Latest articles - Whitesboro News-Record

History Club to kick off new season with guest speaker, recognitions

Fri, 18 Sep 2026 06:00:00 -0500

On Sept. 21, the GFWC History Club of Whitesboro will hold its first meeting under its new administration. This will include the recognition of new officers, new projects and new themes.

The elected officers for the 2026-2028 administration are President Wanda Godso; President Elect Keisha Head; 1st Vice President Donna Parkinson and 2nd Vice President Carla Woolsey. This year’s theme will be “Celebrating Our Heritage.”

“All year long we’ll be doing just that – celebrating!” Godso said.

To kick-off the new season, the club will welcome Captain Perry Patrick as the meeting’s guest speaker. Captain Perry is a retired U.S. Army combat veteran, author, speaker and leader who brings powerful stories, real-world lessons and a unique blend of humor and heart to every stage.

All interested parties are invited to attend this meeting, free of charge, at 6:30 p.m. at the FUMC Wesley Hall in Whitesboro.

Remembering 9/11— 25 years later

Fri, 18 Sep 2026 06:00:00 -0500

At 8 a.m. last Friday, first responders, city workers and community members gathered at the Whitesboro Fire Station where Fire Chief Jeff Patterson led a special remembrance ceremony in honor of the 25th anniversary of 9-11.

“Twenty-five years ago today, our country experienced a day that none of us will ever forget. September 11, 2001 started like any other day. People went to work, children went to school, families went about their daily lives. And then, in a matter of minutes, everything changed,” he said.

Patterson recounted the events of the terrorist attacks that destroyed New York City’s twin towers, highlighting especially the impact on first responders.

“Firefighters, police officers, paramedics, emergency personnel and other first responders did what they had been trained to do and sworn to do,” he said. “They went towards the danger. They climbed the stairs while others were trying to get out; they entered the buildings they knew were unstable, and they searched for people they had never met. They carried the injured, they helped strangers and they continued to do their jobs as the world around them was coming apart.”

That day, 343 firefighters, 23 New York City police officers were among those that made the ultimate sacrifice at the World Trade Center. Also lost that day were members of the Port Authority Police Department and members of other agencies and first responders who answered the call.

Patterson emphasized that, as a new generation of first responders enter the workforce (some in our own community), it was the values these individuals demonstrated – courage, service, sacrifice, commitment to others – that continue to guide first responders today.

“Every time a firefighter gets into a truck, every time a police officer answers a call, every time a paramedic walks into someone’s worst moment, we’re reminded what this profession asks of us. It asks us to put others before ourselves, it asks us to run toward the problem, sometimes it asks us to make the ultimate sacrifice,” Patterson said. “The men and women we honor today didn’t know what was waiting for them when they responded that morning. They simply knew that people needed help.”

Patterson shared with those in attendance that 25 years later, we ought not to remember how those people died, but to honor how they lived. This can be done by remembering their names, remembering their families and remembering the courage they displayed and, most importantly, ensuring future generations understand what happened that fateful day and understand the price that was paid by those who answered the call.

“Twenty-five years later, we still remember,” Patterson said. “And we will never forget.”

Following his presentation, Patterson played an audio recording of the speech President George W. Bush gave to Americans that night. In it, he acknowledged the victims of the terrorist acts and the feelings of disbelief, terrible sadness and anger the nation was experiencing.

“Our country is strong. A great people have been moved to defend a great nation. Terrorist attacks can shake the foundations of our biggest buildings, but they cannot touch the foundation of America. These acts shattered steel, but they cannot dent the steel of American resolve,” the President said.

The remembrance ceremony concluded with a moment of silence led by Chief Patterson.

Callisburg teacher arrested for online solicitation of a minor

Fri, 18 Sep 2026 06:00:00 -0500

On Sept. 9, Callisburg ISD Superintendent Chris Bradshaw announced on social media that a district employee had been arrested and placed on administrative leave due to alleged off-campus conduct while police investigated the charges.

The suspect, Callisburg fourth-grade math teacher and Collinsville resident Spencer Brewer, was arrested on charges of online solicitation of a minor - sexual conduct.

In a sting operation conducted by third-party YouTuber JiDion Adams and his group, Expose Dat Predator (EDP), the group posed online as a 13-year-old girl. Once they made contact with Brewer, the conversations took on a sexual nature despite Brewer’s knowledge of the decoy’s age. Eventually, Brewer stopped responding to the contact and tried to delete the messages, but EDP had preserved the conversations. Despite using an alias, Brewer was identified by EDP who then reported him to Collinsville police.

After reviewing the resulting evidence and statements, the Collinsville Police Department (CPD) conducted its own investigation and secured an arrest warrant for Brewer. Police Chief Jon Cheshrie arrested Brewer at his home and took him into custody.

Adams said EDP, who has been tracking people online for a couple of years, has caught nearly 200 people across the country. While the case against Brewer is the first teacher-involved case the group has handled, EDP has caught people in jobs like law enforcement and nursing.

Although EDP refers cases to law enforcement, it’s up to the prosecutors to decide whether to pursue charges. So far, none of the group’s cases have gone to trial as defendants have pleaded out.

This case is currently under investigation and no further details are available at this time.

Pioneer Day brings history, music and hometown traditions to Collinsville

Fri, 18 Sep 2026 06:00:00 -0500

Collinsville will celebrate its past while welcoming home familiar faces Saturday as Pioneer Day returns to downtown with a full afternoon and evening of music, a parade, car show, contests, family activities and a special look at the community’s history.

The annual celebration is set for Saturday, Sept. 19, on and around the historic downtown square, with activities beginning at 4 p.m. and continuing until 11 p.m.
This year’s Pioneer Day will feature two-time Winter Olympian and Collinsville native Kellie Delka as parade grand marshal, along with an evening music lineup culminating with Texas singer-songwriter James McMurtry.

The celebration officially begins at 4 p.m. with an opening ceremony featuring an invocation from the Rev. Frank Alegeria of Collinsville United Methodist Church, the National Anthem performed by Jesse Speer and a welcome from Collinsville Mayor Chase Guidera.

Collinsville Economic Development Corp. President Joseph Cartwright will also provide an EDC/IDC spotlight.

Vendor booths and the Nortex Communications Kidz Zone will open at the same time.

The Toad Suck Car Show will run from 4-7 p.m., with registration from 4-6 p.m. at the corner of Main and Hughes streets. Winners will be announced at 7 p.m. on the Holiday Chevrolet Main Stage.

Olympian comes home
One of this year’s most recognizable participants will be Collinsville native Kellie Delka, who will serve as grand marshal of the 5 p.m. parade down Main Street.
Delka, 38, grew up about 10 minutes outside Collinsville and attended Collinsville schools, where she was a cheerleader and pole vaulter before eventually finding her way to one of the Winter Olympics’ fastest sports — skeleton.

She has since represented Puerto Rico in two Winter Olympic Games.

Delka made her Olympic debut at the 2022 Beijing Games as one of two athletes representing Puerto Rico. She returned to the Olympics in 2026 at Milan-Cortina, this time as Puerto Rico’s lone athlete at the Winter Games.

Her second Olympic appearance brought increased attention from Puerto Rican media and another opportunity to pursue a goal that has driven her career — bringing the island its first Winter Olympic medal.

On Saturday, however, the international competitor will return to the streets where her athletic career began.

Parade participants will begin lining up at 4 p.m. along Pecan and Walnut streets, with judging at 4:45 p.m. The parade begins at 5 p.m. down Main Street.

Collinsville’s history on display
Pioneer Day’s connection to the community’s past will be especially visible this year with a pop-up museum presented by celebrate! Collinsville History Association.

The museum will be inside the Collinsville Community Center on the historic square from 3-9 p.m. and will feature historic hometown items, photographs and written accounts of Collinsville’s history.

Organizers are also encouraging residents and former residents to stop by, visit and share their own stories of the community.

The museum carries with it a Pioneer Day connection of its own.

celebrate! Collinsville History Association was founded as a nonprofit in 2016 by Deanna Green Acker, Shannon Goodman Roberts and Gigi Stephenson Cox after the Collinsville Chamber of Commerce invited the group to create a museum for Pioneer Day 10 years ago.

A decade later, the association will again use Pioneer Day to put pieces of Collinsville’s past in front of the people who are helping write its present.

Music fills Main Street
Live music will be a major part of the afternoon and evening, beginning with Backroad Anthem at 4:15 p.m. on the Holiday Chevrolet Main Stage.

The local connection runs through that performance as well. Backroad Anthem includes local talents Timber Johnson, Gauge Tompkins and Robby Denning.

The Collinsville High School band and cheerleaders are also scheduled to appear on the main stage, followed by Band of Faith at 6 p.m.

Pirate Jiu Jitsu will give a demonstration at 7:15 p.m.

The music shifts toward the night’s headliners at 8 p.m. when Austin Cunningham takes the stage.

Cunningham, a Texas singer-songwriter with decades of experience in the music industry, will open for James McMurtry, who is scheduled to perform at 9:30 p.m.

McMurtry has built a national following during a career spanning more than three decades, becoming known for detailed, character-driven songwriting rooted in the American landscape.

The pairing gives Pioneer Day an evening concert lineup grounded firmly in Texas songwriting.

Old favorites return
Traditional Pioneer Day activities will be scattered throughout downtown.

Baked goods can be dropped off from 1-3:35 p.m. at Manor on Main. Baking contest winners will be announced at 5:30 p.m. on the main stage, followed by the baked goods auction at 5:45 p.m. at Manor on Main.

A dunking booth will open in the Kidz Zone at 5:30 p.m., and bingo begins at 6:30 p.m. at Manor on Main.

This year, the Kidz Zone will include a Dino Dig where kids will be able to excavate toys and other free gifts.

There will also be free rides and a petting zoo.

Visitors will also have another attraction to watch along Stone Street, where a tree carving event will take place during the festival.

The demonstration will give Pioneer Day visitors a chance to watch the carving process unfold while adding another stop to the activities extending beyond the downtown square.

Downtown streets will close beginning at 6 a.m. Saturday, with vendor setup scheduled from 1-4 p.m.

The festival will close at 11 p.m.

Relentless Texas sun offers perspective

Fri, 18 Sep 2026 06:00:00 -0500

I grew up hearing about the summer of 1980.

I don’t remember it. I wasn’t around. I came along about three years later, in January 1983.

But if you grew up around here, you’ve heard about it.

People talked about how men didn’t work past 11 a.m. They talked about the days without rain and the relentless string of 100-degree afternoons.

They talked about 1980 the way old-timers talked about wars and depressions. It was something you survived.

Turns out, their memories weren’t exaggerating much.

According to the National Weather Service, Dallas-Fort Worth recorded 69 days of 100 degrees or hotter in 1980.

Of those, 42 came consecutively, from June 23 through Aug. 3, a record that still stands. Every single day of July reached 100 degrees.

That’s not summer. That’s punishment.

And then 2026 came along and said, “Hold my beer.”

This year hasn’t taken 1980’s crown, but September apparently didn’t get the memo that summer is supposed to be winding down.

On Sunday, DFW reached 103 degrees. It was the area’s 12th 100-degree day of September, setting a record for the most triple-digit days ever recorded during the month.

For perspective, the National Weather Service says the average last 100-degree day at DFW is Aug. 27.

We passed that exit a while back.

Fall is coming, of course. I know because I can see all the signs.

Retailers have firewood stacked out front. Halloween decorations and pumpkins have taken over the stores. Harvest decor is everywhere. You can even find Christmas merchandise if you look hard enough.

Jennifer and I found ourselves looking at Christmas trees in the Home Depot garden section Saturday.

It was 103 degrees outside.

Nothing says “O come, all ye faithful” quite like walking back to your truck and burning your hand on the door handle.

I went to Tom Thumb Sunday morning and saw people wearing Dallas Cowboys jerseys for the game-day discount.

So, like I said, all the signs are there.

Football is back. Halloween is coming. Christmas trees are on display.

Fall apparently forgot to show up. Still, I know it will— and then winter.

And you won’t catch me complaining about snow and ice in February. At least, that’s what I’m telling myself now.

