John Mark Dempsey

Autumn Johnson, director of Campus Recreation at Texas A&M-Commerce, says we should start using 30 spf suncreen during the spring and not wait until summer.  Autumn says we spend more time in the sun starting in the spring, and overexposure to the sun is possible even when the temperatures are still mild.

Alice Reese, Herald-Banner movie critic, enjoyed "Concrete Cowboy," starring Idris Elba, a true story of a group of modern-day cowboys in Philadelphia.  It is streaming on Netfllix.  Alice also likes "French Exit," a combination of drama and screwball comedy, starring Michelle Pfeiffer.

Steve Killian, superintendent of the Cooper Lake State Park, says the parks is now offering kayaks for rental to be used in exploring the lake.  They're available at park headquarters.  Also, the park is once again open for full occupancy.  Also, the park has some part-time and summer jobs available, including a park ecucator's position.

Pud Kearns with Housewarmers of Greenville says the "African-American Experience in Hunt County" exhibit continues through Saturday, April 24 at the Audie Murphy/American Cotton Museum in Greenville.  In addition to artifacts, it includes oral-history, video interviews with numerous citizens, inluding Melva Hill (pictured).  Some of the interviews are available on YouTube

April is "Child Abuse  Prevention Month" and Friday (April 9) is "Go Blue Day," in which individuals are urged to wear blue to call awareness to child abuse.  Lori Cope, the director of CASA (the Court Appointed Advocates) of Hunt County asks that you send photos of yourself in blue to the CASA Facebook page.  CASA advocated for 271 Hunt County children in foster care last year.

Bert Cooper, director of Community Seeds in Lone Oak, says the organization's incubator kitchen is finally ready for cooks to prepare food for commercial sale.  The kithcen provides the facilities for food to be prepared in compliance with the law.  Those interested by call 903-634-5673 or contact Community Seeds via its Facebook page.  Also, L-3 -Harris Technologies of Greenville has provided Community Seeds with a grant for a job training program known as the Strategic Empowerment and Emplo

Wayne Bowman, Hunt County Master Gardener, advocates "scalping" your grass (cutting it very close) when you mow it early in the spring to eliminate dead growth.  He says be patient with plants that may have been damaged by the severe cold in February, becuase they may eventually grow back from the roots.  Wayne also provides advice on using mulch and compost in the garden.

Texas A&M-Commerce Athletic Director Tim McMurray discusses the 2021 Lion football schedule, which includes a game  at 6 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 11 vs.

Dr. Kent Montgomery, Texas A&M-Commerce Physics and Astronomy department head, says he knows no more about the remarkable UFO videos recorded by U.S.

Sharon Feldt of Sulphur Springs, our books commentator, says prolific Winnsboro author Maryann Miller recently released a non-fiction book, "The Many Faces of Grief: Stories of Love and Loss From the Hospital."  She served as a volunteer grief counselor in support of her late husband, a retired Catholic priest, who served as a hospital chaplain.  Maryann has also released a new crime

Carol Taylor, the director of the Hunt County Historical Commission, relates the story of the founding of Quinlan, first as the town of Roberts to the south of the current city today, and later in 1892 at the site of today's community and under the name of Quinlan.  The town of Roberts was built by the Texas Midland Railroad, which was owned by the "Witch of Wall Street," investor Hetty Green.  Later, the Texas and Central Railroad acquired the Texas Midland Railroad and the townsite wa

Frances Dalbey, Hunt Regional Healthcare outreach specialist, says the Mako robot is now available to assist surgeons with hip replacements in addition to knee and partial knee replacements.  The Stryker Mako robotic arm is guided by the surgeon and selectively targets only the damaged part of the knee or hip.  Studies say robotic-arm assisted surgery is two to three times more accurate than manual

Sharline Freeman, director of the Northeast Texas Children's Museum in Commerce, says the annual Easter egg hunt is Saturday (March 27).  Actually, there are two separate Easter egg hunts, the first at 11 a.m. and the second at 2 p.m.

Commerce Chamber of Commerce manager Paul Voss says the annual "Bois D'Arc Car Show" will return on the downtown square Saturday, May 1.  The show was cancelled last year because of the coronavirus pandemic.  Also, the Chamber will host a golf tournament Friday, April 23 at Sand Hills Country Club.  We also discuss the Chamber's new web page, featuring a video created by David Lay.

