county line UPPER EAST SIDE OF TEXAS
JULY/AUGUST 2013
M A G A Z I N E
TM
Amber Carrington beyond the voice
Complimentary Copy
to subscribe see page 42
www.countylinemagazine.com
robin hood brians paris’ Cas haley andy don emmons WINE TRAIl fun four winds steaks zipline east texas living off the land Kyser capo tuning
High S T Y LE , Low P RI CE | 903.865.1235
30,000 sq ft warehouse shopping experience.
www.DandPInteriors.com 21504 Interstate 20 |Canton, TX
EDOM What a trip!
ARTS • EATS • MORE www.VisitEdom.com
Potters Brown Studio & Gallery
Arbor Castle Birdhouses Birdbaths Garden Sculptures 903.852.7893 www.arborcastlebirdhouses.com
DRAGONHEAD RETREAT
B&B on 25 Wooded Acres at 675' The Lodge (sleeps 9+) Cedar Cabin (sleeps 4+) Outside Living Area WiFi • Kid Friendly 903-520-2069 www.dragonheadretreat.com 2 • CountyLineMagazine.com • JULY/AUGUST 2013
Blue Moon Gardens Perennials. Herbs. Garden Art. Gift Shop Open Daily 9-5 903.852.3897 www.bluemoongardens.com
Original Handmade Stoneware 903.852.6473 www.pottersbrown.com
lAMBS ANTIQUES Antiques Plants Yard Art Much More 903.852.7820
The shed cafe Voted #1 Cafe’ in East Texas 903.852.7791 www.theshedcafe.com
Harrison & Son k n i f e s m i t h
World renowned knifesmith Dan Harrison presents a large selection of handcrafted hunting, collector, and custom knives for connoisseurs and enthusiasts alike.
FM 279
Downtown Ben Wheeler, Texas Open Tuesday thru Saturday
903.714.5911
KNIFEMAKING CLASSES Learn to make custom, handmade knives from a master knifesmith. Gift Certificates Available!
www . harrisonknives . com JULY/AUGUST 2013 • CountyLineMagazine.com • 3
CONTENTS
28
FEATURES
8 Rockwall’s Amber Carrington Gains New Fan Base with The Voice Getting seen by more than 14 million viewers during the TV show, this up-and-coming singer made it all the way into the Top 5 and is ready to keep her momentum going. By P.A. Geddie
10 Kyser Capo Strikes a Chord
8
Musicians all over the world know the name and use it often and it’s made in a little warehouse in Canton. By P.A. Geddie
42
12
12 Cruising the Wine Trail from Lindale to Sulphur Springs Wine Trail includes Miranda Lambert’s Red 55 Winery, Fairhaven Vineyards in Hawkins and Crump Valley Vineyards.
10
By Patti Light
DEPARTMENTS
5 Editor’s Note. Letters.
film
22 Time for Movie Therapy? By Jeremy Light
6 ACROSS THE COUNTY LINE Wood County Electric Scholarships, Tyler Quality, Longview Learning Center, Athens Tourism Video, Tom Perryman, Angelina County’s Blue Hole, Exchange Students, Tyler Architect
22 News. Events.
24 Music Notes. Kasey Lansdale, Perot Theatre, Tyler Civic Chorale, Roosevelt Twitty, Pistol Annies.
SHOP
CULTURE & ENTERTAINMENT
27 Music Listings
39 Resale Shopping Finds Brand Names for Less
Music
13 News. Events. Ben Wheeler Fall Feral Hog Festival, the Texas Bubble Lady, Gun Barrel July Fest, Hot Air Balloons, Wine, Music, Autos, and more.
28 Leaving the Stars Behind, Cas Haley is Where He Wants to Be
history
29 From A to ZZ with Robin Hood Brians
14 Mineola Makes National Registry, Conservation Award, Tyler History. 15 Ceremony Attracts Descendants, Others to Battle of the Neches Site By Tom Geddie 17 Wills Point Depot Museum Houses Town’s History By Ine Burke
By Tom Geddie
LITERARY SCENE 30 News. Events.
31 Poetry & Prose 31 Man vs. Machine by Edward H. Garcia
PLAY
32 News. Events. D 33 Zipline Thrills Await Guests in East Texas
By Tom Geddie
By Jeremy Light
Food & drink
34 Review: Four Winds Steakhouse By Patti Light
19 News. Events.
On Stage
20 News. Events.
By Leah Lynch
LIVING ROOM Home. Garden. Real Estate
40 News. Events,
By Joseph Drew
The Arts
18 Contemporary Artist Andy Don Emmons
38 News. Events.
36 News. Events. 36 In the Kitchen with Leah
SEE WEBSITE EXTRAS! www.CountyLineMagazine.com 4 • CountyLineMagazine.com • JULY/AUGUST 2013
41 Just City Folk by John Rutledge 42 East Texas Couple Lives Off the Land By Lynda Stringer
FEEL GOOD
44 Youth May Reclaim Lost Dreams Through Workforce Agency By Tom Geddie
45 News. Events. 46 Volunteers Make Positive Changes in Kids’ Lives By Patti Light COVER: Amber Carrington, The Voice, “Live Eliminations,” June 4. Photo by Trae Patton/ NBCUniversal
county line Since 2000
MAGAZINE
Publisher & managing Editor P.A. Geddie administration Lori Easley emarketing Leah Lynch
Contributors Leah Lynch Patti Light Jeremy Light Tom Geddie Ine Burke Joseph Drew Lynda Stringer
EDITOR’S NOTE Dear Readers, Wow. I just continue to enjoy so much finding the people and places and uniqueness that make up the Upper East Side of Texas. In this issue, we caught up with Amber Carrington just as she was finishing up in the top five with NBC’s The Voice. She’s a talented singer and very determined to see her dreams come true. Another TV talent contest winner a while back, Cas Haley, has a new CD out and talks about life after stardom and doing what he loves. Take a listen — he’s really good. As an amateur guitar player, I began using the Kyser capo many years ago and it did wonders for my playing abilities. I found
sales P.A. Geddie DISTRIBUTION Chris Beverage Pam Boyd Bombyk David Michelina Billie Ruth Stanbridge
County Line Magazine is published once a month, 12 months a year. It is available free of charge in the Northeast Texas area in select businesses, limited to one copy per reader. Subscription costs: $18 per year in Texas, and $22 per year outside Texas. Bulk rate postage paid at Ben Wheeler, Texas. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to County Line Magazine, P.O. Box 608, Ben Wheeler, TX 75754. Contents COPYRIGHT 2012 County Line all rights reserved. Material may not be reproduced without written permission. Opinions expressed in articles appearing in this magazine do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher. Mailing address: P.O. Box 608, Ben Wheeler, TX 75754 Phone: 903.833.2084 E-mail: info@countylinemagazine.com Website: www.countylinemagazine.com. Free listings are entered on a space available basis. Advertising space may be purchased by calling 903.963.8306.
Dear Editor, So happy for all the good things happening for County Line. Know you have put heart and soul into every issue. You always do it with class and that is why so many look forward to each publication. Barbara Musgraves Mineola Commenting on article, Eight Women Win Honors For Doing Amazing Things: Carol Crawford Sheets Johnson needs to be on this list for her work and dedication to helping families work through the loss of a suicide. She is the director and organizer of Touched By Suicide, a peer support for those left behind after a suicide. She does a wonderful job at peer meetings and offering support to family members. DeeAnn W Seawright www.countylinemagazine.com The [magazine] is excellent and I enjoy it very much. Madelyn Flowers Sabine County Chamber of Commerce
Serving the Upper East Side of Texas
There are so many good stories in this issue and I hope you will give us your feedback to let us know what you think of them and any other topics you would like for us to cover. Hope the dog days of summer find you enjoying a few of your favorite things. P.A. Geddie Publisher & Managing Editor
LETTERS
Edward H. Garcia John Rutledge
out about them from other musicians from around Texas and over the years just about every guitar player I knew had a Kyser capo. Imagine my surprise then to find this gem is made right in little ole Canton! I finally met Mr. Milton Kyser himself and enjoyed finding out how they are put together.
Recently the family received its first copy of the County Line Magazine. While traveling to Pickton we noticed the issue at a retail location on a stop in Emory. We received one to read while at the farm and enjoyed the feature story on
Cumby’s Lou Ann Petty, the coverage on Don Gilchrist and reading about all the music events in the Northeast Texas area. You produce a first class publication on an equal or better than Texas Highways and Texas Power combined. Clark Emmert Dallas I just ran across your excellent review of Sound Bites. Thanks for the good words. You’re absolutely right about “Getty, Kernac, and Ginsburg.” The phrase came from one of Jory’s sound bites in a TV story I did on him. I must have written it down that way in my rough copy script and neglected to research it when I took the material from the script for the book. (That’s no excuse but I think that’s what happened.) Again, thanks for reviewing Sound Bites and by the way I loved your piece on Will Jennings. Joan Hallmark Edom
Let us hear from you. Please feel free to send us your comments.
County Line Magazine P.O. Box 608, Ben Wheeler, TX 75754 email: info@countylinemagazine.com Find us on Facebook or Twitter. Go to LETTERS on www.countylinemagazine.com.
JULY/AUGUST 2013 • CountyLineMagazine.com • 5
ACROSS THE COUNTY LINE Eleven Win Scholarships From Wood County Electric
Wood County Electric Cooperative awarded 10 scholarships to students entering college for the first time, and one to a current student. The current student, who received $5,000, is James McDonald from Ben Wheeler, who is studying electrical engineering at Texas A&M. The other students, who received $2,000 each, are Spencer Capps, Jonathan Haskett, and Alston Johnson from Quitman; Hunter Fair from Hawkins; Olivia Heard and Madelyn Wood from Mineola; Katherine Kerwin from Harmony; Mary McCreight from Miller Grove; Hannah Pinnell from Winnsboro; and Destyn Taylor from Grand Saline. Three judges selected the winners based on applications and essays.
commitment to continuous improvement led to the creation of Tyler’s Performance Excellence Program, designed to challenge and encourage all city departments to achieve a higher standard of performance, ultimately becoming the standard for performance excellence in local government.
sential knowledge in customer service, ethics, leadership and management, technical efficiency, human resources, and marketing and public Relations.
For more information about Quality Texas, go to www.texas-quality.org.
Athens Creates New Video Promoting Local Tourism
Longview Now Offers E-Learning Center
The Athens tourism department teamed with Phillips Productions of Dallas to produce the city’s first tourism video to bring to life the experience and ideas of what visitors can see and do.
Longview Chamber of Commerce now has a an E-Learning Center, a strategic business initiative to provide an education and development series designed to address the most essential topics and subjects and to offer tools to negotiate the changing demands of the modern day workplace. This series expands current es-
Visit www.longviewchamber.com to view the course catalog.
“Athens has so much to offer visitors and our goal was to produce a video that speaks directly to the visitor and that captures the natural beauty that is Athens,” said Sherri Skeeters, tourism coordinator for the tourism department.
