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I love it when the weather changes, the leaves turn colors, and holidays are upon us. Don’t get me wrong, I am a summertime girl, but I also love this time of year (even though I don’t love losing my tan! LOL). Who doesn’t love coffee on a cool morning on the patio, right?
Our November looks different since the kids grew up and left home to pursue their careers and families. We have, however, made so many wonderful friends who have since taken up the space in our lives that are left behind when your children move out. We enjoy Thanksgiving with many wonderful friends, sharing love and laughter – and lots and lots of food. We miss having Jaclyn and Michael and their families with us, but we have learned that although it may be sad that they can’t be with us, we have adapted to this new “normal” pretty darn well. December will come soon enough and we will all be together as a family, just not at our home.
I hope all of you enjoy time with family and friends this month. Remember to help your local businesses by voting for them in our Reader’s Choice Awards this year. Voting begins on November 1st and ends on the 30th. I know they will appreciate your help.
May God bless you and yours...
By: Michelle Horton
In 1954, Vietnam was divided into two sections: the communist North and the democratic South. Tensions began escalating and turning into armed conflicts between the two territories. The United States provided funding, armaments, and training to South Vietnam’s governments and military service. Still, in 1961, United States President John F. Kennedy would expand the military aid program. The former president committed United States soldiers to the South Vietnam area in hopes of repelling communism spreading into the South. After Kennedy’s passing, his successors continued their support for South Vietnam. By the year 1969, more than 500,000 United States military personnel were stationed in Vietnam. Benny R. Cooper was one of those brave men, drafted into the United States Army the year before, ready and willing to serve his country.
Benny grew up in Redwater, Texas, and describes his childhood as “hard work.” His parents owned a local grocery store, Cooper’s Grocery, and Benny, along with his younger brother, younger sister, and parents, lived in the back of the grocery store. There was always work to do in the family business, and Benny stayed busy after school and during the summer months.
After graduating high school in the summer of 1967, Benny had a choice to make. He could either go to college to delay his drafting
status or get drafted into the military service. “Boys my age, at that time, that’s all we had to look forward to,” Benny says. Benny went to work at Cooper Tire in Texarkana, Arkansas, and in July 1968, the expectant letter arrived at Benny’s home. His path would be redirected to the United States Army. Benny was inducted in Shreveport, Louisiana, and describes the setting as follows: “There were a lot of people in that room. In 1968, they were drafting a bunch of people. This First Lieutenant walked in there and said, ‘I want everybody to stand up and make one line all the way around the room.’ So, we made that one line, and he said, ‘Every other man take a step to the left.’ That made two lines, and the Lieutenant walked over there and said, ‘Everyone in this line is going to the Army, and everyone in this line is going to the Marine Corps.’”
Benny learns that, at this moment, he is going to the United States Army, and these newly drafted men are put on a bus and headed to Fort Polk, Louisiana.
Basic training occurred at Fort Polk and lasted for eight weeks. “It included a lot of physical training, pushups, and a lot of running. It was pretty tough. I went from a 29/30” waist to a 33” waist and 135 pounds to 165 pounds in eight weeks,” Benny says. “We learned how to take a rifle apart and put it together, read a compass, and march precision style. Everything had to be perfect, and inspections happened often.
They’d get you to where you were ready to kill your drill sergeant, and then they’d just back off. They knew when they had gotten you nearly to that point.”
Finally, graduation comes, and Benny has completed his basic training. “I got with this other guy that lived in Atlanta, Texas, and he took me home to Redwater. I spent the weekend there and then returned to Fort Polk. We were going to what they call ‘Tigerland’ for Advanced Individual Training (AIT). When you got your orders that you were going to Tigerland, you knew you were going straight to Vietnam,” Benny says.
During this nine-week training in Tigerland, men are placed in more extensive training than basic training. “You have compass courses, more rifle ranges, and are learning different kinds of weapons. It is more intense than basic training. You never knew what time you were gonna get back to the barracks. You might get two hours of sleep, or you might not,” Benny says.
About the eighth week of AIT, the soldiers would walk out to a bulletin board with everyone’s names listed on it. Most names, including Benny’s, had RVN beside them, which stood for the Republic of Vietnam. Benny’s prediction was correct; he was going to Vietnam.
Benny graduated from AIT on a
Friday, went home for 30 days, then boarded a plane to Fort Lewis, Washington. Once a jet became available, Benny was on and headed to Cam Ranh Bay, Vietnam, which was a replacement station. “There must have been three or four thousand of us. Every morning, they’d all gather, and this guy would be standing up there at a podium and calling names out. This morning, he called out four names, and mine was one of them. The other three I had been through AIT with, and one of the men - me and him- slept side by side during basic. We walked up there to that podium, and he said, ‘You’ll get on that helicopter; you’re going to the First Air Mobile Calvary Division,’” Benny says. He was now assigned to the Echo Company, Commanded by CPT David Niles.
“The kicker about all this is that when I was in basic training, they got the whole battalion, took us down to this big ole’ barn, and said, ‘We’re gonna watch a movie.’ We were sitting there, and the movie came on, and it was helicopters. It’s in black and white, back in those days. They were coming in, touching the ground, these guys were jumping out. I’m sitting there and thinking, ‘That’s what I want to do right there.’ That movie was showing the actual battle of the Ia Drang Valley,” Benny says. “Well, you better watch what you wish for because you just might get it. The first combat assault we made – we got in those helicopters, and we went in, and we jumped out.”
The battle of Ia Drang Valley lasted three days and occurred in Vietnam on November 14, 1965. Benny points out, “The war really started heating up in 1965 with this first major battle.” The 1st Battalion, 7th Calvary Regiment, 1st Calvary Division fought an overwhelming battle.
Little did Benny know, but he would become part of this same battalion in Vietnam.
Benny was dropped off in a landing zone the first week of January 1969. Most of the time, Benny and his division were either in the jungle, on a landing zone, or on a firebase. The men would never stay in one spot, and they moved at six every morning whether they needed to or not. These men would battle the most brutal environments while carrying a 170-pound pack full of weapons, C-rations, water, and necessary supplies daily.
However, when a mission or combat assault arises, it doesn’t matter what you are doing or how you feel; you just go. “You didn’t know if you were going into a hot LZ (landing zone) or a cold one. You wouldn’t know until you flew what felt like forever, got up in the air, and started circling. All at once, you’d see this artillery come in and all these explosions, and then you knew – you were going right there. Twelve choppers would line up, staggard formation, and eight to ten men would jump out of each chopper,” Benny says.
Most of the time, the men would remain on the mission for 90 days, return to the rear, get new clothes and new boots, and get to take a shower. Benny and his division had been on the move for close to two
and a half months, and as their 90 days approached, life was about to change for the Echo company. “You’re always getting shot at. Rockets, mortars, you know, but nothing really major there. They’re lobbing them over, and you can hear them flying over, but you never know when they are going to hit,” Benny remarks. During January and February, there wasn’t much interaction with the Vietnam army in person, mostly just the rockets and grenades. But that would all change in March 1969 as Benny is now arriving on Hill 54.
On March 15, 1969, Benny and his company boarded a Chinook helicopter for Hill 54, a remote outpost with a landing zone so small that the aircraft could not fully land, having to hover with the front wheels off the ground. Another division was leaving Hill 54 and getting onto the helicopter. One of the men passing Benny said, “We’ve been here for 32 days; it’s a piece of cake. Nothing’s happened.” Benny replied, “Ok, that’s good. That’s good.”
It is March 16, 1969, nearing the midnight hour. Benny settled in a small hole and drifted to sleep. Benny notes, “All at once, I heard this explosion, and I rolled over, and there was another one. Then there was another one, and they were right there, right beside me,” Benny declared. The enemy was now inside the wire, and they were no longer safe. “It had rained that evening, and the ground was slick. I just started sliding down that hill toward the bunker. When I went by my M16, I grabbed it and some ammunition and slid right into the hole. There was another man in the hole, John May, and he asked, ‘What are we gonna do?’ I asked him, ‘Where is your M16?’ He
said, ‘I left it out there.’ I then said, ‘Well, we gonna fight or we gonna die.’” This was midnight on March 17, 1969, and would become known as the Battle of Hill 54.
