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Etcetera August/September 2021

Kilgore’s people, places — and the rest

THE BARD RETURNS Texas Shakespeare Festival has 'joyful' return to stage

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FROM THE EDITOR

Celebrating the Texas Shakespeare Festival's return BY MEREDITH SHAMBURGER news1@kilgorenewsherald.com

e were all afraid COVID-19 would take away another season for the Texas Shakespeare Festival, but that was thankfully not the case this summer. The annual Kilgore theater event went on as planned, albeit with some nods to the special circumstances: You'll notice we have no backstage photos alongside our feature on TSF's return. That's because COVID precautions taken by the theater company precluded us from doing so. Still, reporter Lucas Strough has managed to capture the excitement surrounding this past July's performance in for our August issue of Etcetera. “This has been an incredibly joyful summer for me," TSF ArtisDirector Meaghan Simpson told him. "The word that comes to mind is gratitude. Gratitude for the ability to bring live theatre back to East Texas, gratitude for our amazing company of artists that travelled to Kilgore to work with us, and gratitude for the patrons who make this all possible. There have been challenges, as there always are, but those challenges fade quickly into the shadow of the overwhelming joy of being back!” That joy was also evident at the beginning of July, when I was with the Festival at their announcement of a new endowment fund, named after founder Raymond Caldwell. The endowment will help secure the company's future, working in conjunction with the program's fundraising efforts and an Kilgore College partnership. That announcement took place right at the beginning of the season, and I think everyone was still giddy about being back . You could see it during some technical difficulties, when the Van Cliburn Auditorium's lights kept cycling through the Bridges of Madison County show: Instead of annoyance, everyone on stage, from Endowment Chair Christina Anderson to Caldwell to Kilgore Community Concert Association President John Bolton, was laughing. Bolton, by the way, was on hand to give the KCCA's remaining funds to TSF. KCCA had previously voted to dissolve, and their donation makes them a charter member of the new endowment fund. “When the Kilgore Community Concert Association, which no longer is, had great pleasure in presenting live entertainment to the Kilgore area for over 70 years,” Bolton said. “We hate to see the organization go, but it’s our honor to continue to fuel this type of entertainment here in the East Texas area.”

4 Etcetera | August/September 2021

A new Raymond Caldwell Endowment Fund is announced at the Van Cliburn Auditorium at Kilgore College. The endowment will support the Texas Shakespeare Festival and is named after TSF Founder Raymond Caldwell. (Courtesy of Meredith Shamburger)

It was the type of gift that TSF Foundation President Linda Craig said they'd seen throughout the past year as COVID hit. “Over 700 individuals and foundations have given to us in the last 18 months, many of them increasing their donation,” she said. “Why did that happen? Because they realize they want some things to survive and they want us to survive.”

Etcetera August/September 2021 Vol. 4 | Issue 4

PUBLISHER

Alexander Gould • agould@mrobertsmedia.com

EDITOR

Meredith Shamburger • news1@kilgorenewsherald.com

ADVERTISING SALES

Linda K. Ballard • lballard@kilgorenewsherald.com

GRAPHIC DESIGNER Melodi King

(903) 984-2593 • news1@kilgorenewsherald.com All contents of the magazine are copyright © M. Roberts Media, LLC. No portion of this issue may be reproduced in any manner without prior written consent of the publisher. The publisher and editors are not responsible for any changes in event dates after the deadline. Etcetera is published by M. Roberts Media.

CONTENTS August/September 2021

6 6

OUT & ABOUT

Friday Night Lights return to the Kilgore area

OUT & ABOUT

Texas Broadcast Museum highlights radio, TV

OUT & ABOUT

For All your Sales, Parts, Service & Body Shop Needs

East Texas Oil Museum presents ‘Vaquero: Genesis of the Texas Cowboy’

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COVER STORY

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Texas Shakespeare Festival has 'joyful' return to stage

FEATURE STORY

Historic Kilgore pipe organ undergoing repairs after winter storm

PET TALK

Grieving for a lost pet can be a long process and is never easy, animal experts say

HOUR GLASS

Kilgore has several connections to Olympic torch

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903-984-1983 August/September 2021 | Etcetera 5

OUT & ABOUT

Kilgore's Jermaine Roney (3) tries to get free from Palestine's special teams on a kickoff return last season. Roney is among the talent returning for the Bulldogs, who did lose a lot of starters to graduation. (File Photo)

Friday Night Lights return to the Kilgore area BY MITCH LUCAS mlucas@kilgorenewsherald.com

successful under Wood elected to remain on. But there will have to be a new collection of young talent to step up, if the Bulldogs are going to make the playoffs for a somewhat-staggering 26th

new chapter for Kilgore High School football is probably the biggest headline as the 2021 football season starts, but there’s plenty of storylines that abound with kickoff at the end of the month.