City of Tyler Recognized For Quality, Performance
The Quality Texas Foundation identified the City of Tyler for performance recognition along with 10 other organizations, all demonstrating a strong dedication to quality and high performance. Tyler is being recognized for the Engagement Level which means the organization “demonstrates deployment of systematic approaches to organizational management.” “The city has worked very hard over the last several years to fine tune our performance,” said Mark McDaniel, city manager. “Participating in third-party independent reviews such as this, help us determine how successful we have been and where we need to continue to improve. I am extremely proud of our progress and feel that this program has had a tremendous input on the quality of services we are offering to our citizens.” In 1997, Tyler adopted a blueprint that serves as the foundation for the city’s improvement. Since then, the city developed a comprehensive Lean Six Sigma program, an employee training program, a three-year budget forecasting system, and a business planning model. This
The Texas Association of Broadcasters is set to honor legendary DJ Tom Perryman with the “Pioneer of the Year” award during its annual awards gala taking place with the association’s 60th Annual Convention & Trade Show from 7-10 p.m. Åugust 8 at the Renaissance Hotel in Austin. Perryman began his long career in broadcasting in 1947 at KEBE Jacksonville (inset). He was named the first regular DJ of an all-night country music show on WSM Nashville. He partnered with Jim Reeves to manage KGRI-AMFM Henderson. He was instrumental in bringing national talent to the East Texas area including Elvis and many others. As of July 26 Perryman is 86 years old and still playing classic country music at KKUS 104.1 The Ranch in Tyler/Longview. Photo by P.A. Geddie
6 • CountyLineMagazine.com • JULY/AUGUST 2013
“Family Outing at the Blue Hole” in Angelina County by Rhonda Swanson won “Fan Favorite” in the Texas Forest Trail Region’s recent photography contest. To see more of their winning photos of East Texas visit www.Facebook.com/texasforesttrail.
The video aims to capture the imagery and charm of Athens from its nature trails and gardens to historic sites and outdoor adventures, and invites viewers to get away for a while, relax, and enjoy some new and exciting scenery. Michael Grant, director of marketing and strategic planning of Phillips Productions, said, “We believe the storytelling technique is an authentic experience that viewers will enjoy while seeing all the things that make Athens a special place to visit.” The video is available at www.AthensTX. org and will be used to further promote Athens as a visitor destination through Texas tourism websites, including online advertising and promotions for the tourism department.
International Cultural Group Looking for Host Families
The International Cultural Exchange Service is looking for families to host exchange students who will attend local high schools for the 2013-2014 school year. Students are 15-18 years old and
from Europe, Asia, Australia, and South America. Local families provide a loving home with a bed and meals for the students, who come with their own health insurance and spending money. Host families can choose their student out of hundreds that have applied for the program, said April Hoyle, an ICES representative. The family application process includes: complete online application, check references, background checks, and a home visit interview. Host families are varied from no children in the home to toddlers and preschoolers in the home to grade schoolers and/ or high schoolers in the home to even empty nesters. “Foreign exchange is an exciting opportunity to experience another culture in the comfort of your own home,” Hoyle said. “You can fulfill the dreams of an international student by opening your heart and your home. Treat them like family and learn first-hand about their culture while you share American culture with your student.”
For more information, call 936.205.1835, email ahoyle@iceusa.org, or go to www.icesusa.org.
Tyler Native Returns Home To Open Architecture Branch
Emanuel Flores returns to his hometown of Tyler to open the first branch office of Houston-based Browne McGregor Architects. Flores, 33, is working on several large commercial and office projects in and around Houston and has also worked on several healthcare and education projects. He will continue work on his current projects and start meeting with community leaders in Tyler and the surrounding communities. Flores graduated from John Tyler High School in 1998 and was on the team that won fourth place in a statewide competition for its design of a Ferris wheel powered by wind turbines. He attended The University of Texas at Tyler and Tyler Junior College before transferring to the University of Houston College of Architecture.
JULY/AUGUST 2013 • CountyLineMagazine.com • 7
Rockwall’s Amber Carrington Gains National Fan Base with The Voice By P.A. Geddie Nineteen-year-old Amber Carrington of Rockwall can’t remember a time when she wasn’t singing into her hair brush and longing for the big stage as many little girls do. With a supportive family it wasn’t long before she found herself singing for others, first, in the safe haven of church along with her father, then among her peers at school as her confidence grew, and with her grandfather.
So with shear determination, she pushed herself harder, and she tried The Voice again. Third time’s a charm. “It’s really insane. I can’t even believe,” she said of her winning a top spot on the big stage with The Voice this year. From thousands of contestants from around
“He’s the one that got me to first perform,” she said. “I got some talent from my dad and my Pawpaw pushed.” Carrington moved with her family from Fort Worth to Rockwall when she was about 10 years old and it wasn’t long after that she started singing more in public. She spent the next few years sharing her voice with audiences in many venues including music theaters like Rodeo City Music Hall, Grapevine Opry, Cline’s Corner on The Mountain in Canton, Farmersville Opry, Star Select Opry in Mineola, and Johnnie High’s Country Revue, and was the winner of the 2011 talent contest at the Big D Opry at Gilley’s in Dallas. This year, she was the winner in Rockwall’s Got Talent. She was also invited to Los Angeles to sing with Katharine McPhee and Kenny G and was accompanied by music producer/performer David Foster. With her music, mixed in with some fun cheerleading times, lots of friends, and a town she came to call her own, Carrington enjoyed her teen years and graduated from Rockwall High School in 2011. Tragedy struck just a few months later when her mother passed away from breast cancer. Carrington says after a brief time, she threw herself into her music even more. 8 • CountyLineMagazine.com • JULY/AUGUST 2013
the country, Carrington was among 65 or so chosen to try to win the affection of this season’s four celebrity musician coaches: Adam Levine, Blake Shelton, Shakira, and Usher. Being a mostly country singer (her alltime idol is Dolly Parton she says), Carrington had hoped to work with Shelton but by the time she took the stage, his team was full. Luckily, she was chosen by Levine, frontman for the pop rock band Maroon 5 who has stretched her talent into some new territory. Amber Carrington, The Voice “Knockout Rounds,” April 29. Photo by Trae Patton/NBCUniversal
“I had ‘millions’ of karaoke machines,” Carrington said in a recent phone call from Los Angeles. “He has to have multiples of everything whether it’s karaoke or guitar or whatever,” she said of her grandfather who’s been a big influence in her young career and currently plays bass and sings with a bluegrass band.
She tried out for TV talent show American Idol and didn’t make it. She also tried out for NBC’s The Voice, Season 3, and didn’t make it.
“Doing all these pop songs has helped me,” Amber said. “I started off doing country, but being on Adam’s team I’ve stuck with pop mostly. I’m still young. My heart is definitely in country but I’m really looking at other options. Maybe I can cross over.” Carrington made it through many performance rounds for the coaches and upwards of 14 million viewers during some shows and was voted through time and time again, reaching finally, a prestigious honor in the top five. “That’s really crazy — that so many are watching,” she said. “It’s a good thing, especially with all the tragedy in the world today. My aunt texted and said ‘thank you’ for being on The Voice — it’s a light, a normalcy, just to get together with people and focus on something positive.” Among family watching her live out her dream are a total of eight siblings ranging in age from 16 to three-years-old with dreams of their own. Big sister sets a good example as she continues improving her talents with songwriting plans and experiences in entertaining. “I’m going to continue doing music. I made it this far, I’m going to keep on going. I’ve learned so much. I’m going to take this knowledge and keep doing what I do.” In one of her winning performances on The Voice, Carrington sang an emotional rendition of Martina McBride’s “I’m Gonna Love You Through It” to her mother. A couple of lines in the song go, “Cancer don’t discriminate or care if you’re just 38, with three kids who need you in their lives.” Her mother’s death is still very fresh on her mind. “It’s weird, cause I feel like I’ve been on the run since then,” she said. “At the beginning I was really sad and depressed and then I tried out for The Voice, and since then every thing is moving so quickly since that happened. This whole process has helped, being away and finding happiness and finding a place in the world for myself is really cool. After she died I felt alone and missed her. It was scary. The Voice has helped me get my feet on the ground and know I’m going to go somewhere.”
Who can be a member and experience better loan rates and lower fees with My Credit Union?
ANYONE
living in Van Zandt, Wood, Kaufman, Grayson and Tarrant Counties.
Look at the many benefits you get as a My Credit Union member:
Excellent Service • We personally answer the phone, no voice mail! • Fast friendly personal service–you are not an account number Non-Profit Organization • All profits after expenses remain in the credit union making for better rates • The more members the better the costs and rates • We won’t fee you to death! Credit Union Checking Account • No monthly service charge w/ $50 min. bal. • $50 minimum balance to maintain • Debit cards • Low cost checks • Free checks to Seniors 55+ • No limit on number of checks per month • Only $50 to open • Lower fees for services
New Car and Truck Loans Best Rates in the County • Up to 72 months, as low as 2.99% Annual Percentage Rate (APR) • Up to 100% financing for qualified members • Call for pre-approval or apply online Debit Card • Doubles as your ATM card • Money to pay for purchases is deducted from checking account • Safer and more convenient than carrying cash • Free ATM locations nationwide Auto Refinance Specials • 2% off your current APR (certain restrictions and qualifications apply) • Lower your payments and save interest • It’s easy–we do all the paperwork
Mortgage & Home Equity Loans • As low as 3.99% APR (some restrictions apply) • Low fixed rates Youth Accounts • 15-day average closing • Youth Club for Kids with free membership to • Your loan stays local credit union • $20 minimum balance compared to $200 at Free 24-Hour “My Teller” Access Line 1-800-235-8392 most banks • Hear balances on all savings, checking and loan • Discount Six Flags tickets accounts • Kids Club Prize Giveaways • Transfer loan payments P/C Access • List recent checks that have cleared • View your account or statement online • Listen to your latest deposit • Transfer funds • Order a check from your account • Make loan payments
Stop by or Call Today and Start Saving!
My Credit Union Email: questions@mycutx.com • www.mycutx.com 408 East Hwy. 243 Canton, Texas
903-567-5981
415 W. Broad Mineola, Texas
903-569-0303
1301 W. South Commerce (Hwy. 80) Wills Point, Texas
903-873-1252
Locations also in Watauga, Fort Worth, and Euless. JULY/AUGUST 2013 • CountyLineMagazine.com • 9
Kyser Capo Strikes a Winning Chord By P.A. Geddie
a facility in Canton with more offices and production capabilities. They currently have about 35 employees.
What is that thing seen holding down strings on guitars played by the likes of Bruce Springsteen, Vince Gill, Dwight Yoakam, Patti Griffin, Bruce Robison, Kelly Willis, and thousands of other musicians around the world? It’s a capo, most likely a Kyser capo that’s proudly American-made in the Northeast Texas town of Canton.
He was awarded a patent for his QuickChange® capo in 1978 and converted his garage into a design and production workshop, what he calls his first “factory.” Word spread and within five years he moved the business to a small shop in Grand Prairie. By 1998 his success made it necessary to expand so he built
Bruce Springsteen using a Kyser capo during one of his shows. Photo by Evan Agostini/AP
Its inventor, Milton Kyser, liked to pick the banjo back in the 70s and sometimes he wondered if he could easily hold down the strings to change the tuning and improve his performance. He worked for Halliburton at the time making stainless steel ball bearings so he had access to many tools.
One day he started “fooling around” he said and that’s when he began putting together his capo idea.
Milton Kyser was born in 1933 to Lillie Mae and Roosevelt “R.K.” Kyser. He had three older sisters and one younger brother. His sister, Mary Lou was only 18 months older and they all grew up working in the torrid cotton fields of East Texas. Their house was located in a creek bottom, just south of Wills Point in the community of Hiram. When Kyser was 17 years old, he had his mother sign paperwork so he could enlist in the Air Force. He was stationed in Newfoundland and after he was out of the service, he was hired by Dresser, Inc. which later became Halliburton. He worked for Halliburton for more than 30 years before turning his focus to his capo business. Over the past 35 years the popularity of the Kyser capo grew tremendously and although there are other brands, the Kyser remains the most popular in the United States by a long shot. Milton Kyser turns 80 this year. He still comes in to the office most days and continues to ponder how to improve on a “good-looking” capo. Last year, he turned the company’s management over to his grand-niece, Meredith Hamlin. “We have the best looking capo, if I do say so myself,” Hamlin said. “The curly cue design — it just makes sense. It’s a good grip.” While Kyser currently has heavy distribution all over the United States, they are working on growing their overseas market. “Milton and I just got back from Germany and signed on a new distributor,” she said. “We haven’t had a big presence overseas, but there’s a big push now to be there.” It’s not a hard sell, Hamlin says, noting “Kyser is the Fender of capos. The stores want them.” One of the things Hamlin did when she came on board was to change the old branding.