The Echo company mortar team was set up to provide support, but the enemy was able to lock in the position on the flash from the tube with B40 rocket-propelled grenades the first time a mortar was fired. The enemy was quickly destroying their position. The enemy then threw an incendiary device into the ammunition bunker about twenty feet from Benny’s hole. Once ignited, all the ammunition and over eighty mortars began to explode all around him.
The incoming enemy fire did not cease as wave after wave of enemy troops were out to destroy the outpost of Hill 54 and kill every American there. Even though the world was exploding all around, Benny Cooper and the Echo company refused to give up.
Because of Hill 54’s remote location, additional help would be delayed, but it did come in the form of aircrafts. Bien Hoa was a major Air Force Base from which large fighter jets took off. One fighter jet took off and joined forces with a helicopter patrolling the Dong Nai River, dropping basketball flares that lit up the entire area on Hill 54. This allowed troops to see everything.
The Battle of Hill 54 raged continuously for six hours, but the Echo company held its ground. Once daylight came across the land, the Vietnamese army retreated, and fighting ceased. “There was 52 of us the night before, and when I came out of the bunker the next morning, I went to counting, and I counted 13 that could move and walk. That was a life-changing night for everybody. It was the longest six to seven hours of our lives,” Benny remarks. “I get to looking out across
the area, and there are bodies everywhere. The first thing we do is try to find all of our people. We had two Observation Points out, and they were all killed. We got ponchos (slicker suits), went down, picked them up, wrapped them up, and brought them to the top of the hill.” Another company, Charlie Company, incurred a difficult march throughout the night and arrived at daylight to help the Echo company. They would help reinforce the bunkers, rebuild the fighting positions, and extract the wounded. They were in total disbelief at the devastation they saw and what the Echo company had just encountered.
“We thought they might get us off that hill, but they kept us there another three weeks. They kept us there until we got replacements and got back up to strength,” Benny says. These remaining soldiers who had just risked their lives and fought the Battle of Hill 54 would not return for a warm shower and fresh clothes. Instead, they kept moving and kept serving. Over a year, other missions would arise, and Benny and his company men would load onto helicopters and go wherever they were needed.
Benny had seven months left on his contract when he returned to the States. He spent a short time at Red River Army Depot in Hooks,
Texas, and was then ordered to Fort Hood, Texas. “Back then, Fort Hood was mechanized tanks. So many of us were coming back from Vietnam and sent to Fort Hood that they had to establish another battalion. It was an infantry battalion and I got put there instead of the mechanized tanks. I spent the next seven months doing the same thing that I had been doing in Vietnam. We would go into the field every Monday, and they would pick us up on Friday,” Benny remarks. They did this in order to keep the battalion busy and well-prepared in case they had to be sent back to Vietnam.
Since Benny was drafted, he was only required to serve a two-year term. Benny mentions, “You get this re-enlistment talk from this First Lieutenant, and he talked for about an hour. I’m sitting on the front row and you’ve got your name tag on your chest. He said, ‘What about you, Cooper?’ Well, you know, I had thought about re-enlisting, then I got to thinking if I re-enlist, I’m going to come down on the levy to go back to Vietnam. I said, ‘No. I can’t stay, I gotta go.’”
Benny Cooper was ready to depart Fort Hood but could not rent a car to get back home because of his young age. He was able to get ahold of his younger brother, who drove down to get Benny and return
him home to Redwater. Once they arrive, Benny describes the scene, saying, “We are standing in front of my Mother and Daddy’s house, and they both come out on the front porch and they’re looking at me. About that time, this chihuahua comes running out on that porch and jumps off that porch, and I catch her. I thought it was pretty bad the chihuahua was the only one that recognized me.” Benny’s parents did not know who was standing before them; he had changed a lot. “You take a 19-year-old kid, send him to a combat zone for a year; he comes back 45,” Benny says.
Life after service in Vietnam was not always rosy, and not everyone in the country appreciated Benny’s sacrifice. “When we returned from Vietnam, we were ‘baby killers.’ That’s what everybody called us, and they didn’t want to have anything to do with you. I mean everybody. I had a good buddy I had graduated with, and when he found out I had just come back from Vietnam, all the laughing and drinking just stopped. We were at the lake one night, and his wife said, ‘Benny, we haven’t seen you in a year; where have you been?’ I replied that I had just come back from Vietnam. They haven’t had a thing to do with me since.”
One can only fathom what these men had been through in a foreign country as they would see their friends and comrades fall to death in a very gruesome battle. Traumatic effects continued after their service and would range from taking overthe-top precautions in order to sleep at night to using alcohol to make it through each day. “I tried to stay drunk. They said I was selfmedicating. I was a straight-running drunk for 35 years. But, this month, it has been 20 years since I have had anything to drink.” Benny says.
He returned to work at Cooper Tire in July 1970 and then went to work for the Missouri-Pacific railroad in
October 1972, where he retired after 30 years.
“I wanted to use the GI Bill to go to college, but because I was working on the railroad, my schedule would not allow for it,” Benny says. Later, in 1976, Benny met the love of his life, Debbie Marshall Cooper, in Fort Worth, Texas.
The two established their home and family in Redwater, Texas. Today, they have three children, Ashley, Christina, and Michael, and eight grandchildren.
There are good aspects of Benny’s military career. He made lifelong friends like Robert Chambers, who lives in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Karl Swenson, the platoon leader for whom Benny carried the radio. “There are eight of us still alive today that went through that. We get to catch up at reunions and see each other,” Benny says.
Benny learned discipline and respect for authority as he became an essential part of our military history. Benny is now a life member of the Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) and the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Post 4562, in Texarkana,
Arkansas. Benny also finds time to help other veterans in our area. “I have one buddy that cannot drive, and when he calls me, I’ll take him to the VA in Shreveport or the one here,” Benny says.
We thank you, Benny Cooper, for your personal service and sacrifices for the United States of America. You are a true American hero.
By: Michelle Horton
When Gary Murphy was 18 years old, all young men in those days had to register with the Selective Service and were drafted into the military unless they had a deferment. Gary was a full-time college student and received a deferment until he completed his degree. “My family was aware of the situation, and we all knew the inevitable. Because of the draft, getting into the Air Force, Navy, and Coast Guard was harder, which greatly reduced the chances of being drafted to serve in Vietnam. However, I was reclassified 1A when I graduated from the University of Arkansas and was able to get a slot in the Air Force through my uncle, who knew the recruiter,” Gary says.
Gary Murphy grew up on the family farm just outside of Malvern, Arkansas. His days were spent feeding cattle, hogs, chickens, and occasionally goats. Gary spent many hours riding his horse, and summertime always meant hauling hay and swimming in the creek afterward.
After high school, Gary attended Southern State College (now Southern Arkansas University) in Magnolia for three years before transferring to the University of Arkansas – Fayetteville, where he earned his Bachelor of Science in Agriculture (Agronomy). He officially entered the United States Air Force shortly after graduation and was sent to basic training. During basic training, Gary was offered the opportunity to go to Officers Training School to be a pilot or navigator but declined and remained in the enlisted ranks. “My basic training was at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, in July and August of 1968. It was hot! Drills were rigorous; sometimes, completing those drills successfully depended on the recruit ahead of you. After basic training, I was assigned to Sheppard Air Force Base in Wichita Falls, Texas, for six weeks of Medical Helper training,” Gary says.
Gary declared that everything in basic training was to be
done with perfection, whether it was making your bunk, shining your shoes, keeping your razor and your toothbrush clean, or marching. “Did I mention it was hot? I was often sent back to the barracks to change fatigues because of the dried ‘sweat’ rings with the admonishment that no one ate in the chow hall with ‘dirty’ clothes,” Gary mentions. The most difficult part of this training was not being able to keep the letters he had received from his wife, Sandra.
While assigned to Sheppard Air Force Base for Medical Helper Training, Gary had to fill out a “dream” sheet of where he might like to be stationed. Gary explains, “We could list five bases, and I listed Little Rock Air Force Base right in the middle. When I completed this Medical Helper Training and received my orders, I was assigned to Little Rock Air Force Base and was stationed there for the remainder of my time. I was often asked, ‘Who do you know higher up?’ My answer always has been and still is ‘Only One, The One and Only.’”
