News

Neil Clark, with the Delta Hope House, in Cooper says the organization holds its annual fund raising chili and stew supper at 4 p.m. Saturday (February 22) at the Community Center in downtown Cooper.  A silent auction and live auction also are part of the event.  The Delta Hope House provides food families in need in Cooper and Delta County.

Kim Saenz, director of the Hunt Regional Emergency Centers in Commerce and Quinlan, says the emergency centers have been prepared to handle situations that may arise related to the coronavirus.  She says they have received numerous calls from concerned people in Hunt County, but unless someone has traveled to China recently, there is little reason to fear contracting the virus.

Luke's guest this week is crappie guide Cameron Burnett (903.850.3123) and the topic is catching crappie during the current transition period when crappie are making the move from deep to shallow. 

Wayne Bowman, Hunt County Master Gardener, provides advice on planting late winter/early spring gardens from seeds.  Wayne says it may be awhile before the ground is dry enough for planting after the recent rains in Northeast Texas.

Pud Kearns with Housewarmers of Greenville recently completed a year-long exploration of books about Texas, fiction and non-fiction, starting with "God Save Texas" by Lawrence Wright and concluding with

Autumn Johnson, our wellness commentator and director of Campus Recreation at Texas A&M-Commerce, says February is American Heart Month, and relates some advice for good heart health.

Sharon Feldt of Sulphur Springs, our books commentator, reviews "Tarot Terrors" by Linda Pirtle, a North Texas author, who with her husband, fellow author Caleb Pirtle, is a member of the Silver Leos Writers Guild at Texas A&amp

Carol Taylor, Hunt County Historical Commission chairman, relates the story of the creation of Hopkins County, on March 25, 1846, and Hunt County, on April 11, 1846, about a year after Texas became one of the United States.  Carol says the original Hopkins County seat was in the town of Tarrant, located a little north of today's county seat, Sulphur Springs.

This week, Luke visits with Beau Beasley with Texas Fly Fishing & Brew Festival fly fishing event  (www.txflyfishingfestival.org) coming to the Plano Event Center March 21-22. 

Alice Reese, Herald-Banner movie critic, picks the World War I drama "1917" as the likely winner of the "Best Picture" at the Academy Awards presentations Sunday night.  Alice also reviews "Birds of Prey," the new DC Comics movie out this weekend.

Charlie Alderman, Commerce ISD superintendent, says Commerce's new UIL 3-A, Division 1 football district for 2020-21 will include Pottsboro, Bonham, Howe and Rains from the previous district, and Mineola, Mount Vernon and Winnsboro, which have been aligned with Commerce in the past.  The basketball and volleyball districts are also seeing some changes.  The pre-desegregation Norris High

Dr. Karri McCreary, co-owner of the Greenville Animal Hospital, says February is Pet Dental Health Month.  She says dental care is often overlooked by pet owners.  And Dr. McCreary reacts to a report that veterinarians are reporting a major problem with pets being overweight.

Paul Voss, the manager of the Commerce Chamber of Commerce, says along with several recent ribbon cuttings, the Chamber is receiving a good many inquiries about new businesses for Commerce, including several possible new restaurants.  Paul says the annual Chamber banquet is set for Thursday evening, March 19 in the Rayburn Student Center at Texas A&M-Commerce, with the theme, "the Roaring 20s."  The Chamber is now taking nominations for its "Citizen of the Year" award.

Spring turkey season is just around the corner and now is the time to make plans for your spring turkey hunt. Luke's guest today is his friend Randy Douglas.

Dr. Dale Funderburk, Texas A&M-Commerce economics professor, notes that the Texas gross domestic product of 4.7 percent more than doubled the U.S. GDP of 2.0 in the second quarter of 2019, making the Texas economy no. 1 in the nation.  The Southwest region (including Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Arizone) was also no. 1 at 4.3 percent.

Carol Taylor, chairman of the Hunt County Historical Commission, relates the tale of the small howitzer that can be seen on the north lawn of the Hunt County Courthouse.  Most people probably don't realize it is a Japanese Howitzer from World War II.  How it came to be located on the courthouse lawn is an involved, and not completely understood story, but it was apparently a substitute provided by the U.S.