10 • CountyLineMagazine.com • JULY/AUGUST 2013
BigFoot Meets
October 11-12 Bigfoot Bash • Friday, 6-10 p.m. $25 or 2 for $40 BBQ, Beer, & Entertainment by DAZED! Bigfoot Dance, Look-A-Like Contest. Adults only over 21.
Milton Kyser talks about his invention at his home in Canton not far from his business where the popular Kyser capos are made. Photo by P.A. Geddie
“It’s now classic, clean looks. There’s no more serial-killer font,” she said.
Enjoy Shopping & Dining in Historic Mineola!
1.800.MINEOLA www.mineola.com
The Kyser capos are about $18 online and retail for about $24.95 in stores. Hamlin said the easy-to-use, sturdy design and the fact that it’s made in America are what makes it so popular amongst musicians.
Gun Barrel City Visit
“We’ve got 80 percent of the market in America because it’s easy, it’s quick, and it’s durable,” she said. “We are the only capo that is manufactured in the United States. We are proud of that.”
...a straight shot to Cedar Creek Lake
Hamlin says when she and Milton travel together she enjoys watching celebrities like Vince Gill and Ricky Skaggs and many others treat him like the celebrity. “These celebrity people fall all over themselves in front of Milton,” she said. “They want his autograph and their picture made with him. They just think Milton is a genius, and he is.” The celebrities also like to order personalized capo’s from the company and Hamlin said they enjoy doing that for them and for special events like the recent Kerrville Folk Festival. They plan to offer the personalized option to the general public in the near future. Besides the ever-popular basic black, the Kyser capo comes in many different colors from pink and green, to red, white, and blue, something Mil-
BIGFOOT MEETS NATUREFEST • Saturday Chasing Bigfoot 5K Fun Run, $20 NatureFest Activities Free. Bigfoot Calling contest, Bigfoot Rock Throwing Contest. Concert by Rafael Espinoza. Storytellers. East Texas astronomers.
Come Stay & Play. We Aim to Please! ton thought important for meeting the market’s demands. He also continues to study new design ideas and how to build “a better mousetrap.” “He likes different colors, so the capos come in a variety,” Hamlin said, “and he’s always thinking of new things, new ways. He’s very creative.” Thousands of musicians that continue to improve and have more fun with their performances are most appreciative.
July Fest • July 6
903.887.1087 www.gunbarrelcity.net www.gunbarrelcityfestivals.net
JULY/AUGUST 2013 • CountyLineMagazine.com • 11
Cruising the Wine Trail from Lindale to Sulphur Springs By Patti Light The roads of the Piney Woods Wine Trail beckon for end of summer days. One road to travel for a great afternoon or weekend of wine tasting and relaxation begins in Lindale and ends in Sulphur Springs. Beginning in the once-but-no-more sleepy town of Lindale, wine seekers travel from Interstate 20 north on Highway 69, past new shopping centers, hotels, and businesses displaying “Lindale Eagle Pride” to the few blocks of the historic downtown. There on the corner is a marquee displaying the image of Lindale’s favorite wild child, country music superstar Miranda Lambert. Welcome, to The Miranda Lambert Store and home of Red 55 Winery. Red 55 is the beloved wine of the Lambert family who partnered with Lou Vinery Vineyards to produce homegrown East Texas wines with Miranda’s signature names. The winery store also offers mer-
chandise for fans, but it is the wine that is the star in this historic building. The Red 55 is a merlot and cabernet blend that is rich, but not thick with tannins. The best seller, Kerosene, is a great earthy blanc du bois wine. The chardonnay, White Liar, does fool a disbeliever when it comes across with a sweeter fresher taste than most oaky chardonnay wines. Red 55 is a testament to the workmanship and goal of all Northeast Texas wineries as they partner to make wine and the wine industry a way of life in East Texas. The partnerships travel together to a wine shows, support each other at a wine festivals, and help with bottling. They are why Northeast Texas wines taste like home. After leaving Lindale, the next stop is not far. Go to Hawkins a few miles east and see the majestic beauty of the Fairhaven Vineyards in the Sabine Valley. These estate-grown wines are full of the aromas and essence that make award-winning wines, and the people of Fairhaven are
more than happy to brag about the fruits of their labors. Fairhaven offers not only great wine, but is pushing to be a leader in wine education. The wines are simple, but full of notes of sunshine in the blanc du bois and Spanish moonlight in the semi-dry merlot blend ariadne. Fairhaven also offers a half year and year-long wine club that ships out selections every other month. Traveling north from Hawkins to Sulphur Springs, wine trail fans can end this day’s trail at a vineyard full of friends and laughter, Crump Valley Vineyards. Crump Valley is known by Northeast Texas wine lovers for having great wine at a great price, but also for having a welcoming spirit, a spirit that carries over into the taste of the wines. The favorite, Phat Cat, is a sweet white that, after one tasting, will be a bottle in the wine rack at home ready for Friday night. The rich full-bodied glass of the Crump Valley Cabernet is a delight for the red wine lover searching for a wine that does not fade or over power the palette. Crump Valley Vineyards is about four miles south of downtown Sulphur Springs and develops wines as well as entertainment on a daily basis. It offers events and live music most weekends. It is also the bottling partner for Red 55 Winery. Visiting stops along the Piney Woods Wine Trail makes for a grand adventure, leaving visitors with an appreciation for the work that goes into the making of regional wines grown in local soil and cared for by brilliant neighbors. Take a few Saturdays, print out the map and directions at www.pineywoodswinetrail.com, and discover the wonderful wine, vineyards, and their creators at home here in Northeast Texas. Crump Valley Vineyards, 127 Crump Lane, Sulphur Springs, 903.439.2800. See Facebook page. The Miranda Lambert Store and Red 55 Winery, 100 E Hubbard St, Lindale, 903.882.9305, mirandalambert.com. Fairhaven Vineyards, 5340 South FM 2869, Hawkins,903.769.4616. fairhavenvineyards. com. at Miranda Lambert’s Red 55 Countertop Winery in Lindale. Photo by Patti Light
12 • CountyLineMagazine.com • JULY/AUGUST 2013
culture & entertainment
Check out the eMAGAZINE www.countylinemagazine.com for extended event listings.
Hog Queen, Festival, Follies, On Tap for Ben Wheeler
Ben Wheeler Arts & Historic District Foundation (BWA & HDF) is gearing up fto host the 6th annual 2013 Fall Feral Hog Festival, World Championship Wild Hog Cook-Off, Fall Feral Follies and Hog Queen Coronation October 25-26. The theme for this year’s festival is High on the Hog. During The Fall Feral Follies held Friday night, Hog Queen contestants compete for the crown—a chance to reign as the official Hog Queen for a year. Saturday features a parade, festival, the cook-off, vendors, art and demonstrations, and live music throughout the town. High on the Hog officially comes to a close Saturday night with music at Moore’s Store. For those wanting to participate in Hog Fest 2013 as a Hog Queen Contestant, Vendor, Parade Participant or Cook Off Contestant email hogfest@bwdc. net for an application and/or participation form. Ben Wheeler Arts & Historic District Foundation is also welcoming sponsors for this year’s event. Interested individuals or businesses may email d.standre@bwdc.net and for more information call 903.833.1070 or email d.elam@bwdc.net.
EVENTS
The Texas Bubble Lady, also known as Linda Berman, makes an appearance at 1:30 p.m. July 11 at the Northeast Texas Children’s Museum in Commerce. The soap bubble artist transforms bubbles into a unique and interactive learning experience for children of all ages. The museum is located in the Watson Center building of Texas A&M University-Commerce. For more information go to www.netxcm.com or call 903.886.6055. Courtesy photo.
July 6 July Fest and Concert in the Park. Gun Barrel City. Gun Barrel City Park, 301 Municipal Drive. www.gunbarrelcityfestivals.net.
July 9
County Line makes every effort to ensure accurate information. However, information could change. Please call ahead before making plans. For more listings or organizations and activities and for a list of annual events in and around East Texas, visit countylinemagazine.com.
Cruise Night. Canton. Hosted by Canton Square Bakery & Cafe and 1st in Design LLC. 5:15 - 8 p.m. Free. Around the Square. 105 S. Buffalo. 903-567-4630. www.rgcarshows.com.
Every Friday & Saturday
Acoustic Wine Down. Corsicana. Activities include mini-wine festival/tasting, art show, wine walk downtown, water slide, live, music, and more. 4 – 9 p.m. Free. Downtown Corsicana. 122 W. 3rd Ave. www.corsicanamainstreet.org.
Greenville Ghost Walk. Greenville. Steven Reese conducts tours by lamp light in Victorian costume, beginning at Heritage Garden near the Farmer’s Market. The location of the old gallows, a haunted winery and a 1920s Egyptian Revival former mortuary building are among the stops. 6:30 p.m. $12. Hunt County Heritage Garden, 2300 Washington Street, Historic Downtown Greenville. 903 455-1510. www.greenvillechamber.com
July 13
July 22 - 28 U. S. National Hot Air Balloon Championship. Longview. greattexasballoonrace.com.
August 9 - 11
Lewis Auto Swap Meet. Canton. Cars, trucks, boats, tools etc. for sale. 8 a.m. Vendor spaces $40. Admission Free. Lewis First Monday Grounds , 4500 Pavilion Hwy 19. 903-5676762. www.visitcantontx.com.
August 10
“Island Time” Second Saturday Event Series. Corsicana. Activities include limbo and hula contests, water slide, live music and more. 4 – 9 p.m. Free to Public. Downtown Corsicana, 122 W. 3rd Avenue. 877-648-2688. www.corsicanasecondsaturdays.com.
August 24
Hot August Night. Sulphur Springs. A fund raiser for all 12 Volunteer Fire Departments in Hopkins County with a BBQ contest, Firefighter challenge and Country Music Concert! 100 percent of money raised goes to local VFDs. 5 p.m. Civic Center, 1200 Houston St. 903-335-2491. www.tourism.sulphurspringstx.org.
JULY/AUGUST 2013 • CountyLineMagazine.com • 13
history National Registry Listing For Downtown Mineola
The Mineola Downtown Historic District is now listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Mineola was established in 1873 with the arrival of the Texas and Pacific Railway and the International-Great Northern Railroad, and its downtown area has traditionally served as a commercial center of southwestern Wood County and neighboring areas of Smith and Van Zandt counties. Following the construction of shopping centers on the outskirts of the city from the 1960s to the present, downtown Mineola has continued to enjoy strong commercial and retail activity. The historic district contains commercial and civic buildings ranging from one to three stories in height, brick streets, and historic free-standing neon signage. Most buildings in the district are brick with storefronts of cast iron, wood, or aluminum-framed glass, and date from the early 20th century. A few buildings have notable influences of late-19th-and early20th-century architectural styles, including Italianate, Classical Revival, Beaux Arts, and Art Moderne. The City of Mineola is an active participant in the Texas Historical Commission’s (THC) Main Street Program. “Listing in the National Register of Historic Places is both an honor and a substantial contribution to the local economy through the state’s heritage tourism efforts,” said THC Executive Director Mark Wolfe. “The work done by property owners, local preservation organizations, THC staff, and the THC’s professional review board results in an achievement that the community can be proud of as they join our agency in saving the real places that tell the real stories of Texas history.” The National Register of Historic Places is the nation’s official list of cultural resources deemed worthy of preservation. It is part of a federal program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect the country’s historic and archeological resources. The National Register includes more than 3,000 listings in Texas. Listing affords properties a measure of protection from the possible impact of federally funded projects, as well as access to
The historic buildings of downtown Mineola —now listed in the National Register of Historic Places —are a beautiful backdrop for shopping, dining, and attending special events throughout the year. Photo by P.A. Geddie
technical expertise and grant funds to facilitate restoration and preservation. Incomeproducing properties are also eligible for federal tax benefits for sympathetic rehabilitation work. For more information, call 512.463.5853 or go to www.thc.state.tx.us.