Gary became a Veterinary Technician in the Air Force and was assigned to a Little Rock Air Force Base hospital group. “It was a SAC (Strategic Air Command) base, and the veterinarian’s office was in charge of caring for the 35-40 sentry dogs that guarded the flight line. In addition to this, we conducted clinics for base personnel pets,” Gary says. “In 1970, the Little Rock Air Force Base became a TAC (Tactical Air Command) base, and the sentry dogs were reassigned, leaving only a few Military Police dogs on the base. Our primary assignment was food inspection. Every food that was delivered to the base had to be inspected. This also included inspecting the off-base providers. We also inspected any food service facility located on the base.”
During his four years of service at the Little Rock Air Force Base, Gary lived with his family in a manufactured home about four miles from the base. His son and daughter were born during his years of service. Gary and his wife love to joke that, thanks to the benefits of the Air Force, they only had to pay $30 to have both kids born. Living in a central location also allowed for family visits on the weekends.
Military service does not come without stress. Gary knew in the back of his mind that he could always be reassigned to a less desirable location. Plus, the pay for an airman always kept the couple guarding their finances carefully and frugally. However, Gary’s relationship with God and knowing He is in control carried Gary and his family through the hard times. Gary also found a life-long friend during his four years of service. “I met Tommy R. E. ‘Catfish’ Jones from a place called Oil Trough, Arkansas. Several years later, my profession took me to Newport, Arkansas, where nearby we found “Oil Trough” and became lifelong friends with Tommy and his family. We are blessed to attend church with Tommy’s son, Shawn Jones, and his family at Northern Hills Baptist Church today,” Gary says.
Gary’s four years of service in the Air Force as a Staff Sergeant E-5 ended on June 26, 1972, and the Air Force moved the couple’s home to Fayetteville, Arkansas, so Gary could start graduate school. He earned his master’s degree in Animal Science using the G.I. Bill. After completing his master’s degree, Gary began working at the same university
in beef cattle research. “I retired from the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture/Animal Science Department where I was a Senior Research Associate at the Fayetteville campus, and former Resident Director of the University of Arkansas Beef Substation located at Newport, Arkansas,” Gary says.
Today, Gary is 79 years old and a resident of Texarkana, Arkansas. His wife, Sandra, and he have been married for 57 years, a relationship that began when Sandra introduced herself to Gary at a church event. They are the proud parents of Greg Murphy, a Farm Bureau Agent in Texarkana, Arkansas, and Marla Murphy Rowland, a math interventionist in Benton, Louisiana. Their grandchildren are Jackson and Andrew Murphy, Madison Rowland, and Rheagan (Rowland) McMinn. The newest addition to the family is their great-granddaughter, Allyn McMinn.
Gary and Sandra enjoy spending time deer hunting, riding ATVs, traveling in their RV, and attending Southern gospel concerts.
As Gary reflects on his past military service, he clearly understands that it taught him to trust God in every area of his life.
Thank you for serving in the United States Air Force, Gary. We appreciate your sacrifice!
Contingency
By: Michelle Horton
Cole Roberts was born in Ruston, Louisiana, and moved to Texarkana at the age of ten. Cole describes his childhood as “easy and fun” and remarks on his supportive parents and both sets of grandparents. He relied on his siblings for entertainment and made the best of each day. At the age of 18, Cole asked himself the all-important question, “What do I want to do with my life?”
Cole weighed several possibilities for life after high school but realized he did not like any of them outside of the military. “I knew the military would give me some type of discipline and would help me with a purpose. At the time, I was only bussing tables, and I knew I needed to learn more skills,” Cole says. He decided to visit the different military recruiting offices at Central Mall in Texarkana until he found his fit with the Marine Corps. “I knew I wanted to pursue firefighting when I was out of the military, and that was a job available,” Cole says. “Also, the Marine Corps made me feel like they had a lot of camaraderie, and I wanted that. It seemed like they were a fit for me.”
Cole told his parents he visited with a recruiter and then took a couple of days to decide. “I told my parents, ‘Hey, by the way, I think I’m going to do this,’ and they were shocked. They did not try to talk me out of it but definitely showed me other options. But once I reaffirmed that going into the Marine Corps was it, they got behind it,” Cole says.
Cole would enter a pool program where he would have to remain ready to pass physical examinations until the day came for him to be sworn into the Marine Corps in Little Rock, Arkansas. After this time, Cole returned home to live life and get things in order before his ship date in January 2013 arrived. However, news would come in August 2012 that the Marine Corps was ready for him. Cole and his best friend, Bryan Buchanan, who also joined the Marine Corps at the same time, had a cruise planned already, so the Marine Corps had them ship out in October 2012, just a couple of days after they arrived back from their cruise. “My best friend and I checked into Little Rock and flew from Little Rock to the San Diego Airport. We immediately checked into the USO, waited all day, and around ten o’clock that night, boarded the boot camp bus,” Cole says. “There were about 80 of us on that bus, and as they drove us to the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego, they yelled the entire time like we had just killed their cat. They get you off the bus, and you have these golden footprints that they make you stand on, all stationed in the position of attention.” Cole quickly learns that his past must be left behind as he enters these doors at boot camp. After this, he enters what looks
like an ISS classroom, takes out all his belongings, wallet, phone, and anything in his pockets, and the Marine Corps decides what he will be allowed to take in. Cole put his clothes in a box and started to put on the Marine’s clothes.
“You go through a receiving week in which they keep you up an entire week, teaching you basic things, like how to pack, physical training, and so much more before you hit Black Friday. Black Friday is when you will be stationed with a unit and a platoon number and meet your assigned drill instructors. During this 13-week boot camp, everyone will receive the same training: Marine Corps history, physical training, Marine Corps rank structure, how to salute, what to say to people, and basically getting you to the point where you will follow orders no matter what. You learn that you will not ask questions but just act,” Cole says.
During the second month of boot camp, they moved to Camp Pendleton, where they began rifleman training. The drilling continued, but this time, they were very focused on shooting and making sure they could shoot a rifle accurately. Their final month was back at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, where they prepared for The Crucible.
“The Crucible is the final test for the Marine Corps. They keep you up for three days with three MRE Meals. They hike you from landmark to landmark, and you simulate the same actions that former Medal of Honor recipients did to achieve that honor. It’s an eye-opening experience being this exhausted and to know that a guy before me was more exhausted than I am and did even more,” Cole explains. This trial is one that every Marine recruit endures as it tests their mental toughness, physical stamina,
and ability to think critically while enduring stress from hunger, sleep deprivation, and physical exhaustion over a 54-hour period.
At the highest hill of the Crucible, Cole received his Eagle, Globe, and Anchor award and transformed from a recruit to a full member of the Marine Corps. A five-mile hike back to the Warrior Breakfast, followed by a week, and Cole is presented to his family, and they get to spend the day together at the base. Cole would graduate, spend a month at home in Texarkana, and then return to Camp Pendleton to learn to shoot in motion during Combat Training. The next step was to begin firefighter training in San Angelo, Texas.
Cole would undergo multi-level training at the Air Force Base in San Angelo, Texas. He began as an Emergency Medical Responder learning the ropes, then onto Firefighter 1 and Firefighter 2 training, teaching him how to put his gear on, spray the hose, different hose patterns depending on the situation he was facing, how to stand, learn what different smoke means, and much more. HazMat Awareness was the next level, where Cole learned to identify specific hazmat properties. Finally, he attended an Airport Firefighting training, which is what the Marine Corps specializes in. This training provided Cole with a basic knowledge of airport firefighting.
Cole would be placed with a unit specifically attached to an air base. He describes his unit’s main goals: “We were to know the aircrafts that would be using the base, know the danger areas of those aircrafts, and know the runways and how to
mauver on them. This was our main goal every day.” Cole was able to place a preference to be stationed on the West Side after training, and he got his wish and was assigned to Camp Pendleton. “Upon receiving these orders, I was also told that the Pendleton guys are getting ready to deploy to Afghanistan in August. I was graduating in late July. They said whoever gets picked up from Pendleton here (San Angelo base) will be picked up for deployment. I knew I was deploying before I ever got to my unit,” Cole says.
