1942: War effort proceeds as huge Texas base is activated On this date in 1942, Camp Hood was activated. The temporary camp, named for Confederate general John Bell Hood, is now one of the largest military installations in the world. It was officially opened on September 14, 1942, and hasContinue Reading
Staff Reports Jefferson’s Martha McCraw DAR chapter named Carsyn Thomas as this year’s DAR Good Citizen. The annual contest was created in 1934 and is intended to encourage and reward the qualities of good citizenship. It recognizes and rewards high school seniors who possess the qualities of dependability, service, leadership,Continue Reading
Meetings MLK Activities Annual Parade The MCDCSCO is preparing a slate of activities in honor of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday next week. The fun will kick-off Sunday, January 15 with the annual MLK Day Parade. The public is encourage to bring cars, trucks, wagons, horses, bicycles, floatsContinue Reading
Ken Bridges The borders of the United States have expanded considerably since independence was declared. As the nation grew, newer and more detailed maps were needed so the country could plan ahead and utilize the landscape and resources available. Gen. William Emory, an army cartographer, was a vital part ofContinue Reading
Dan Eakin Back in the 1930s, a controversial minister named Harry Emerson Fosdick wrote a book titled, “The Power to See It Through.” Although I disagreed with a lot of his theology, I found that book to be very accurate and inspiring. He said a lot of people have startingContinue Reading
Marion County resident Frank Hick is making a return appearance on the Discovery Channel show “Moonshiners: Master Distiller”, this month. This time it’s a competition show where the stars of the hit show “Moonshiners” judge distillers from across the country as they create a moonshine from raw ingredients. Frank isContinue Reading
Ken Bridges/Contributing writer Many Texas musicians have become legendary figures for not only their great talents as musicians but also for their colorful lives. Huddie Ledbetter, known to his fans as “Leadbelly,” was a pioneer blues musician starting in East Texas in the early 1900s, just as rhythm and blues wasContinue Reading
By David Wall Onions are a fun crop to grow, requiring some soil preparation, but very little maintenance. They tolerate most soils and transplanting extremely well. Onions have a history possibly exceeding 5,000 years, so they’ve been around awhile, and it’s hard to imagine many foods without them. I haveContinue Reading
Ken Bridges/Contributing writer Once Christmas has passed, the world looks to a new year. Many wonder what the new year will bring while planning their own ways of ringing in 2023. It will be a year marked with war in some nations and peace in others. There will be triumph, andContinue Reading
1852: The railroad comes to Texas On this day in 1852, the first railroad locomotive in Texas was placed in service by the Buffalo Bayou, Brazos and Colorado Railway. It was named for Gen. Sidney Sherman, one of the owners of the railroad. The engine, believed to have been builtContinue Reading
Several local churches are planning holiday services this weekend: First Baptist Church: Candlelight Christmas Eve service at 6 p.m. Saturday. Worship service only at 11 a.m. Sunday St. Paul UMC: 5p.m. today. Shun Mitchell will be special musical guest. No services on Christmas Day Heritage Baptist Church: Candlelight Service 6Continue Reading
The Jefferson ISD band program presented its annual Christmas Concert on December 15 in the High School Gym. The Junior High and Intermediate band performed first followed by the High School Band. Jimplecute photo by Laura AllenContinue Reading
Eight-year-old Virginia O’Hanlon wrote a letter to the editor of New York’s Sun, and the quick response was printed as an unsigned editorial Sept. 21, 1897. The work of veteran newsman Francis Pharcellus Church has since become history’s most reprinted newspaper editorial, appearing in part or whole in dozens of languagesContinue Reading
Ken Bridges/Contributing writer Charles M. Schulz created a comic strip that captured the hearts of millions in the nearly 50 years that Peanuts ran in thousands of newspapers around the world. Schulz, an amiable and soft-spoken Minnesota native and World War II veteran, had been drawing the daily strip since 1950. Fifteen years later, heContinue Reading
Shalom friends, Joy to the world the Lord is come! The prophecy of old – “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call Him Immanuel.” Isaiah 7:14 Isaiah prophesied the Messiah would be born and thatContinue Reading
Dear Santa, Bring some toys for the Christmas tree. Memphis Dear Santa, Bike, Game boy, Racing Cars, Books, Games, Lots of toys Christopher Dear Santa, Hello. I am 6 years 6 oldI have been nice this year. Please bring me some blocks. Conor Schoentral Dear Santa, I have been good!Continue Reading
Dear Santa, I love you. I have been good at home and school. I am five years old. I want a four wheeler. Jamarion Dear Santa, I love you. I have been good at home and school. Can I come to your house? I want a barbie dreamhouse. IContinue Reading
1927: “Santa Claus” robs bank but muffs getaway On this day in 1927, the Santa Claus Bank Robbery occurred in Cisco, Texas. At noon Marshall Ratliff, Henry Helms, Robert Hill, and Louis Davis entered the First National Bank of Cisco with guns drawn. Ratliff, dressed in a borrowed Santa ClausContinue Reading
1943: Escaped POW William Dyess resumes flying and dies in plane crash On this day in 1943, war hero and escaped prisoner of war William Dyess resumed his flying career and was killed while attempting an emergency landing in Burbank, California. Dyess, born in Albany, Texas, in 1916, was sentContinue Reading
Best Friends Animal Society, a leading animal welfare organization working to end the killing of cats and dogs by 2025, offers the following tips to keep your pet as safe as possible: If you don’t have a pet and are considering opening your home to a new furry companion, nowContinue Reading