earn a prize.

In the meantime, everyone is welcome to come and pay a visit to the new library pet that’s sure to put a smile on your face.

WPD Arrests

Fri, 19 Jun 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 June 8 and June 14.

June 10
At 9:11 p.m., Amelia Diane Boudreaux, 39, of Ponder, Texas, was arrested at 33000 W. Hwy. 82 in Whitesboro on charges of possession of drug paraphernalia.

At 9:15 p.m., Patricia Skaggs Joaquin, 55, of Whitesboro, was arrested at 33000 W. Hwy. 82 on charges of failure to identify a fugitive from justice, drug paraphernalia and a warrant from another agency.

June 13
At 9:26 p.m., Derek Blaire McKesson, 71, of Whitesboro, was arrested at 21000 Hwy. 377 on charges of driving while intoxicated.

S&S CISD celebrates employees at annual year-end district breakfast

Fri, 19 Jun 2026 06:00:00 -0500

S&S CISD employees gathered on Friday, May 29, at S&S Middle School for the annual District Breakfast, a special event recognizing years of service and outstanding contributions to the district while celebrating the conclusion of another successful school year.

The breakfast brought together faculty and staff members from across the district, providing an opportunity to reflect on the accomplishments of the school year and honor the dedication of S&S employees. Superintendent Dr. Jeff Russell shared words of appreciation with district employees, recognizing their hard work and the positive impact they make on students each day.

A highlight of the morning was the recognition of district employees celebrating years of service with S&S CISD. Honorees included Tanya Stuckey for 30 years of service; Tweedie Cabe, Debbie Garrison and Stephanie Maher for 25 years of service; Jasara Russell for 20 years of service; Paula Arnold, Taylor Boaz, Jason Braley, Amy Collins, Rhonda Culver, and Mary Beth Jones for 10 years of service; and Ashley Achimon, Emilie Davis, Michael McDonald, Kelli Perry, Teresa Plemmons, Hunter Ramirez, Shiloh Ray, and Janay Underwood for 5 years of service.

The district also recognized its 2025–2026 Teachers of the Year. Linda Johnson was named S&S Elementary Teacher of the Year, Jeremy Lyons was selected as S&S Middle School Teacher of the Year, and Channon Gibson was honored as S&S High School Teacher of the Year. These educators were recognized for their dedication to students, commitment to excellence, and positive impact on their campuses.

As the school year comes to a close, the event serves as a reminder of the strong relationships, shared purpose, and commitment to excellence that defines S&S CISD. The celebration recognized not only years of service and professional achievement but also the collective efforts of the district’s faculty and staff who work each day to create meaningful opportunities for students. The event provided a fitting conclusion to another successful year and highlighted the people who make S&S CISD a special place to learn, grow, and work.

Preston Trail chapter, NSDAR to host Texoma’s America 250! Fest in Pottsboro

Fri, 19 Jun 2026 06:00:00 -0500

Preston Trail Chapter, NSDAR is pleased to announce that they are hosting Texoma’s America 250! Fest in the parking lot of Pottsboro Church of Christ on Saturday, July 4, 2026 from 9 a.m. to noon.

All of the Texoma community is invited to this national commemoration of our country’s 250th anniversary of independence. Opening ceremonies will begin at 9 a.m. featuring Buddy Merrick, who will read the Declaration of Independence and sing the “Battle Hymn of the Republic.” Additionally, McKenzie Ridenour will sing the National Anthem and will be joined by Merrick in leading attendees in a rendition of “America the Beautiful.” The event will include games and prizes for kids as well as local vendor and non-profit organization booths.

“We look forward to celebrating our nation’s incredible history and fostering a renewed appreciation for all of the Americans who founded our nation and ensured its progress through the generations with our wonderful Texoma community,” Regent Amanda Bauman Ewton said.

The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), a longtime champion of historic preservation, education and patriotism, is honored to host an event centered around America’s 250th anniversary. The more than 950,000 women who have joined the nonprofit organization since its founding in 1890 have worked to preserve historic places, documents and artifacts; to foster an understanding of our nation’s past in schoolchildren, new citizens and everyday Americans; and to support the servicemembers and veterans who sacrificed to safeguard our freedoms.

Here in Pottsboro, Preston Trail Chapter has worked on community enrichment projects and initiatives for 16 years, since its founding in December 2010, such as: placing wreaths on veteran graves at Fairview Cemetery in Denison with Wreaths Across America, supporting veterans at Clyde Cosper in Bonham and Walker House in Denison, restoring historical markers at Preston Bend Cemetery in Pottsboro and providing support to teachers and students at Pottsboro Elementary School.

Community participation at chapter events is welcomed and encouraged. Members of the public are also encouraged to attend the City of Denison’s 39th Annual Fourth of July Spectacular Fireworks Celebration taking place from 4-9 p.m. on Saturday, July 4 at Forest Park and Munson Stadium in Denison. Bring the kids to Forest Park between 4-8 p.m. for food trucks, booths with give-aways, entertainment and bounce houses. Then find a seat in Munson Stadium to see Shawnda Rains Entertainment perform from 7-9 p.m. Preston Trail Chapter members will perform an America 250! skit during the show at 8 p.m.

In the years to come, Preston Trail DAR Chapter looks forward to working with local organizations and community members to help the Texoma area continue to commemorate this momentous United States’ milestone of 250 years and many more.