Clint Fuller takes the reins of the Bulldogs’ football program,

after the coaching retirement of Mike Wood, who remained with

time of the last 28 years. Kilgore lost a lot of talent to graduation: record-setting quarterback Dalton McElyea, record-setting running back Tray Epps, dependable receiver Cade Pippen, just about the entire offensive line, members of the defensive front like linebackers Eli Caruthers and Brian Brown, linemen like Kaden Kenney and

Kilgore ISD as athletic director. Fuller, whose father Phil coached

Brantley Propes, and all-everything defensive back/wide receiver/

at Kilgore College during several seasons in the 1980s, returns

return specialist Donovan Adkins.

to his old stomping grounds older and wiser, after serving as

But the Bulldogs almost always have an excellent re-stock in

an assistant coach for many successful programs, including

their junior varsity, and should this time, hopefully helping that

as defensive coordinator for perennial state title contender

loss of talent along the offensive line. Quarterback Da’Marion

Pleasant Grove.

VanZandt got some playing time last year, and has the size — and

Fuller, who brings a tremendous amount of energy to the job, didn’t have to find many assistants. Most all of the assistant coaches and teachers who have helped make the Ragin’ Red 6 Etcetera | August/September 2021

the arm — to allow the Bulldogs’ passing game to keep growing. Then there’s returning standouts like Jermaine Roney and Matthew Tyeskie, receivers who are poisonous to defenses if they

have any room to run whatsoever, and up-and-coming talents like Matthew Hardy out of the backfield. Kilgore always seems to find a running back, the saying goes, and Hardy just might be the next special back in the line of phenomenal runners like Ja’Mar Toombs, Keith Gilliam, LaDarius Anthony, Frank Reddic, JaQuorius Smith, Epps and so many more. Defensively, players like Davin Rider at safety, Chris Ervin at linebacker, and Alex Chavez up front on the line will keep opponents in check and give Fuller’s Bulldogs a lift. Another name to remember: linebacker P.J. Wiley. Kicker Chris Baldazo, incredibly, was the only returning Kilgore player to make the East Texas (preseason) Dream Team. Kilgore opens the season — and the Clint Fuller Era — at home on August 27 against Nacogdoches. The ‘Dogs head to Hallsville the following Friday, on Sept. 3, and then welcome Pine Tree for homecoming here at R.E. St. John Memorial Stadium on Sept. 10. A trip to Gladewater is set for Sept. 17, and then former district rival Palestine rounds out the non-district schedule here at R.E. St. John on Sept. 24. The Ragin’ Red is off on Oct. 1, and then opens Class 4A’s Division I, District 9 play at Mabank on Oct. 8. KHS hosts Chapel Hill Oct. 15, and visits longtime rival Henderson on Oct. 22. The Bulldogs round out the regular season with a home game against Athens on Oct. 29, and a trip to Lindale Nov. 5. Kilgore College: If it seems like coach Willie Gooden and the Rangers just finished a football season two months ago, it’s because they did. The NJCAA — the governing body of junior college sports in the U.S. — elected to postpone its 2020 season from fall, 2020 to spring, 2021. And as usual, KC, the winningest junior college in the state of Texas, was right in the thick of the national championship hunt, reaching as high as second in the nation before finally finishing up sixth overall with a 7-1 record. Gooden will be in his third season as head coach this fall, and is energized for the run. KC was picked second by both the media and the Southwest Junior College Football Conference’s coaches in the recent polls at media day, but has won the conference’s regular season title two of the last three seasons. Among the players returning for the ’21 season: quarterbacks Clifton McDowell and Malcolm Mays, defensive back Tristan Driggers, a deep roster of talent at wide receiver that includes Anthony Isom, Zeek Freeman, former KHS standout Davondrick Crowe, and Naz Floyd, linebackers Jayce Bludau and Keith Harris, and running back Kenneith Lacy, another former Kilgore standout. KC’s all-time record is 531-299-10, and the program has had seven straight winning seasons. They’ll open this fall on Saturday, Sept. 4 at Tyler Junior College at Rose Stadium, and then host back-to-back home games against Blinn (Sept. 11) and Northeastern Oklahoma A&M (NEO, on Sept. 18). They make the trek to Roswell, New Mexico on Sept. 25 to take on New Mexico Military, host Navarro on Oct. 2, and then shoot for revenge against Cisco — at Cisco — on Oct. 9.

There’s an open date on Oct. 16, and then a big nonconference game. Snow College (Utah), who made it to the national championship game in the spring for the “2020” season, will visit KC at R.E. St. John on Oct. 23. Trinity Valley comes to town for the annual hall of fame game on Oct. 30 (where this year’s class will be inducted and recognized at halftime), and then the Rangers finish up with that second game against TJC, this one here at R.E. St. John, on Nov. 6. As usual, the top four teams in the SWJCFC will have a miniplayoff, with the team with the best record hosting the fourth-best team, and the team with the second-best record hosting the thirdplace team. This year, the NJCAA shook things up a bit, implementing a playoff system of its own, very similar to the one in major college football. The top four teams will face off in that same format — one hosting four, two hosting three — and then two will meet in Little Rock, Arkansas for the NJCAA national championship in a game that will be televised nationally on the CBS Sports Network. High school football: The other high school programs in the Kilgore News Herald’s coverage area — Sabine, West Rusk, Overton and Leverett’s Chapel — are all poised to be better, as well. Sabine, again under the strong-leadership hand of coach Rex Sharp, looks to recapture the magic of two seasons ago, as the Cardinals will try to forget a tough 2020. But, as always, they’ll have to do it under the gun: the Cardinals have once again one of the most difficult schedules in East Texas, at least based on last season’s final results.