I suppose the changing seasons are mostly a matter of perspective. We get used to whatever we’re living in and start wishing for whatever we don’t have.

I tell friends from other parts of the country that North Texas weather really isn’t that bad.

We have three months that are unbearable and nine that are decent.

But at this point in September, it would be nice if the sun would just go away for a little while.

That thought takes me back to Burlington, Vermont, last April.

I was there guest-lecturing at the UVM. Burlington sits on the eastern shore of Lake Champlain, with the Adirondack Mountains rising across the water in New York.

It is about as beautiful a place as you will ever see.

The university put me up in a waterfront hotel, and that first evening I went walking along the lake around sunset.

People were everywhere.

They brought picnic baskets and yoga mats. They brought dogs and children. I saw two police officers who had apparently just gotten off work walking together and unwinding from the day.

Tourists took pictures. Locals sat and read books.

And everybody seemed to be waiting for the same thing.

The sunset.

We watched it sink behind the Adirondacks, turning the lake and mountains into one of those scenes that doesn’t quite look real.

I remember thinking, “This would be a beautiful place to live. Imagine getting this sunset every night.”

I mentioned it to a colleague at the university the next day.

“Yeah,” he told me. “That’s the first time they’ve seen the sun since September.”

What?

My friend had grown up in South Carolina, so he was accustomed to a little more sunlight himself.

He explained that by late fall the days in Vermont become remarkably short. The sun starts going down in the late afternoon. Winter brings long nights and short days, and many of those days are cloudy and gray.

His claim that they hadn’t seen the sun since September contained little hyperbole.

Suddenly, the scene at the waterfront made more sense.

Those people weren’t merely watching a sunset. They had missed it.

They weren’t taking the sunshine for granted because, after a long northern winter, sunshine wasn’t something to take for granted.

There was something poetic about that.

Here in Texas, we spend August and apparently half of September cussing the sun. We park beneath the one scraggly tree at the far end of the parking lot just to get six square inches of shade. We sprint from one air-conditioned building to another.

Up there, people came out of their houses and gathered along a lake just to welcome the sun back.

It reminded me of something Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote: “Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air.”

That’s easier advice to appreciate in Vermont in April than Texas in September.

But the sentiment holds. Perspective is funny that way.

We spend a lot of our lives longing for what we don’t have instead of appreciating what we do.

Somewhere, somebody would love a little of this sunshine.

And somewhere else, somebody is probably staring out a window at a cold, gray sky and dreaming about Texas.

We should remember that. We should be grateful for the sunshine.

We should appreciate what we have instead of wishing for something else. We should embrace the season we’re in.

I’m trying.

But right now, I’d settle for 92 degrees and cloudy.

Under the current conditions, that would feel like Vermont to me.

Reach out and touch someone (respectfully!)

Fri, 18 Sep 2026 06:00:00 -0500

This goal of mine for 2026 gets harder by the month. “Choosing Joy” appears to be in jeopardy.

The Senses not discussed seem bland. Gustatory pleasures don’t fit when sky-high grocery prices have left taste buds flat. Fall officially begins on Sept. 22 but it’s still too soon for pumpkins and cinnamon.

What’s left are Tactile Joys - Touch. Whether that brings you Joy or not, now might be the time to reach out toward another human. Note: not a Chat Bot or talking back to the radio.

A real person, so go meet a new one and offer to take them to coffee, then the polling place and you both VOTE early. Talk to anyone whether they’re wearing red or blue, as long as you’re both clothed.

Shake hands and be friendly. We’re all in this together. While Texans usually don’t discuss their feelings, try to discuss current events. Hold your nose if necessary, but listen and calmly offer your opinion. The choices are difficult.

If you always do what you’ve always done, likely you’ll get what you’ve always gotten. But if you were to choose what you’ve never done, maybe you’ll get what you’ve never won.

My mantra for years! Meanwhile, stay ready to listen to your new friend’s response. Even if it gags you. Even if they don’t know what they’re saying or why they’re saying it.

Even if you know that their “because” vote will bring them - and everyone - more harm than joy in the long run. Repercussions from that voting choice - like needing social assistance - may gag them worse. If only they had heard you mention some reasons they should consider another candidate.

That’s my fear. The national debt doubling in a decade to $30 trillion when the federal budget balanced 30 years ago. Your great-grandchildren won’t even be able to pay off that huge amount.

Yet so many people either don’t know that has been in the news the last month - or they don’t care. Or they depend only on social media for news about who some influencer married or what they wore to the prom. Or rally. That’s just fluff.

Real news comes from professional journalists who travel with the officials who make (or react) to these decisions. Stay up or change channels and listen to network channels or even PBS for their very informative coverage of Washington Week or MSN. You won’t get preached to on those stations; you’ll just get the facts.

You’ll get something to chew on and make a decision about. Because what’s happening will scare the pants off ya!

Most recently the brains who created AI have confessed their fears that the huge machines inside those data centers could turn rogue and take over - everything. Our world could implode (maybe) within 10 years and we’ll all be off to meet our maker. Even a 10 percent chance is more than I’m comfortable with.

So with that news consider which current candidates are still pushing your county or another nearby to scoot over and make room for another 500 acre data center development.

Maybe they shouldn’t get your vote. So consider a female wearing blue at the polls.

The 25th sad anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 tragedy brought out many first-hand accounts from witnesses. Hearing such stories makes one wonder had that information been told “back then,” how many prior elections might have been affected one way or another, by those new facts about what happened that awful day- not 25 years later. Every presidential term was affected by 9/11.

Just like the Epstein Files on exhibit recently in the Metroplex. All the data in those files and the women’s lives it affected - and Congress and our representatives still couldn’t decide about the facts.

How do you spell b-r-i-b-e? Shameful!

If only Congress had a leader! Try to hold your member of that august body accountable - please. Coming up is the head-on collision Americans over 62 or 65 are facing with Social Security going broke by 2033. Those frantic about Democratic socialism better face up to the fact that a third or more citizens receives Social Security -- because they paid in to the plan and they had to! It was America’s pension plan before IRAs and annuities.

Now both GOP and Dem seniors receives a monthly check, even a stipend, beats living on the streets. So call them socialists!

Other American institutions were endangered from the current administration’s Executive Orders which touched - and killed - everything in its path. Think about DJT#47’s impact on:

World peace - isn’t. War and bullying growing. Energy - supplies declining and prices rising. USA status worldwide - falling fast. Protests against DJT bullying nations. VOA impacted. Hunger - starvation everywhere. USAID - closed worldwide. NATO - threatened. Climate - impacted by rule reversals. Fires, floods and all weather hazards increased. FEMA - funding destroyed. Insurance - declining. Communications - halted or threatened. Plus Washington D.C.

I guess what I’m saying is that politicians don’t know everything. Often they know diddly squat. But you’re the voter and you don’t have to believe everything that comes out of a candidate’s mouth, especially if it’s obnoxious or an obscenity. Nor should you believe anything any candidate says about another unless it’s a proven fact or on their record.

That’s why our brains are required to sort through the weeks coming up to the mid-term elections.

Use VOTE411 for nonpartisan information and view these races with a fresh eye. Things can change on a dime, especially if it’s your dime. So help change things now.

But if you really believe that a $5,000 Trump Dividend Check will be mailed to you for voting the GOP into a congressional majority, better check out his deal for the Brooklyn Bridge!

Shelly has worn more hats in the communications field than Carter had pills but forgot to retire when she closed her promotions business. She earned a BA in Journalism at NTSU (before it became UNT) and has never lost her love of words.

Ready. Set. Go. Election season is officially here.

Fri, 18 Sep 2026 06:00:00 -0500

Conventional wisdom in politics says voters begin paying attention after Labor Day. And when election season collides with football season, campaigns know where to find us—watching our favorite teams.

Political money is about to flood the airwaves. During timeouts and halftime, candidates and political groups will compete for our attention.

Watching the Cowboys game Sunday night, you may have noticed the commercials were already running.

One commercial warned Texans about a state income tax. Let’s talk about it.

Lucky for us – between now and Election Day, candidates will spend millions of dollars on TV commercials, digital ads and political mail. These ads are not meant to help us understand what our state leaders can actually do.

And let’s be honest. Political commercials are not meant to tell the whole story. They often simplify complicated issues and use fear to leave voters with a lasting impression.

So before we allow a 30-second commercial to influence our vote, in the case of a state income tax, let’s look at what Texas law actually says.

Here is the most important fact: Texas voters have already banned it.

The history lesson starts in 1993.

At that time, the Texas Constitution allowed the Legislature to impose a personal income tax through ordinary legislation, without first asking Texas voters.

Democratic Lieutenant Governor Bob Bullock believed a change that significant should require voter approval, and he helped push a constitutional amendment that gave Texans the final say.

The amendment did not create an income tax, and it did not ask Texans whether they wanted one. Instead, it required any proposed personal income tax—and the proposed rate—to be approved by voters statewide before it could take effect.

It also required at least two-thirds of the revenue to be used to reduce school property-tax rates. The remaining revenue had to support education.

Lawmakers could ask the question, but Texas voters kept the key. Voters approved the amendment with 69.3% for and 30.7% against.

For the next two decades, that was the law. Texas had no personal income tax, but the Constitution left open the possibility that voters could approve one as part of a tax swap— using income taxes as a possible “third leg of the stool” idea for a system depending heavily on property and sales taxes.

Then, in 2019, some lawmakers decided the 1993 language did not go far enough. Republicans Rep. Jeff Leach and Sen. Pat Fallon proposed banning a personal income tax outright, and it received exactly the 100 votes needed to pass the House and passed the Senate 22–9.

Supporters said it was time to close the door completely. Opponents said voters already had the power and warned that Texas was giving up a future way to reduce property taxes and pay for public schools. Democrat candidate Governor Gina Hinojosa argued the latter.

Voters approved the 2019 constitutional amendment banning a state income tax: 74.4% for and 25.6% against. The Texas Constitution now says: “The legislature may not impose a tax on the net incomes of individuals.”

A prohibition. That is where the law stands.

That means, in plain terms, a governor cannot create a state income tax by executive order or slip one into the state budget, and the Legislature cannot pass a bill to create one. To reopen the question, lawmakers would have to propose another constitutional amendment, and Texas voters would have to approve it.

That gives voters with another question: How much attention should this settled issue receive when so many kitchen-table concerns remain unresolved?

Families are worried about rising property appraisals and tax bills. They are worried about electricity, insurance, healthcare, housing, and groceries. Rural communities like ours are worried about keeping public schools open, maintaining roads and finding enough water for the future.

These are issues state leaders have the power to address: rising appraisals and property-tax bills, public-school funding, reliable electricity and long-term water supplies. Data centers have made the infrastructure questions more urgent, especially in rural Texas, where local communities are asking how much power and water these projects will require, who will pay for new infrastructure and how much say residents will have.

These are decisions Texas officials will face over the next four years—and concrete issues for voters to ask candidates about this election season. Texans should be hearing specific plans for property taxes, public schools, water, electricity and data centers—and how those plans will affect whether families can afford to live, work and raise their children here.

So when the next commercial interrupts the Cowboys game and warns that a state income tax is coming, remember what it leaves out:
Texas voters already settled that question.

Now let’s talk about the problems that still need to be solved.

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 and Texas Rural Reporter column. Subscribe at TexasRuralReporter.Substack.com

Whitesboro approves 2027 budget with two ‘no’ votes

Fri, 18 Sep 2026 06:00:00 -0500

The Whitesboro City Council approved its proposed budget for fiscal year 2027 with two “no” votes recently. Aldermen Ben and Jessica Edwards both voted against the budget. The budget is based on a tax rate of .572147 per $100 valuation.

Everyone else on the council voted in favor of the budget which will include a 3 percent cost of living increase for city employees.

The budget approval came along with the approval of the tax rate. On Sept. 21, the council will consider authorizing the issuance of certificates of obligation payable from ad valorem taxes and surplus revenues from the water and sewer systems. The issuance is expected to be in the amount of $3,500,000 and will be paid back over 40 years. The debt is to pay for water and sewer system as well as street and other utility improvements and for professional services.