Mount Vernon’s B.F. Hicks Honored for Conservation
B.F. Hicks of Mount Vernon received the Regional Lone Star Steward award for his conservation efforts. Hicks owns Daphne Prairie, which has been in his family since 1839 and is identified as one of the last unplowed prairies in Northeast Texas, in Franklin County. The award is for ongoing land management goals for conservation and restoration of 840 acres of native grasslands, including the 120-acre virgin prairie, using prescribed fire and rotational grazing. Hicks has hosted numerous groups for more than 20 years, including researchers and plant ecology experts, university students, birding groups, Audubon and master naturalist chapters, and state and federal agencies including Texas Parks and Wildlife, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Natural Resources Conservation Service. He is past president of the Franklin County Historical Association. For more information, go to www.tpwd.state.tx.us.
Tyler’s Half Mile of History Adds Plaques around Square
The City of Tyler has unveiled three new Half Mile of History markers downtown
14 • CountyLineMagazine.com • JULY/AUGUST 2013
to honor Tyler Commercial College, Brady Preston Gentry, and Hampson Boren Gary. The goal of the Half Mile of History is to pay tribute to people, places and events that have contributed to the rich history of Tyler and Smith County. It is a permanent, outdoor, half-mile loop that surrounds the square in the heart of downtown Tyler. Tyler Commercial College was, during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, one of the largest business training schools in the country. Its demise came with the advent of junior colleges and four-year universities. Gentry, born in 1886 on his family’s farm near Colfax in Van Zandt County, was a Smith County attorney and Smith County judge before becoming chairman of the Texas Highway Commission where he was instrumental in developing the state’s farmto-market road system. As a U.S. congressman from 1953 to1957, he helped design regulations creating the national system of interstate highways. He was also a major supporter of Tyler Junior College and education in general. Gary was a soldier, public servant, and diplomat, born in Tyler in 1873. He served in the Texas House of Representatives and on the board of regents of the University of Texas and was a referee in bankruptcy court for four years. He also served in the U.S. State Department and as diplomatic agent and consul general to Egypt in charge of American interests in Palestine, Syria, and Arabia. He later served on the American Commission to Negotiate Peace at the end of World War I and served as minister to Switzerland and on the first Federal Communications Commission.
Annual Ceremony Attracts Descendants, Others to Battle of the Neches Site By Tom Geddie
removed at some point, most likely when county clerks wrote the way it sounded).
As people gather in the woods between Tyler and Edom July 13 to remember one of the most horrific days in the history of East Texas, the crowd will include descendents of the Cherokee leader slaughtered, along with much of his family and 800 other native Americans.
“We’re direct descendants of him, through a series of ‘greats,’” Fulgham said. “There will be a smudge ceremony, with the sage smoke to cleanse the spirit and push away evil spirits,” he said. “There will be corn meal and sacred tobacco — grown only on reservations by the Indians, a practice that’s probably thousands of years old— to help them get to the spirit world.”
That was 174 years ago in what is known as the last battle between the Cherokees and whites in Texas. Chief John “Duwa’li” Bowles, Chief Big Mush, six other tribal chiefs, the warriors, and many women and children from as many as a dozen affiliated tribes were killed July 16, 1839. Only a few escaped. Chief Bowles — also known as Duwali, Diwal’li, Chief Bowl, Colonel Bowles, Bold Hunter, and the Bowl — was the principal chief of the Cherokees in Texas. He was born in North Carolina around 1756, the son of a Scottish father and a full-blooded Cherokee mother. He moved his people several times to avoid the encroaching Caucasian settlers and tried to get a land grant from the Mexican government before the Texas revolution, eventually getting a Texas grant from Sam Houston. The Republic of Texas invalidated that grant and President Mirabeau B. Lamar ordered him and his people to leave Texas. After negotiations failed, Bowl mobilized his warriors — including Cherokee, Shawnee, Delaware, Kickapoo, Quapaw, Choctaw, Biloxi, Ioni, Alabama, Coushatta, Caddo, Tahocul-
Chief Bowles, as painted by Wills Point artist Paige Bridges (original in color).
lake, and Mataquo – to resist expulsion. The annual “Battle of the Neches” memorial ceremony is open to the public, drawing a few descendants — nobody knows exactly how many of these there are — as well as a variety of other people, including local historians. It officially begins at 4 p.m. with storytelling, food, and native American crafts, with the ceremony beginning at 6:30 p.m. Many people come earlier and stay later, some staying overnight. Some wear traditional clothing. One of the people who attends is Blake Fulgham of Brownsboro, who works in his father Joe Fulgham Jr.’s dental office and has his own landscaping business, Duwali Landscaping, named for his ancestor and the concept of taking care of the land. Fulgham’s grandmother’s maiden name was Boles (The “w” was
Some of Fulgham’s ancestors escaped when Chief Bowles, knowing defeat was coming and that the Texas army was focused on him, went out front to draw fire. Stories passed down through the family focus more on who Chief Bowles was, as a person, than on the details of the battle itself. “The stories passed down by the family, a lot of them were kinda toned down,” Blake said. “More told what kind of person he was, bold but kind and generous. He fought for his family. That’s the main story you get from the family.” “It means a lot to know where you come from, who you are as a person, your history, your ancestors,” he said. “To know that he stood up for what’s honorable, what’s good. That’s the most important thing in my own life, to protect my daughter, to protect my family, to continued Page 16
This Brownsboro family legend is that the woman pictured on the left is one of Cherokee Chief “Duwa’li” Bowles wives (he is rumored to have had 12 or 14 or so). Her name was Susannah Boles. Her great grandson, P.H. Boles kept this portrait of her hanging over his bed for many years. P.H. Boles was father to Swan Boles Fulgham pictured to Susannah’s right, and next to her is her son Joe Fulgham, Jr., and on his right is Joe’s son Blake Fulgham and Blake’s five-year-old daughter Adreanne. Each generation is told of their heritage. Blake says he continues to remember his ancestors in traditional ways such as smudging ceremonies and by honoring the character of his famous ancestor as he strives to live up to his stellar reputation. JULY/AUGUST 2013 • CountyLineMagazine.com • 15
Neches Battle continued from page 15
on July 15. The next day, Chief Bowles, who was 83 years old, signaled retreat but he was shot in the leg and his horse was shot in the back. He sat, crossing his arms and legs facing the company of militia, and the militia captain put his pistol to Chief Bowles head and killed him. The body was mutilated and left where it lay.
Fulgham said he believes the whole battle could have been avoided with a little patience from the Texas army.
wait until after harvest time, which was pretty close. They wanted to wait until at least August to harvest their crops,” Fulgham said. “They had been on the Trail of Tears before and many died. He knew if they walked from here to Oklahoma they would die without food, so they didn’t really have a choice: die on the trip or defending themselves. Some of the younger chiefs wanted to fight. Chief Bowles never wanted to fight, but they all came to him and pleaded their case at the council.”
“He (Chief Bowles) asked if they could
Historical accounts say the battle began
The American Indian Cultural Society, which now owns the property, has a different view which they tell in their own marker.
make sure they are safe. That’s the biggest thing there is, to put other people before yourself. To know that’s in my family reaffirms that other people in my family are more important, and to do everything I can to make sure they are safe. That’s who I am.”
The state erected a simple marker on the remote site, near the Neches River, in 1936.
“We have personally taken on the responsibility of preservation and maintaining this sacred ground, helping to preserve it as a memorial and sanctuary for all who wish to honor and respect the ancient traditions, beliefs, and customs of all American Indian people,” said Sondra McAdams of the American Indian Cultural Society (AICS). “This place is now and forever considered sacred ground by many. The spirits of the men, women and children slain there can still be felt. Their blood and tears forever stain the land.” The master of ceremonies is Eagle I, chairman of the AICS. The site is off Van Zandt County Road 4923 2.4 miles off Highway 64 12 miles west of Tyler, and is marked by signs. For more information, go to www. powersource.com/cherokee/ancestor. html.
ADVERTISE COUNTY LINE
IN THE print, eMag, eNews, video, FB
integrated works! Call 903.963.8306 or email sales@
countylinemagazine.com
16 • CountyLineMagazine.com • JULY/AUGUST 2013
Wills Point Depot Museum Houses Town’s History By Ine Burke Wills Point Depot Museum is a historical museum that houses a collection of artifacts, documents, and photos from the city’s old businesses, institutions, households, agricultural and railroad industries. The brick building itself was the third depot, or train station, that once operated in Wills Point. It was built in 1927. The main entrance of the museum leads to what used to be the waiting room. The main wall in the room is the eye-catcher. It is covered by old business signs that used to flourish in Wills Point and a painting in the middle. Words not often seen or spoken these days like haberdasher and millinery take visitors back in time. Looking closely at the signs visitors notice they are actually painted on one piece of huge cloth that used to be the theater
backdrop in the 1926 Majestic Theater across the railroad tracks from the depot. The museum is currently open by appointment only. It is located at 210 W. South Com-
Pawpa’s House
merce Street (Highway 80). For enquiry and appointment call Pat Mitchell, (903) 8734568. See more of Ine Burke’s photography at inegaleri.com.
Discover the East Texas Oil Fields of the 1930s
in the country
Near Canton, Ben Wheeler, Lindale, Tyler, Mineola. One hour to Dallas.
Satellite • Wireless Internet Washer and Dryer 1 queen bed • 1 full bed Linens provided Inflatable mattress to sleep 2 additional people Jacuzzi tub • Hot tub Fully equipped kitchen Handicap accessible Beautiful star-filled sky Best East Texas sunsets Wrap around porch with swing
1601 VZ County Road 1512 Van Texas 903.571.3620 • www.pawpashouse.com
The East Texas Oil Museum is located on the campus of Kilgore College in Kilgore, Texas. This fascinating museum houses the authentic re-creation of oil discovery and production in the early 1930s from the largest oil field inside U.S. boundaries.
Museum Hours Tues-Sat 9am - 4pm April-Sept 9am - 5pm Sun 2-5p.m. Hwy. 259 at Ross St, Kilgore, Texas On the Kilgore College Campus, 903.983.8295
www.EastTexasOilMuseum.com JULY/AUGUST 2013 • CountyLineMagazine.com • 17
Andy Don Emmons: A Busy Contemporary Folk Artist By Tom Geddie The question, “What do you do in your spare time?,” asked humorously, makes Andy Don Emmons pause for just a moment, and then laugh out loud. But Emmons, described most often as a contemporary folk artist, has a ready answer. “I like to fish sometimes. And our 1,200acre family ranch keeps me busy feeding and working the cows,” he said. “I go antiquing in Canton and at other flea markets to find stuff to make art out of. I like to play music. I really want to do another art car. I miss driving an art car. Driving a car with toys and things all over it is an interesting social experiment.” Emmons, who splits his time between Longview and Fairfield, also does a lot of charity work, much of it through the Odd Fellows Waxahachie lodge. “It’s a good thing to give back to the community, and a lot of good fellowship,” he said. Art, music, and “having a fun, good life” are at, or near, the top of the long list that begins to define Emmons. Christina Rees, an outspoken arts critic who is now director of Fort Worth Contemporary Arts, an off-campus gallery owned by TCU, once said: “Both haunted and amused by his past, Andy Emmons approaches small-town culture with razorsharp perversity. One could spend a hell of a long time studying each picture and still not see everything — symbolic, inferred, or tangible — that Emmons has injected into them. It’s what makes him the unique amalgam he is. Trust me. It don’t get no better than this.”