Kilgore High School football has new leadership this fall: coach Clint Fuller. Fuller takes over a proud Kilgore program that has made the playoffs in 25 of its last 27 seasons, and was two wins away from a state title game appearance last year. (Courtesy of Mitch Lucas)

August/September 2021 | Etcetera 7

OUT & ABOUT

Texas Broadcast Museum

highlights radio, TV One of the display rooms at the Texas Museum of Broadcasting and Communications in Kilgore is pictured. The museum showcases a wide variety of TV and radio artifacts. (Photo courtesy of Les Hassell) FROM STAFF REPORTS

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sked to describe Kilgore to a stranger, a local might mention the oil industry, the Kilgore College Rangerettes, football, or the Christmas lights on the derricks. Not many know the City of Stars is home to a collection of audio and visual technology spanning an entire century, and not many know you can find it all on Main Street. At 416 E Main, the Texas Museum of Broadcasting & Communications is home to radios, TVs, television cameras and telephones from the advent of telecommunications until today, and that's only some of the collection. One of the best kept secrets in East Texas is “Studio 4” at the Texas Broadcast Museum in downtown Kilgore. “Studio 4” is an events center located within the Museum. It’s perfect for groups of up to 100 adults seated at tables, or 200 people seated theater style. It’s complete with three state of the art 150 inch video screens, a great sound system, wireless microphones, a stage large enough to accommodate most bands, a Hammond organ, fiber optic Internet and video streaming facilities. The Texas Broadcast Museum is rapidly becoming one of the largest collections of its kind anywhere. There is so much to see and do, with lots of history attached. Museum docents are available during events to explain and demonstrate the many exhibits. Museum hours are Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. or by appointment for groups. For more information, visit the museum at www.texasbroadcastmuseum.org or phone (903) 985-8118.

OUT & ABOUT

East Texas Oil Museum presents

Vaquero

he East Texas Oil Museum at Kilgore College will present “Vaquero: Genesis of the Texas Cowboy,” featuring 62 carbon photos with bilingual narrative text that reveal the muscle, sweat and drama that went into roping a calf in thick brush or breaking a wild horse in the saddle. The photos were taken in the early 1970s by Bill Witliff when he got a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to visit a ranch in northern Mexico where the vaqueros still worked cattle in traditional ways. Witliff documented the vaqueros as they went about daily chores that had changed little since the first Mexican cowherders learned to work cattle from a horse's back. The exhibition was created by the Witliff Collections at the Alkek Library, Texas State University-San Marcos. This exhibition will be on display at the museum through Sept. 4 and is made possible in part by a We the People grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities. It is also made possible by a partnership with Humanities Texas, the state affiliate for the National Endowment for the Humanities. The museum is open Wednesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information or to schedule a group tour, call the ETOM at (903) 983-8295 or visit www.kilgore.edu/oilmuseum.

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COVER STORY

The Bard Returns Texas Shakespeare Festival has 'joyful' return to stage BY LUCAS STROUGH lstrough@kilgorenewsherald.com

10 Etcetera | August/September 2021

Left: TSF actors strike a pose at the conclusion of "The Schuyler Sisters" from Hamilton at the TSF Talent Showcase. (Photo courtesy of Lucas Strough) Right: Actors Matthew Simpson, left, and Tim Fullerton pose for promotional photos for the Texas Shakespeare Festival's production of "The Book of Will." (Photo courtesy of Les Hassell)

exas Shakespeare Festival, one of Kilgore’s most popular events throughout the years, was dealt a blow in 2020, like many other events in Kilgore and across the country. Not only did the COVID-19 pandemic

cause the TSF summer season to be cancelled, it also meant that festival founder Raymond Caldwell would not be able to mark his final year with TSF with the usual series of shows. Established by Caldwell in 1986, TSF began as KC’s contribution to the Texas Sesquicentennial celebration. He oversaw each season for 35 years until his retirement in August 2020. However, East Texas’ only professional theater company was determined to return, and it would do so with a new Artistic Director at the helm. Continued on page 12 August/September 2021 | Etcetera 11

Top: TSF actor Nathan Noel is held aloft in the TSF Talent Showcase in Van Cliburn auditorium on the KC campus during a performance of "Something's Coming" from West Side Story. (Photo courtesy of Lucas Strough) Left: Actors Nathan Noel, left, and Jo Garcia Reger pose for promotional photos for the Texas Shakespeare Festival's production of "Romeo and Juliet." (Photo courtesy of Les Hassell)