Cole was nervous about the deployment but also felt he did not deserve to go. “There were multiple people that wanted to go to Afghanistan. So many Marines joined to fight and get stationed state-side and never get to go fight,” Cole says. “I also felt fortunate because it was one of the last deployments during Operation Enduring Freedom and the first of Operation Inherent Resolve.”
Cole spent seven months in Afghanistan, bouncing around different Marine Crops bases in the Helmand Province. He also spent
time on an air station, utilizing all of his firefighting training. “The culture, living conditions, and view were different in Afghanistan. It was all flat and desert, with no dunes. I was there during the winter season, and it actually snowed there. You have local Afghans that come onto the base, and their 9-5 job is to take Marines from one bus stop to the other, driving this one strip of road all day. They do not speak good English, know what they are supposed to do, and don’t talk. Some guys serving you chow are like that, too,” Cole says. “It was a joint base, too, so you are joining up with people from the Royal Air Force and Jordanians, plus different United States Marine Corps units. You’re with different countries’ military forces sharing the same eating space. I actually worked alongside and slept in the same building as firefighters for the Royal Air Force. I learned that they drink tea like we drink coffee.”
After returning to the States, Cole remains at Camp Pendleton for nearly a year and is deployed again on a Marnie Corps Expedition for close to seven months. While working various operations on the expedition, Cole was able to explore Thailand, Hong Kong, Israel, and many other places. “I paid money to go into Jerusalem, but there was rioting on the route there, so they canceled my day. I never got to go, but Israel was really, really cool to see,” Cole says. Seven months later, Cole returns back to the States and spends the remaining year of activeduty service at the Pendleton Air Station.
Cole’s highest promotion during his military service was to level E4 Corporal. He was rated for wearing an Afghan campaign ribbon and an overseas ribbon and was awarded a good conduct award for perfect conduct for three years.
After serving four years of active duty by September 2016, Cole continued with four years of inactive duty to finish his eight-year contract. Transitioning from military to civilian life was challenging. “I got fired from a job for being a little too abrasive. I told the person I was having a problem with that they were lazy and needed to fix it. I also got into a fight with my brother over something I thought was disrespectful but wound up being mediocre. It took me a second to realize that not everyone is intentionally trying to screw you,” Cole explains.
If there is something Cole wishes civilians understood about military service, it would best be explained by this: “Don’t ask anybody if they killed anybody! If people knew how big of a deal that is or that maybe the person they are asking is having trouble with that subject, I would ask them to refrain from that question.”
Today, Cole is a thriving 30-yearold man, married to the love of his wife, Maryanna Caroline (Wisdom) Roberts. The couple met through a mutual friend and were married in May of this year. Both Cole and Maryanna enjoy having their parents, Joey and Amanda Roberts, and Rick and Debbie Wisdom, plus a number of siblings, in their lives. In his spare time, he enjoys being at the gym, hiking, at the beach, or anywhere near water.
Cole serves his community through the Texarkana Arkansas Fire Department (TAFD) as a firefighter, helping people on their worst days. This month, he has been with the fire department for five years and, along with his crew, is being recognized as the 2024 TAPD Firefighters of the Year at the 45th Annual Public Safety Officer Appreciation Luncheon. Due to his extensive Marine Corps training, Cole was able to skip Fire Academy and plug into the department immediately. “We do
Emergency Medical Service runs, work car wrecks, downed power lines, gas leaks, inspections, check fire hydrants, hose-testing, and complete physical fitness tests. The Marines taught me camaraderie, how to work with others, and the many other skills I learned from the military; they all directly transferred over. Especially teaching me to live with different personalities, which is what we have to do when we are not on call,” Cole says.
Cole’s best friend, Bryan, whom he entered the Marine Corps with, remained in contact with Cole throughout their time. While Cole was fighting fires during his military service, Bryan became an aircraft electrician for F18 Charlies. Now, the two work together at TAFD.
Thank you for serving in the United States Marine Corps. We appreciate your sacrifice!
MONDAY, DECEMBER
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Superior Maytag
Triple C Repair
Auto Body Repair
Ashdown Collision
Frank's Paint & Body Shop
Giles Auto Body Shop
Hadaway Body Shop
Haley's Body Shop
Precision Paint and Body
Texarkana Auto Body Works
Wrights Auto Body & Glass
Auto Service & Tires
Cooper Tire Service Center
Daniel Tires
Discount Tire
Discount Wheel & Tire
Southtown Tire
Texarkana Tire and Wheel
Welch Tire
Wilson’s Tire
Auto Stereo & Accessories
Audio Center
Electronic Services
ES Mobile Audio
SECA Motorsports
ST Mobile Audio Texarkana Toys
Bank
Bank OZK
Bodcaw Bank
Cadence Bank
Commercial National Bank
Diamond Bank
Farmer’s Bank & Trust
Guaranty Bank & Trust
Simmons Bank
State Bank
Bennie’s Carpet Cleaning LLC
Chem Dry
Oxi Fresh Carpet Cleaning
Perfection Restoration and Cleaning Services
Service Master
Stanley Steemer
Apricot Lane Boutique
Bones & Arrow Boutique
The Cracked Pearl Boutique
Labels Boutique
Lindsay Kate Designs
Luna Boutique
Moonstone & Moss
Native Soul
Noah Jade’s Boutique
Sweet Caroline’s Boutique
The Rancher’s Wife
Bobby Szymanski, Data Stand by Complete Computer Solutions
MTECH Electronic Services
Texarkana Computer, LLC
WalkerITC
Domino Federal Credit Union
First Franklin
MilWay Federal Credit Union
Morris Sheppard Texarkana FCU
Red River Credit Union
Texar Federal Credit Union
Texarkana Terminal Employees
Federal Credit Union
Browning Homes is a husband and wife team who see their own home as a sanctuary. They feel blessed with every opportunity to do more than put walls and beams up, but to build a home of love and dreams -- for you.
If you treasure your home, and want all the things a home encompasses, including value, they would love to help you. Your home will be built by a family business with 20+ years of experience.
ES Mobile
Fix A Phone
Mtech Electronic Services
Phone PROS
Smart Phone EMT
Abercrombie & Fence
C.W. Fence Company
Dodson Fencing
Richardson Fencing
Texarkana Fence
Williams Fencing
Florist
4D Flowers and Gifts
Colley Cottage Trading Company
Fields of Flowers
Flowers on Richmond
Ruths Flowers
The Blooming Mercantile
The Flowerroom Florist & Gifts
Unique Flowers and Gifts
4M Moya Landscaping
D1 Landscaping
Freeman’s landscaping
H & N Landscaping
Lawn Doctor of Texarkana - Magnolia - Idabel
Little Country Greenhouse
Three Chicks
Twitty Nursery
Gift Shop
Dreidel. Home + Sundry
Fields of Flowers Floral and Gifts Shop
Ginger Junction
Hearts on Broad
Ruth’s Flowers
Salty Boutique & Books
Joni's Gymnastics
Twin City Cheer and Gymnastics
NE Texas Elite Gymnastics
Flip N Cheer and Ashdown Gymnastics
30 Point Service Company
Air Now Heating & Air Conditioning
Big Mike’s Heating and Air
Bionic Heating and Air
Central heating and Air
Cooks Heating and Air
Goff Heating and Air
Hamiltons Heating and Air
Krause Service Company, Chris Krause
Lonestar Heating and Air
Thomas Bui and Son
2b Builders
Browning Homes LLC
Dakoda Castle
Eppinette Construction
Greg McKay Construction
Lach-On Construction
Rogers Equipment & Construction
Eppinette Construction
Greg McKay Construction
Oliver’s Construction
Rogers Construction
Tony Langford Roofing
Yancy Construction
Illuminated Telecom
MTECH Electronic Services
Soundz Good Audio Video
Sound Towne
Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott
Hampton Inn
Hilton Garden Inn
Holiday Inn Texarkana Arkansas
Residence Inn
Beau Baker, Edward Jones
Dustin Stringer, Stringer Financial
Flanagan Andrus, Raymond James
Greg Cordray Edward Jones
Heath Stroud
Joe Black Financial
Magness Financial Group
Mike Cobb
Will Huddleston, Magness Financial Group
Jeweler
Alexander’s Jewelry
Coopers Jewelry
Crocker’s Jewelers
East Street Pawn and Jewelry
Gray’s Jewelry
Micah’s Jewelry
Liquor Store
Bogey’s
Chubby Cheek Liquor
EZ Street Liquor
Gilly’s Liquor
Highway 8 Liquor Store
The Party Factor
Villa
Locally Made Products
Better Bits Bakery
Cowgirl Gems Freshies
Fizz Bizz
Lavender Thorne
Mad Alice Crafts - Shandi Ford
Mayo Furniture
Rowe Casa Organics
Simply Jess Designs
Manufacturer
Cooper Tire
Domtar
JCM
Ledwell & Sons Enterprise Inc.