Artist Andy Don Emmons poses with his rendition of Lightnin’ Hopkins.
“For some reason, I always started out drawing the eyes of characters. Why? I was kinda obsessed with the form of the eye. Lately, I’m just trying to explore different styles people use, making them really bright and eye catching with a lot of movement.”
Emmons is proud of the quotation, although it’s not really the kind of work he does anymore. As prolific as he is in so many genres and in-genre styles, he seldom sits, figuratively and literally, in one place for very long, even in the context of a response.
Emmons is also art curator for Austin Psych Fest, a festival that focuses on music from or inspired by the 1960s.
“That show was done based on growing up in Fairfield, a small town in East Texas, and was a kinda dark, empirical exhibit of drawings I did at that time in my life,” he said. “I think Christina grew up in the city, so she was fascinated with small town tall tales.
“I kinda did them all, and I’m moving toward a more mature, psychedelic phase, I guess, influenced by black light posters of the 1960s,” he said. “My new work is also based on cartoon eyes, different shapes you see in cartoon eyes and pretty much abstracted out.”
It’s another move away from illustrating the stories he heard growing up in Fairfield.
18 • CountyLineMagazine.com • JULY/AUGUST 2013
A recent show at Tyler Junior College featured that work. When Emmons began, he made what he calls “plain Grandma Moses type genre paintings.” As his skills developed, he went through incarnations of using Sharpies and watercolors, into large-scale sculptures in concrete, smaller sculptures made from barn tin and cedar, and half a dozen art cars, including the Yellow Rose Cadillac that he covered in 10,000 rhinestones. That one was exhibited in the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum in Austin and is now in the Freestone County Historical Museum. The last big sculpture he did, in 2008, sits across from the city library in Huntsville. It’s a 50-foot concrete fountain of a Mayan chief — “a cross between a Mayan and an alien is the easiest way to describe it, I guess” he said. Water runs from its head,
where there’s also a planter. The statue is covered in small mirrors. Emmons, who is 49 years old, is also a musician and, at times, a teacher, having served as director of adult education at the Longview Museum of Fine Arts, a post he left earlier this year to help his sister, Julee Emmons, run an antique mall, the Armadillo Emporium, in Fairfield. Emmons also did the Cuzzin Longhair’s Psychedelic Armadillo Show for about a year, playing the music he liked. He is now starting a new band, Inferno Texino, with some artists and musicians in Dallas. “I call it psychedelic blues swamp rock,” he said. “I was born in 1966, and some of the best music I ever heard was the 13th Floor Elevators, garage music, etc., especially from Texas, fuzzed out blues-driven rock done in people’s garages. Bands like Moving Sidewalk which became ZZ Top. And I’m a big Hendrix fan. I love to paint to it. And Sun Ra and Thelonious Monk in jazz. Music is a big part of my life — the rhythm of it.” All of it — or most of it, anyway — falls, to him, under the contemporary folk art banner. “My stuff now still has a folk quality to it, a sort of outsider style but more abstract,” he said. “In Europe they call it ‘art brute.’ It’s pretty much my own personal creative process to express my inner self, the subconscious. I work a lot subconsciously. I don’t really sketch a whole lot before I do pieces.” Influences include James Surls and Sam Houston State University art teacher Charles Pebworth, who taught Surls in the 1960s and Emmons in the 1980s. Influences also include prison artist Frank Jones and the Rev. Johnnie S. Swearingen; Emmons helped take care of Swearingen for a year or so after Swearingen’s wife died, and it was Swearingen who influenced him to “get up and paint every day,” he said. “I think what counts is doing the work, the work ethic. It’s not going to create itself.” Emmons’ work is in the collections of the Longview Museum of Fine Arts, the Southeast Texas Museum in Beaumont, the Bullock, the Kansas Folk Life Museum, Mighty Fine Arts in Dallas, and in private collections including the House of Blues and other restaurants and music venues. And, of course, at the Armadillo Emporium.
the arts
Check out COUNTY LINE ONLINE for our extended coverage of art news and events. www.countylinemagazine.com
Large Outdoor Sculptures On Loan in Downtown Tyler The City of Tyler Main Street Department has launched an outdoor public art on loan (OPAL) project to result in the exhibition of six large works of sculpture throughout the downtown area and has, in cooperation with the Downtown Tyler Arts Coalition (DTAC) and Heart of Tyler, Inc., issued a request for proposals to sculptors throughout the region. Exhibit sites were chosen by a DTAC volunteer committee comprised of sculptors, architects, landscape architects and others. A jury will select the six pieces that will go on display. Pieces will be installed in September 2013 and remain in place until July 2014. Each artist whose work is selected will receive a $1,000 stipend and be honored at an opening reception on October 4 at Gallery Main Street. Funding for this initial portion of the program comes from a Retail Merchants of Tyler grant. “We hope that we can gain enough additional grants and financial support for the program that we can award a purchase prize to one artist whose work then can be made part of a permanent public art display in our downtown area,” said Main Street Department Leader Beverly Abell. Digital submissions are due to Gallery Main Street, which is managed by the Main Street Department and DTAC, by August 2. Artists will be notified of selections by Aug. 13. For more information, go to www.downtowntylerarts.com.
Every Thursday
Art Talk. Marshall. Informal gathering of artists and art lovers to share, critique (if desired), and even work on art. 4 - 6 p.m. Free admission. Marshall Visual Art Center, 208 E. Burleson,. 903.938.9860. www.marshalltexas. net/Departments/Visual_Arts.
July 25
Artwalk Downtown Longview. Longview. Take to the streets of Longview and enjoy some amazing art, food and drink with the people of East Texas. Stroll along the streets and gaze on the wares of some of the most talented and eclectic artists around. 4 - 7 p.m. Downtown Longview, 215 E. Tyler. www. artwalklongview.com.
September 6 – October 18
ARTS EVENTS Every Tuesday
The first exhibition outside of Tokyo to spotlight the vastly influential style of Japanese Art Deco is on exhibit at the Tyler Museum of Art through October 20. The TMA, accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, is located at 1300 S. Mahon Ave., adjacent to the Tyler Junior College campus off East Fifth Street. Regular hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday; the Museum is closed Mondays and most major holidays. For more information, call 903.595.1001 or visittylermuseum.org.
Red River Photo Club. Bonham. Photographers of all skills and experience meet to improve skills and share photographs and experiences. 6:30 p.m. Annual membership $24; $36 family; guests welcome. Creative Arts Center, 200 W. 5th,. 903.640.2196. www.creativeartscenter.us.
“A New Look at the West” - Western Art Show & Sale. Corsicana. It’s the West with a twist; fresh perspectives and innovative styles, showcasing the West through the eyes of the modern artist. All proceeds from the sale go directly to further the mission of the Pearce Museum. Signature artists for the 2013 show are Nelson Boren, Karen Cooper, Rebecca Tobey, Pete Zaluzec, and Judith Durr. Pearce Museum, 3100 W. Collin Street. (903) 875-7642. www.pearcecollections.us.
JULY/AUGUST 2013 • CountyLineMagazine.com • 19
on stage
Check out www.countylinemagazine.com for our extended STAGE news and event listings.
Brothers Win Scholarships To Pursue Ministry Studies
transfer to ETBU to pursue a youth ministry degree.
ArtsView Children’s Theatre in Longview presented scholarships to brothers Mason Knapps and Vincent Luna.
For more information, go to www.artsviewchildrenstheatre.com.
Mason is the son of Kevin Knapps and Jill Luna. He enjoys fashion and guitar, as well as composing and listening to music. He’s been involved in the East Texas Youth Chorus, baseball, 4H, and volunteer activities as well as being a member of ArtsView’s Encore Players Show Choir. He plans to attend Kilgore College then transfer to East Texas Baptist University to pursue a music minister degree.
Cowan Center’s 17th Season Features Entertainment Variety
Vincent is the son of Hal and Jill Luna. He enjoys reading, writing, and art. His high school years included four years in East Texas Youth Chorus and two in Opera East Texas as well as 4H and other volunteer activities. He is also a member of the Encore Players Show Choir and has played roles in “Charlotte’s Web,” “Aladdin,” and “Beauty & the Beast.” He also plans to attend Kilgore College then
The University of Texas at Tyler Cowan Center’s 2013-14 season – its seventeenth – features Dance Theatre of Harlem, Cirque Dreams Rocks, and Charles Krauthammer among others. The season, titled “Enjoy Every Moment,” features a wide variety of entertainment. This season offers four subscription series with the Performing Arts Series, Broadway Series, Braithwaite Intimate Gatherings Series, and the Distinguished Lecture Series. Special events include “Menopause the Musical” on September 25 and “Beyond Glory” on November 2. The Performing Arts Series is “Cirque Dreams Rocks,” September 16; “Temptation of the Muses” with The Ahn Trio and
East tExas’ Only PrOfEssiOnal thEatrE
2013 Season The Comedy of Errors by William Shakespeare June 27, July 4, 6, 12*, 14*, 19, 21, 25*, 27*
Mistaken identities, misunderstood intentions, and two sets of identical twins – mix those together and the result is a “Comedy of Errors,” Shakespeare’s shortest and most outrageous comedy. A madcap story fraught with mayhem, confusion, anarchy, and hilarity!
The Foreigner by Larry Shue June 28, July 5*, 7*, 12, 14, 18*, 20*, 25, 27
An incredibly shy Englishman arrives at a fishing lodge in rural Georgia, and due to a misunderstanding, the locals assume that he cannot understand English because he is … “a foreigner.” Consequently, they speak openly in his presence about their personal affairs, deepest secrets, and sinister plans, as “the foreigner” maintains his mute presence and becomes involved in a plot to sort out their tangled lives. The result is a story that is hilarious and heartwarming and full of comic surprises.
The Winter’s Tale by William Shakespeare June 29, July 5, 7, 11*, 13*, 18, 20, 26*, 28*
The Winter’s Tale is a fairy tale for adults, a beautiful story about the evil of jealousy and the power of faith and forgiveness. One of Shakespeare’s later plays, The Winter’s Tale is filled with mature wisdom infused with youthful optimism. The tale begins with a serious question, moves through lighthearted romance, and ends with a miracle.
Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company, November 14; Dance Theatre of Harlem performing “Believe Again,” January 23; and “Godspell,” March 3. Season packages prices are $89-$229. The Broadway Series is 2010 Tony-award winner for best musical, “Memphis,” November 21; Million Dollar Quartet, February 13; and “The Addams Family,” April 4. Season package prices are $87-$182. The Braithwaite Intimate Gatherings Series is “Deer Camp: The Musical,” October 29; The Official Brothers Revue, February 20; and sitcom star Jim Belushi and the Chicago Board of Comedy, April 11. Season packages prices are $83-$155. The Distinguished Lecture Series is Dr. Carl Edwin Wieman discussing how advances in research on learning can dramatically improve science and engineering education,” September 5, and Pulitzer-Prize winning columnist Charles Krauthammer, February 4. Season packages prices are $31-$49. The Arts in Education Series is “Temptation of the Muses” with The Ahn Trio and Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company (abbreviated performance) for fourth through 12th grade, November 15, and “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day” for kindergarten through third grade, April 3. All events are at Vaughn Auditorium on the UT Tyler campus. New season subscriptions are on sale by calling the box office at 903.566.7424 or online at cowancenter.org. The deadline to purchase season tickets is Aug. 5, 2013. School groups interested in the Arts in Education Series should call the box office. For more information, go to www.cowancenter.org.