From page 11 TSF veteran Meaghan Simpson took on the position after years of experience onstage and behind the scenes. She joined the TSF acting company in 2009 and became its associate artistic director in 2013. Simpson led the way as the festival orchestrated its return to the stage. It was a large task, involving the creation and adoption of COVID safety protocols for cast and crew, contacting potential company members who were unsure of whether the festival would be held and constantly monitoring health and safety guidelines to ensure a successful summer event. “It has been an extraordinary feeling to return to the stage after 23 long months away,” Simpson said of the effort to bring TSF back to the stage in Kilgore. “The company has felt deep gratitude all summer to be able to be here in Kilgore and do the work we all love to do. Many theatre companies around the country have not been able to 12 Etcetera | August/September 2021

open yet, so we consider ourselves to be very fortunate and we have not taken a moment for granted.” This year’s season kicked off July 1, featuring performances of Romeo and Juliet, The Bridges of Madison County, The Merry Wives of Windsor, The Gnomes of Gnot-a-Hill and The Book of Will. The 2021 TSF company parodied the confusion and anxiety of 2020 at the TSF Talent Showcase July 27. In between performances of classic Broadway and Hollywood songs, actors put on short scenes recounting their emotions as they waited patiently to find out if the season would go on or not. For all of them, it was brand new territory: returning to a festival with strict health and safety guidelines in place alongside lines to learn and scenery to build. The company cast, crew, musicians, technicians and artists weren’t the only ones ready and waiting for the festival’s Continued on page 14 Top Left: Actors Candice Hatakeyama, left, and Travis Ascione pose for promotional photos for the Texas Shakespeare Festival's production of "The Merry Wives of Windsor." (Photo courtesy of Les Hassell) Top Right: Actors Meghan Wright, right, and Danny Crowe pose for promotional photos for the Texas Shakespeare Festival's production of "The Bridges of Madison County." (Photo courtesy of Les Hassell) Bottom Right: TSF Founder Raymond Caldwell and TSF Associate Artistic Director Matthew Simpson embrace Monday after the announcement of a new endowment fund to support the Texas Shakespeare Festival. (Photo courtesy of Meredith Shamburger)

August/September 2021 | Etcetera 13

Top: Daniel Ajak and Travis Ascione perform "Agony" from Into the Woods at the talent showcase. (Photo courtesy of Lucas Strough)

From page 13

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return, though.“It seems every summer our patrons are ready and eager for the return of TSF, but this summer has had an extra layer of joy due to 2020's season cancellation,” Simpson said. “Each production has concluded with an enthusiastic standing ovation; the highest praise an audience can give. The patrons leave the theater laughing and talking and in some cases wiping away tears. They have had an experience that they will not forget and that, for me, is a great measure of our success.” For Simpson, the 2021 season won’t be soon forgotten, not only for the challenges it presented, but for the chance to return to live performance once again. “This has been an incredibly joyful summer for me. The word

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that comes to mind is gratitude. Gratitude for the ability to bring live theatre back to East Texas, gratitude for our amazing company of artists that travelled to Kilgore to work with us, and gratitude for the patrons who make this all possible. There have been challenges, as there always are, but those challenges fade quickly into the shadow of the overwhelming joy of being back!”

FEATURE STORY

First Presbyterian's pipe organ is undergoing restoration work. (Photo courtesy of Lucas Strough)

Historic Kilgore Pipe Organ undergoing repairs after winter storm BY LUCAS STROUGH lstrough@kilgorenewsherald.com

t the start of 2021, most folks in Kilgore were looking forward to the new year ahead, hoping and praying it would be better than the last. Many hoped for a return to normalcy after the chaotic nature of 2020. In January of this year, Lorenz Maycher, founding director of East Texas Pipe Organ Festival “began tentatively scheduling this year’s festival and had most of our artists lined up and matched with their instruments very early on.” The festival, like many other events in 2020, opted for a reduced online schedule in November — and organizers and patrons alike were excited about a return to an in-person festival. Also in January, the 1949 Aeolian-Skinner, Opus 1173 organ at First Presbyterian Church, a renowned instrument which is the flagship organ of the festival, was removed for long overdue restoration and re-leathering work, with the plan that the organ would be returned in early summer and playable for an in-person festival in November.

Then, in the middle of February, a record-breaking winter storm smashed into the southern U.S., dumping inches of snow and ice across Texas. The storm ground Kilgore to a halt until first responders were able to clear roads and direct traffic. As the clean-up began, people began to discover the extent of the damage the storm caused. “As a result (of the storm), the pedal chamber at First Presbyterian Kilgore suffered substantial structural damage,” Maycher said in June, adding that, at the time, it was unknown when the repairs would be complete. By late July, progress on the restoration project was well underway, with workers carefully removing and storing thousands of decades-old organ pipes, taking pains to avoid damaging the hand-tuned instruments. Gala Strunk, organist and choirmaster at First Presbyterian, explained the project was intended to fix any issues with the Continued on page 16

August/September 2021 | Etcetera 15

Top Left and right: Workers carefully remove part of the pipe organ earlier this year. Bottom Left: First Presbyterian's pipe organ is undergoing restoration work. (Photos courtesy of Lucas Strough)