The 250th anniversary of the United States also presents the perfect opportunity for interested women to honor their family members’ Revolutionary War service by joining the Daughters of the American Revolution. Documenting and reflecting upon an ancestor’s role in the fight for American independence will impart a deeper, more personal level of significance to the upcoming celebration. If you are interested in learning more about your family history but are not an expert in genealogical research, don’t worry! Local DAR members can help prospective members research their family history.

Through DAR membership, women can not only strengthen their bond with their ancestors, but also forge new connections to fellow DAR members. The benefits of belonging to a community of women who express pride and gratitude for their shared heritage through a commitment to meaningful public service are limited only by members’ boundless imaginations.

To learn more about DAR membership and upcoming events visit our website txdar.org/preston-trail-chapter-nsdar or public Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/PrestonTrailNSDARPottsboroTX. Membership inquiries and other questions may be directed to Amanda Bauman Ewton, prestontrailnsdar@gmail.com or 903-820-8991.

Save Haven Baby Boxes provide hope, safety

Fri, 19 Jun 2026 06:00:00 -0500

Last month, a mother in crisis found hope and safety through a face-to-face infant surrender at a Safe Haven Baby Box at the Ennis Fire Station #3 in Ennis, Texas.

Safe Haven Baby Boxes has a confidential hotline that provides free counseling and information on safe surrender. Twenty-five states have a Baby Box presence within their state.

While 447 Baby Box locations across the country provide safe, anonymous drop-off points, face-to-face surrender remains the only option in many areas. The hotline is a lifeline, empowering mothers with knowledge, compassion, and a plan.

Since 2017, 79 infants have been safely surrendered via Baby Boxes. Over 200 additional handoff surrenders have been facilitated through the hotline. Each child enters the adoption process through families who are already approved and waiting to provide love and stability.

The National Safe Haven Baby Boxes Emergency Hotline (1-866-99BABY1) is available 24/7 for mothers in crisis. For more information and to find a Baby Box location near you, visit www.shbb.org

Area students named to University of Arkansas Dean’s, Chancellor’s Lists

Fri, 19 Jun 2026 06:00:00 -0500

The University of Arkansas announced students who earned a spot on the Dean’s List and the Chancellor’s List for the spring 2026 semester.

Local students included on the Spring 2026 University of Arkansas Dean’s List include:
Emma Dell of Sherman, Organizational Management and Leadership Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Sam M. Walton College of Business
Molly Fuhrmann of Gainesville, Nursing Bachelor of Science in Nursing, College of Education and Health Professions
Campbell Kauitzsch of Gordonville, Advertising/Public Relations Bachelor of Arts, Fulbright College of Arts & Sciences
Madison Morrell of Whitesboro, Nursing Bachelor of Science in Nursing, College of Education and Health Professions
Ella Pinkernell of Gunter, Marketing Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Sam M. Walton College of Business
Hallie Reynolds of Gunter, Advertising/Public Relations Bachelor of Arts, Fulbright College of Arts & Sciences
Madeline Skipworth of Sherman, Political Science Bachelor of Arts, Fulbright College of Arts & Sciences
Riley Tillotson of Sherman, Marketing Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Sam M. Walton College of Business
Donnie Walton of Gunter, Finance Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Sam M. Walton College of Business

Local students included on the Spring 2026 University of Arkansas Chancellor’s List include:
Jacob Ward of Gainesville, Mechanical Engineering Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering
Makenzie Jolliff of Collinsville, Marketing Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Sam M. Walton College of Business
Aubrey Walton of Gunter, Recreation and Sport Management Bachelor of Science, College of Education and Health Professions
Julia Cody of Sherman, Elementary Education Bachelor of Science in Education, College of Education and Health Professions
Annika Hogan of Sherman, Psychology Bachelor of Arts, Fulbright College of Arts & Sciences
Keely Hartless of Whitesboro, Criminology Bachelor of Arts, Fulbright College of Arts & Sciences
Kylee Keller of Gunter, Journalism Bachelor of Arts, Fulbright College of Arts & Sciences

Congratulations to these hard working students!

Stow the phone; pour yourself into your neighbor

Fri, 19 Jun 2026 06:00:00 -0500

As a kid, I dreaded going anywhere with Mom because inevitably she would find someone she’d connect with, and there would ensue a long conversation about things that did not entertain a youngster.

Grocery store, post office, doctor’s office -- didn’t matter. She found someone in which to be interested. And she just couldn’t resist engaging in a bit of friendly chit chat that to me seemed endless. It was agonizing.

What I didn’t understand then was that my mom was pouring herself into her neighbor, just as Jesus commands us to do. Without even consciously doing so, she was telling the person: “I see you; I want to know your story because you matter.”

Oh sure, Mom was naturally a talker. Having spent 45 years waitressing in small town cafes will bring that out in a person.

But with some age and maturity, I now know that what seemed in my youthful perspective as meaningless time filler was an example of my mom’s holy gift: Her ability to put anyone at ease and make them feel important.

I sense that we are losing this ability, the art of engaging another human in a wildly spontaneous conversation meant for nothing more than “being neighborly.”

Nowadays, in addition to being leery about sharing anything of ourselves with nearly everyone, it’s much easier for us to bury ourselves in our phones or just outright ignore those around us.

This is no longer impolite. That’s just our modern life.

So, I was a bit surprised this past weekend when Shelley and I were wandering around a very large urban zoo, and a lady asked to take a photo of my shirt. The shirt, which is admittedly cool and for which my wife deserves all the credit, proudly proclaims the nickname “The Sermonater” scrolled just above the outline image of a Bible.