The city does expect to get some reimbursement of cash spent on street and water projects already underway.

At its most recent meeting, the council also heard from Fire Chief Jeff Patterson about the recent fire hydrant testing and evaluation. He said out of 219 hydrants, 35 were found to be out of service. He said the public works team is already working on making repairs to those hydrants.

There are 167 hydrants that are in service now and the color scheme for the repainting that was done is to let fire department officials know just by looking the amount of water that can be accessed from a particular hydrant.

“It’s been many, many years ago that we had the hydrants painted,” Patterson said. Some of them that were marked out of service weren’t painted but will be as they come back online.

He said the inspection is a good tool to let the city know where it stands “with something that we can work on.” The inspection helps the ISO rating which is currently under review.

Patterson also addressed the contract between Whitesboro and Grayson County for fire and ambulance services in the unincorporated areas of the county.

“This contract is unchanged from last year,” Patterson told the council. The total for the year is $519,752. The county pays the yearly amount in monthly installments. The council approved that contract renewal.

He also presented the city’s contract with the City of Collinsville for ambulance services. This contract covers services delivered inside the city’s limits. The contract is for $54,995. The Whitesboro council approved that interlocal agreement and then moved on to a similar contract for the City of Southmayd for ambulance service. That approved contract is for $28,431. The council also approved a $10,000 contract with the city of Sadler for ambulance services.

Patterson also presented a request for the city to approve an interlocal contract between Whitesboro and the City of Denison for the use of Denison’s already in place communications system for Whitesboro’s new 800 MHz radio system. The new system will provide the city with better reliability, interoperability and overall communications ability for the city’s police, fire, EMS and dispatch services.

Whitesboro will pay $5 per radio per month to the City of Denison for the usage. The annual cost, Patterson said, is expected to be $4,500 a year. The council approved the request.

The council also entered into an executive session to consult with an attorney regarding real property, economic development personnel and the appointment, employment, evaluation, reassignment, duties, discipline or dismissal of a public officer or employee.

The agenda indicated that the City Administrator position was being discussed in the executive session.

The council came out of the session and Mayor Jeff Butts announced there would be no public action taken on the matters discussed in the executive session.

Whitewright council discusses tax rate, sidewalk delays

Fri, 18 Sep 2026 06:00:00 -0500

The Whitewright City Council heard from no one in the public last week during a time set aside for the public to address the council on the proposed tax rate for the 2027 fiscal year. While there wasn’t a of deal of discussion about the tax rate the sidewalks on Grand Street were discussed at length.

Mayor Sarah Beth Owens said the proposed tax rate is .721022 per $100 valuation. That is a tax increase of about .224324 per $100 valuation or 45.16 percent. Information in the meeting’s agenda said that would be an increase for the average homestead of about 1.18 percent. The M&O tax rate is .560639 on each $100 of valuation of property. The I&S tax rate is .16038 per $100 valuation. The council approved that tax rate after hearing from no one during the public hearing.

Owens pointed out that while the information in the packet shows that the new tax rate will cause the city to increase its tax collection by $338,835 that doesn’t mean the city will have that much money left to spend on new projects.

“Just to be clear that ($338,835) includes debt payment that we are now going to have to make on the INS side of the rate,” she said adding that payment is around $250,000.

Owens turned her attention to the sidewalk project on Grand Street. While she talked there were people outside cleaning up debris from the project. The project was funded through a $500,000 Texas Community Development Block Grant with a $50,000 local match provided by the Whitewright Community Development Corporation. The reconstruction of around 860 feet of sidewalk and the construction of around 807 feet of new curb and gutters on the north and south sides of the 100 block of Grand is funded through the Build America, Buy America Act which means the contractors in charge of the projects, in this case, Alliance Construction and Concrete Services, are required to use American-made materials whenever possible.

Owens said she had heard the paperwork to comply with the Build America Buy America act had not been completed to the satisfaction of those in charge of processing payments for the contractors so while the contractors had put in two payment requests, they had yet to be paid.

Owens said she was notified by the contractor that they could not afford to continue the project without payment and so they would be leaving the city for an extended period of time.

“There is no mechanism that I have been able to find so far for the city to compel them to do the work in the timely fashion that we would prefer. They have not violated their contract. They have so many months to get the work done,” she explained.

Owens said she will keep the council apprised of developments with the situation as they occur going forward.

She acknowledged that the council will likely have to deal with complaints from the public about the incomplete status of the project. However, she again stressed that the contractors don’t have to complete the project according to any timeline proposed by the city other than that in the contract. She said they still have several months left to complete the project according to the contract.

“They tried to compel me to pay out of city funds for the work that they have done so they could continue,” she said. However, she said she doesn’t have the power to do that, and she didn’t think the council would approve such a plan, and the city doesn’t have that kind of money just sitting around.

There is performance bond in place, Owens said, but the city can’t do anything to enforce that until the contractor has failed to perform in a timely manner and that is still months away.

Ida Baptist Church to hold ‘Back To Church’ Sunday

Fri, 18 Sep 2026 06:00:00 -0500

Ida Baptist Church is hosting Back To Church Sunday on Sept. 20 at 11 a.m. ‘Find Your Place’ is the theme for this day designed to encourage people who used to attend church to return.

“Covid hit America hard,” Pastor Mike Davis said. “Our children had to go to school online. Many people had to work remotely. Churches had to modify the way they delivered their message. One vital piece of life that has been slow to recover is the church. Summer is over. Students have gone back to school, workers have returned from vacations, so now it is time for people to head Back to Church.”

The service will feature special music by the Ida Baptist Worship Team and a message from the pastor entitled “Overcoming the Barriers to Prayer.” Plan now to head Back to Church on Sunday, Sept. 20 at Ida Baptist Church. The church is located at 7056 FM 697, Sherman, TX 75090.

I will pray for you; will you pray for me?

Fri, 18 Sep 2026 06:00:00 -0500

“Will you pray for me? I will pray for you. And we will watch God change things!” shouted the Rev. Dr. Eric S.C. Manning from the historic pulpit of Mother Emanuel church here in the deep South.

A musically gifted congregation roared back their approval and sang their response, “I will pray for you! Will you please pray for me? And we will watch God change things!”

On each repetition, every person in attendance pointed to someone around them as they exclaimed they would pray for them, and then alternately with their facial expressions asked if the person would indeed pray for them in return.

Throughout the 2.5-hour service, I’d already cried several times, moved by the beauty of it all. But at this moment, after having just worshipped and taken communion with the gracious people around me, this divinely inspired love drew even more tears.

This gesture of friendship and intimacy coming from a faith community who knows so much pain broke down any defenses I had left, and the joy cascaded down my cheeks.

Eleven years on from the night in which nine members of their church, including four pastors, were murdered because of one young man’s hate, this congregation instead chooses love.

Honestly, there are few holy experiences that I’ve had that matched the morning we were privileged to spend at Mother Emanuel.

Early in the service, the Rev. Manning asked all of the visitors in the pews to rise, and when Shelley and I did, we noticed that there were as many visitors as there were members on this Sunday. Regardless, we all were heartily welcomed.

What an audacious act of faith from people who couldn’t be blamed for wanting to exclude strangers after one worshipped among them at a bible study, and then went on a shooting rampage, killing nine of their loved ones.

In the days since that horrific night in 2015, the congregation could have reacted in any number of ways, I suppose. The most logical it seems would have been to withdraw from the wider world to protect their own.

Instead, however, this historic black church embraces strangers with deeply genuine hospitality. In fact, its people even declare that they will pray for you! And with lovely warm smiles they invite you to pray for them.

Dig into the deep history of Mother Emanuel church, and you’ll see where today’s members find their resiliency. For some 200 years, members have had to fight with their lives for the right to worship and come together.

No wonder this current membership has chosen to respond to tragedy with love. They already know a little bit about overcoming.

That is a faith woven so deeply into the DNA of its members, and a trust in the Deliverer few of us can understand. What a special honor to worship among them for a day. 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

Is the Christian world a better place?

Fri, 18 Sep 2026 06:00:00 -0500

Is the world a better place because of Christianity? On the surface, that seems to be a straightforward question, but the answer rapidly becomes quite complex. It is a polarizing question, most notably because talk of Christianity is never neutral. I happen to be a Christian. That is my bias. And I assume that some of you who read this column are humanists or agnostics—some are atheists, at least I hope some of you are reading along.

Nevertheless, in that case, both you and I have certain biases, and those biases are reflected in how we approach almost all the crucial questions in life, including the question of whether the world is a better place because of Christianity.

However, you and I are not so far apart that we don’t share much in common. There exists much common ground between believers and unbelievers. This common ground also extends to how we interpret what we observe in the world around us.

Christian believers and unbelievers alike observe and appreciate the splendor of the same natural world. Common ground also allows us to have discussions about history: those irretrievable events from time past. From common notions concerning our collective past, you and I might “reason together,” examining the facts of history, and by doing so, answer the question: “Is the world a better place because of Christianity?”

Undoubtedly, various people think the world would be a much better place if Christianity had never been established, especially in the Western world. And, it is quick and easy to answer “no” to the question at hand.

That is because even within Christian circles, it is freely admitted, as an author unknown to me writes, that since “Imperfect disciples now represent Jesus, there are plenty of examples where people bearing the name of Christ have not lived out its message,” and various scandals, both old and new, continue to bear out this truth.

Christian history certainly bears upon itself the ugly marks of a movement that sometimes failed to live out its message. The unmitigated slaughter and pillage of anyone standing in the way of the Christian conquerors during the Crusades, the infamous use of torture by Christians during the Inquisition, and the condoning of chattel slavery by Christians, especially in this country.

These are no small charges leveled against Christianity, charges to which Christianity must plead guilty. And if that were the sum total of the Christian witness, I would zealously join in and condemn the entire enterprise as irredeemably corrupt. But that is not the whole of the Christian story.

The entirety of the Christian story starts and ends with Jesus. That is because Jesus’s coming into the world changed everything. Indeed, the message of Jesus was, as Christian theologian Kavin Rowe says, a surprise to the world. And, “at the center of their surprise . . . was the revelation of the human as the image of Christ.”

In that way, Christianity became not only a surprise to Jews and Gentiles but also an invaluable gift to the world, grounded in the humanity of Christ. The profound realization that all humans are universally equalized by virtue of having been created in His image made Christians extreme counter-culturalists in a pagan world. Indeed, Jesus changed everything by striking at the heart of hierarchical autonomy.

The One who is related to every person who comes into the world defined what it means to be a unified race made in the image and likeness of Christ. And the outworking of this paradigm shift in the Greco-Roman world was profound. Paul best summarized this Christ-centered shift, writing, “[t]here is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Gal 3:28).

If the Jew is equal to the Greek, and the slave equal to the free, then so too the poor were equal to the rich, the widow to the married, and the orphan to the parented. It was, in fact, Christians who rescued and adopted the infants discarded by the Romans.

Christians placed such high value upon both the orphans and the widows that James, the brother of Jesus, wrote that pure and undefiled religion before God is “to visit orphans and widows in their affliction” (James 1:27).

If we examine the plight of the poor, widows, and orphans, from the height of the Roman Empire to the present day, it is clear that the world is a better place because of the Christian witness.

Even still, critics of Christianity’s influence in the Western world abound. One such critic is the ancient Greek and Roman historian Charles Freeman. In his 2002 book The Closing of the Western Mind, Freeman suggests that Christianity’s great crime against the Western world was “the fall of reason” brought about by three predominant factors: “the attack on Greek philosophy by Paul, the adoption of Platonism by Christian theologians, and enforcement of orthodoxy by emperors desperate to keep good order.”

In the articles that follow, I aim to challenge these three assumptions by shedding light on what Freeman failed to grasp. Whether you are a Christian, a Seeker, or a Non-believer, I respectfully welcome you to read on and consider the evidence for yourself, all the while we press towards an answer to the question, Is God dead?

Gloria in excelsis Deo!