Mayo Manufacturing
Texarkana Aluminum
Mortgage Company
Cadence Bank
Mortgage Financial Services, Cody Lorance
Commercial National Bank
Farmer’s Bank
John Jarvis, Fairway Mortgage
Red River Credit Union
SWBC Mortgage
Texar
Utopia Mortgage, Lacy Coker
New Local Business
Beaut’e Realm Lash Salon
Bubba’s 33
Cafe Lucille
Concho Hearts Hospice
East Street Pawn
Emmie P’s Bistro and Bakery
EMperfected Beauty
Lawn Doctor of Texarkana-Magnolia-Idabel
Libertea House
Local Lore Apparel
Nash Eye Care
The Vault Premiere Flea Market
Triple C Repair
Pawn Shop
C & L Pawn
East Street Pawn and Jewelry
EZ Pawn
Paul’s Pawn & Gun
Pawn Express
Roy’s Pawn Shop Texarkana Arkansas
Tristate Pawn
Bug Bully Termite and Pest Control
Jones Termite and Pest Control
Lawn Doctor of Texarkana-Magnolia-Idabel
Lawrence Termite and Pest Control
Patterson Pest Control
Pest-Pro Services
Pillow Termite and Pest Control
Pet Groomer
Absolutely A Cut Above
Connie Coker
Doggie Divas
Furr Cutz
Georgia's Pet Salon
Lydia Gill
Paradise Pets
Paw Paw Patch
Plumbing Company
Absolute Plumbing Solutions
Central Heating and Air
Dr. Plumbington
Evenflow Plumbing
Jory’s Plumbing
Pegleg Plumbing, LLC
Pipe Monkey Plumbing
Shur-Flow Services
Bohon Roofing & Construction
Born to Roof Texas
GillRay Roofing Co.
Langford Roofing
Over The Top Roofing
Perez Roofing
R.B.T. Roofing
Skyline TXK Roofing
Bones & Arrow Boutique
Boot Barn
Cavender’s
Luna Boutique
Nelsons Boots
Racquet and Jog
Red Wing
Rocking H Boots & Saddlery
The Ranchers Wife
Beaute’ Realm Lash Salon
Concho Hearts Hospice
Emmie P’s Bistro and Bakery
Eternal Beauty Medical Aesthetics
Graham Slam Bakery
Lavender Thorne
Metro Texarkana News & Reports
Miller County Sheriffs Office
Peak Fighting Championship
Red River Credit Union
Texarkana Arkansas Police Dept
Texarkana Emergency Center
Texarkana Gameday
Texarkana ISD
Texarkana Texas Police Department
Title Company
Capital Title of Texas
Miller County Abstract & Title
Southwest Title Company
Stewart Title of Texarkana
Texarkana Title & Abstract Company
Twin City Title Company
Veterinarian Company
Care Pet Clinic
Cass County Veterinary
Oubre Animal Clinic
Pleasant Grove Animal Hospital
Rankin Veterinary Clinic
Stateline Animal Hospital
Westridge Animal Hospital
Wisdom Animal Clinic
Wedding Cake
Bri Flanagan
Cakes by Carrie
Graham Slam Bakery
Julie’s Deli and Market
Maddie Cakes
Sugar Mills Bakery and Events
Sweet Art Cakery
The Cake Boutique
Wedding Caterer
Chef on the Run
Garrison Gardens Catering, Mary
Colorigh
Julie's Deli and Market
Main Street Cafe and Catering, Chef Preston
Naaman's Championship BBQ
Silver Spoon
Sugar Mills Bakery and Events
Wedding DJ
Chris Daly
Chuck Guilbert
Dj Hollygrove
Fabienne’s Mobile DJ Service
Jam Master D
Lynn Roberts Entertainment
Wes Spicher
Wedding Florist
4D Flowers and Gifts
Colley’s Cottage
Field of Flowers
Jennifer’s Designs, Winthrop, AR
Ruth's Flowers
The Flowerroom Florist & Gifts
Unique Flowers & Gifts
Blessing Tree Farm
Crossties
Four Fifteen Estates
Garrison Gardens
Ramage Farms
Silvermoon on Broad
The Collins Home Tree Haven
Blessing Tree Farms
Dee's Barn & Venue
Four Fifteen Estates
Garrison’s Garden
Ramage Farms
The Collins Home
Tree Haven
Twin Creek Lake Pavillion
Dots Rentals
Events and Moore
J Cole Designs
Memorable Events Mirror Photo Booth
Sugar Snaps Event Rentals
Blessing Tree Farm
Crossties Event Venue
Dee's Barn & Venue
Four Fifteen Estates
Garrison Gardens
Ramage Farms
Silvermoon on Broad Texarkana Country Club
The Collins Home
Tree Haven
Wedding Rehearsal/Dinner
Venue
Benchmark American Brasserie
Crossties Event Venue
Four Fifteen Estates
Hopkin’s Ice House
Silvermoon on Broad
The Collins Home Tree Haven
Twisted Fork
Verona Italian Restaurant
Barber
Aaron Hardy, Style Studio
Brandon Frix, Style Studio
Cody’s Barber Shop
Eye Envy Him
Hairy Armadillo Barber Shop
Logan, Meraki Salon
Marlon Evans
Matt Brown
Nash Barber Shop
Southern Edge
Southern Grace Barber Shop
Vince2clean, Vince Mcgaugh
Annie Ratliff Skincare
Brooke Odum Esthetics
Emperfected Beauty
Eternal Beauty Medical Aesthetics
Jennifer Latham, Laser Beauty Lounge and Med Spa
Kayla Lewis Beauty
LoneStar Aesthetics and Wellness
Time in a Bottle
Body Wraps
EMperfected Beauty
ReNew Medical Spa
Sheena Richardson, Massage by Sheena
The Beauty and Wellness Center
Time In A Bottle
Tranquility Spa
Botox/Fillers
About Face Aesthetics
Health Care Express - Age Management & Aesthetics
Beauty & Wellness Center
Elizabeth Williams, Laser Beauty Lounge and Med Spa
Eternal Beauty Medical Aesthetics
Kim Care Hearts on Broad
LoneStar Aesthetics and Wellness
Renew Medica Spa
Annie Ratliff Skincare
Joyce Miller, Beauty & Wellness Center
EMperfected Beauty
Eternal Beauty Medical Aesthetics
Kayla Lewis Beauty
Madison Moody Esthetics
Phe Michelle, Oasis Beauty
Time in a Bottle Day Spa
Hair Salon
Adorn Salon
Beauty Barr
Creative Soul Salon
Emmanuel Collective Fringe Hair & Beauty House
The Meraki Salon
Michele’s Hair Salon
Natalleys Salon At Hart's on Broad
Salon Haven
Salt & Light Hair Co.