From page 15 organ and its supporting structures, in the hope that it won’t need repairs for another 60 or 70 years. “The damage has occurred over a period of years. It’s not just the damage from the storm,” she said. “That just aggravated it. There have been small leaks like all old churches have over the years. Nothing bad, but it just took its toll over a period of years.” The renovation is careful work, as the pipes and structures themselves are functional, providing music for the congregation, but they’re also historical works of art. “There are components from 1935 to 1937,” Strunk said. “This Aeolian-Skinner was finally finished in 1949. It’s highly trained technicians that do this (renovation work). Some of them are organists, some of them enjoy the technical aspect of it. They have to have a good ear because they have to tune them.” The scale of the organ is immense, taking up a large portion of the building, and technicians could be seen working in three or four different rooms on a variety of tasks: carefully storing pipes and components to avoid damage, using hide glue and handiwork to execute delicate repairs, piece by piece. “It’s hard for me to imagine how, when I depress a key, that stop sounds and that pipe sounds, because of all the wiring and all of the things that allow the air to come through the pipe and then shut it off when I take my finger off the key,” Strunk said. 16 Etcetera | August/September 2021

Strunk estimates the bulk of the repairs could be completed by the end of September, but it’s hard to predict because of the size and scope of the project. Knowing she couldn’t promise a fully functional organ to concert organists taking part in the Pipe Organ Festival, she thinks Maycher’s decision to host the festival elsewhere was the best choice. “I could not promise that this thing was going to be ready. You have to get the kinks out. The components are so complicated and there’s so much that can go wrong. You don’t want to get a concert organist here and have the organ go haywire. That’s what Lorenz decided to do, and I think it’s the right thing to do.” Maycher announced in June that festival leadership had decided to move this year’s festival, set for Nov. 7-11, to New Orleans. “We are all so eager to be with each other again and hear live organ recitals that we did not even consider postponing the First Presbyterian's pipe organ is undergoing restoration work. (Photo courtesy of Lucas Strough)

She explained the organ repairs were a multi-year project which began with repairs to the choir section about seven years ago. Now, in 2021, the church is moving ahead with Phase 2 and

in-person festival for another year. All of our artists are excited to be playing again, and we have a terrific lineup of performers, speakers, and instruments, including two important 'Perriola' Aeolian-Skinners in New Orleans and Laurel, Mississippi,” he said. To learn more about East Texas Pipe Organ Festival

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PET TALK

Grieving is a natural response to the heartbreak associated with the loss of a beloved pet. (Courtesy photo)

Grieving for a lost pet can be a long process and is never easy, animal experts say SPECIAL TO ETCETERA

he grief that comes with the loss of a loved one, including pets, is never easy. However, with moderation and consistency, owners can ensure their pet reaches a healthy weight

without discomfort. Although some pet owners may feel uncomfortable mourning an animal, Michael Hawkins, a licensed professional counselor at the Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences’ Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, said that grieving is a natural response to the heartbreak associated with this kind of loss. 18 Etcetera | August/September 2021

“Grief does not ask if the loss was a person or an animal,” Hawkins said. “A bond with an animal is no less impactful than a bond with a person. Sadness and grief are our ways to feel the weight of the loss, regardless of with whom the attachment was. It's never wrong to feel sadness over a significant loss.” There are many coping strategies owners can use to make the grieving process less difficult, such as practicing self-care and seeking support from others. “Mourning owners need to make sure that they are taking care of themselves,” Hawkins said. “Eating, sleeping and exercise are vital to the healing process. When needed, seek out the help of a grief counselor or a support group. Writing down feelings and staying connected with friends and loved ones is also very important.”

Mourning pet owners may also benefit from studying the grief process and the stages most people experience when dealing with loss — denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. “By understanding the stages of grief and loss, a person can recognize that what they are feeling is a normal part of grieving,” he said. “It's important to be kind and patient with oneself and treat oneself as you would a loved one.” Similarly, if a friend or family member is grieving the loss of a pet, there are many ways to show support and provide comfort during their difficult time. “When someone is grieving, many times, it is better to listen than to talk,” Hawkins said. “Empathetic listening without judgment can be healing for a person who is grieving. Also, grieving with them and just being physically present with them can be very healing.” Even though a pet has died, it is still very much alive in its owner’s memory. Going through the right healing process will not only help pet owners with the pain of losing their beloved friend, but it will also set the stage for navigating loss with grace, empathy and resilience for the entire family.

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HOUR GLASS

A Kilgore woman, Carol Hinton, was chosen to run the Olympic Torch in 1996. (File Photo)

Kilgoreites helped promote Olympic spirit through torch relays BY MEREDITH SHAMBURGER news1@kilgorenewsherald.com

20 Etcetera | August/September 2021

Pictured is the News Herald's front page photo of Carol Hinton during her Olympic torch relay run. (File Photo)

Editor's Note: Hour Glass is a historical look at past Kilgore News Herald headlines.