Ty B. Kerley, DMin., is an ordained minister who teaches Christian apologetics and relief preaches in Southern Oklahoma. Dr. Kerley and his wife, Vicki, are members of the Waurika church of Christ, and live in Ardmore, OK. You can contact him at dr.kerley@isGoddead.com

Old oak to get new life as Collinsville pirate

Fri, 18 Sep 2026 06:00:00 -0500

An old oak tree that has stood along East Stone Street for generations will get a new life — with the help of a chainsaw.

Collinsville resident Awbrey Hughlett has commissioned Della Meredith Chainsaw Carvings to transform the trunk of a massive oak tree at 107 E. Stone St. into a roughly 10-foot-tall pirate in a nod to Collinsville school spirit.

The carving will take about three days to complete, with part of the work scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 19, in conjunction with Collinsville Pioneer Day. Hughlett said the public is welcome to stop by and watch the chainsaw carving take shape.

Visitors will also have an opportunity to see inside the historic three-story home on the property. Hughlett plans to offer tours of the house during Pioneer Day.

Hughlett purchased the property several years ago and has since undertaken an extensive renovation of the historic home.

The tours will give visitors a chance to see the results of that work while also watching another piece of the property’s history take on a new form outside.

The carving project began with a problem.

Hughlett said the old oak in front of the house had deteriorated to the point that it posed a threat to nearby homes and power lines.

Instead of cutting it completely to the ground and facing the task of removing a stump about 3 feet in diameter, he left approximately 15 feet of the trunk standing.

“My plan was to get it carved into something,” Hughlett said. “I thought that would be a great idea.”

Hughlett estimates the tree could be more than 100 years old and said it had only died within the last two or three years. Its size and age had made it something of a neighborhood landmark.

“A lot of people know of it,” he said. “It’s kind of an icon, I guess, if you will, of the neighborhood. Give it a little extra new life as something else, and it can continue existing.”

Once he decided to turn the trunk into a piece of art, Hughlett began considering what the finished sculpture should depict. He eventually settled on something distinctly Collinsville — a pirate.

“I felt like the most applicable thing for a small town is something school spirit related,” he said.

Hughlett contacted several chainsaw artists before selecting Houston-area artist Della Meredith. While other artists he contacted were willing to carve sculptures up to about 8 feet tall, Meredith agreed to create a 10-foot piece.

Her previous work also helped make the decision. Hughlett said Meredith has experience creating pirate-themed carvings, including work in the Galveston area.

“She’s done pirate-related things before,” Hughlett said. “It kind of fits in her repertoire. I figured she was a good fit for what we’re trying to accomplish.”

The project will primarily be completed with chainsaws, with scaffolding allowing Meredith to work around the towering trunk.

Meredith expects the sculpture to require at least three days of work. Hughlett requested that one of those days coincide with Pioneer Day so festival visitors can see the artist at work.

Whether Saturday will fall near the beginning, middle or end of the carving process has not yet been determined.

Once completed, the pirate will remain rooted in its original location. Hughlett said he is still deciding whether the finished sculpture will be painted, stained or otherwise treated.

He also has an unconventional plan for the back of the sculpture.

Hughlett has asked Meredith to leave a flat area where visitors can pay $5 to carve their own names, initials or messages into the tree.

The money will help offset the cost of commissioning the sculpture while giving residents an opportunity to leave their own mark on the old oak.

Hughlett said carving names into trees is a long-standing tradition, and he figures people might eventually be tempted to do it anyway.

Rather than fight it, he decided to “lean into it.”

For Hughlett, Pioneer Day will offer a chance to showcase both preservation and something new at 107 E. Stone St.

Visitors can tour a historic home given new life through an extensive renovation while watching a century-old oak begin its own transformation into a new Collinsville landmark.

House of Brews serves coffee, camaraderie

Fri, 18 Sep 2026 06:00:00 -0500

WHITESBORO - Right down Main street in Whitesboro sits a coffee shop filled with music, fellowship and good times.

For Chris Jefferson, a full-time firefighter and paramedic for 31 years in Plano, he’s pouring that same heart for service into House of Brews.

Jefferson’s connection to the shop began long before he owned it. When Jefferson moved to town back in 2000, he was in search of a local place with good coffee when he found Brewed Octane. As an avid coffee lover, he enjoyed going to the coffee shop regularly to get something folks couldn’t really get anywhere else in town - a good cup of crafted coffee in a true coffee shop atmosphere.

When one of the owners passed away, her husband couldn’t bear being up there without his wife. So, he decided to give Jefferson an offer on the coffee shop or otherwise close it down.

Jefferson thought it would be a shame for the community to lose the coffee shop, so he stepped in to keep it alive.

Since opening under its new name in 2022, Jefferson has enjoyed making House of Brews a place where everybody feels welcome to hang out. He renovated the coffee shop from a western cowboy theme into a music-themed look with artwork made by local artists and a new name inspired by the House of Blues.

They host occasional game nights, board game tournaments and music nights once a month where local artists come in to sing songs, play instruments and have a great time.

Local artwork lines the walls, showcasing the creativity of the community. Their coffee comes fresh from a roaster in Fort Worth, a proprietary Brazilian Ethiopian blend crafted specially for House of Brews.

Smoothies, frappes, lattes and espresso drinks are available as well.

They currently have a full breakfast menu with items such as burritos, waffles, french toast and locally baked goods.

Jefferson says it is special getting to see how people have made the coffee shop their home. He’s now planning to expand the kitchen to serve more people quickly and offer even more menu options.

When he’s not on duty, Jefferson is at the shop ready to welcome folks in, catch up with regulars and drum up fresh coffee that brings the community together.

House of Brews is located at 413 W. Main Street in Whitesboro. They’re open Monday through Friday 7 a.m.-12 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.-6 p.m. and Saturday from 7 a.m.-2 p.m. They’re closed Sunday.

Raffle brings prizes and giving to community

Fri, 18 Sep 2026 06:00:00 -0500

Eight area residents went home with some impressive prizes Monday, but the real winners are the local organizations that will benefit from the proceeds.

Raceway Charities of Texoma (RCT) held its first-ever Stars, Stripes & Summer Nights raffle, giving ticket holders a chance to win everything from a kids racing dirt bike to a professional welding table while helping raise money for local organizations.

Winners were drawn Monday during an RCT Labor Day lake cookout at Big Mineral’s Goose Island.

Stars, Stripes & Summer Nights raffle winners were:
• Shane (last name not provided) – RPS 70CC kids racing dirt bike
• Melissa Adams – Set of two John Deere bar stools
• Ty Miller – NAPA tool bag
• Robert Davis – Two-night, off-season campsite at Big Mineral with washer toss game set
• Randy Wells – O’Reilly wash bucket kit
• Joshua Gant – Wheeler Metal Extreme HD welding table
• Travis Nobles – Lincoln Power MIG 140 MP welder
• Genaro Recinos – Two tickets to the TMS Dirt Track Championship

RCT founder Steve Sprague said the idea for the raffle came after seeing the success of ticket raffles held by Whitesboro’s Peanut Festival and other area organizations.

Sprague is always looking for creative ways to support local communities, and he saw the raffle as another opportunity for RCT to raise money while bringing some excitement to those who purchased tickets.

Tickets went on sale Memorial Day weekend for $20 each and were available in Whitesboro at Cripple Creek Ranch Texas Store and Threaded, as well as in Missouri at Ed Morris Chevrolet in Lebanon and Pogue Motors in Wentzville.

“Thanks to everyone who purchased tickets, RCT is able to spread donations around to several local organizations,” Sprague said.

The raffle also received support from a long list of businesses and sponsors who contributed a diverse lineup of prizes and helped make the fundraiser possible.

Local contributors included Big Mineral Resort & Marina; Threaded; Mr. Jose; Sonic; Brookshire Bros.; United Ag & Turf; Nobles Tree Care; O’Reilly in Van Alstyne; Cripple Creek Ranch Texas Store; Hayes’s Florist; and the Whitesboro News-Record.

Out-of-state sponsors included Cone’s Motorcycle Sales of Norman, Oklahoma; Heritage Tractor of Rogersville, Missouri; NAPA of Batesville, Arkansas; and Wheeler Metals of Muskogee, Oklahoma.

For Sprague, the success of the raffle is about more than the prizes.

“RCT enjoyed doing the raffle, and we’re already planning on doing another one this winter,” he said. “We really enjoy doing charity work – it brings us such joy. What we do truly comes from the heart, and we love being able to give back to the community.”

With one raffle now in the books and another already in the works, Sprague said RCT’s commitment to giving back is just getting started. The prizes may have gone home with eight lucky winners, but the generosity behind the raffle will continue to benefit the communities RCT calls home.

Volleyball Rundown

Fri, 18 Sep 2026 06:00:00 -0500

S&S opened District 10-3A play with a five-set victory over Blue Ridge, while Howe and Gunter remained unbeaten in district action. Tioga picked up a non-district sweep and Collinsville finished fourth at the Saint Jo Tournament.

Lady Rams outlast Blue Ridge in five
Brady Clark had 18 kills, 10 digs and four blocks as S&S outlasted Blue Ridge, 25-22, 25-23, 19-25, 16-25, 17-15, in the Lady Rams’ District 10-3A opener.
Bella Bennett and Lola Morrow each totaled eight kills and four blocks, while Rylee Garrison handed out 34 assists and served three aces.
Hannah Foster finished with 18 digs and three aces, Ryleigh Carr added five kills, three blocks and 12 digs and Addy Russell served four aces.
S&S (19-6, 1-0) played at Leonard on Tuesday night. Results were not available as of press time.
Blue Ridge fell to 20-10 overall and 0-2 in district play.

Bells falls to Howe
Howe remained unbeaten in district play with a 25-20, 25-13, 25-22 sweep of Bells.
The Lady Bulldogs (22-7, 2-0) host Gunter on Tuesday, while Bells plays at Pottsboro.

Tioga rolls past Bellevue
Tioga cruised to a 25-10, 25-7, 25-18 sweep of Bellevue in non-district action.
The Lady Bulldogs (25-7) played at Bonham on Tuesday night.

Collinsville finishes fourth in Saint Jo Tournament
Collinsville finished fourth at the Saint Jo Tournament after a 25-9, 25-22 loss to Fort Worth All Saints in the third-place match.
The Lady Pirates (16-11) reached the semifinals with a 25-10, 24-26, 25-18 victory over Grayson Christian before falling to Whitewright, 25-23, 25-20.
Collinsville hosted Dodd City on Tuesday night. Results were not available as of press time.

September 8
Gunter extended its district winning streak to 84 matches with a sweep of Blue Ridge, while Howe and Leonard also opened District 10-3A play with victories. In non-district action, Van Alstyne extended its winning streak to 13 matches with a five-set victory over Tioga, while Whitewright and Collinsville also earned wins.

Howe holds off Pottsboro
Howe won the first two sets, dropped the next two and recovered in the fifth to beat Pottsboro, 25-23, 25-15, 25-27, 23-25, 15-12, in the district opener.
The Lady Bulldogs improved to 21-7 overall and 1-0 in district play.

Bells falls in district opener
Bells opened District 10-3A play with a 25-11, 25-22, 25-17 loss to Leonard.
Leonard improved to 22-7 overall and 1-0 in district play.

Van Alstyne tops Tioga, wins 13th straight
Van Alstyne extended its winning streak to 13 matches by outlasting Tioga, 25-16, 22-25, 24-26, 25-20, 15-9.
Kyndall Whitley led Tioga with 23 kills and 17 digs, while Kennedy Slay added 13 kills and seven digs. Lindsay David had seven kills, Bella Dennis collected 16 digs and Maddy Schon finished with 15 digs.
Sadie Bates handed out 21 assists to go with 14 digs and five aces, while Ella Norwood had 15 assists and 10 digs.
Van Alstyne improved to 24-4, while Tioga fell to 24-7.

Lewis leads Whitewright past Pilot Point
Demi Lewis had 18 kills, 15 digs, three blocks and three aces as Whitewright rallied for a 21-25, 25-9, 25-22, 25-19 victory over Pilot Point.
Julianne Trotter added 11 kills and 11 digs, Piper Morrison put down nine kills and Aubrey Pettit totaled 30 assists, 18 digs, six kills and two aces.
Whitewright improved to 18-5.