Sheer County
Style Studio
The Edge Salon
Tres Chic Salon
Brittni Layne Smith
Courtney Foster, Bello Capelli Salon
Holly Orr, Creative Soul Salon
Jayme Culberson, Fringe Hair & Beauty House
Jennifer Nason, The Meraki Salon
Kaitlin Martin, Kaitlin Martin Beauty
Lauren Vera-Gortney
Lisa Harris, Style Studio
Makayla Burns, Style Studio
Michelle Cox, Bello Capelli Salon
Morgan Hinman, Adorn
Natalie Durham, Natalleys Salon At Hart’s on Broad
Reala Jo Ward, Fringe Hair & Beauty House
Summer Whisenhunt, Salon Haven
Tommie Jones, Style Studio
Kyle Groom, DeKalb Physician Group
Elizabeth Williams, Laser Beauty Lounge and Med Spa
Eternal Beauty Medical Aesthetics
LoneStar Aesthetic & Wellness
Red River Health, Red River Infusion Pharmacy
Renew Integrated Medical Spa
Age Management & Aesthetics
EMperfected Beauty
Eternal Beauty Medical Aesthetics
Kayla Lewis Beauty
Madison Moody Esthetics
ReNew Medical Spa
The Beauty and Wellness Center
Time in a Bottle
Spa
Eternal Beauty Medical Aesthetics
EMperfected Beauty
Laser Beauty Lounge and Med Spa
LoneStar Aesthetics and Wellness
Renew Medical Spa
The Beauty and Wellness center
Time in a Bottle Day
Tranquility Day Spa
Emergency Room
Christus St. Michael Hospital
Little River Memorial Hospital
SignatureCare Emergency Center
Texarkana Emergency Center & Hospital
Wadley Regional Medical Center
Fitness Center/Gym
Anytime Fitness – Wake Village
GYMBOX Fitness
TXK Fitness
Icon Gyn
Legand’s Gym
Planet Fitness
Sling Fit
Thrive Yoga
TXK Elite CrossFIT
Wacha Resolution
Home Health/Care
Ashleys Care and House Call
Chambers Home Health
Enhabit Home Health
Heritage Home Health
Retreat Home Health Services
Sitters
VitalCaring Group Home Health
Hospice Care
Chambers Hospice
Concho Hearts Hospice
Dierkson Hospice
Enhabit Home Health and Hospice
Heritage Hospice
Hospice Texarkana
Retreat Hospice Services
Autumn Wind
Brookedale Senior Living
Colonial Lodge Assisted Living
Cornerstone Retirement Community
Cowhorn Creek Estates
Retreat at Kenwood Assisted Living
The Oaks
Urgent Care
Collom & Carney Clinic
Exceed Health Clinic
Family Medical Center
HealthCARE Express
Total Access Health and Wellness
Twin City Medical
Big Gilley’s Smokehouse
Big Jakes BBQ
Blue Ember Smokehouse
Clay-Bos BBQ
Naaman’s Championship BBQ
Randy’s Smokehouse BBQ
Silver Star Smokehouse
Better Bits Bakery
Cookie Lady
Emmie P’s Bistro and Bakery
Graham Slam Bakery
Julies Deli & Market
Susie Q’s Catering and Bakery
Sweet Arts Cakery
Taste & See
The Cake Boutique
The Cake House
Twisted Fork
Fish
82 Eats
Doc's Seafood & Steak
Flying Burger
Naaman’s
Pelican Fish and Seafood
Pier 27
Pop's Place
Roux Ga Roux
The Fishbowl
Bubba’s 33
Hopkins
Iron Wood
Julies Deli & Market
Naaman’s Championship BBQ
Old Tyme Burger Shoppe
Pop's Place
Redbone Magic Brewing
Three Chicks Cafe
TLC Burgers and Fries
Wingstop
237 Grocery
82 Eats
Flying Burger & Seafood
Hopkins Ice House
Old Tyme Burger Shoppe
TLC Burgers and Fries
Wayback Burger
Bubba’s 33
Gusano’s Chicago - Style Pizzeria
Hopkins Ice House
Joe's Pizza and Pasta
Keller’s Coffee Co
Lost Pizza Company
Redbone Magic Brewing
Scooter’s Pizza
Twisted Fork
Underground Pizza Co.
Benchmark American Brasserie
Doc's Steak and Seafood
IronWood Grill
Naaman’s Championship BBQ
Pop's Place
Silver Star Smokehouse
Texas Roadhouse
Twisted Fork
Verona Italian Restaurant
1923 Banana Club
Benchmark American Brasserie
IronWood Grill
Twisted Fork
Verona Italian Restaurant
Bubba’s 33
Gusano’s Chicago - Style Pizzeria
Hopkins Ice House
Lost Pizza Co.
Redbone Magic Brewery
Wingstop
Cafe Lucille’s
Emmie P’s Bistro and Bakery
Hopkins Ice House
IronWood Grill
Julie's Deli and Market
Keller’s Coffee Co.
Redbone Magic Brewing
The Duke
Verona Italian Restaurant
Benchmark American Brasserie
Fuji Kim’s
IronWood Grill
Lost Pizza
Naaman’s Championship BBQ
Pecan Point Gastropub Brewery
Pop’s Place
Redbone Magic Brewery
Twisted Fork
Verona Italian Restaurant
Benchmark American Brasserie
IronWood Grill
Pecan Point Gastropub Brewery
Pop’s Place
Twisted Fork
Verona Italian Restaurant
Happy Hour
1923 Banana Club
Benchmark American Brasserie
Gusanos
Hopkins Icehouse
Naaman’s Championship BBQ
Pecan Point Gastropub Brewery
Redbone Magic Brewing
Silver Star Smokehouse
Twisted Fork
Zapata’s Mexican Restaurant
82 Eats
Benchmark American Brasserie
Big Gilleys
Cafe Lucille
Dixie Dinner
Emmie P’s Bistro and Bakery
Fuji Kim’s
Hopkins Icehouse
IronWood Grill
Julie's Deli and Market
Keller Coffee Company
Naaman’s Championship BBQ
Old Tyme Burger Shoppe
Pecan Point Gastropub Brewery
Pop's Place
Redbone Magic Brewing
Roux GaRoux
Sue & Carols
Twisted Fork
Verona Italian Restaurant
Zapata’s Mexican Restaurant
Lunch Spot
Bre’s Salad Hut
Cafe Lucille
Emmie P’s Bistro and Bakery
Fuzzy’s Taco
Hopkins Icehouse
IronWood Grill
Julie’s Deli and Market
The Lunchbox
Mother Kelly’s
Naaman’s Championship BBQ
Old Tyme Burger Shoppe
Tacos 4 Life
Three Chicks Feed and Seed
TLC Burger and Fries
Cafe Lucille
Duke’s Bar and Grill
Hopkins Icehouse
Lost Pizza Co.
Naaman’s Championship BBQ
Pop’s Place
Redbone Magic Brewing
Three Chicks Feed and Seed
Gusano’s Chicago-Style Pizzeria
Lost Pizza Co.
Pop’s Place
Redbone Magic Brewery
The Wild Haire
Twisted Fork
Caterer
Chef on the Run
Emmie P’s Bistro and Bakery
JR’s Catering Company
Julie’s Deli & Market
Naaman’s Championship BBQ
Silver Spoon
Sugar Mill Bakery & Events
Chef
Becky Williams, Cafe Lucille
Cory House, Texas High School Culinary Arts Academy in Texarkana
Jeff Loving, Chef on the Run
Jennifer Tanner, Julie’s Deli & Market
Joey Shankle, Benchmark American Brasserie
Pam Elliott
Hector Jimnez, Verona Italian Restaurant
William Harris, Emmie P’s Bistro and Bakery
CHRISTUS St. Michael
Cornerstone Retirement Community
Farmers Bank & Trust
Lavender Thorne
Ledwell & Sons Enterprise Inc.
PAM Health Specialty Hospital
Red River Credit Union
Retreat Heathcare Services
Texarkana Arkansas Police Department
Texarkana Independent School District
Texarkana Therapy Center
Total Medical Supply, Inc.