Shelley thinks it’s pretty slick. Evidently others do too. Because in just a couple of hours at the zoo, three people commented on it.

But this lady in particular liked the shirt so much she wanted to share it with her “pastor friends,” she said. Hence the photo request, which became my opening.
I channeled my mother’s best efforts, and down the rabbit hole we went. Within minutes I’d learned that the woman admiring my shirt worked with a number of pastors through a local, nonprofit cafe that supports victims of human trafficking, and which she’d helped found.

I further learned that she was a survivor of being trafficked, and now was fighting to help others who are still in captivity. The conversation was holy and helped educate me.

I can’t believe I’m saying this, but friends, Mom was right. The people around us are infinitely more fascinating than what’s in your phone. Be bold; strike up a conversation. You’ll be better off for it. 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

Make sure you have the important things covered first

Fri, 19 Jun 2026 06:00:00 -0500

Dear Dave,
My wife and I make about $180,000 a year combined. We’re also debt-free, and we have no kids. We’d like to start planning to buy a nice piece of land sometime in the near future. Do you have a rule of thumb when it comes to determining what percentage of our savings we should put toward a large purchase like this?
Daniel

Dear Daniel,
Honestly, I’m not sure there’s necessarily a specific percentage for this kind of thing. Since you guys are already debt free—and congratulations on that, by the way—I’d advise first making sure you’ve got a fully loaded emergency fund of three to six months of expense in place. I’d also recommend you have some sort of retirement savings plan going before buying a piece of land.

You two have done a great job with your money, so in your case, it sounds like any other cash you might have sitting around is just wealth. So, if you’ve got an extra $100,000 sitting in a savings account in addition to all these other things, and you’d rather have $100,000 worth of land instead of that bank account, I’m good with it. Do you understand what I’m saying, Daniel? In my mind, it’s more a matter of ratios than percentages.

Now, this would all change, of course, if your household income was $50,000 a year instead of $180,000 a year. And I wouldn’t advise anyone to put building an emergency fund or saving for retirement on hold while they saved up to buy a piece of land. There needs to be a sensible balance. And that means making mature, grown-up decisions, and ensuring you have the really important things in life covered first.

Great question, Daniel!
— 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.

All Are Welcome

Fri, 19 Jun 2026 06:00:00 -0500

Pastor Dr. Barry L. Roberts and the church family at Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church (1040 County Rd. 203, Collinsville, TX 76233) would like to invite you to join them in worship and message this Sunday, June 21, 2026 at 11 a.m.

Pastor Roberts will be preaching the second message in the series titled, “The Gospel According to Country Music.” This week’s message is, “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry.”

The scripture is John 16:28-33. They would also like to invite you to Sunday School that begins at 10 a.m. with Deacon Darrin Dutton.
Mount Zion Church believes the “Church is a hospital for sinners, not a haven for saints.”

Come as you are and join the church family as they seek to become The Church of New Beginnings in your life. They look forward to meeting you soon.

From the Archives

Fri, 19 Jun 2026 06:00:00 -0500

20 years ago…

June 22, 2006

RUBY REDS OF WHITESBORO
The Ruby Reds of Whitesboro Red Hat Chapter gathered June 13 at the Whitesboro Gordonville home of Kathy Berkes. From the setting of the Red Hat dolls’ tea party on the front lawn to the huge greeting at the front door to the beautifully red and purple decorated home, everyone was welcomed by co-hostesses Kathy Berkes and Mary Burcham.

A salad lunch was served by the co-hostesses and in honor of the two members with birthdays in June, Joy Hart and Jerri Humes, a beautifully decorated doll cake was presented.

Laughter filled the air, especially as the members played unusual games. They hunted for pennies hidden in pails of birdseed, proving once again the truth of the Red Hatters’ motto, “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun.”

Mary (Rags) Phelps is the Queen of the Ruby Reds. The chapter meets the second Tuesday of each month for fun and fellowship.

Additional information on the Red Hat Society can be found on the internet at RedHat Society.com

30 years ago…

June 20, 1996

STYLE SHOW SPONSORED BY METHODIST WOMEN
The Fellowship Hall of the First Methodist Church, Whitesboro, was transformed into a style show on June 11, 1996, presented by the United Methodist Women to approximately 75 guests.

The theme, “Beauty Without, Beauty Within, A Style Show for the Believer,” focused on the beauty each woman carries within her soul through her spiritual relationship with God.

Five lovely models represented different stages of a woman’s life while showcasing accessories supplied by Rita Lovejoy, owner of Lovejoy’s on Main Street and Debbie Wilson, owner of Fashion Reflections.

Each model shared personal testimonies of faith which have brought them all closer to God. Models included: Erin Vaughan, Cindy Labhart, Shirley Meek, Margot Bates and Velma Mayo.

Shirley shared her triumph over cancer and two heart attacks, which she credits God, her faith, and family for. Margot shared how her experience as a young girl in Southeast Germany during World War II challenged her faith and taught her what it really means to rely on prayer.

The event was held with assistance by: UMW members, Opal Barr, Gwen Grady, Mary Gann and Dorothy Balkum, Nina Huff of Texoma Florist, Anna Beth Perkins, Debby Wortham, Dorothy Balkum, Betty Capehart, Dorothee Johnson, Gerald Vaughan, , Shirley Meek, Mary Rives, John Balkum, Gregg Miles, Cecil McFarlin, Pete Meek, Dennis Womack, Jim Bob Hayes and Buddy Perkins.