Collinsville wins five-set battle
Collinsville rallied after dropping the opening set and outlasted Callisburg, 22-25, 25-10, 25-20, 16-25, 15-11.
The Lady Pirates improved to 13-8.

Tom Bean falls to Tishomingo
Tom Bean rallied from a two-set deficit to force a fifth before falling to Tishomingo, Oklahoma, 26-24, 25-20, 15-25, 16-25, 25-18.
The Lady Tomcats fell to 11-13.

Lady Tigers build momentum heading into district

Fri, 18 Sep 2026 06:00:00 -0500

The Whitewright Lady Tigers will enter District 13-2A play next week with a 22-7 record after navigating a challenging non-district schedule and three tournaments.

Whitewright closes its non-district schedule with matches at Paris on Tuesday and Saint Jo on Friday before opening district play at Lindsay on Sept. 22.

The Lady Tigers have built momentum after suffering consecutive three-set losses to Van Alstyne and Leonard. Whitewright responded with three straight victories, sweeping Pottsboro before defeating Dodd City and Pilot Point in four sets.

Whitewright also closed its tournament schedule with a strong showing at the Saint Jo Tournament.

After losing its opening match to FCA, the Lady Tigers worked their way into the Gold Championship Bracket with victories over Chico, Detroit and Seymour. Whitewright then defeated future district opponent Collinsville to advance to the championship match.

Several players have contributed to Whitewright’s 22-win start.

Demi Lewis, Julianne Trotter and Piper Morrison have led the attack at the net, while Trotter, Aubrey Pettit and Kendall Sharpe have been among the team’s defensive leaders in digs.

Lewis and Morrison have provided the Lady Tigers’ top blocking presence, while Lewis, Pettit and Trotter have led the team from the service line. Pettit and Reese Henderson have handled much of the setting duties and led Whitewright in assists.

JV has also shown improvement during the non-district schedule.

The JV Lady Tigers are 4-10 after snapping an early three-match losing streak with a three-set victory over Pilot Point. They also went 3-1 on the opening day of the Saint Jo Tournament with victories over Alvord, Tishomingo and Saint Jo.

With the non-district portion of the schedule nearly complete, the varsity Lady Tigers now have two final tuneups before turning their attention to district play and a road match against Lindsay.

Lindsay hands Tigers first loss

Fri, 18 Sep 2026 06:00:00 -0500

Whitewright suffered its first loss of the season as Lindsay defeated the Tigers in non-district action.

Maddox Smart caught a 12-yard touchdown pass and added five carries for 18 yards for Whitewright.

Peyton Smith completed 11 of 22 passes for 143 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Keelan Washington caught five passes for 40 yards, Xander Hall had a 39-yard reception and Nolan Rigby finished with six carries for 32 yards.

Casen Williford led Lindsay (1-2) with three rushing touchdowns.

Whitewright (2-1) travels to Cumby on Friday. When the Van Alstyne football team travels to Sunnyvale on Friday, one team will walk off the field with its first loss of the season.

Van Alstyne, Sunnyvale meet in battle of unbeatens
Both the Raiders and Panthers are 3-0. Sunnyvale defeated Ferris 52-34, while VA handled Greenville 38-13 last week.

In the Panthers’ win against Greenville, quarterback Cason Howard accounted for four touchdowns — three rushing and one passing — and Cayden Benedict caught five passes for 79 yards and a touchdown while also returning a blocked field goal for a score. Graham Haynes returned a kickoff for VA’s other touchdown.

Cayson Maupin leads the offense with 873 passing yards and 10 touchdowns. Grayson Smith has 20 catches for 330 yards and seven touchdowns, Sam Baldwin has 13 catches for 172 yards, Greyson Walker has four catches for 158 yards and two scores and Riley Harris has seven catches for 125 yards and a touchdown.

Sulphur (Okla.) at Gunter
Another battle of unbeatens features an interstate matchup between Sulphur, Oklahoma, and Gunter, which are both 2-0. The Bulldogs and Tigers square off at 7 p.m. Friday in Gunter.

Gunter is coming off a 28-19 victory at Jefferson last week. Ashton Pinkernell ran for 142 yards and a touchdown to lead the offense, while Blake Boland led the defense with 20 tackles and a sack.

Sulphur is led by running back Jeremiah Gray, who has 370 yards and two touchdowns on 29 carries. Malichi Morris leads the Bulldogs’ defense with 25 tackles, five tackles for loss and a sack.

Pottsboro vs. Callisburg
Pottsboro (2-1) looks to continue its winning streak, while Callisburg (0-3) searches for its first victory when the teams meet at 7 p.m. Friday at Leopard Stadium in Gainesville.

The Cardinals soared past Leonard 49-13 last week, led by Brayden Sheffield, who passed for 195 yards and four touchdowns and rushed six times for 61 yards.
Corbin Robison had seven catches for 115 yards and three touchdowns, while Brody Burdette rushed seven times for 53 yards and two scores.

Evan Roebuck had three catches for 39 yards and a touchdown, Brady Wynn added four catches for 41 yards and Trae Pocza rushed six times for 24 yards and a score.

The Wildcats enter Friday’s matchup following a 26-6 loss at Tioga. Callisburg opens district play next week against Howe.

Emory Rains at Howe
Howe (1-2) looks to bounce back at home against Rains (1-2) after suffering a 69-34 loss at Pilot Point last week. The Wildcats are coming off a 55-15 loss to Grand Saline.

Rylan Strong had a mammoth night for the Bulldogs against Pilot Point, rushing 13 times for 182 yards and three touchdowns while catching three passes for 82 yards and another score. Deacon Bender passed for 199 yards and two touchdowns, while Brodie Sellers had three catches for 57 yards and a score.

Trenton at S&S
A 179-yard rushing performance from Eli Nortman was one of the few bright spots for S&S in a 56-14 loss at Nocona last week.

The Rams host Trenton (3-0) at 7 p.m. Friday.

Nortman has rushed for 606 yards and six touchdowns this season. The undefeated Tigers are coming off a 34-0 shutout of Chico.

Farmersville at Bells
Bells (1-2) hopes to bounce back from consecutive 20-point losses when Farmersville (2-1) comes to town. The Panthers lost to Collinsville 34-14 last week, while the Farmers defeated Ponder 36-15.

Bells’ only victory this season was a 27-21 win against Pottsboro — the same team that defeated Farmersville 38-17 a week later.

In Friday’s loss, Westin Hicks led the Panthers with 67 yards on seven carries, while Tyler Whitman had a 63-yard touchdown run on his only carry.

The Colony at Sherman
Sherman (0-3) hosts The Colony (3-0) in the first game at the new Bearcat Stadium at 7 p.m. Friday.

The Bearcats will look to bounce back from a 45-7 loss at Argyle Liberty Christian, while the Cougars are coming off a 56-6 rout of Dallas W.T. White.

Brycen Taylor’s 29-yard touchdown catch from Daniel Ramos saved Sherman from a shutout last week. The Bearcats were limited to 154 yards of total offense
.
Frisco Panther Creek at Denison
Denison (1-2, 0-1 District 4-5A Division II) will look to bounce back from a heartbreaking 26-21 loss at Prosper Richland when it hosts Panther Creek (2-1, 0-1). The Panthers lost their district opener to Anna 42-27 last week.

Denison drove to the Richland 9-yard line as time expired last week. Rashaun Dehorney rushed 23 times for 131 yards and a touchdown, while Paxton Nesbitt passed for 199 yards and two scores. Shandan Love had three catches for 60 yards and a touchdown, and Gavin Mandrell added five catches for 65 yards and a score.

Matthew Summerall contributed to this report.

Former district rivals Tioga, Tom Bean meet Friday

Fri, 18 Sep 2026 06:00:00 -0500

Something has to give when former district rivals Tioga and Tom Bean meet Friday night.

Both teams enter the contest fresh off victories — the Tomcats a 39-0 win against Valley View and the Bulldogs a 26-6 victory against Callisburg. Only one will continue its winning streak when Tioga (1-2) hosts Tom Bean (2-1) at 7 p.m. at Bulldog Stadium.

In the win against Callisburg, Jake David led the way with six catches for 81 yards and a touchdown to go with nine carries for 74 yards. David leads the Bulldogs in rushing with 159 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries and receiving with 14 catches for 165 yards and two touchdowns.

Cole Boyd also had a big night for Tioga, passing for 177 yards and three touchdowns. He has thrown for 545 yards and six touchdowns this season.

Quesyn Arrington had two catches for 33 yards and a touchdown and returned a kickoff 85 yards for another score, while Jaxson Hurst had six catches for 48 yards and a touchdown against Callisburg. Arrington has 10 catches for 131 yards and two touchdowns this season, while Hurst has 15 catches for 154 yards and two scores.

Henry Cheek led the way in Tom Bean’s win against Valley View, passing for 252 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 115 yards and three scores. He has thrown for 618 yards and eight touchdowns and rushed for 172 yards and four scores this season.

Cain Pearson had seven catches for 133 yards and a touchdown, while Jacob Lind added five catches for 61 yards and a score against Valley View. Pearson has 19 catches for 160 yards and three touchdowns this season, Lind has 11 catches for 127 yards and two scores and Paxton Parrish has 12 catches for 109 yards and three touchdowns.

Collinsville alums match football wits Friday night

Fri, 18 Sep 2026 06:00:00 -0500

Brady Carney and Garrett Patterson are pretty close.

Although they graduated four years apart, both grew up in Collinsville and graduated from Collinsville High School — Carney in 1994 and Patterson in 1998.

Their relationship has continued through their coaching careers, with Patterson considering Carney a mentor and both coaches regularly sharing advice about their programs.

“(Carney) always shoots me straight and tells me what he really thinks about our schemes, kids and how we can improve,” Patterson said.
Carney said the relationship works both ways.

“He’s not going to hurt my feelings, and I’m not going to hurt his feelings,” Carney said. “It’s just two friends that are trying to help each other out. I try to do whatever I can to help Garrett out whenever I can. I consider him one of my good friends, and I’m here to help him as much as I can, and he does the same for me.”

That friendship will be put aside for a few hours Friday night.

Carney coaches at Muenster, where he has led the Hornets to three state championships, while Patterson is the head coach at Collinsville. The two undefeated teams meet at 7 p.m. Friday at Hornet Stadium in Muenster.

“I love coaching against Coach Carney, and I know we have to have a great plan to win against his teams,” Patterson said. “Muenster is always dangerous. Their kids play very hard, and they have one of the best coaching staffs in the state. Obviously, graduation takes a toll, but they are a traditional state championship-winning program, so they know what it takes to win big games.”

Carney has similar respect for what Patterson has built at Collinsville. He believes the Pirates have the pieces to make a deep postseason run.

“To me, this is kind of the year for Collinsville,” Carney said. “I really believe if they stay healthy, they get a chance to play for a state championship.”

Carney pointed to realignment, Collinsville’s position in Region III and a veteran group led by quarterback Paxton Davidson as reasons for his optimism.

“I think Collinsville is one of those top teams in both of those regions,” Carney said of Regions III and IV. “With the talent he’s got, especially at the quarterback position, if he stays healthy, I think he’s got as good a shot at playing for it as anybody does out of Regions III and IV.”

Both the Pirates and Hornets enter Friday night’s contest with 3-0 records. Muenster is coming off a 33-28 win at Windthorst, while Collinsville defeated Bells 34-14 last week.

The matchup is no longer a district game after Muenster, the defending back-to-back Class 2A Division II state champion, moved up to Class 2A Division I this fall. But neither coach had much interest in letting the series end.

“There was no question as far as us playing,” Carney said. “He wanted to play, and I wanted to play. We just had to find the right time to play.”

Carney said games against quality opponents are valuable even if they result in an early-season loss. Muenster finished pre-district play 3-2 in each of the past two seasons before going on to win state championships.