Allen Brown, Mayor of Texarkana Arkansas
Mike Brower, Chief Appraiser for Bowie County
Bob Bruggerman, Mayor of Texarkana Texas
Cathy Hardin Harrison, Miller County Judge
Jeff Neal, Sheriff of Bowie County
Michael Rayburn, Justice of the Peace for District 8
Wayne Easley, Sheriff of Miller County
Terry Roberts, Ward 1 Director
Artist
Daniel Rushing
Darlene Taylor
Jes Weiner
Joel Wright
Joseph Raymond
Mary Jane Orr
Shea Phillips
Brent Carmony
Charles Hollingsworth
David Whitten
Zackary Legan
Alicia Woodle Designs
J Cole Designs
Janet Cross
Jeff Brown
Lauren Calloway
Lynlee Builds at home + Work
Mark Addington DDS
Andrew Cury, DDS
Castle Family Dental
Chris Ferguson DDS
David Vammen
John Thane
Josh Talley
Lippian Family Dentistry
Nick Cockerell, Pleasant Grove dentist
Torin Marrciano, Pleasant Grove Family Dentistry
Sarah Payne
Brian Steele, Ark-La-Tex Pediatric Dentistry
Chris Potts, The Kids Spot Dentistry
Leslee Higgins, Leap Kids Dental
Mitchell Glass, Pediatric Dentistry of Texarkana
Danley, Arklatex Pediatrics
Electrician
Artex Electric
Dennis Bayless
H & K Electric
Integrity Electric
Liberty Electric
LiveWire Electrical Services
Lucas Berry, Eelectrical Wizard
Nantze Electric
Spark Free Electric, Zack Pearson
Andrea Heflin, Texarkana Sr Care Clinic
Angela Ramsey
Brian Bowen
Brittney Ackley
Cara Cook, Family Medical Group
Craig Mueller, FNP
Greg Richter
Kyle Groom, Dekalb Physicians Clinic
Mark Gabbie
Patrick Smith Family medical group
San Nix
Steve Allen, Family Medical
Tara Capeheart, Twin City Medical
Trey Pirkey
Troy Potter
Wendy Gammon
Insurance Agent
Brian Purtle, Allstate Insurance
Coy Mason, Miller County Farm Bureau
Derrick McGary, State Farm
Jake Hambleton, State Farm Insurance
Justin Magness, State Farm Insurance
Kelli Ashbrook, State Farm Insurance
Leslie Jordan, Farmers Union Insurance
Scott Sanders, Allstate
Trey Dickens, Texas farm bureau
Carlee Batte
Hailey Cherry Hanson, Hailey Cherry MUA
Katlin Martin, Katlin Martin Beauty
Kayla Lewis, Kayla Lewis Beauty
Kimberly Bearden, Kimberly Bearden Beauty
Kristy Glascock, Flawless Faces by Kristy Glascock
Lauren Starkey
Madison Moody, Madison Moody Esthetics
Makayla Burns, The Style Studio
Phe Michelle, Arched Brow Studio
Massage Therapist
Chad Hunter, LMT
Dijon Walker at Living Well
Heather Nalepa, Eternal Beauty Medical Aesthetics
Jared Tucker, Ascension Modern Massage
Kinsey Ward, Living Well Chiropractic
Reeves Ingram, Beauty & Wellness Center
Sheena Richardson, Laser Beauty Lounge & Med Spa
Tiffany Winchell, Massage Therapy by Tiffany
Time in a Bottle Spa
Tranquility Day Spa
OB-GYN
D'Andra Bingham, Collom & Carney Clinic
David Greathouse, Collom & Carney Clinic
James Scales, Genesis Prime Care
Jennifer Thompson, Collom & Carney Clinic
Kenneth West, The Women’s Specialists
Sarah Greathouse, Wadley
Stacy Leonard
Sudheer Jayaprabhu, The Women’s Specialists
Thomas Wilson, CHRISTUS St. Michael
Adam Cox - Family Eye Care
Eric McCall- The Eye Guys
Fant Eye Care- Dr Galdamez
Randall Glass, Fowler Optical
Jeff Philips
Jessica Trichel, Nash Eye Care
Littleton Fowler
Mark Allen, Ark La Tex Eyes
Summers at Eye Guys
Carly at Texarkana therapy center
Cori Mobbs
Dorie Pearson
Dr. Brenda J. Stuart-Howel
Lance Vestal
Mia Kemp
Tammy Heminger, OTR
Pediatrician
Cheryl Saul Sehy, Collom & Carney Clinic
Christina Payne, Collom & Carney Clinic
Cindy Porter, Collom & Carney Clinic
Clark Green, Collom & Carney Clinic
Mark Wright, Collom & Carney Clinic
Rachel King, King Medical Clinic
Tracie Calloway, Healing Hands Pediatrics
Zackariah King, Collom & Carney Clinic
Physical Therapist
Claire Ashby
Jenna Sturgeon
Joel Inglasias
Lauren Foster Norton
Lesa Shipp
Martha Jennings
Rachel Grimett, Southern Rehab
Russ Nelson, CHRISTUS St. Michael Outpatient Rehabilitation
Realtor
Amber Gideon-Stewart, Coldwell Banker Elite
Ashley Cooper, Coldwell Banker Elite
Blaken Underwood, Exit Realty Unlimited
Daphne Roberson
Lauren Calloway, PH Realty
Monica Kelley, Monica D. Kelley, Realtor
Lynn Pierce, Exit Realty Unlimited
Kim Williams, PH Realty
Sarah Sealy, Griffin Realtors
Sherry Jo Ingram, Exit Realty Unlimited
Sydney Wicks, PH Realty
Tracy Spradlin, Impact Realty Group
Brian Henry REMAX Preferred
Impact Realty Group
Mike Ingram
Jerry Brewer, NAI Real Estate
Richard Reynolds
Scout Property Group
Real Estate - Property Management
Henry Property Management
Impact Realty Group
PH property management
Raffaelli Property Management- Autumn Wilson
Snow Development
Total Real Estate Solutions
White Property
Tattoo Artist
Allan McEneaney
Hunter McCarver
Jason Standridge
Joaquin Hernandez
Justin Birtcher
Lyndsey Ellsworth
Matt Hendricks
Michael Clubine
Nathan “Bum” Biddle
Russ Beydler “Redneck Russ”
Benjamin DuBois, CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic
Beth Peterson, Wadley Regional Hospital
Douglas Thompson, Texarkana Orthopedics
Jeffrey DeCaprio, Collom & Carney Clinic
John Reid, CHRISTUS Trinity Health
Marcus Smith, CHRISTUS St. Michael Hospital
Mark Sutherland, Texarkana Surgical Specialists
Meko Radomski, Collom & Carney Clinic
Randy Schmidt, CHRISTUS Surgery Associates
Trey Mitchell, CHRISTUS St. Michael Health System
Orthopedics and Sports Medicine
Thomas Young, CHRISTUS St. Michael Health System
This year, the Texas State Legislature is requiring ALL appraisal districts in the state to start a program in which they verify residential homesteads. The legislature doesn’t give any guidance as to how it will be conducted, and of course, it will cost the taxpayers lots of money.
Here in Bowie County, the district is working on getting new homestead applications filled out by as many people as possible in the “over 65” category while people are in the office paying taxes. Next year, the district will be working on “General Homesteads.”
If you live in Texas and are near the office at 122 Plaza West, please stop by
and file for a new one. Each application filed in the office is one less that will need to be mailed. If you don’t file for a new Homestead, you risk losing the homestead for the year you didn’t refile. It takes about five minutes to do. All you do is sign the form and provide a copy of your driver’s license.
I would encourage everyone to take care of this as soon as possible, or if you receive one in the mail, please return it as quickly as possible.
If you have any questions, call 903-7938936; we will gladly help.
Evaluate your retirement beyond health and wealth.
As you move through retirement, it’s important to set time aside to reflect on how you’re doing. While most people often focus on their health and finances, it’s equally as important to think about other areas of your life as you approach the midpoint of your retirement, which could be between the ages of 70 and 80, depending on your longevity. This is the time to ask yourself some broader questions to ensure you’re making the most of the years you’ve worked so hard to enjoy.
A holistic retirement check at the halfway point can make sure you stay on track. To get a better understanding of what you should take into consideration, observe the lives of retirees around you and think about the choices they’ve made. Then, reflect on these questions.
According to a study by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, retirees spend an average of 1.77 hours per day on housework, like cleaning and laundry. This can vary greatly depending on the size of the house, the number of rooms and the amount of outside maintenance required, like shoveling snow or mowing the lawn. If you find yourself wanting to ease up on household chores, downsizing might be a good solution. Besides less upkeep, it provides an opportunity to declutter and simplify your life, which can be quite satisfying, even liberating.