40 years ago…

June 19, 1986

C OF C TO PRESENT MELODRAMA
In celebration of Texas Heritage Week, the Whitesboro Chamber of Commerce will present an Old West Melodrama Friday at 7:30 p.m. in the Whitesboro High School Cafeteria. The “Saga of Sagebrush Sal”’ is to be directed by Wanda Dugger, and will be narrated by Jerry Dickson. Lloyd Butts will be Master of Ceremonies.

There are four leading roles in the play: Jake the Snake, the villain, is played by Smoot Earnhart; Sagebrush Sal will be played by Pat Thurman; Paul Brown will play as Heartbleed Haymeadow, the hero; and Mary Schneider will play Hazeltine.

Other cast members include a dying cowboy to be played by Harrell Brown, as well as a lonesome cowboy played by Dr. John Galewaler. Dale Cook plays the minister, Dr. Alan Smith plays Chief Painful Tooth and Ima Bad News will be played by Xina Davison.

Additional members of the cast include cowboys, native americans, can-can dancers and hostesses. Jeane Hartline, Emma Voyles, Fay Lynn Anderson and Mildred Landers created the costumes.

Tickets are on sale now at $2 for adults and $1 for children, said Dugger. There will be lots of rootbeer available at the concession stand as well as plenty of popcorn to throw at the villain, she said.

Dugger said that “Everyone needs to be practicing their boo and hiss” and be ready for an evening of fun and excitement.

Capital Highlights

Fri, 19 Jun 2026 06:00:00 -0500

Gains seen in all subjects on STAAR tests
Texas high school students showed improvement in every subject in this spring’s end-of-course STAAR exams, the Texas Education Agency reported.

The results include assessments in Algebra I, English I, English II, biology and U.S. history. The biggest improvement was in biology, with 71% of students meeting expectations, up 9%.

“These results reflect the hard work of Texas students, educators and families and demonstrate that focused instruction and high expectations continue to produce positive outcomes for students across our state,” said Commissioner Mike Morath. “These results may also be reflective of the legislature’s ban of cell phone use in classrooms, so that students are better able to stay focused on their schoolwork while at school.”

Parents and families can access their child’s individual STAAR EOC results through their school district’s family portal or by visiting TexasAssessment.gov and using the unique access code provided by their child’s school.

STAAR results for students in grades 3-8 will be available this week.

Schools will begin phasing out STAAR end-of-year testing beginning in the 2027-2028 school year.

Experts warn charter school boom could bust
The pace of growth of charter schools in Texas slowed this past school year, with experts warning that the enrollment drops facing traditional school districts could begin to affect charters, The Texas Tribune reported. With declining birth rates, the growth of vouchers, and increased immigration enforcement, experts say the growth of charter schools may soon reverse.

“They’re headed to a cliff, for sure,” said Bob Templeton, a senior consultant with an Austin-based public policy firm called STRIVE. “And I don’t know if it’s going to be next year, but it could definitely be within five years.”

Texas public schools this past year experienced their first non-pandemic enrollment decline in nearly 40 years, with 76,000 fewer students. The drop was primarily among Hispanic students in traditional neighborhood campuses. Charter schools still increased enrollment, but at a lower rate. They now educate roughly 446,000 students, or 8% of the state’s nearly 5.5 million public school students.

“It was the changes in immigration enforcement that caused the enrollment to turn the way that it turned this year, especially as it relates to the Hispanic community,” said Templeton.

Abbott, Rollins update Texans on screwworm response
Gov. Greg Abbott and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins briefed the public on the state and federal governments’ ongoing response to the threat posed by the New World Screwworm. There have been 11 confirmed cases in Texas as of Monday.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is importing and dispersing sterile male flies to combat the invasion, and the Texas Animal Health Commission has designated five “infested zones” that include Coke, Edwards, Gillespie, Kerr, Kimble, La Salle, Sutton, Tom Green, Uvalde, Val Verde, Webb and Zavala counties.

Warm-blooded animals must pass an inspection before being authorized for shipment outside an affected area.

“Sterile flies are the well-established solution to the spread of the New World screwworm,” Abbott said.

Ranchers and livestock owners are urged to remain vigilant by checking animals daily and treating wounds promptly. The screwworm lays its larvae in open wounds.

Texans are urged to report any suspected New World screwworm cases in livestock to the Texas Animal Health Commission at 1-800-550-8242 and report suspected wildlife cases to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) at (512) 389-4505.

Texas leads nation in solar growth
Texas is leading the nation in new solar capacity, installing 50% more than any other state in the first quarter of 2026, the San Antonio Express-News reported.
Across the nation, solar generation and battery storage accounted for 91% of new energy capacity.

“Texas is actually soon to overtake California for the most total installed solar capacity,” said Daniel Giese, state director for the Solar Energy Industries Association. California now has 55.5 gigawatts of installed capacity, barely exceeding Texas’ 53.5 gigawatts.

A separate report from a global energy think tank showed that nationally, solar supplied more electricity than coal in May for the first time. Solar accounted for 12.8% of U.S. energy last month, while coal dropped to 12.2%. In Texas, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas expects solar to exceed coal for the first time later this year.

The growth in data centers is a major reason for the growth in new solar capacity in Texas, since it can come online fairly quickly.

Abbott takes aim at Texas data centers
Abbott has directed electric regulators and ERCOT, the agency that oversees the electric grid, to require new data centers to pay for the power and infrastructure needed to power their operations, The Dallas Morning News reported. The explosive growth in the centers is sparking fears that they will drive up consumer electric bills.