Camelot by Alan J. Lerner and Frederick Lowe June 30, July 4*, 6*, 11, 13, 19*, 21*, 26, 28
Camelot opened on Broadway in 1960 and won the Tony Award for best musical. Adapted from T.H. White’s The Once and Future King, it is about King Arthur and his noble, idealistic attempt to establish peace and order by creating the Knights of the Round Table. It is also the touching story of his wife Guinevere and the handsome French Sir Lancelot with whom she falls in love. The beautiful music includes the title song “Camelot,” “If Ever I Would Leave You,” and “What Do the Simple Folk Do?”
The Enchanted Forest (Children’s Play) by Jason Richards July 17, 18, 19, 20, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 at 10 a.m.
A new play by the author of last year’s Quest for the Lost Chalice, The Enchanted Woods is a modern fairy tale, touched with mystery and magic, about the powers of hope, faith, and courage. *Matinee Performances at 2:00 p.m. / Evening Performances at 7:30 p.m.
For more information visit us at www.texasshakespeare.com
events July 3 – 6
“White Chrstmas”, The Musical. Jefferson. 7:30 pm. $20/adult $15/child under 12. Jefferson Transportation/Visitor Building, 302 E Austin. 903.665.2310. www.JeffersonOperaHouseTheatrePlayers.com.
July 5 – 6
Galaxy Quest! Space Stories that are Out of 20 • CountyLineMagazine.com • JULY/AUGUST 2013
“Changing lives through education, outreach, & the performing arts!”
Live Music, Theater, Comedy and Movies! Downtown Tyler • 103 E. Erwin • Tyler, Texas 75702 a department of the City of tyler
July 25th at 8 p.m.
Reckless
Kelly
august 2 at 8 p.m.
July 11
Bubble Lady. Commerce. The Texas Bubble Lady will perform for children of all ages. 1:30 p.m. The price of admission to the Children’s Museum is the cost of the event. Northeast Texas Children’s Museum, 2501 Hwy 24. 903-886-6055. www.netxcm.com.
July 12 – 20
Egad, The Woman in White. Quitman. An astonishing and inspiring melodrama. 7:30 p. m. $12 at the door. Carroll Green Civic Center. 602 McAllister St. www.qctheater.org.
July 18 – 27
“Mama Won’t Fly” - A Jones-Hope-Wooten Comedy. Corsicana. An outrageously hilarious race against the clock begins when Savannah Sprunt Fairchild Honeycutt agrees to get her feisty mother all the way from Alabama to California in time for her brother’s wedding. Savannah’s problem: Mama won’t fly! This ferociously funny, family-friendly Jones-Hope-Wooten comedy will have you laughing your way across the country and all the way down th e aisle! 7:30 p.m. Call or visit website. Warehouse Living Arts Center, 119 W. 6th Avenue. 903-872-5421. www.warehouselivingartscenter.com.
July 25 – 27
The Somewhat True Tale of Robin Hood Summer Theatre. Longview. It sure is hard to be humble when you’re a swashbuckling, egocentric super-hero. But the gallant guyin-green tries his best as he swaggers through The Somewhat True Tale of Robin Hood, a frantically funny, Monty Pythonesque retelling of the classic. $8 online; $10 in office, by phone, or at door. ArtsView Children’s Theatre, 313 West .
Bob
ArtsView Children’s Theatre is indeed the home of “wide-eyed wonder.” We have created a place where the stars will shine for a whole new generation of children.
august 17 at 8 p.m.
Rock, Paper, Scissors CLASSIC MOVIES
www.ArtsViewChildrensTheatre.com 313 West Tyler ~ Longview 903-236-7535
July 6 at 7 p.m.
august 8 at 7 p.m.
august 1 at 7 p.m.
august 15 at 7 p.m.
august 3 at 3 p.m.
august 22 at 7 p.m.
The Goonies
Paths of Glory (1957)
“...Where Acting Up is Always FUN!”
Harvey (1950)
Spartacus (1960)
Dr. Strangelove (1964)
A Clockwork Orange (1971)
august 29 at 7 p.m.
Full Metal Jacket (1987)
Kick Back. Relax.
Let the County Line work for you!
LONGVIEW MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS
Summer Classes Welded Sculpture, Pottery Wheel Clay Handbuilding, Painting Mosaics , Watercolor , Drawing, and more....
August 9 – 10
The Knight the Castle Rocked - Musical Performance. Longview. Rock back through the ages with this magical tale of merriment, music, and movement directed by Alisha Kimbley. With a band of lively minstrels as your guide, you’ll explore the wonderful world of dance and music. . . from the bouree to the minuet, from swing to contemporary dance. 7 p.m. and 2 p.m. $6 online; $7 in office, by phone, or at door. ArtsView Children’s Theatre, 313 West Tyler Street. 903-236-7535. www.ArtsviewChildrensTheatre.com.
Schneider
Productions • Camps • Classes • show choirs
For ticket information go to LibertyTyler.com
this World. Longview. An ArtsView Original Works production ~ This is a compilation of winning plays from the ArtsView 20122013 Playwright Contest. Directed by Jacob Justice. Travel to infinity and beyond. Experience aliens, space travel, bad guys, good guys, the moon, lasers, talking planets, and other phenomena that are out of this world. Friday/Sat. 7 p.m. Sat. 2 p.m. Tickets on sale July 1 - $6 online; $7 in office, by phone, at door. ArtsView Children’s Theatre, 313 West Tyler Street. 903-236-7535. www.ArtsviewChildrensTheatre.com
Call today to see how we can help you meet your needs for the most cost-effective, results-oriented advertising. 903.963.8306 sales@countylinemagazine.com
Open Tuesday-Friday 10 - 4 Saturdays Noon - 4 Closed Sun-Mon $5 for non-museum members
215 E. Tyler St., Longview, 75601 903-753-8103, www.LMFA.org
JULY/AUGUST 2013 • CountyLineMagazine.com • 21
film
Time for Movie Therapy?
July 12
By Jeremy Light
The Lorax. Canton. Canton Main Street and sponsors present free outdoor movies. Start at dark. Bring lawn chairs or blankets. Concession stand available. 8:30 p.m. Free. Plaza Theater. 119 N. Buffalo. 903-567-1849. www. cantonmainstreet.org.
Apparently the field of mental health has caught up with Hollywood, or allowed Hollywood to catch up with it. There is a growing form of self-help in the world and it’s called movie therapy. I used to call it Saturday night, but times change I suppose.
July 26
Brave. Canton. Canton Main Street and sponsors present free outdoor movies. Start at dark. Bring lawn chairs or blankets. Concession stand available. 8:30 p.m. Free. Plaza Theater. 119 N. Buffalo. 903-567-1849. www. cantonmainstreet.org.
Health professionals like psychologists, psychiatrists, and therapists are finding it beneficial to “prescribe” movies for their patients as a form of self-therapy. Someone dealing with a devastating personal loss may find solace with Steel Magnolias, Terms of Endearment, or The Big Chill. A patient dealing with alcohol or drug addiction might view Clean and Sober, Leaving Las Vegas, or Requiem for a Dream to see the causes and effects of such dependency.
August 1
Paths of Glory. Tyler. When soldiers in WWI refused to continue with an impossible attack, their superiors decide to make an example of them. 7 p.m. $5. Liberty Hall, 103 E Erwin. www.libertytyler.com.
August 3
The personal connection with the characters in a motion picture, analysis of their actions, good or bad, and the stories serve as a kind of mirror for those seeking help. Experts suggest that writing these things down in a journal will help even more. Recipients of therapy are even encouraged to develop their own films. Ironically, doing so could indeed help others as they cope with their own personal issues. This may be one of the most creative renewable resources the world has to offer.
Though not a professional therapist, I do know the healing power of film. It is not always necessarily an escape from reality. Films can bring reality into glaring relief, particularly during troubling times. After losing my own father, I found solace within those thin celluloid walls, the audiovisual rooms where we spent so much time together. What makes it even more effective is a friend or group of friends with whom to share the experience. It is perhaps that aspect of it which might be the most helpful after all.
FILM news
FILM EVENTS
Nacogdoches writer Joe Lansdale’s cult crime novel “Cold in July” is being made into a film directed by Jim Mickle and starring Michael C. Hall of Dexter fame. It’s set to beging filming at the end of July. Hall will take the role of Richard Dane, a man who shoots and kills an armed burglar in his own living room. However, the simple enough case of self defense soon turns sadistic when the burglar’s father swears Old Testamentstyle eye-for-an-eye justice. The ensuing events see cops, the feds, and the Dixie mafia all playing a part in the dark tale of revenge.
ring James Stewart and June Allyson. Starts at dusk. Reagan Park. www.visitpalestine.com.
Through July 26
Movie Matinees. Tyler. Feature length films for school age kids on the big screen. Groups of 5 children or more are required to register. 2 - 4 p.m. Free. Tyler Public Library, Auditorium, 201 S College Ave. 903-593-7323. www. tylerlibrary.com.
July 6
The Goonies. Tyler. A group of kids embark on a wild adventure after finding a pirate treasure map. 7 p.m. $5. Liberty Hall, 103 E Erwin. www.libertytyler.com. The Stratton Story. Palestine. Star major league pitcher Monty Stratton loses a leg in a hunting accident, but becomes determined to leave the game on his own terms. Star-
22 • CountyLineMagazine.com • JULY/AUGUST 2013
Harvey. Tyler. Elwood P. Dowd is a mild-mannered, pleasant man, who just happens (he says) to have an invisible friend resembling a six-foot rabbit. 7 p.m. $5. Liberty Hall, 103 E Erwin. www.libertytyler.com.
August 8
Spartacus. Tyler. The slave Spartacus leads a violent revolt against the decadent Roman Republic. 7 p.m. $5. Liberty Hall, 103 E Erwin. www.libertytyler.com.
August 9
OZ – The Great and Powerful. Canton. Canton Main Street and sponsors present free outdoor movies. Start at dark. Bring lawn chairs or blankets. Concession stand available. 8:30 p.m. Free. Plaza Theater. 119 N. Buffalo. 903-567-1849. www.cantonmainstreet.org.
August 15
Dr. Strangelove. Tyler. An insane general starts a process to nuclear holocaust that a war room of politicians and generals frantically try to stop. 7 p.m. $5. Liberty Hall, 103 E Erwin. www.libertytyler.com.
August 22
A Clockwork Orange. Tyler. In future Britain, charismatic delinquent Alex DeLarge is jailed and volunteers for an experimental aversion therapy developed by the government in an effort to solve society’s crime problem but not all goes to plan. 7 p.m. $5. Liberty Hall, 103 E Erwin. www.libertytyler. com. See www.countylinemagazine for more events!
Rally ‘Round Greenville
WOW WEEKEND - SEPT. 20-22 Live in Concert on the Bud Light Stage
Emerald City Band Street Dance FRIDAY NIGHT
Gallery Main Street is the “heart of the arts” in Downtown Tyler. Operated by the City of Tyler Main Street Department and its volunteers, the gallery hosts a new juried exhibit every six weeks. Subjects run the gamut from abstract to surreal to realism, and everything in between. Visitors have the opportunity to view oils, acrylics, watercolor, photography, pottery, sculpture and so much more. Visit the gallery Monday through Saturday, and be sure to check the website to view the gallery’s schedule of workshops and special events such as ArtWalk. Hours: Monday-Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays, noon to 4 p.m. Gallery Main Street 110 W. Erwin / Tyler, TX • (903) 593-6905 www.downtowntylerarts.com
Our readers want to get to know you!
• Live Entertainment on two stages • Wine and Beer Garden • Foods of all kinds • Shopping Galore
• Cook-Offs • Arts & Crafts Vendors • Kids Alley • 2 Downtown Wineries • Sidewalk Sales • Art Show • Cotton Patch Bicycle Ride • Visit our Historic Downtown
VENDORS SIGN UP NOW!