On the other hand, you may not want to reduce your square footage. If you frequently have your children or grandchildren over for
extended stays, you might need a place with an additional bedroom. If hosting holidays and other gatherings brings you joy, having enough space to create cherished memories may be important to you. Everyone’s situation is different, but you should ask yourself how the space is working for you.
If you’re someone who can’t quite tackle stairs lately or requires other accommodations, then accessibility may be top of mind. A single-story home could make it easier to move around. Alternatively, a new condominium may be a good choice. Many modern condos come equipped with features that help ensure you can move about comfortably without any difficulties.
Let’s not forget about location. And we don’t mean the beach or the mountains. Do you have family members spread across the country? Moving closer to children or grandchildren who can help you with caregiving or errands as you age may be attractive. Even if you’d always dreamed of retirement in Arizona and have enjoyed it, companionship from family may top your priority list and lead you to evaluate where you have more connections.
As you hit the midpoint of your retirement, it’s natural to experience some changes in your health. If you’re fit as a fiddle, then congratulations! However, it’s still important to think about the availability and proximity of your doctors, as well as any insurance changes
that may be necessary. If you know you’ll need a knee replacement soon, examine your health plan and consider what this upcoming surgery might cost under different options. During Medicare’s annual open enrollment from October 15 to December 7, you can make any changes necessary to your insurance coverage.
Some Medicare Advantage Plans even give access to gym memberships and fitness classes. The SilverSneakers program, which is widely known and accepted at facilities like the YMCA, is just one of them. Joining a gym will not only give you the opportunity to commit to regular physical activity, which can prevent health problems that come with age, but it can also give you a sense of community that benefits your mental health.
If you’ve always enjoyed your solo hobbies but are finding them a little lonely these days, consider joining a book club at the library or a walking group to help forge new connections.
The idea is to not be married to the hobbies you’ve always enjoyed. As life goes on and things change, so might your interests or needs. What once provided solace and relaxation might become stressful or feel like a chore. It may be time to add something new to the mix, to try something you’ve never done before or revive a pastime from decades ago.
How retirees spend the day
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, average daily activities include:
• Volunteering – 2.47 hours
• Educational classes – 2.43 hours
• Playing games – 2.08 hours
• Gardening and lawn care – 2.07 hours
• Reading – 1.98 hours
• Socializing – 1.96 hours
• Religious services – 1.85 hours
Do I need to make any adjustments to my finances or estate planning documents?
When it comes to managing your finances, start by examining your budget and determine if your income still aligns with your spending needs. The last thing you’d want to do is miss out on experiences like travel to avoid overspending. (In the same breath, you don’t want to sacrifice financial stability.)
That’s where advisors can help make adjustments, confirm whether your current asset allocation is still appropriate, and simulate portfolio response to life changes*. Remember to lean on them for advice when your financial needs or wishes change. Express your expectations for the second half of your retirement and include those aspirations in your budget to make sure they happen.
If you’ve experienced any major life changes (such as marriages, divorces, births or deaths) in the first half of retirement, ensure that any changes in your intentions are
reflected in your estate planning documents and beneficiary designations.
The longer we live in retirement, the more challenging it is to course correct if need be. One way to ensure that you’re on track for a fulfilling retirement is to conduct a mid-retirement review. With the right adjustments, you can ensure your financial, health and overall well-being goals are all being met.
*IMPORTANT: The projections or other information generated regarding the likelihood of various investment outcomes are hypothetical in nature, do not reflect actual investment results and are not guarantees of future results. Results may vary with each use and over time. Asset allocation does not guarantee a profit nor protect against loss.
Raymond James and its advisors do not offer tax or legal advice. You should discuss any tax or legal matters with the appropriate professional.
Sources: usatoday.com; nerdwallet.com; moneytalksnews. com; money.com; investopedia.com
By: Suzie Tyler
We just celebrated Halloween! Kids used to have a blast dressing up as their favorite characters, going trick or treating, and returning home with a bag full of candy.
I remember my mother telling the story of when they moved in the 40s from a farm in Fouke, Arkansas, to Texarkana. Their closest neighbor was miles away, so when the kids showed up at their door in town with weird outfits and said something so fast, they could not understand the words; they did not know what they wanted! They learned and, the following year, were prepared. Most made homemade things like popcorn balls, candied apples, freshly baked cookies, or fruit. There was no Walmart available to purchase oversized bags of candy!
By the middle of the 1960s, times had changed! In Houston, a man put razor blades inside apples, and several children were severely injured. For an added safety measure, hospitals would allow you to take your bags of candy to be X-rayed to reveal any objects inserted into the candy or fruit. Parents began taking their children to people they knew, and now, few go trick-or-treating. Many churches and schools plan activities so kids can have a safe environment!
Stores are now more interested in making money selling candy and decorations. More people decorated for Halloween in our neighborhood this year than in recent years. Every year, retail stores bring out the holiday items earlier and earlier! Even before Halloween this year, some stores were putting out Christmas decorations.
I’m not here to discuss the right or wrong of celebrating Halloween, but if you are a Christian and choose to decorate your yard for Halloween, you should also decorate your yard for Christmas, the celebrated birth of the Savior. Something to think about!
Am I the only one who remembers 1973 when people were encouraged not to put up outdoor Christmas lights as part of a series of energy conservation measures to address the oil crisis that year?
I can remember when the Friday after Thanksgiving began the official Christmas season. No one put up a tree until after Thanksgiving. In our circle of friends, it was a competition to see who got their tree up first, and some girls would begin at midnight on the Friday after Thanksgiving so they could be first.
Have a safe and Happy Thanksgiving, and enjoy family time. Also, remember the people without close relatives and invite them to your family gathering.
You can follow SuzieTKWriter on my Facebook Writer Page, Instagram, Twitter (aka X), and Amazon Author page.
Since I’m not tournament fishing anymore, I have embraced (once again) my trout/ fly fishing roots, and it’s working out. When Debbie and I travel, I often pack a fly rod, reel, and a few flies to fish with if I get an opportunity. It’s really not a problem to bring the stuff along.
This year, we are going on another Alaskan cruise, and I plan on fishing in Juneau and Ketchikan -- Juneau, with a guide and Ketchikan by myself. For this trip, I took a 9’ 8” #5 fly rod - it’s a nice all-around rod - a #5 reel, and about ten salmon flies and about ten trout flies. Now I’m not going wading anywhere, but I can be one of the “bank people” and fish from dry ground without much trouble, and hopefully I caught a fish or two.
I will mainly target Dolly Varden, Cutthroat, and Rainbows, but there should be some end of the spawn Sockeye and Silver Salmon hanging around to be caught. I could catch more and larger fish if I just salmon fished and went out in a boat trolling, but that’s not my style. I would much rather be away from civilization fishing for some 12-16-inch trout in the woods, where there is also an opportunity to see some bears, even though they will have mostly denned up by now. I have fished in Alaska several times before, but this trip may be pushing the fishing to the limit as we are either the last or next to the last cruise of the season, and it will likely rain a lot while we are there. But rain and cold have never stopped me before, and it won’t stop me now.
From the Halls of Montezuma to the shores of Tripoli we will fight our country’s battles, in the air, on land and sea...
Anchors aweigh, my boys, anchors aweigh. Farewell to college joys, we sail at break of day...
The Gaither Vocal Band Concert @ FBC Texarkana Annual TAPAS & WINE @ Collins Home
For the Sake of One Hope Banquet
Veteran’s Fish Fry @ Elks 2771 12pm Downtown Live! Texarkana 6pm
Line Dancing @ Elks Lodge Guitar Circle @ Digital Press
Then it’s Hi! Hi! Hee! in the field artillery, Shout out your numbers loud and strong! For where e’er you go, you will always know, That the caissons are rolling along.
Board Game Sunday @ MeepleCity
Off we go into the wild, blue yonder, climbing high into the sun. Here they come zooming to meet our thunder, “At ‘em boys, fly to the sun!”
We’re always ready for the call, we place our trust in Thee. Through surf and storm and howling gale, high shall our purpose be.
TSO Star Wars @ Perot Theatre
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever @ Silvermoon Children’s Theatre
11th Annual Turkey Trot 5K Run/Walk @ Spring Lake Park
Bill
903-748-3186
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