halted briefly for a ceremony at City Hall and then took it to Interstate 20, where they turned it over to Longview runners." One of the runners that year was John Hefner, whose brother Dugan noted "qualified as a marathon runner for the 1980

he Tokyo Olympics had us all enthralled this past month, but did you know there were at least two instances where Kilgoreites took part in the special Olympic tradition that is the torch relay? The relay "heralds the start of the Olympic Games and transmits a message of peace and friendship along its route," according to the Olympics' website. The torch used ahead of the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles visited Kilgore in 1986 on its journey to the Olympic Festival in Houston. A July 6, 1986 story written by Annelle Dugan starts off with "What do you have when you combine the U.S. Olympics, the Texas Sesquicentennial and a patriotic celebration?" That year, 60 runners took the torch around Kilgore on an even larger, winding journey from Pike's Peak in Colorado to Houston. Dugan wrote: "Local runners took charge of the torch at the Gregg-Smith County line, carried it past historic places in Kilgore,

Olympics in Moscow, but didn't get to compete because of the American boycott of the Olympics." The full list of runners was printed before the relay took place: Charles Myrick, Dr. Bob Baker, Holly Welch, Lloyd Nelson, Dorothy Grote, Wendy Welch, Adam Nelson, Mr. and Mrs. Dolph DeGuerin, Lora Nelson, Jeff Lewis, Barron Isaac, Carolyn Raines, Jerome Tovins, J.T. Carraway, Dennis (Truitt) McFadin, Mike Bell, David Conner, Dean Taliaferro, Garry Conner, Jeff Jackson, Kathy Mooney, Jody Clements, John Hefner, Cathy Lamb, Stephen Mooney, John Lowman, Ryan Dickey, Gai Linn Grisham, Nina Mata, Kathy Dickey, Leslie Green and Dr. Roger Fowler. Also, Monica Dickey, Rafe Mata, Missy Nicholson, Darrin Barton, Kerry Hargrave, Jeff Hudson, Richard Martin, Pat Haynes, Dr. Jerry Ted Roberts, D.R. Brogoitti, Riley Abercrombie, Kevin Hudson, Hope Maines, Denise Jevas, Roger Turk, Dean Crawford, Pete Rodriguez, Nathan Elwood, Kirk Norris, Stephanie Jevas, Foster T. Bean, Shellye Burleson, Martin Hudson, Mark Moore, Continued on page 22 August/September 2021 | Etcetera 21

This is a big honor to meand I hope to represent the Kilgore and East Texas area well and I'm looking forward to it

- Crol Hinton, in a 1996 Kilgore News Herald article Carol Hinton is shown with the Olympic torch she carried in 1996. (File Photo)

From page 25 Tammy Jenkins, James Scanlon, Laura Norris, Mike Bowden, Kathleen Scanland, Christy Bowden, Byers, Shane Taliaferro, Melvin Henry, Scott Tomlin, Curtis Shaw, Jimmy Henry, Brenda Shaw and Heidi Hagan. Ten years later, in 1996, Kilgoreite Carol Hinton got the chance to be one of 10,000 relay runners taking the Olympic Torch to the Atlanta Games during an 84-day period. Hinton, employed as a marketing officer at Citizen's Bank at the time, told the News Herald she was excited about the prospect.

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"This is a big honor for me and I hope to represent the Kilgore and East Texas area well and I'm looking forward to it." Torchbearers that year got their own individual torch, with enough fuel to last 30 to 40 minutes, to complete their onekilometer journey to the next relay runner. "It takes five to seven minutes to run the torch, so I'm going to try and take it nice and easy," Mrs. Hinton said. "I'm just going to enjoy it and try to make it last as long as I can."

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BOOKS

The Northeast Texas Habitat for Humanity has published a book of letters, poetry and other writing. (Photo courtesy of Lucas Strough)

'Hope Letters'

helps Habitat for Humanity minister to East Texas BY LUCAS STROUGH lstrough@kilgorenewsherald.com

“W

hat we do not expect and often may not know is that when tragedy strikes God is there. He is there in Spirit and through the hands of people like you and me. He is there now and forevermore. We can have hope in that.” So reads part of a letter, written by the Rev. Brian Nutt of Grace Fellowship of Kilgore, on the subject of hope. It’s just one of more than two dozen letters on the topic which make up “The Hope Letters,” a collection of inspirational writings from contributors in East Texas and beyond, published earlier this year by Northeast Texas Habitat for Humanity. “During COVID, we were grasping for something to hold onto, some hope,” said LaJuan Gordon, CEO of NETX Habitat for Humanity, who wrote the foreword of the book. “We sat down to talk about how we wanted to approach our mission in the community. One of the things that Habitat has been doing for over 36 years in our community is partnering with others who are feeling hopeless in their situation and help them to build hope. We recognized that there are some people in our community who are feeling desperate right now. So, as we got

to talking about how we get that message out, we wanted to put together something that was not hope in theory, but real stories of real hope. That is what birthed ‘The Hope Letters.’” “The Hope Letters” is the regional housing ministry's first book. With a cover created and gifted for the project by Longview watercolor artist Carol Manley, it includes life stories, poetry, lyrics and spiritual devotions. As 2021 began, with some signs of a gradual recovery from the effects of the pandemic, Gordon said she wanted to find a way to get the message of hope into the hands of those in the community who needed it most. After seeing how 2020 left many people in tough economic conditions and getting lost in despair, she saw the importance of an item which carried a positive, inspirational message. “It is part of the human condition. We have those cycles of ups and downs. Not only as a country or a community but as individuals,” she said. “We hope that, if you are holding one of these books and you encounter someone who is needing hope, pass it along. You can physically hand them something tangible that is a reminder that there’s always hope.” Continued on page 24