“No one likes to lose, but at the same time, our losses to Pottsboro and Holliday helped us out whenever we got to the playoffs and in district,” Carney said. “If you lose a game right now, in a good game with good opponents and good football teams, you get better from it, win or lose.”

Muenster has opened this season 3-0 despite working several younger players into the lineup.

The Hornets were without three key players for much or all of last week’s victory over Windthorst. Dustin Crofts is out with a torn ACL, Colin Otto missed the game with the flu and Brady Clement left after the opening series with a hip pointer.

That forced Carney to lean on as many as eight sophomores against an experienced Windthorst team.

“I think the main thing for us is I do see that we’ve got a lot of fight in us,” Carney said. “We fought our tails off and never gave up. We had a lot of sophomores get really big-game experience last week, and they showed that they know how to fight a little bit.”

Carney said the Hornets still have plenty to clean up before district play.

“I feel good about our effort,” he said. “I still don’t feel like we’re executing like we’ve been coached to execute and doing things the right way all the time, so we still have a lot of stuff we’ve got to work on.”

Senior quarterback Carter Heller leads the Muenster offense. He has passed for 320 yards and five touchdowns while also leading the Hornets with 504 rushing yards and eight scores.

Collinsville counters with Davidson, whom Carney called an “exceptional player.”

In the Pirates’ victory against Bells last week, Davidson threw for 239 yards and three touchdowns — all to Caysen Sheppard — and ran 11 times for 70 yards and a score. Sheppard had 12 catches for 90 yards and three touchdowns, while Chase Sheppard ran 16 times for 96 yards. Rylan Brown added five carries for 25 yards and a touchdown.

“On offense, of course, it all runs through the quarterback,” Carney said. “Paxton’s an exceptional player. He throws the ball well and is a physical runner.”

Carney said one of Patterson’s challenges during the early portion of the season is balancing Davidson’s ability as a runner with keeping him healthy for district and postseason play.

“A loss is not going to affect what he does eight weeks from now as much as losing him,” Carney said. “He’s got to be smart with his touches because everything runs through Paxton.”

Carney also has been impressed with Collinsville defensively.

The Pirates limited run-heavy Bells to 198 rushing yards and no passing yards last week. The Panthers attempted just one pass.

“We had to play physical in the box, our defensive linemen did a great job of playing low, and our outside linebackers played the edge very well,” Patterson said. “Our defense rallied to the ball all night long and played very physical.”

Carney said Collinsville’s new defensive scheme is still developing, but its experience is evident.

“You can see they’re still trying to figure a few things out, but the Sheppard kid, Paxton, the Schafer kid — all those guys,” Carney said. “They’ve been playing since they were freshmen.”

The Pirates nearly matched Bells on the ground with 195 rushing yards. The Panthers were led by Westin Hicks with 67 yards on seven carries, while Tyler Whitman scored on a 63-yard run on his only carry. Quarterback Jax Pitt also had a touchdown run.

“I don’t know that it sends a statement because every Friday night we have to adjust to new schemes from different opponents,” Patterson said. “But stopping the run is a huge component in winning big games like Friday night.”

Collinsville is looking for its first victory against Muenster since a 51-27 win in 2023.

For Patterson, beating his friend and mentor will require the same kind of complete performance the Pirates showed last week.

“It’s going to be tough. Winning against them is tough, but playing them in Muenster is even harder,” Patterson said. “We will have to play a complete game like we did last week. The kids will have to have a great week of preparation.”

For Carney, Friday represents another chance for two friends to test their programs against one another — before going back to helping each other once the game is over.

“We’re always here for each other to help each other out and hopefully improve our football teams,” Carney said.

Grayson County Arrest Report

Fri, 18 Sep 2026 06:00:00 -0500

The following people were booked into the Grayson County Jail Sept. 7-13. An arrest is not an indication of guilt, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless convicted in a court of law.

Sept. 7
Carissa Lynn Speegle was arrested by Sherman PD for driving while intoxicated.
Johnny E. Espinal Rodriguez was arrested by Howe PD for assault of a family or household member by impeding breathing or circulation.
Christopher Glenn Hauser was arrested by Sherman PD for four counts of driving without a license, failure to signal the required distance before a turn, failure to provide proof of financial responsibility and littering on public or private property.
Steven Ray Bailey was arrested by Sherman PD for theft of property valued at $1,500 or more but less than $20,000.
David Johnson was arrested by Sherman PD for public intoxication.
Randy Dale Dobbins was arrested by Denison PD for being a fugitive from justice.
Dennis Wayne Sampson was arrested by Sherman PD for public intoxication.
Rosalie Ann Olson was arrested by Sherman PD for public intoxication.
Alvaro Rascon Rodriguez was arrested by Sherman PD for theft of property valued at $100 or more but less than $750.
Tammy Lynn Hurst was arrested by GCSO for possession of a controlled substance, Penalty Group 1/1-B, less than 1 gram.

Sept. 8
Levi Daniel Cunningham was arrested by Denison PD for driving while intoxicated, second offense.
Anson Sabu was arrested by Sherman PD for reckless driving.
Chelsey Kayla Gill was arrested by Sherman PD for financial abuse of an elderly person involving $100 or more but less than $750.
Christopher Scott Wilson was arrested by GCSO for unlawfully carrying a weapon.
Darryl Anthony Kemp was arrested by Sherman PD for possession of a controlled substance, Penalty Group 3, less than 28 grams.
Jonathan Alvarado Garcia was arrested by Denison PD for driving while intoxicated and resisting arrest, search or transport.
Ronald Earl Waymire was arrested by GCSO for driving while intoxicated, second offense.
Tyrone Dewayne Dunlap was arrested by GCSO on a motion to revoke for theft of property valued at $100 or more but less than $750.
Jerry Scott Miller was arrested by GCSO for being a fugitive from justice.
Dequendrick Tre Lovings was arrested by GCSO on a failure-to-appear warrant for failure to identify as a fugitive by giving false information.
Justin Christopher Crosson was arrested by GCSO for possession of a controlled substance, Penalty Group 1/1-B, less than 1 gram.
Christopher Cecil Rich was arrested by GCSO for aggravated assault causing serious bodily injury.
Tiffany Leanne Dewey was arrested by Collinsville PD for injury to a child, elderly or disabled person with intent to cause bodily injury.

Sept. 9
No arrests were submitted for Wednesday Sept. 9. The News-Record has reached out to the GCSO for clarification and will post those arrests next week— if, indeed, any occurred.

Sept. 10
Oscar Giovanni Garcia was arrested by Sherman PD for possession of a controlled substance, Penalty Group 1/1-B, less than 1 gram.
Charles Casey Holmes was arrested by Sherman PD for violating a bond or protective order two or more times within 12 months.
Thomas Ryan Adams was arrested by Sherman PD on a failure-to-appear warrant for theft of property valued at $100 or more but less than $750, a motion to adjudicate for possession of a controlled substance, Penalty Group 1, less than 1 gram, and for possession of a controlled substance, Penalty Group 1/1-B, less than 1 gram.
Harley Raelynne Osborne was arrested by GCSO for assault causing bodily injury.
Andrew Austin Pruitt was arrested by Denison PD for assault causing bodily injury-family violence, criminal mischief involving damage of $750 or more but less than $2,500 and resisting arrest, search or transport.
Lavonda Marie McKee was arrested by GCSO on a motion to adjudicate for theft of property valued at $100 or more but less than $750.
Britton Ramon Jefferson was arrested by Denison PD for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, collision involving injury, burglary of a habitation and on a Collin County charge of possession of a controlled substance, Penalty Group 2, 1 gram or more but less than 4 grams.
Paige Nicole Mitchell was arrested by GCSO on a motion to adjudicate for enhanced theft of property valued at $750 or more but less than $2,500.
Andrea Michelle May was arrested by GCSO on failure-to-appear warrants for possession of a controlled substance, Penalty Group 3, less than 28 grams, and possession of a dangerous drug.
Rhonda Kaye Coleman was arrested by GCSO on a motion to revoke for theft of property valued at less than $2,500 with two or more previous convictions.
Jovanni Javier Gonzales was arrested by GCSO for two counts of possession of a controlled substance, Penalty Group 1/1-B, less than 1 gram in a drug-free zone, and manufacture or delivery of a controlled substance, Penalty Group 3/4, 28 grams or more but less than 200 grams.
Merwin Towner Walker was arrested by GCSO for driving while intoxicated, second offense.
Johnnie Lee Dewitt was arrested by Denison PD for hindering apprehension or prosecution and evading arrest or detention.
Ronald Hernandez was arrested by Howe PD for driving while intoxicated.
Alvin Todd Polly was arrested by Whitewright PD for possession of a controlled substance, Penalty Group 1/1-B, less than 1 gram.
Maryam Babar was arrested by Sherman PD for driving while intoxicated and driving while intoxicated with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.15 or higher.

Sept. 11
Amber Lynn Ridinger was arrested by GCSO for evading arrest or detention with a vehicle.
Aunesty Ericka D’Rose Cole was arrested by GCSO for stealing or receiving a stolen check and forgery of a financial instrument.
Aaron Cheyenne Teel was arrested by GCSO on motions to revoke for fraudulent use or possession of fewer than five items of identifying information belonging to an elderly person, two counts of credit or debit card abuse of an elderly person and burglary of a habitation.
Brittnee Taylor Smith was arrested by GCSO as a weekender for two counts of driving while intoxicated, second offense.
Ayden Mikel Logan was arrested by GCSO as a weekender for unauthorized use of a vehicle.
Daniel James Hemingway was arrested by GCSO as a weekender for driving while intoxicated, third or more offense.
Joshua Blake Daniels was arrested by Whitewright PD for assault causing bodily injury.
Cason James Stills was arrested by GCSO as a weekender for driving while intoxicated with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.15 or higher.

Sept. 12
Bobby Jacob Crabtree was arrested by GCSO for possession of marijuana under 2 ounces.
Su Thwee Kya was arrested by Van Alstyne PD for public intoxication.
Jennifer Mae Petty was arrested by GCSO for possession of a controlled substance, Penalty Group 1/1-B, less than 1 gram.
Thomas Lee Justice was arrested by Sherman PD for public intoxication.
Sa Moe-Aye La was arrested by Van Alstyne PD for driving while intoxicated.
Miguel Angel Hernandez was arrested by Sherman PD for assault causing bodily injury-family violence.
Christian Jesus Duarte Castillo was arrested by Howe PD for reckless driving.
Michael Anthony King was arrested by GCSO on a Tarrant County charge of credit or debit card abuse of an elderly person.
Ricardo Delgado was arrested by Sherman PD for possession of a controlled substance, Penalty Group 1/1-B, less than 1 gram in a drug-free zone.

Sept. 13
Christopher Lew Banks was arrested by GCSO for assault of a peace officer, resisting arrest, search or transport and taking a weapon from an officer.
Amy Naylor Simms was arrested by Southmayd PD for driving while intoxicated.
Leticia Haladia Rodriguez was arrested by Sherman PD and GCSO on Red River County warrants for bail jumping and failure to appear.
Khayman Michael Maike was arrested by Sherman PD for assault causing bodily injury-family violence.
Jaydan Layne Bradford was arrested by Sherman PD for injury to a child, elderly or disabled person with intent to cause bodily injury.
Edward Major Lawler III was arrested by Howe PD for possession of marijuana, more than 2 ounces but not more than 4 ounces.
Cristina Flores was arrested by Sherman PD for assault causing bodily injury-family violence.
Kyle Eugene Gawrych was arrested by Denison PD for driving while intoxicated, third or more offense, possession of a controlled substance, Penalty Group 2, less than 1 gram, and tampering with or fabricating physical evidence with intent to impair.

Hagerman NWR to host National Day of Conservation event on Sept. 26

Fri, 18 Sep 2026 06:00:00 -0500

On Saturday, Sept. 26, Mossy Oak Properties Cross Timbers Land & Home will partner with Friends of Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) to host a local National Day of Conservation event at Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge.

The volunteer event will bring together land professionals, conservationists, outdoor enthusiasts, families and community members with one shared purpose: leaving the land better than they found it.