Carol Taylor, chairman of the Hunt County Historical Commission, discusses the period from 1865 to 1876 following the Civil War known as "Reconstruction," when Union troops were stationed in Greenville and other Northeast Texas cities, much to the displeasure of the local citizens.  The troops were often attacked by "Bushwackers," former Confederate soldiers, and others.  Carol is the co-author of the book, "

Dr. LaVelle Hendricks, Texas A&M-Commerce counseling professor, says the first "Janet Peek and Ann Champion Women of Distinction and Honor" event will take place Sunday, March 28 as part of Women's History Month.  It will be a virtual event via Facebook.  Commerce women to be honors are Paula Blow, Betty Casselberry, Dr.

Herald-Banner movie critic Alice Reese comtemplates the 2021 Academy Award nominations that came out this week. The Oscar awards program is Sunday, April 25.

Commerce Mayor Wyman Williams says the Commerce City Council this week approved another Neighborhood Empowerment Zone, this one on Hickory Street, providing a tax break for the construction of new mutli-family housing units.  Several such zones have been approved in the city for residential and commercial building projects.

Sarah Latham, Rains County Agrilife Extension Agent, says Texas A&M Agrilife is conducting a survey of Texans views on a wide range of subjects.  "Texas Speaks" is available on the Rains County Agrilife Facebook page and at this link.  Sarah also says Agrilife is receiving a lot of questions about possible damage to trees caused by the recent severe winter weather, but she says about the only thing to do is wait for spring to see how the trees rebound.  Also

Dr. Nick Patras, director of the Texas A&M-Commerce Counseling Center, says he has seen a great psychological cost from the coronavirus pandemic over the past year, but he says people are more resilient than they they think they are, and he's optimistic that we'll soon arrive at a "new normal"?

Dr.

Hunt County Master Gardener Wayne Bowman says long-range forecasts he has seen say that we're unlikely to see temperatures under 40 degrees for many days, which would put us past the average last freeze date of March 20.  Wayne says the snow that fell during the extreme cold weather in mid-February actually was a good thing for plants and gardeners, providing a layer of insulation against the temperatures that fell below 0.

Our Sulphur Springs correspondent, Emily Glass, comments on her appointment to the Sulphur River Basin Board of Directors.  Emily is the former mayor of Sulphur Springs and co-owner of the Venue at two-nineteen in downtown Sulphur Springs.  Also, Butch Burney has been named the new Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce president, succeeding Lezley Brown.  Burney will take the position in April.  Fi

Pud Kearns of Housewarmers of Greenville says a new dog park has opened at Arnold Park at 2300 Jones St. (north of Park Street or east of Johnson Street).  The Park Street Historical Association has funded the new park.  A dog park already exists at Graham Park in north Greenville.  Pud says the city of Greenville is offering Code Red Warnings to be delivered to cell phones during severe weather.

Hank Pickering of Wolfe City, a supporter of the Northeast Texas Trail, says the NETT had a record number of users in 2020, at least in nearby Lamar County, possibly because people were looking for places to get outside during the coronavirus pandemic.  Trail usage with electronic counters in Lamar county for 2020 came to 163,555. 2019 was 130,324. Hank says the NETT is still in the process of seeking status as a state park.

Dr. Dale Funderburk, Northeast Texas economist, says he expects Texas will continue to be a magnet for industry after the power failures caused by the historic winter storm in February.  He says industry will not base their decisions on a "1oo-year event." 

Steve Killian, superintendent of Cooper Lake State Park, says he expects large numbers of visitors during spring break, the weeks of March 8 and March 15.  He says it necessary to make reservations for overnight stays.  Steve says the park has recently become an official Texas Parks and Wildlife weighing station for record-setting fish.  And Steve says the park will be opening its equestrian trails for mountains biking.

Pud Kearns with Housewarmers of Greenville comments on Saturday's quarterly citywide cleanup project in Greenville.  Greenville citizens may bring many large items to the Fletcher Warren Civic Center to be disposed of, not including air conditioners and refrigerators, batteries and chemicals.  Pud also says the Audie Murphy-American Cotton Museum has a new exhibit, "The African-American Experience in Hunt County," which includes video inte

Autumn Johnson, director Campus Recreation at Texas A&M-Commerce, discusses "Celebrate Every Body Week" at the Morris Recreation Center this week, which includes Heart Chakra Yoga at 7:30 p.m. tonight (Wednesday, March 3) and "Every Body Eats: Grab and Go Snacks" from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday (March 4).  We also discuss the importance of social support in providing physical and mental well-being for every person.

Sharline Freeman, director of the Northeast Texas Children's Museum in Commerce, says the museum is getting ready for large crowds of children over spring break, which starts for many public schools on Monday, March 8.  One field-trip group is coming from Hugo, Okla.  The museum now features a new fire engine, provided by Bob Stachowiak and numerous friends.