CALL 903-455-1510 or visit greenvillechamber.com
C. MILLER DRILLING Water Wells Done Right Deep Well Drilling & Service Call today to see how we can help you meet your needs for the most costeffective, results-oriented advertising.
903.963.8306 www.countylinemagazine.com
Residential •Agricultural • Commercial • Pump Service, Pulling & Sales Ask About Our Sand-Free Water Guarantee Every Deep Well Pressure Cemented
www.cmillerdrilling.com
Serving North East Texas Since 1983 Master Texas License 2464
let us install your well right
• 7355 East Hwy 154 • Winnsboro
800-594-2187 • 903-725-6524 north east texas area
• wood county JULY/AUGUST 2013 • CountyLineMagazine.com • 23
music notes
Kasey Lansdale is Restless On New Country Album Photo by Tom Geddie
Perot Theatre Presents 1964 Tribute to Beatles
Check out www.countylinemagazine.com for extended MUSIC news and event listings.
“1964: The Tribute” will recreate an early 1960s’ live Beatles concert with period instruments, clothing, hairstyles, and on-stage banter on Saturday, July 20, at the Perot Theatre in Texarkana. Since the early 1980s, the stage group has traveled the show around the globe, called by critics including Rolling Stone magazine the most authentic and endearing Beatles tribute. Showtime is 7:30 p.m. Call 903.792.4882 for tickets priced at $49, $43, and $33 with half-price tickets in the balcony for students.
Tyler Civic Chorale, Guests Present Patriotic Music Show
The Tyler Civic Chorale and others will share a program of patriotic music on July 4 at First Presbyterian Church, 230 W. Rusk in Tyler. Featured will be organist Brett Valiant at the keyboard of the church’s newly renovated Casavant pipe organ. Valiant is organist at First United Methodist Church in Wichita, Kansas, and his programs specialize in the “mighty Wurlitzer” style of organ music once heard in movie theaters. A massed choir of chorale members and chancel choirs of various Tyler churches will sing. The audience will be invited to join in singing songs of each of the military services as veterans of those services rise to be recognized. This concert concludes the chorale’s 2012/2013 season, which also was its 45th anniversary of service to the community. It’s free. Doors open at 3:30 p.m., and the event begins at 4 p.m. For more information, go to www.tylercivicchorale. org or call 903.312.4736.
Traditional Blues Musician Dies from Head Injuries
New from Kasey Lansdale is Restless, an 11-song country album produced by John Carter Cash. Lansdale grew up in Nacogdoches surrounded by the arts and some of her earliest memories are of singing songs by Reba McIntyre and the Contours with her dad, fiction writer Joe Lansdale. For several years, she’s commuted to Nashville to write, record, and network in the music industry. “I wrote with my producers and some amazing songwriters for this project, and also recorded a few songs written by other writers in Nashville,” she said. an old battery operated radio when he was eight years old. He said he heard gospel, country, jazz and rock. He quickly gravitated to the blues, which he said brought back memories of his parents, family, and working in the cotton fields.
Blues musician Roosevelt Twitty died of head injuries from a fall in his hometown of Paris. He was 74 years old.
In his prime, he played a hundred shows a year in all sorts of venues, from house parties to juke joints and honkytonks.
Twitty got into music after listening to
“I play blues from the old school, music
24 • CountyLineMagazine.com • JULY/AUGUST 2013
Lansdale is also, like her dad, a creative writer and editor. Her first anthology as an editor, Impossible Monsters, is due for release this summer and she’s finished writing her first novel. The versatile artist also is an actress and model. “Singing has taken me all over the world and introduced me to some amazing people, and I feel lucky every day when I wake up because I get to do what I love. I’m just so happy no one has given me a good shake and told me to get a real job,” she said. For more information, go to www.kaseylansdale.com. that is creative, having a story line and morals,” he said, saying he didn’t want to give up his roots for modern changes. “Most blues musicians have lived the blues, therefore they can make the music come to life with an intensity that can make one happy, carefree, or even sad and doleful.” Twitty would also share lessons, including with young Honey Grove musician Tyler Dow Bryant, a sort of protégé who at age 22 was featured in the film “Rock Prophecies” with Jeff Beck, Carlos
Santana, and Slash. Bryant met Twitty when he was still in elementary school, and learned to play the blues. The two toured together for a while.
Pistol Annies’ New CD Debuts All Over Television
The Pistol Annies, featuring Lindale native Miranda Lambert, released the group’s second album, Annie Up, with performances on “The Today Show,” “Late Night With David Letterman,” “The View,” “The Tonight Show With Jay Leno,” and “The Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson.” The band is Lambert’s “side project” with Ashley Monroe and Angaleena Presley. “Though I have a successful solo career, I’m always dreaming and looking for inspiration,” Lambert said. “These two girls came into my life and they too are dreamers. Together we have created and crafted some of the most amazing songs. All from the eastern part of our home states, we write and sing about real life and our roots. Our music is honest and outspoken just like us.” In the band, Lambert is known as Lone Star Annie, the Tennessee-born Monroe as Hippie Annie, and Kentuckyborn Presley as Holler Annie.
free
weekly
eNewsletter
It’s what’s up in the upper east side of texas sign up
online or send email
info@countylinemagazine.com www.countylinemagazine.com
JULY/AUGUST 2013 • CountyLineMagazine.com • 25
October 25-26
Fall Feral Follies Hog Queen Coronation Parade Festival Catch-a-Pig Contest Hog Calling Wild Hog Cook-Off Live Music Get ready for a squealin’ good time!
MUSIC • FOOD • FUN
BURGERS • plate lunches • beer & wine 903.833.5100 Live Music 8*-11 p.m. 7/5 Group Therapy (Classic Rock), $7 7/26 Texas Rebellion (Country), $7 8/16 John Slaughter Band *9:30 p.m. (Country), $7 advance, $10 door 7/6 Six Market Blvd. *9:30 p.m. 7/27 Westbound 21 (Country/Texas 8/17 Wesley Pruitt Band (Blues/ (Americana/Southern Rock), Country/Southern Rock), $7 $8 advance, $12 door Americana/Soul), $10 door 8/2 Country Legend & Hall of Famer, 7/12 Cody Jinks *9:30 p.m. (Tx Country Johnny Lee & The Urban Cowboy 8/23 Phat Johnny & The Buicks (Blues), NO COVER /SouthernRock) $8 advance, $12 door Band, *9:30 p.m. $20 adv., $25 door
Six Market Blvd. July 6
7/13 Chase & New South (Country), $7
7/19 Ben Lowery & Texas Express (Country Dance), $7
The Damn July 20
7/20 The Damn Quails *9:30 p.m. (Folk/Americana) $8 advance, $12 door
Quails
8/3 blacktopGYPSY (Americana/Country), $7 adv.,$10 door
8/24 Theiving Birds, (Rock/Roots) *9:30 p.m. $10 advance, $15 door
8/9 Kyle Bennett Band *9:30 p.m. (Country/Southern Rock/Tx Country), $10 advance, $15 door
8/30 Johnny Cooper Band *9:30 p.m. (Rock/Indie/Funk), $15 adv., $20 door
8/10 Cody Riley Band (Country), $8 advance, $12 door
8/31 Ray Wylie Hubbard, *9:30 p.m. $20 advance, $25 door
Advance tickets available at www.outhousetickets.com
Karaoke at Moore’s Store Every Thursday 6-10 p.m.
PIZZA • WRAPS • SALADS • FULL BAR 903.833.5970 Live Acoustic Music, 7 p.m. No Cover*
Johnny Lee August 2
7/4 Jimmy Bailey
7/20 Dub Miller
8/8 Patrick James Freden
7/5 Heather Little & Matt Bradshaw
7/25 Sky Smeed
8/9 Heather Little & Matt Fisher
7/26 Ben Lowery & Wes Hendrix
8/10 Mike Acoustic
7/6 The Clarke’s
August
31
7/11 Patrick James Freden
7/27 Matt Bradshaw & Heather Little
8/16 Cherokee Outlaws
7/12 Logan K. Strong
8/1 Eric Moseley
8/17 Heather Little & Matt Bradshaw
7/13 Mike Acoustic
8/2 Emy Taylor
7/18 Wesley Pruitt
8/3 Jimmy Wallace & Jerry Don Branch
7/19 Byron Haynie
e i l y w y a
r
8/15 The Clarke’s
hubbard
8/22 Hotel Drifters
8/23 Lacie Carpenter & Southern String Line *Some special events will have cover charge.
8/24 Ann Armstrong & Steve Hughes 8/29 The Scrips 8/30 Ben Lowery & Wes Hendrix 8/31 Matt Bradshaw & Heather Little Open Mic NIght Wednesdays 6-10 p.m. EVERY SATURDAY 3-6 p.m. Bluesman Craig Wallace
Saturday, AUGUST 24 in BEN WHEELER
FULL OF LIFE HEALTH FAIR
2-7 p.m. Health Fair, Kids & Adults Yoga and Karate, Free Books, Carter Blood Care, Bike Safety, Cooking Classes, Farmers’ Market, and Face Painting. Activities take place at the library, Pickin’ Porch, and fire dept.
FISH FRY FUNDRAISER
5-9 p.m. Supporting the Ben Wheeler Fire Department. $5 per plate, $2 domestic beer at The Forge Annex
Ben Wheeler Arts & Historic District Foundation • www.benwheelertx.com • 903.833.1070 26 • CountyLineMagazine.com • JULY/AUGUST 2013
music listings Every Tuesday
Pickin’ and Grinnin’. Edom. 6 - 8 p.m. Free. The Shed Cafe, 8337 FM 279. 903-852-7791. www.theshedcafe.com.
Every Wednesday
Boogie Woogie Wednesday. Marshall. Live music. 7 - 9 p.m. Free admission. OS2 Pub. 105 E. Houston. 903-938-8966 www.facebook. com/birthplaceofboogiewoogie
Every Saturday
mission $10; VIP table $60. The Alamo Bar & Grill, 5372 NW Loop. www.outhousetickets. com. Bobby Atlas. Tyler. 7 p.m. $5. Lago Del Pino. 14706 CR 1134. www.outhousetickets.com.
July 22
One Direction. Dallas. 7:30 p.m. $29.50 $89.50. American Airlines Center, 2500 Victory Ave. www.americanairlinescenter.com.
Acoustic Music on the Streets. Mineola. Pickers and audience welcome. Bring instruments and chairs. Indoors in bad weather. 11 a.m. Free. Johnson St. Gazebo. 1.800.MINEOL. www.mineola.com.
July 25
July 3
July 26
Justin Bieber. Dallas. 7 p.m. $45 - $95. American Airlines Center, 2500 Victory Ave. www. americanairlinescenter.com.
July 4
Rock the Ages Concert. Longview. AC/DC tribute band Back in Black, Bruce Springsteen tribute band Thunder Road, and ZZ Top tribute band Trio Grande. 2 p.m. $5, 12 and under; free. Maude Cobb Center, 100 Grande Ave. www.outhousetickets.com.
Reckless Kelly. Tyler. 8 p.m. Floor Seating $20; Balcony Seating $15; VIP Boxes $125; seats 4. Liberty Hall, 103 E Erwin. www.libertytyler.com.
Taylor Heard. Tyler. 7 p.m. $5. Lago Del Pino. 14706 CR 1134, www.outhousetickets.com.
July 27
Brad Paisley. Dallas. 7:30 p.m. $30 - $85. Gexa Energy Pavilion, 1818 First Avenue. www. ticketmaster.com. Hudson Moore. Tyler. 7 p.m. $7. Lago Del Pino, 14706 CR 1134. www.outhousetickets. com.