August/September 2021 | Etcetera 23

From page 23

Northeast Texas Habitat for Humanity CEO LaJuan Gordon shows off the new "The Hope Letters" book. (Photo courtesy of Lucas Strough)

“The Hope Letters” is available for purchase from Northeast Texas Habitat by calling (903) 236-0900, extension 204. Books are $9.50 each, with all profits benefiting the ministry that works to provide safe housing in Gregg, Harrison and Upshur counties. Quantity discounts are available. Contributors include: Shalonda Adams, Mary Ramos Ball, Gai Bennett, Denise Bowens, Laura Buckner, Anthony Coleman, Rev. Evan Dolive, Dr. Joycelyne Fadojutimi, Rev. Avery Finger, Linda Fullman, Annice Germon, Corrie Harlan, Rev. Jay Jackson, Noreen Jackson, Cari D Johnson, Minister Kason Kuykendall, Rev. Brian Nutt, Covenant Olantunde, Amy Parham, Rev. Aubrey Robertson and Dr. Jennifer Wolverton. In addition to releasing their first-ever book, NETX Habitat for Humanity has been hard at work in 2021 with their various community support programs. “We are pouring foundations for two homes in the next two weeks, and we’ll be starting on those in the early fall when the weather cools down a little bit. We have already completed 87 health and safety projects in our three counties this year. We’re still going strong with that. Our ‘Beat the Heat’ program is going on right now and that is for anyone who is elderly or person with disabilities or households with children under 6 who do not have a way to cool their homes, they can come speak with us and get a portable air conditioner unit installed,” Gordon said.

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BOOKS

Clay Coppedge has written "Texas True Crime Miscellany," which features crime stories from Texas history. (Photo Courtesy of Stella Weiser.)

'Texas True Crime Miscellany looks at obscure Texas crimes BY STELLA WIESER swieser@panolawatchman.com

lay Coppedge said he sort of stumbled into writing "Texas True Crime Miscellany," his new book published July 26. "I was going through a bunch of old newspaper clips. I was freelancing, had lost my newspaper job," Coppedge said. "So I started going through some of my old clips, and I ran across a few that I'd written for a newspaper, y'know 750, 800 words, about 20 inches or so, but I knew there was so much more to them, and so when I stumbled across those, I said I ought to take a deep dive into a couple of these and see what I come up with, and after I'd

done a few of those, I realized I probably had the start for a collection, so I started looking for some others, some ones I haven't heard of, or hadn't worked on, and pretty soon I had enough for a book." Coppedge said he noticed a theme when he was going through a lot of the stories he included; he said many of them were about a crime or a murder, one misdeed or another. "So I realized I had sort of a theme going, and last year during the pandemic, my wife and I started watching a lot of true crime on TV, so it inspired me to go back and reread some of the true crime books that I had, check out a couple of others, and then all of a sudden I'm in the true crime mindset, and I write a lot about Continued on page 26

August/September 2021 | Etcetera 25

From page 25 Texas history, so historical true crime just seemed like the logical extension from there," he said. Coppedge's new release has 18 stories in it about crimes from all over the state, one of which took place in Marshall in 1879. This East Texas story centers on Maurice Barrymore, the patriarch of the Barrymore acting clan and the great-grandfather of Drew Barrymore. "He came with his theater troupe into Marshall, and he ran afoul of a guy by the name of Big Jim Currie, who started a fight in a saloon with some of the other members of the troop, and Barrymore came in at probably the wrong time and told them to settle down," Coppedge said. "Barrymore was from England and was a boxing champion in England, and so he told Currie he was ready to settle it in earnest, but he wasn't armed," he said. "He just figured they'd duke it out. So when Currie found out that he wasn't armed, he just pulled out a gun and shot him, and then followed him outside, still shooting at him. Only hit him once. He shot at him about three or four times, and then one of the other members came into the saloon to try to see what was going on, and Currie shot him and killed him. "Barrymore fought for his life for several weeks and eventually went back to New York to wait on the trial, and it was a strange

trial because everybody knew what had happened. They had several witnesses who saw the whole thing unfold, but Currie's brother was the mayor of Shreveport, and he spent a lot of money over the years keeping his little brother out of trouble, and eventually he came out with eight lawyers. "There's pretty good evidence that they bought the jury. The guys that were on the jury started flashing these big rolls of greenbacks, and it was pretty obvious that that's what had happened," he said. "And then reaction in Texas especially was quite severe because they want to divorce themselves from that incident, and those jurors did to some extent I suppose. And Barrymore had a famous comment. The name of the story is 'Death in Every Bistro." Several years later, (asked) his opinions of Texas, he said 'a no man's land where death lurks in every bistro'. That quote has probably outlasted the actual event." "Texas True Crime Miscellany," is published by Arcadia Publishing and The History Press, and this is Coppedge's fifth book with them. His work has appeared in a number of magazines including "Acres USA," "Field & Stream," Progressive Farmer," "Texas Co-op Power" and "Texas Highways." "Texas True Crime Miscellany" can be purchased online at historypress.com.