For Mossy Oak Properties Cross Timbers Land & Home, the event is about far more than fulfilling a company initiative. It is an opportunity for people who make their living working with land to give something meaningful back to it.

Broker and owner Jared Groce has spent years helping clients buy and sell farms, ranches, recreational properties and hunting land throughout North Texas and Southern Oklahoma. That work has strengthened his belief that enjoying and owning land also carries a responsibility to care for it.

“Conservation is not just something we talk about—it is something we believe should be practiced,” Groce said. “The land gives so much to our families and communities. This is an opportunity to give some of that back while helping protect it for the generations who will come after us.”

Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge provides an ideal setting for putting that belief into action. Located on the southern end of Lake Texoma, the refuge offers valuable habitat for migratory birds, native wildlife and plant species while giving visitors a place to experience and learn about the outdoors.

Through the partnership with Friends of Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge, volunteers will have an opportunity to assist with hands-on conservation and improvement efforts coordinated for the refuge. The day is also intended to help participants better understand the importance of healthy wildlife habitat, responsible land stewardship and the role ordinary citizens can play in protecting natural spaces.

Conservation does not always require a large organization, a significant donation or years of specialized experience. It can begin with picking up litter, maintaining a trail, improving wildlife habitat or simply taking the time to learn why these places matter. When those individual efforts are brought together, they can make a lasting difference.

Organizers hope the September event will also encourage families to participate. Introducing children and young people to conservation gives them a personal connection to the land and helps build an appreciation for the outdoor heritage that remains such an important part of life in North Texas.

The National Day of Conservation is ultimately about bringing people together—not only to complete a day of work, but to build a stronger culture of stewardship throughout the region.

Mossy Oak Properties Cross Timbers Land & Home and Friends of Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge hope this will become an annual community tradition, growing each year as more residents, businesses and organizations become involved.

Community members, families, outdoor groups and local businesses are encouraged to participate on Sept. 26. No matter a person’s age or previous conservation experience, there is value in showing up and lending a hand.

Capital Highlights

Fri, 18 Sep 2026 06:00:00 -0500

Senate GOP opens wallet for Paxton’s campaign
The Senate Republican leadership is pouring tens of millions of dollars into the U.S. Senate campaign of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who is locked in a tight race with Democratic nominee James Talarico.

A super PAC affiliated with Senate Majority Leader John Thune last week purchased about $32 million in television broadcast ads across the state’s major media markets, The Texas Tribune reported. In addition, MAGA Inc., a PAC aligned with President Donald Trump, bought $10 million in ads.

Paxton is trailing slightly in the most recent polls. To date, he has been vastly outspent by Talarico and his allies.

Paxton spoke at the Republican midterm convention held last week in Dallas, according to the Texas Standard. He unveiled his economic plan, titled Protecting the Texas Promise.

“Everywhere I go, I meet Texans working harder than ever that still worry that they’ll never get ahead,” Paxton said. “Those are the people that I’m fighting for.”

Meanwhile, Talarico was slated to appear on late-night host Jimmy Kimmel’s network show, but the interview was pulled under concerns that the Federal Communications Commission would take punitive action.

The interview was aired on YouTube instead. Several news outlets reported it received 5 million views in its first 24 hours.

Wildfire risk remains high as hunting season begins
The Ross Fire in North Texas has become the largest summer wildfire recorded in Texas, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service. As of Sunday, it had consumed 90,400 acres and was 83% contained.

Active wildfires were reported in five other locations in the Hill Country, northwest of Austin and San Antonio.

With hunting season now underway, officials are urging hunters to be mindful of activities that could spark a wildfire. In August, the forest service responded to 313 wildfires.

“The rapid onset of a flash drought increased fire occurrence and intensity statewide in August,” said Walter Flocke, Texas A&M Forest Service fire analyst. “Under flash drought conditions, grasses, brush and timber fuels lose moisture rapidly and become susceptible to ignition.”

A flash drought appears and worsens quickly, often over a few days or weeks.

Equipment used by hunters, such as vehicles, trailers, and ATVs/UTVs, is the second-most common cause of human-caused wildfires in Texas, behind debris burning.

“Even a small spark can quickly ignite a wildfire under the right conditions,” said Jared Karns, Texas A&M Forest Service fire chief. “Texans are encouraged to stay alert and be aware of hazards that can cause a wildfire while hunting this season.”

What’s new for the 2026-2027 hunting season
Dove hunting kicked off this year’s hunting season on Sept. 1, and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has announced regulatory changes for the coming year. Among the changes are updated identity verification rules to combat residency fraud.

Texas residents must provide a valid driver’s license or a personal identification certificate issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety. Non-Texas residents may be required to provide REAL ID-compliant identification.

Other regulation changes include:

“Doe days” expanded in 21 counties from four to 16 days.

Earlier start for the South Zone Dove regular season.

Elimination of Special White-winged Dove Days.

Matagorda and Wharton counties now closed to Wild Turkey hunting.

Harvest of unbearded Wild Turkey hens now prohibited statewide.

Definition of muzzleloader modified to allow for use of new muzzleloading technology.

Several season dates have been changed for the 2026-2027 hunting season and can be found at tpwd.gov.

Texas SNAP application backlog skyrockets
Applications to receive SNAP benefits have ballooned almost 4,000% since January, The Dallas Morning News reported. The backlog of pending applications now exceeds 150,000, according to data from the state Health and Human Services Commission.

“This is alarming,” said Diana Forester, director of health policy at Texans Care for Children. “It is very strange to me — I can’t believe it’s as big as it is.”

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act passed in July 2025 heavily restructured SNAP eligibility, including adding work requirements and requiring a state to fund part of the program based on its “error rate,” which calculates how much recipients were underpaid or overpaid in a year.

“New SNAP mandates require a thorough review of each case to ensure program integrity and accuracy,” state agency spokesperson Jennifer Ruffcorn wrote in an email. “HHSC will continue supporting eligible Texas families as quickly as possible.”

About 300,000 Texas households have lost SNAP coverage since September 2025, with the total dropping to 1.33 million as of August. Food banks across Texas are reporting higher demand for services.

Guidelines designed to protect consumers from discriminatory pricing
The Texas Department of Insurance recently reminded insurance companies that it is illegal to use factors other than insurance risk to set home and auto insurance rates.

“In Texas, we take pride in looking out for one another. When families are feeling the weight of property insurance costs, they deserve the confidence of knowing that their premiums are determined by genuine risk, not by pricing tactics that take advantage of customer loyalty,” said commissioner Amanda Crawford.
“Insurance is about pricing risk, not pricing the customer.”

Common factors used to determine premiums for home insurance include the home’s age, location, replacement cost, and any prior claims.

Auto insurance rates are determined by claims history, locations, and the customer’s age and gender. Insurance customers with questions can call the TDI help line at 800-25-3439 or visit tdi.texas.gov.

Cities push back on bid to disband their power companies
On the campaign trail, Abbott has proposed dismantling city-owned utilities, saying it would save customers money by increasing competition. Two cities that own electric utilities are pushing back, according to the Standard.

San Antonio and Austin have the state’s two largest city-owned electric utilities. Officials with both say they offer some of the cheapest electricity rates in the state because their utilities operate as nonprofit companies.

Abbott said his proposal would save 10% on the average electric bill for Austin and San Antonio residents. Among those disagreeing is Austin Mayor Kirk Watson. 

“Fundamentally changing our utility through deregulation would have broad and significant consequences to those we serve,” he wrote in a statement.

There are 72 municipally owned utilities that provide power to 5.1 million Texans, or 15% of the state’s population, according to the Texas Public Power Association.

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

Collinsville EDC launches Harvest Exchange initiative

Fri, 18 Sep 2026 06:00:00 -0500

Collinsville EDC recently announced a Harvest Exchange local food supply initiative with weekly breakfast meetings every Friday at 7 a.m. at the downtown Donut Shop. Everyone is invited to these sessions, functioning as ongoing thought-starters to advance the program, scheduled to debut as early spring growing-season begins.

Based on EDC Chair Joseph Cartwright’s lifelong passion for collaborations among local agriculture producers and consumers, the Harvest Exchange is forming a network of residents interested in participating at any level.

“Every week we’ve gotten new ideas,” Cartwright said. “We’re putting together a spreadsheet of locals who do everything from rural farms and backyard gardens to canning and pickling and even sharpening tools.”

Cartwright imagines a near future in Collinsville where food producers partner with residents and local restaurants to provide a reliable chain of fresh meats and produce, “and we’ll know that it comes from our neighbors.”

Cartwright’s op-ed style essay, challenging residents to “imagine” results of a local thriving agricultural ecosystem, can be found on the Collinsville EDC Facebook page.

Saturday “Seed Swap” planned for early November
A larger meeting is planned to announce Harvest Exchange developments, including plans for an informational website, and a “Seed Swap” will be available on Saturday, Nov. 7 at 7 p.m. in the Collinsville Community Center. Light refreshments will also be served.

To “opt in” to Harvest Exchange news, send an email to edc@collinsvilletexas.org

Bearcats host Indians after blanking Bulls

Fri, 18 Sep 2026 06:00:00 -0500

A week after proving it could run the football against run-heavy Bells, Whitesboro proved it could dominate on defense with a 51-0 victory over Bridgeport.

The Bearcats posted their first shutout of the season in dominant fashion. Whitesboro (3-0) allowed just nine yards of total offense, including minus-13 rushing yards, while recording 10 tackles for loss and seven sacks.

Elias Degraffenreed, Ayce Nelson and Scout Regelean each had two sacks. Degraffenreed added three tackles for loss, while Nelson and Regelean had two apiece. Victor Chavez led the Bearcats with 10 tackles.

Whitesboro was equally dominant on offense.

Colt Fagan completed 7 of 10 passes for 187 yards and two touchdowns. Ian Bruce and Wyatt Winchester caught touchdown passes of 43 and 40 yards, respectively, on their only receptions of the game.

Camron Howard led Whitesboro with four catches for 63 yards.

Justin Knight led the rushing attack with 84 yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries. Fagan added 24 yards and a touchdown on eight carries, while Regelean had six yards and a score on eight attempts. Dominic Ramos scored on his only carry, a 19-yard run.

The Bearcats now turn their attention to another unbeaten opponent as Sanger (3-0) comes to town for a rare Thursday night matchup. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at Bearcat Stadium.

Bola Ogunwuyi leads the Indians’ ground game with 672 yards and six touchdowns. He also has two catches for 32 yards and a score.

Austin Martin has rushed for 315 yards and three touchdowns while throwing for 296 yards and a score. Wyatt Pennington leads Sanger’s receivers with 14 catches for 171 yards, while Luke Hendricks has 11 receptions for 90 yards.

Sanger has yet to allow 30 points in a game.

Dezmond Sampson leads the Indians’ defense with 28 tackles, including 10 tackles for loss, and four sacks. Hendricks has 28 tackles, Max Taylor has 29 tackles with four tackles for loss and two sacks, and James Cook has 25 tackles, seven tackles for loss and two sacks.

5th Annual Chris Lovejoy Marching Invitational provides invaluable opportunity for area high school bands

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 06:00:00 -0500

The Whitesboro High School (WHS) marching band will host its 5th annual Chris Lovejoy Marching Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 26. The event attracts area high school marching bands to Bearcat Stadium where they can receive invaluable feedback from top judges in the state before heading into the UIL contest season.

The event is open to the first 15 bands who register. As of press time, participants for this year’s event include (2A) Collinsville, Honey Grove and Whitewright; (3A) Callisburg, Gunter, Howe, Palmer, Pottsboro, Quitman, S&S and Valley View; and (4A) Bonham and Farmersville high schools.

The judging format follows UIL guidelines, however, there will not be any timing penalties. A clock will run to simulate UIL timing rules to help participants prepare for contest season. There will be a five-minute setup, eight-minute performance and two-minute exit time for each competing band. An awards ceremony will follow both preliminary and finals performances. Preliminary awards will include Best Music/Guard/Visual in each class. Final awards will include Grand Champion, Runner-Up and Best Overall Music/Guard/Visual.