The governor further ordered the Public Utility Commission to ensure that new data centers actually reduce residential electric bills.

“Data centers must operate in ways that reduce costs for residential electricity customers, do not drain water needed for our communities and take into consideration the needs of our neighborhoods,” Abbott said in a statement.

He has also proposed new laws in next year’s legislative session that would repeal a data center sales tax exemption that could cost the state billions of dollars in tax revenue, require data centers to use water-efficient technologies, and report electric and water usage.

Agency to set rules on using fracking wastewater on farmland
Lawmakers have directed the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to lead the charge in setting water quality guidelines for using treated oilfield wastewater on Texas farmland, The Tribune reported. As the state’s demand for water grows, lawmakers have invested millions of dollars studying ways to treat the billions of gallons of toxic wastewater produced from fracking operations so it can be used for irrigation purposes.

Each site where the water is to be used will require its own permit, including limits on pollutants before the water is released, and reporting requirements “as necessary to ensure protection of human health and the environment,” said Laura Lopez, a TCEQ spokesperson.

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

GAVA gives scholarships, plans for annual fall art exhibition

Fri, 19 Jun 2026 06:00:00 -0500

Each year, Gainesville Area Visual Arts (GAVA) distributes scholarships to local graduating seniors. This year’s 2026 scholarship recipients are both Gainesville High School graduates. Thanks to the February For the Love of Art event, the organization was able to give $4,000 in GAVA scholarships.

Deno received $2,440 and will attend North Central Texas College to study visual arts and photography.

Charlie received $1,560, and she plans to attend Escape Studios in London, England to study graphic design and animation.

Additionally, GAVA is currently planning for its annual fall art exhibition.

This year’s theme is EXTRAORDINARY PERSPECTIVE. All artists in North Texas and Oklahoma are invited to submit a maximum of four pieces of art to GAVA’s annual art exhibition at the Santa Fe Depot Museum, 605 E California Street in Gainesville. This is an open show that requires original art only (no artificial intelligence [AI]) that has not been shown in the GAVA Fall Art Exhibition in the last four years.

Alan Burris is this year’s GAVA judge. Burris will select the 1st, 2nd, 3rd place winners and two Honorable Mentions for four categories: Traditional, Contemporary, Three Dimensional and Photography/Digital. As an artist, Burris has produced a large body of work over many years, using a variety of media and exploring a wide array of subject matter. As an art instructor/lecturer for 23 years with Murray State College, Burris has taken a traditional academic approach to the history, creation and meaning of visual art from a western perspective.

Along with the GAVA Awards there will be a Theme prize, the Breaking the Mold Deaver Art Award, and new to 2026, the Gwen Novak One of a Kind Art Award. Novak was a truly extraordinary artist, beautiful friend and GAVA Member who passed away in January 2026. Many local businesses will also present their own unique awards and prize money. Follow the GAVA Facebook page for announcements of which businesses will be giving awards.

Entry fee for GAVA members is $15 per entry and $20 per entry for non-members.

Artists can join GAVA when they submit their art to get the reduced fee. Art submission is Saturday, Aug. 29 – 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Sunday, Aug. 30 - noon to 3 p.m. Students are encouraged to enter their art. GAVA reserves the right to exclude any art deemed inappropriate. Visit the GAVA website for the Prospectus and Entry Form: www.gainesvilleareavisualarts.org.

The Opening Reception & Awards will be on Saturday, Sept. 5 from 6-8 p.m. GAVA is excited to announce that the Fall Art Exhibition Original Art Raffle will feature art from Gary Woodall, Ruth Williamson, Diana Erbskorn and Jim Connell. Tickets will be one for $5 or three for $10.

The exhibition is free to the public and runs from Sunday, Sept. 6 to Sunday, Sept. 13, and will be open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays. You get to be a judge of our 2026 Fall Art Exhibition with our People’s Choice Award, too. When you come visit to see all the art, simply scan the QR code or visit the GAVA website to cast your vote using the entry number of your favorite piece of art in this year’s show. The winning artist will win $50 for Michaels, a ribbon and a certificate.

For additional information about GAVA and this year’s Fall Art Exhibition, please email Show Chair and GAVA President, Joe Conner at info@gainesvilleareavisualarts.org

WGRSPA delivers books to Tioga Elementary third graders

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 06:00:00 -0500

The West Grayson Retired School Personnel Association (WGRSPA) recently had an extraordinarily special event with the senior and third-grade Tioga Bulldogs.

Ten years ago, the seniors were third graders receiving their books from WGRSPA with the TISD Class of 2016 assisting.

Superintendent Josh Ballinger prompted the third graders to just think about the fact that in 10 years, they could be the seniors reading to third graders while remembering this day.

Carol Golden, WGRSPA Book Project Committee member and Tioga’s Garra Ballinger, Academic/College Advisor, H.S. ELAR teacher and librarian, organized the project. Golden spoke of how impressed she was with Tioga ISD for its mannerly, enthusiastic students, teachers, staff and administrators from the very first time WGRSPA provided books and throughout the entire decade. She focused her compliments into this acrostic: T is for Team; I is for Integrity; O is for Optimism; G is for Greater Vision; and A is for Achievers.

Next, Glenda Coulson, Scholarship Committee Chair, took the opportunity to tell the seniors about WGRSPA’s annual scholarship presentation, especially those for college junior education majors.