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GARDENING

flavor of Italian and other familiar recipes, reducing the need for salt. Try these and other herbs in your favorite dishes. And don’t overlook citrus. Dried and powdered lemon peel adds flavor and minimizes the need for salt. You’ll find it as a main ingredient in several salt substitute mixes. Cooks in the Mediterranean and Middle East have dried and ground fruits of Sicilian or Turkish sumac (Rhus coriaria) for use as a salt substitute in their dishes. Laboratory studies found the red berries had antioxidant, antifungal and antimicrobial benefits that may prove beneficial to our health. Herbs are easy to grow in the garden or a pot. Mix herbs with flowers in your garden and landscape. Their fragrance and texture make them an ornamental as well as edible addition to the landscape. Make incorporating fresh herbs convenient by growing them in containers right next to your kitchen door. Grow a pot of your favorite grilling herbs and set it next to the grill. Use small containers of herbs as a centerpiece. Add a pair of garden clippers and allow your family and friends to clip and season their meals. Herbs, in general, prefer full sun and well-drained soil. Most are drought tolerant once established, though basil performs best when the soil is kept slightly moist. A shoe caddy is converted into an herb garden. (Photo courtesy of MelindaMyers.com)

Pass the Herbs Please BY MELINDA MYERS Special to Etcetera

oost the flavor and health value of your meals without adding more salt. A trip through the spice aisle at the grocery store and close look at the labels reveals the secret to salt substitutes — herbs. Growing your own not only saves money, it ensures the freshest flavor and highest nutritional value. Plus, you’ll enjoy the convenience of picking them fresh from the garden or container on your patio, deck or balcony. Oregano, basil and garlic have long been used to boost the

Harvest leaves and stems as needed throughout the growing season. Just be sure to leave enough foliage to maintain plant growth. Fortunately, you can remove up to 75 percent of foliage from an established plant. Clip off leaves and stems before the plant begins flowering to encourage more growth. You’ll get the greatest concentration of flavor when the plant has formed buds, but before they open. This is the perfect time to harvest herbs you plan to preserve. Don’t worry if you harvest more than you need. Preserve their flavor with proper storage. Store thin, leafy herbs like parsley and cilantro in a jar of water inside the refrigerator. Store basil in a glass of water on the kitchen counter. Loosely cover these with a plastic bag. Wrap thicker leafed herbs like sage and thyme in a paper towel set inside a plastic bag and place in a warmer section of the fridge. This season, be sure to carve out a bit of space in the garden or add a container or two for growing your own fresh herbs to enjoy. Melinda Myers has written more than 20 gardening books, including Small Space Gardening. She hosts The Great Courses “How to Grow Anything” DVD series and the nationally-syndicated Melinda’s Garden Moment TV & radio program. Myers is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine. August/September 2021 | Etcetera 27

SEE & BE SEEN

East Texas Horticultural Field Day PHOTOS BY ADAM RUSSELL/TEXAS A&M AGRILIFE

All American Selections sunflowers were a favorite among attendees at the East Texas Horticultural Field Day.

Attendees taking a look at Zinnias from the Preciosa Series in the annual Texas A&M AgriLife Research field trial gardens.

Home on the Range COURTESY PHOTOS

These are pictures of the exchange students working on the ranch of 5¢ Cattle Company, owned by Reece and Matt Nichols.

28 Etcetera | August/September 2021

SEE & BE SEEN

Rangerette Announcement Ceremony

The annual Kilgore College Rangerette announcement ceremony in Dodson Auditorium at Kilgore College.

PHOTOS BY MICHAEL CAVAZOS

Claire Kimbel and Zoe Dale celebrate being selected to be a members of the 82nd group of Kilgore College Rangerettes during the annual Kilgore College Rangerette announcement ceremony in Dodson Auditorium at Kilgore College.

Sophmore Rangerettes dance around the newly selected members of the 82nd group of Kilgore College Rangerettes during the annual Kilgore College Rangerette announcement ceremony in Dodson Auditorium at Kilgore College.

Art for Hope COURTESY PHOTOS Peggy Sue Coston's work could be seen at the Kilgore American Legion. The event was a fundraiser to pay for medical costs.

August/September 2021 | Etcetera 29

SEE & BE SEEN

Summer Fun PHOTOS BY LUCAS STROUGH

Kids and parents alike enjoyed the first few days of the Kilgore City Pool's reopening. Renovations of the Pool House are ongoing and expected to be finished soon.

Juneteenth

Celebration PHOTOS BY MEREDITH SHAMBURGER

The Kilgore Men and Women of Alliance hosted a Unity Day celebration in honor of the Juneteenth holiday on Saturday, June 19 at Kilgore City Park. A parade from downtown Kilgore preceeded the community gathering.

30 Etcetera | August/September 2021

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