As hosts of the event, the WHS marching band will not compete but will instead perform an exhibition of their show, “The Author,” for the audience. The event is open to the public with a $5 admission fee (kids aged 10 and under are free). Concessions will be available for purchase throughout the day. Additionally, a “Shout-Out“ table will be available for people to show love and support to their student or band as they take the field. A merchandise table selling band-related souvenirs like buttons, stickers, keychains and lanyards will also be onsite.

Now in its fifth year, the marching invitational was named in honor of Chris Lovejoy, former member of the Whitesboro band and renowned band director in the area who passed away in 2018. Members of the Lovejoy family are typically in attendance to watch some of the event and to present an award to the winning band. While the band is honored to have the family members there, the honor is really that of the Lovejoy family.

“To remember Chris in this way is so kind and fitting,” Lovejoy’s sister Sharon Autry has said of the event. “He loved music and truly cared for the kids behind the instruments, and had a heart for the directors who lead them.”

Patricia Davis accepts awards at GFWC Annual Convention

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 06:00:00 -0500

The General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC) held its Annual Convention June 25–30 in Scottsdale, Arizona. Whitesboro’s Patricia Davis was among 16 clubwomen representing Texas at the event.

The six-day convention featured business sessions, educational workshops, awards presentations, themed celebrations, banquets and the installation of the 2026–2028 GFWC officers.

Among the honors presented to Texas was an award recognizing the state’s outstanding membership growth, including its success in chartering new clubs. Three new Texas clubs were recognized, two of which were founded by Davis: the North Texas Woman’s Club of Bells and the Lake Area Woman’s Club of Gordonville. This achievement reflects the dedication of Texas clubwomen to strengthening the Federation and helping it thrive for generations to come.

Texas also received the Creativity Award for Communications and Public Relations. Davis accepted the award in her role as GFWC Texas Communications and Public Relations Chairman. The honor recognized the Lake Area Woman’s Club and the History Club of Whitesboro for their participation in World Singing Day during the Annual Peanut Festival.

The convention concluded with the Unity in Diversity Banquet and the installation of the 2026–2028 GFWC Executive Officers, who officially began their terms of service. Following adjournment, members celebrated one final time with music, dancing, laughter and the friendships formed throughout the week.

The General Federation of Women’s Clubs is a unifying force that brings together local women’s clubs whose members are dedicated to strengthening their communities and improving the lives of others through volunteer service. With more than 60,000 members in affiliated clubs across every state and more than a dozen countries, GFWC members are community leaders who work locally to create global change. Their efforts support the arts, preserve natural resources, advance education, promote healthy lifestyles, encourage civic involvement, and foster world peace and understanding. For more information, visit www.GFWC.org

GTUA survey: Collinsville raises outside-city water rate, gap still among area’s smallest

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 06:00:00 -0500

Collinsville water customers living outside the city limits saw their base rate increase after the City Council raised the rate from $33.69 to $53.79 on Aug. 17.

The change creates a difference between what customers inside and outside Collinsville pay. The city’s inside-city base rate remains $33.69, making the new outside rate $20.10 higher.

Previously, Collinsville was one of the few area cities charging the same base water rate regardless of whether a customer lived inside or outside the city limits.

According to the Greater Texoma Utility Authority’s 2026 Water and Sewer Rate Survey, Collinsville’s $33.69 base rate had applied to customers both inside and outside the city when the survey was compiled. The survey compares water and sewer rates charged by cities and utilities across North Texas.

Even with Collinsville’s increase, charging higher rates to customers outside municipal boundaries is common among neighboring cities, according to the GTUA survey.

Whitewright has one of the larger differences among nearby communities. Its residential base water rate is $40 inside the city limits and $73.50 outside, a difference of $33.50, or about 83.8%. The survey also shows higher usage charges for Whitewright customers outside the city.

Tioga charges $38 inside the city limits and $76 outside — exactly double the base rate. Its usage charges are also doubled for outside customers.

Pottsboro’s base rate is $47.70 for a ¾-inch meter inside the city and $95.35 outside, an increase of $47.65 and essentially twice the inside rate. The city’s volume charges are also higher outside its boundaries.

Whitesboro charges a $27.80 minimum residential rate inside the city and $41.82 outside, a difference of $14.02, or about 50.4%.

Tom Bean’s minimum rate is $39.86 for the first 2,000 gallons inside the city and $59.22 outside, a $19.36 difference, or about 48.6%. Its volume rates are also higher for customers outside the city limits.

Other communities in the GTUA survey also charge substantially more outside their city limits. Honey Grove’s base rate is $27.30 inside and $61.29 outside, an increase of about 124.5%. Bells charges $45.25 inside and $85.18 outside, an increase of about 88.2%. Krum’s rates are $27.41 and $48.46, respectively, a difference of about 76.8%.

Savoy charges $20 inside and $31.74 outside, about 58.7% more. Princeton charges $25.67 inside and $38.51 outside, approximately 50% more. Lindsay’s $18.49 inside rate increases to $27.74 outside, also about 50%.

Other cities have smaller differences. Denison’s base rate increases from $36.73 to $56 outside the city limits; Howe’s increases from $31.50 to $47.25; Dodd City’s goes from $35 to $50; Bailey’s from $43 to $60; Henrietta’s from $45 to $61; Dorchester’s from $45 to $60; Anna’s from $35.10 to $43.88; and Callisburg’s from $20 to $25.

A handful of surveyed communities do not impose a higher base water rate on customers outside their boundaries.

Trenton lists a uniform residential minimum of $59.95 for customers inside and outside the city limits. Windom also lists a $35 base rate for both, although its volume charge is higher outside the city limits.

With the Aug. 17 action, Collinsville moves from having no outside-city base-rate premium to charging approximately 59.7% more. That places its percentage increase above nearby Tom Bean and Whitesboro but below Whitewright, Pottsboro and Tioga.

The comparison is based on base or minimum residential water rates reported in the 2026 Greater Texoma Utility Authority Water and Sewer Rate Survey.

Actual monthly bills can vary based on water consumption, meter size and each city’s volume-rate structure.

Higher rates for customers outside municipal boundaries are common among cities.

Such rate structures can account for the cost of extending and maintaining service outside a city and the fact that outside customers do not contribute the same municipal taxes as residents.

The Greater Texoma Utility Authority’s 2026 Water and Sewer Rate Survey shows most of the area cities surveyed charge a higher residential water rate outside their city limits, according to guidance published by the Texas General Land Office.

In addition to being publisher of the News-Record, Lewter is also a member of the Collinsville City Council.

Drink in creation’s gift

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 06:00:00 -0500

“The heavens are telling the glory of God, and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.”
- Psalm 19:1

I’m sure more than one passerby wondered what the big dork adorned with a cowboy hat was doing staring into the sunrise that broke over our little city located on the northern prairie.

After all, I was standing on the sidewalk outside a restaurant where I was headed for a meeting on full display to all. But I couldn’t help it.

Seconds before, as I exited my truck, my attention was grabbed by the brilliant display of clouds hanging low on the horizon, obscuring the sun itself but making for it a brilliant canvas on which to display its work.

The altocumulus clouds appearing in an undulatus pattern (no, I did not know any of this until I Googled it) were on fire with brilliant purples and oranges and yellows. Set against the cottony white clouds and the robin’s egg blue sky … well, the word “breathtaking” doesn’t do the sight justice.

In fact, neither did the photo of the horizon I took do it justice either. Another reminder that no matter what we humans build, the Creator’s work still trumps ours.

I stood transfixed. It’s the only way to describe the moment.

As you can imagine, we navigate a lot of challenging events each week working alongside those who utilize emergency shelter and food pantry services. Sometimes the weight of it all can dull your wonder about just how exquisite creation is.

But on this one morning, God’s beauty won out. I stood looking foolish, a middle-aged man in a cowboy hat and Aztec print dress shirt, staring at the sky, unmoving. I’m not sure how many people saw me, but I’m sure they all got a good chuckle.

I need to remind myself of this far too often as well. So know that I am also preaching to myself, friends: Develop an intentional practice of finding time to drink in creation’s gift.

The majority of us spend so much time rushing through a day, checking off the items in hopes of winning some mythical prize for being so efficient, while the natural world just goes about its business, oblivious to the things that twist our knickers.

I know, I know. Just call me “pot,” as my preachiness on this particular topic maybe doesn’t seem very genuine. But I assure you, it is. I am battling to be more present in my days, acknowledging the people around me, and allowing the beauty of the natural world around me sweep me off my feet once in a while.

So, the next time someone catches you standing in a parking lot staring up the clouds, just nod and tell ‘em that a crazy pastor told you it was OK. Amen.

Out of this world

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 06:00:00 -0500

This week, we continue our look at evolutionary theories of the origin of life and the extreme challenges they face. One of the major hurdles concerns the amount of time available for the random mechanisms of evolution to occur.

The evolutionary process, dating back to Darwin, is said to occur very slowly over extremely long periods of time. In fact, Darwin told of this slow process, “We see nothing of these slow changes in progress until the hand of time has marked the long lapse of ages.”

Since evolution is a slowly repeating process of random trial and error, it is best to think of it in these terms: the greater the change, the greater the time required. However, time presents a significant problem.

Based on the most recent dating of Earth, it is about 4.6 billion years old. Even so, during the first 700-800 million years, the surface of Earth was too hot and too hostile for life to develop at all. By the time the Earth had sufficiently cooled, there was a relatively short 3.5 billion years left for evolution to work with.

Not to be deterred, committed evolutionists and origin-of-life researchers have proposed new models, intent on extending the time available for the natural evolutionary process to have generated the first life.

One such “loophole” solution to this problem is to appeal to a class of bacteria called thermophiles, which thrive in extreme conditions.

As the name suggests, thermophiles could have withstood the initial high temperatures early during Earth’s existence. In this model, thermophiles in the Earth’s crust or at hydrothermal vents could have withstood the extreme temperatures on the surface as the Earth cooled, eventually evolving into complex mammals and human beings.

This scenario could then push the timeline back to about 4.5 billion years, giving more time for evolution to do its thing —or so they say. However, all such “extremophilic models” create more issues than they solve.

If thermophiles are to represent the first life form, at some point, they had to significantly evolve in order to thrive in the moderate to cooler temperatures on Earth.

However, this is a tough transition. Beyond mere survival, reproduction in such extreme conditions is also greatly challenged. Researchers have found that RNA molecules lose their structure and functional capacity at both low and high temperatures. Inhibiting RNA and DNA function means that any origin-of-life scenario cannot be predicated on the self-assembly of RNA in hot or cold environments.

But never fear; some evolutionists are attempting to skirt the limited timeframe that could support evolution on Earth by driving the problem out of this world, literally. The theory of transported panspermia has attracted attention because it appears to address the limited time available for evolution on Earth by suggesting that the Earth was “seeded” by microbial-infested meteorites that crashed early in its history.

Once seeded, it is claimed that the microbes evolved into humans over the 4+ billion years available. Although the concept of transported panspermia is straightforward, it too faces the same problems as thermophiles.

First, the hitchhiking microbes had to withstand the extreme heat (3,272 °F) of entry into Earth’s atmosphere, and even if they could survive, they faced the same hurdle of adapting to much colder conditions. In the end, attempts to sidestep the short evolutionary time available on Earth by theorizing that seed microbes from out of this world come crashing to Earth fail at multiple points. It would seem that even kicking the evolutionary problem into outer space is of no real help either.

Still, origin-of-life researchers continue to seek new and ever more remote options to keep the Darwinian origin-of-life model on life support and in a state of perpetual question.

But here is the interesting thing about it all: God never changes. The story of God never has, nor ever will need to “evolve” into something else in the future because Christians lack a viable answer in the present.

For thousands of years, Christians have stood on the belief that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Heb 13:8).

Though we can never place God in a test tube and scientifically prove His existence, we see His fingerprints all over the created universe if we only would open our eyes.

The apostle Paul once said to the Romans that what can be known about God is clearly visible in the things that have been made. If we fail to recognize that, we are without excuse (cf Rom 1:18-23).

Gloria in excelsis Deo!