This year’s book, chosen by Garra Ballinger, was “The Magic Tree House the Graphic Novel” by Mary Pope Osborne and adapted by Jenny Laird. It was presented to each of the 35 third graders taught by Lorre Eddleman and Kim Clark. With the books came colorful bookmarks hand-decorated by many of the 70 seniors.

WGRSPA members present were Golden, Coulson, Mary Nan Story and Sharon Lively.

WGRSPA appreciates the ongoing support of everyone who participates in our annual fundraisers: painted pumpkins and the harvest basket raffle. You are an integral part of all four book projects, donations to school libraries and scholarships.

WPD Arrests

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 06:00:00 -0500

June 4
At 6:43 a.m., Emily Jo Armstrong, 37, of Gainesville, was arrested at 871 US Hwy. 377 North in Whitesboro on charges of driving while intoxicated/open alcohol container.

S&S launches Summer Showcase

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 06:00:00 -0500

On Tuesday, June 2, S&S CISD hosted its inaugural Summer Showcase at S&S Middle School, offering staff a district-led professional development opportunity designed to support ongoing learning and collaboration. The event brought together educators from across the district for a full day of collaborative professional learning led by their colleagues.

The Showcase featured sessions led by district administrators and teachers, including Superintendent Dr. Jeff Russell; Director of Student Services Lance Johnson; Technology Director Tracey Cox; principals Karen Lombard (middle school) and Mark Pelzel (elementary); assistant principals Kristy Colvin (elementary) and Amanda Reed (middle school); and Middle School Nurse Jozel Benson. Also presenting were 2nd grade teachers Bailey Bishop, Natalie DeMoure, Christa Hilliard, and Jami Waldrum; ECSE Teacher Kristina Bruce; District Librarian Jessica Campbell; Theatre Teacher Channon Gibson; English Teacher Michael Keith; 8th Grade Math Teacher Jacqueline Miller; 5th Grade Science Teacher Caitlyn Tynes; ISS Teacher Shannon Wilburn; and 8th Grade Science Teacher Michael Zinski.

Sessions covered a wide range of instructional and professional topics, including strategies for technology integration in the classroom, hands on learning in math, and approaches to connecting assessment data to instruction. Additional sessions focused on practical applications of artificial intelligence in today’s classroom, building and analyzing assessments, and using digital tools such as Canva and Epic! to enhance instruction. Presenters also addressed school culture development, student engagement strategies, trauma informed practices, and how adverse childhood experiences can shape students’ learning and behavior. Other sessions highlighted school nurse practices beyond basic care, sustaining staff who support students, and creative instructional approaches such as teaching with a “twist of tech.”

This year marks the launch of a new initiative in S&S CISD, allowing educators to complete required training within the district rather than seeking training outside of the district. The Summer Showcase is expected to become an annual component of S&S CISD’s professional development program.

PARD, Sonic team up for Picnic at the Pool

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 06:00:00 -0500

The Whitesboro Parks and Recreation Department (PARD) is hosting a new event this summer for community families: Picnic at the Pool on Tuesday, June 16. This event is in coordination with Family Swim Night that takes place on Tuesdays. The time for next Tuesday, June 16, is 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Whitesboro Community Swimming Pool at 400 Wilson Street. For the first Picnic at the Pool, the PARD is partnering with Sonic to encourage families to pick up dinner and bring it to the pool.

Sonic is offering its $7 Big Deal Meal (cheeseburger, tots/fries, a drink and popcorn chicken) in conjunction with the event. Families may order on the Sonic app, call ahead at 903-564-6391, or order on the lot.

“We are really excited to expand our Family Swim Night with a Picnic at the Pool this Tuesday,” said PARD Director Penny Renfroe. “The event hours of 6:30 to 8:30 make it perfect for families to blend dinner with an evening swim. Our desire was to encourage participants to shop in Whitesboro by ordering from a local business like Sonic. We are delighted to have them partner with us for the picnic event!”

Fees for Family Swim are regular pool admission: $3 per person for patrons three years and older. Families may pick up dinner and bring it in with them upon admission. Other Sonic deals that evening include half-price cheeseburgers after 5 p.m. and a bag of ice with a gallon of tea for $5.99.

For more information about this and other summer programs offered through the Parks and Recreation Department, visit www.whitesboro.org/pard, or their Facebook page.

GFWC Lake Area Woman’s Club takes top awards at District Convention

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 06:00:00 -0500

Members of the Lake Area Woman’s Club in Gordonville received 22 first-place awards, one for every report they entered at the Trinity District Spring Convention held in Celina. The Club received first place in the following:

Arts and Culture for co-hosting receptions after the Whitesboro Community Choir’s Spring and Christmas Concerts.

Civic Engagement and Outreach for their work with local food pantries.

Education and Libraries for hosting a school supply/backpack giveaway and starting a free library at the Sandusky RV Park.

Health and Wellness for teaching about heart health and stroke prevention.

Environment for their projects to recycle everyday household items, and their program on deadheading flowers.

Leadership for hosting an orientation for new clubwomen.

Membership for awarding new members service pins at a dinner in their honor.

Advocates for Children for a program on online safety for children and helping with a bed build with Sleep in Heavenly Peace.

Domestic and Sexual Violence Awareness and Prevention for advocating for survivors and donating to Abigail’s Arms Shelter in Gainesville.

ESO for hosting a program explaining the GFWC reading society.

Fundraising and Development for raising funds through efforts at their booth at the Peanut Festival and a Bingo night.

Legislation and Public Policy for advocating for GFWC resolutions and taking part in the GFWC Texas visit to speak to legislators at the Texas Capitol.

Communications and Public Relations for hosting World Singing Day at the Peanut Festival.

Texas Heritage – People for having a program over Dwight D. Eisenhower after visiting his birthplace in Denison, Texas.

Texas President’s special project on Human Trafficking for Sexual Purposes for having the Grayson County Sheriff’s Office present a program on Human Trafficking Prevention.

Outstanding Club Program for speaking on dental health.

Outstanding Federation Day Program for having the GFWC Texas president present to the community what GFWC clubwomen do.

Outstanding Americanism Program for hosting a dinner and program for Veterans.

Scholarship for awarding three scholarships to Whitesboro seniors.

LEADS program for teaching what LEADS (Leadership, Education, and Development Seminar) is and how to apply.

Yearbook Contents for receiving a perfect score on contents.

Dollars for Delegates for sending a brand-new clubwoman to district meetings and conventions.

Community Impact for teaching the preschool children at the First Steps Preschool about dental hygiene.

The club also had a long-time General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC) clubwoman selected for Life Membership in the Trinity District.

The General Federation of Women’s Clubs is a unifying force, bringing together local women’s clubs whose members are dedicated to strengthening their communities and enhancing the lives of others through volunteer service. With more than 60,000 members in affiliated clubs in every state and more than a dozen countries, GFWC members are community leaders who work locally to create global change by supporting the arts, preserving natural resources, advancing education, promoting healthy lifestyles, encouraging civic involvement and working toward world peace and understanding.

For more information, please visit www.GFWC.org or call 1-800-443-GFWC.

How do we decide what matters?

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 06:00:00 -0500

I love to listen to podcasts, and it was The Mel Robbins Podcast that introduced me to a problem-solving exercise called the Five Whys.

The premise is straightforward. When you’re trying to understand a problem, you ask why. Then you ask why again. Then again. By the time you’ve asked the question five times, you’ve usually moved past the symptom and arrived at the root cause.

I’ve been thinking lately that politics might benefit from the same exercise. Not because I think it would make us agree. It probably wouldn’t. But it might help us better understand something very important: Why do you support the candidates you support?

You would assume most of us can answer that question quickly enough. We support them because of taxes, schools, immigration, healthcare, agriculture, the economy, faith or public safety. We support them because they’re conservative or liberal, Republican or Democrat, because they share our values or because they oppose the people we disagree with.

But what happens if we keep asking why?

Over the past year, I’ve spent a lot of time talking to people across rural Texas — school superintendents worried about budgets, hospital board members worried about staying open, farmers worried about water, business owners worried about finding workers, and parents worried about what kind of future their children will inherit.

The issues change from town to town, but the underlying concerns are remarkably similar. People want stability and opportunity. They want their communities to survive and their children to have a chance to build a life close to home. They want to believe that hard work still matters.

Take public education. Some people support public schools because they believe education is the pathway to opportunity. Others support school choice because they believe parents should have more control. On the surface, those appear to be competing positions. But if you keep asking why, you may discover that both people are ultimately talking about the same
thing: creating a better future for children.

The policy differences still matter — how we fund schools, protect water, keep hospitals open, support agriculture. But the starting point is often much closer than our politics would have us believe.

Most people are not sitting around the kitchen table talking in talking points. They are talking about whether they can afford groceries, whether their insurance will go up again, whether the school can find teachers, whether the crop will make, whether the hospital will still be there when they need it.

Instead, we’re handed a steady stream of controversies, distractions and tribal battles designed to keep us angry, afraid or outraged. We are asked to care deeply about every national fight, every manufactured crisis, every personality-driven feud that can be turned into a fundraising email or a campaign ad. Meanwhile, the things that actually shape people’s lives are treated like background noise.

Maybe that is because solving real problems is hard. It requires patience, compromise and a willingness to stay with issues long after the cameras leave.

Manufacturing outrage is easier. It is easier to tell people who to fear than to explain how to lower an insurance premium. It is easier to pick a fight than to fix a school finance formula. It is easier to turn neighbors against each other than to build the kind of trust required to solve problems in a community.

Somewhere along the way, we seem to have built a political culture that rewards the fight more than the fix.

That is why I think the Five Whys exercise is worth thinking about. Not so we can interrogate our neighbors about why they vote the way they do, but so we can ask a harder question of the people asking for our vote.

Why are the things that matter most to ordinary people so often missing from the political conversation? Why does a political system that claims to represent us spend so much time pulling us away from the issues closest to our lives? And why do we keep accepting that as normal?

So maybe the Five Whys is worth turning on ourselves, too. The next time you pull a lever or fill in a bubble, ask why. Then ask again. If you follow it far enough, past the party and the personality and the things that made you angry last week, you may find that what you actually want is pretty simple — and that the politics demanding your loyalty is not always the politics most likely to deliver it.

Because when you follow the “why” far enough, you eventually arrive at the kitchen table. You arrive at the grocery bill, the insurance premium, the school budget, the water question, the hospital board, the farm note, the Main Street business and the future of the place you call home.

That is where politics becomes real. And that is where politics ought to begin.

Suzanne Bellsnyder is editor and publisher of the Hansford County Reporter-Statesman and Sherman County Gazette. Subscribe at www.TexasRuralReporter.Substack.com

Davenports resign from Collinsville ISD

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 06:00:00 -0500

THIS STORY HAS BEEN UPDATED AS DETAILS DEVELOP...

Collinsville ISD superintendent Matt Davenport tendered his resignation to the school board Monday night along with his wife Raea who is a teacher at Collinsville High School (CHS).

Though Matt says the two are staying in education, they are not yet publicly announcing where their next posts will be.

“It has been the honor of my life— being the superintendent at Collinsville ISD,” Matt Davenport said. “I wanted to be a superintendent like my grandfather, and I wanted to be one at the school district I love the most. I am grateful to have done just that.”

Matt is a 1998 CHS graduate. He has been at the helm of Collinsville ISD since 2022.

Prior to that, he held assistant superintendent posts at Pine Tree and Whitesboro ISDs.

He was also superintendent at Walnut Bend and was a math teacher and coach before moving to administration.

During his time at Collinsville, the district passed a bond that constructed a new primary school building, improved overall statewide academic standings and experienced historic success in multiple athletic programs.

Matt’s time as superintendent was not without controversary though.

Collinsville ISD has been mired in bad press for the past year having to do with allegations of inappropriate behavior on behalf of CHS baseball coach Derrick Jenkins.

The two-time State Championship winning coach was put on leave last fall and has subsequently cut ties with the district.

Collinsville Police Chief Jon Cheshire says the results of their investigation has been handed over to the Grayson County District Attorney's Office.

The matter has yet to be presented to a Grand Jury, no indictments have been handed down and no charges issued.

The Jenkins matter led to Matt Davenport, and two other CISD administrators, being investigated by the Texas Education Agency.

All three were cleared of any wrongdoing by a third-party firm charged with investigating the matter.

The TEA investigation is ongoing.

The Davenports announced their resignations to the CISD Board of Trustees Monday night.

“We are staying in education, and both have jobs lined up,” Matt said. “It is just time for something new.”

Matt confirmed that CISD plans to move forward with an interim superintendent but said he has not been told who that person will be. He said the board will appoint an interim at their regular monthly meeting Monday, June 15.

New gas plant opens near W’boro with ribbon cutting

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 06:00:00 -0500

VBM (Vitol Bio-Methane LLC) held a ribbon cutting ceremony for the first of its two sites in Texas on Friday, June 5,. Located at the Texoma Area Solid Waste Landfill near Whitesboro, the BMP Texoma LLC renewable natural gas plant converts landfill gas into renewable energy. The project is a partnership between Sherman, Denison and Gainesville with VBM.

When organic waste like food scraps, paper, grass clippings and wood decompose in a landfill, bacteria breaks down the organic material creating a gas byproduct. VBM’s gas plant will convert that gas into energy that powers homes and vehicles.

“With our annual intake of gas from the landfill to the plant, through that pipe, we can produce enough natural gas to support 7,000-11,000 homes annually,” said VBM Head of Compliance Scott Levay.

The board agreed that, given the environmental benefits as well as the financial benefits, the new gas plant was a “net-net win for everyone.”

The ribbon cutting welcomed project partners and industry leaders under a large tent, where food was catered and swag was distributed. The event saw a solid turn-out and was a great kick-off to what is expected to be a successful endeavor.

VAW Military Festival set for June 20 in W’boro

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 06:00:00 -0500

After a torrential downpour forced the cancellation of its inaugural event last August, the Veterans Association of Whitesboro (VAW) Military Festival and Car Show is finally set to take place on Saturday, June 20, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

This free, family-friendly event will be held on Center Street and in the parking lots surrounding Past and Blast and the adjacent ATM. Attendees can explore a car show featuring restored military vehicles, classic cars manufactured before 1990, tractors and motorcycles.

Visitors will also find a variety of vendors offering everything from homemade fudge to information about local nonprofit organizations. Food trucks will be on-site throughout the day, and a cooling station equipped with misters will help guests stay comfortable in the summer heat. One booth will offer water on a donation-only basis.

Families can enjoy a dedicated kids’ zone featuring a bounce house (for a recommended $5 donation and parents must sign a release form), face painting and temporary tattoos.

Music will be provided throughout the day by a live DJ specializing in popular hits from the 1940s and 1950s.

Car show awards will be presented at 1 p.m., with first- and second-place honors awarded in each category by on-site judges. Attendees can also vote for their favorite entries through the People’s Choice competition by scanning a QR code or visiting CarShowPro.com

A cornhole tournament is scheduled for 2 p.m., and event attendees are invited to sign up and participate.

Day-of car show registration will be available from 8 to 10 a.m. Registration is $20 per vehicle, with veterans and active-duty military receiving a 50-percent discount. The first 20 vehicles to check in will receive a complimentary swag bag. Additional event information and pre-registration details are available at CarShowPro.com

For more information, contact VAW President Keisha Head at 940-445-3729 or whitesboroveterans@yahoo.com

Gainesville Chamber opens vendor registration for 39th Annual Depot Day

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 06:00:00 -0500

The Gainesville Area Chamber of Commerce (GACC) is excited to announce that vendor registration is now open for the 39th Annual Depot Day, scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026, at the Gainesville Farmers Market.

For nearly four decades, Depot Day has brought together thousands of visitors for a day of shopping, entertainment, food, family activities, and community celebration in historic downtown Gainesville. Vendors from across the region are invited to apply and be part of one of Cooke County’s most anticipated community traditions.

Vendor spaces are available on a first-come, first-served basis and pre-registration is required. Interested vendors can register online and find event details at www.gainesvillecofc.com.

Attendees, vendors, and sponsors are also encouraged to follow the official Depot Day Facebook page, facebook.com/gainesvilletxdepotday, for event announcements, vendor spotlights, entertainment updates, and more as this year’s festival approaches.