July 5
August 2
The Bigsbys. Tyler. 7:00 pm. $5. Lago Del Pino, 14706 CR 1134. www.outhousetickets. com.
Bob Schneider. Tyler. 8 p.m. Floor $25, Balcony $20, VIP $160. Liberty Hall, 103 E Erwin. www.libertytyler.com.
July 6
August 3
Beyonce. Dallas. 8 p.m. $45 - $95. American Airlines Center, 2500 Victory Ave. www.americanairlinescenter.com.
July 13
LC Rocks. Tyler. 7 p.m. $7. Lago Del Pino, 14706 CR 1134. www.outhousetickets.com. John Mayer. Dallas. With Phillip Phillips. 7:30 p.m. $29.50 - $79.50. Gexa Energy Pavilion, 1818 First Avenue. www.ticketmaster.com.
July 20
1964: A Tribute to the Beatles. Texarkana. Since the early 80s, 1964: The Tribute has been thrilling audiences around the globe by taking them on a journey through a quintessential moment in music history that will live forever. 7:30 p.m. $49, $43, $33, half priced student tickets in the balcony. Perot Theater. 221 Main Street. www.trahc.org/perot-theatre. Kid Rock. Dallas. 7:30 p.m. $20. Gexa Energy Pavilion, 1818 First Avenue. www.ticketmaster.com. Frank Foster. Carthage. 7 p.m. General ad-
N WHEEL O G A W ANTIQUE MALL
Ruby Allmond Songwriting Contest Concert. Bonham. The 10 finailsts for the Ruby Allmond contest perform. 7 - 9:30 p.m. Free. Bailey Inglish School, 201 E 10th St. 903-8865463.
Biggest & Best in East Texas Furniture, Antiques Collectibles
Vintage Record Albums Vintage Clothing and Jewelry Decorator Items, and so much more! 30+ Dealers, 12,000 sq. ft.
of Quality Merchandise Open 7 Days, Mon-Sat 10-6, Sun 1-5
903-469-4321 7 miles East of Athens 7150 SH 31E • Murchison www.wagonwheelantiquemall.com
learn the facts about distracted driving. Texting takes a driver’s eyes from the road for an average of 4.6 seconds, the equivalent – at 55 mph – of driving the length of an entire football field, blind. (NHTSA and VTTI)
August 6
Jonas Brothers. Dallas. 7:30 p.m. $29.50 - $79.50. Gexa Energy Pavilion, 1818 First Avenue. www.ticketmaster.com.
August 14
Chicago. Grand Prarie. 8 p.m. $39.50 $89.50. Verizon Theater, 1001 Performance Place. www.verizontheater.com.
September 7
BackRoads Musicfest. Nacogdoches. The first ever BackRoads Musicfest is held outdoors on the grounds of the Nacogdoches Expo Fairgrounds. Bring blankets and lawnchairs and get ready to stir up some red dirt. Features Kevin Fowler, Roger Creager, JB and the Moonshine Band, Jason Cassidy, and Backseat Molly. 2 p.m. Presale $20. Nacogdoches Expo Fairgrounds, 3805 NW Stallings Dr. www.outhousetickets.com.
In 2012, the total number of traffic crashes on Texas roads was 415,252 to date. 22% were due to distracted driving (driver distraction, inattention or cell-phone use).
(Texas Department of Transportation, 2012)
From 2011 to 2012, there was a 9% increase of traffic fatalities in Texas that involved distracted driving. (Texas Department of Transportation, 2012)
Of the 2012 traffic crashes in Texas that involved distracted driving, 28,443 were by drivers ages 16-24.
(Texas Department of Transportation, 2012)
Of the 2012 traffic crashes in Texas that involved distracted driving, 23,784 were by drivers over the age of 45. (Texas Department of Transportation, 2012)
JULY/AUGUST 2013 • CountyLineMagazine.com • 27
Leaving the Stars Behind, Cas Haley is Where He Wants to Be
and brother, has been working on the 28 acres his family owns north of Paris near the Red River. He rented a small Bobcat bulldozer to terrace a hill behind the house, to put in a deck. “I pretty much try to do it all myself. It means more,” he said. He remains grateful for the exposure on “America’s Got Talent.”
By Tom Geddie After the spotlight of “America’s Got Talent” and that show’s afterglow, Cas Haley finally has the music career that suits him best. He recently took a break from working the land at his Paris home to talk about art rather than commerce. And, oh, by the way, he’s got a new album; he does need to make a living. Haley finished second to ventriloquistsinger Terry Fator on “America’s Got Talent” in 2007, just missing out on the $1,000,000 prize and the show’s “best new act in America” title. That led to a brief stint inside the big business of the music industry. His third studio album, La Si Dah, came out May 28 through Easy Star Records, a leading reggae label that is stretching into other areas, and decided Haley’s “unique, accessible” sound is a good way to expand its audience. The album is special to Haley. “I kept thinking if I died tomorrow and my kids had only one musical statement through which to know me,” he said, “what would I want that record to be?” Haley raised money for the 13-song album — with three instrumentals — from his fans and produced the project himself with help from Grammy-winning producer-engineer Rob Fraboni, who is known for his work with Bob Dylan, The Eagles, Keith Richards, and The Rolling Stones. It’s a grassroots album, too. “Being in a world so heavily influenced by commercialism and the expectations of perfection paired with the technology and tools to synthesize that perfection, in my opinion, has zapped the very essence out of the majority of music today.
The last two years I have been searching for the solution to this problem,” he said. “With the guidance of my great friend and mentor Rob Fraboni, this album is my attempt to find the spirit of music. “The first thing we did was take away all elements of separation. All the instruments and most of the vocals were recorded in the same room at the same time with no isolation and no headphones. Fraboni is from the day when capturing the sound of the performance was the goal versus manipulating them.” That’s a change from his earlier albums, which were so polished, for commercial success, with technology that he wasn’t satisfied with them as art. “A lot of music today seems to have lost its soul,” he said. “Too much of it loses the art.” The new album will be followed by Haley’s first European tour. In July, he’s doing solo acoustic shows in Switzerland, Germany, and the Czech Republic between domestic gigs in Dallas, Fort Worth, California, Arizona, Iowa, and, recently, at That Guy’s Coffee in his hometown of Paris, Texas. More personally, Haley, who grew up in the construction business with his father
28 • CountyLineMagazine.com • JULY/AUGUST 2013
“It definitely affected me. The biggest thing, besides the obvious of getting my name out there and giving me a boost moneywise, was that it catapulted me into a position to really pursue music,” he said. “I was already gigging, but getting only $300-$400 a week which was not enough to raise a family.” He is married to Cassie Black and has a son named Eben and a daughter named Nolah. Haley said that eventually the biggest benefit was helping him realize how he wanted to manage his own career. At one time, he thought he wanted a majorlabel record deal and stardom. “When I got a taste of that, it showed me what I really wanted,” he said. “I got into playing music because I like calling my own shots. I like being my own boss, making my own schedule, doing it my way. That’s a big part of it to me.” With the independent Easy Star label, he also owns his own music and masters and can make a good living selling 20,000 albums a year instead of clawing for elusive gold (half a million albums) and platinum (one million) sales. Haley plays once or twice a year in Dallas, a couple of times a year in Austin, and three or so times a year in Paris at That Guy’s Coffee, a listening room which holds 60 or so people and which he helped Gerald Hutchings get started after seeing — and liking — the success of Crossroads Music Company in Winnsboro. Although Haley is often described as continued Page 29
From A to ZZ with Robin Hood Brians By Joseph Drew Have you ever had the Chili’s baby back rib jingle stuck in your head? Would you have guessed its author built an audio recording studio in Tyler and that ZZ Top recorded their first four albums there and that it’s still going strong now for 50 years? It was 1963. Zip codes and the first diet soda were introduced, the Beatles scored their first #1, and Robin Hood Brians was preparing to make his mark on the music industry. Born in Corsicana, then relocated to Edom by 1945, Brians started school and discovered music at age five. He performed with multiple acts growing up. After nine years of classical piano lessons, it seemed a lot cooler to play like Jerry Lee Lewis, so he figured out how to do that. The converted rocker formed Robin Hood and His Merry Men during his high school years, and performed all around East Texas. He graduated Tyler High School in 1957 (a year before Robert E. Lee opened). Brians wrote a song called “Dis-A-IttyBit” which was recorded at KTBB studio in Tyler. His drummer’s dad was a jukebox operator who played the song in Dallas. Fraternity Records of Cincinnati, Ohio, caught wind. By December 1957, Brians was in Nashville. Fraternity arranged for the fresh talent to split a session with two artists. The other two went first, leaving Brians a meager 30 minutes to cut two songs. He did both on the first take, and ignited a passion that is still making music today. Back home, a friend, Robie Morgan,
CAS HALEY continued from page 28 a reggae singer — he was nominated as best reggae rock entertainer for the 32nd annual International Reggae and World Music Awards — his roots remain in Southern soul and the music is diverse. “I just go song by song, everything from reggae to swing, and it’s all sorta got that Southern soul vibe.” He makes music to express himself.
engineer at KDOK Tyler, built Brians a 10- channel mixing board. Brians insisted each channel have its own high and low equalizer, allowing the highest and lowest sound frequencies to be manipulated in a way that would prevent distortion and improve clarity on the small speakers in transistor radios. That was virtually unheard of and thought unnecessary, but today is standard on any mixing console. He began hanging microphones in the living room and dining room of his parents home, stretching cables down the hall. After a noise complaint and plenty of sleepless nights for his parents, Robin’s dad, Bob, decided to move the operation to the back yard. Robin’s sister drew the plans. Over nine months he and his parents built what is now Robin Hood Studios. In July 1963, they were open to the public. Tragically, the November evening of President Kennedy’s assassination, Bob
died suddenly leaving Robin as head of household. With his mother managing schedules, telephones, and the coffee pot, Robin recorded anyone performing any genre ranging from square dance music, to vocal groups, horn ensembles, or rock bands. Eventually his skill and sound earned the attention of successful labels that sent him business. Besides ZZ TOP, his client list grew to include Joe Stampley, Tony Douglas, Don Henley, James Brown, Ike & Tina Turner, Mouse and The Traps, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Gary Allen, and Bugs Henderson among others. On June 10, ZZ Top released “The Complete Studio Albums (1970-1990).” This release is special because their debut album is available in its original mix, which was engineered by Brians. ZZ Top recorded there twice as The Moving Sidewalks, then returned a third time with a new name, ZZ Top. Founding members Billy Gibbons and drummer Frank Beard had also acquired a new bass player Dusty Hill along with their new manger and Waxahachie native Bill Ham. Brians sent Ham to Country Tavern on Highway 31 towards Kilgore to get barbecue, not telling him it was a 30-mile trip one way. When Ham returned the sound was perfect and Ham then insisted all the songs be done that way.
ZZ Top’s first album was recorded in Robin Hood Brian’s studio in Tyler. The team went on to record three others there.
“There’s something great about going out into the unknown with a dream, and pursuing it,” he said. “I feel like I’m really lucky. The first time I got a guitar I knew I was going to play music, and I’ve never really done anything else. I’m lucky to know what I wanted to do, and to have the freedom and security to do it.” Haley’s parents both were into music. His dad, Bear, and his mom, Virginia, listened to “hippie biker country” blues and 1960s -1970s rock and put his first guitar in his hands when he was 12.
Robin Hood Studios has grown through five renovations and embraced the conversion to digital technology. Brians engineering himself, knowing his equipment, and settling for no less than pristine sound, has kept the studio at the top of the list for fifty years. “I was sorta taught by the bar bands from all around Northeast Texas, by them and all their friends, the tribe that brought me up,” he said, in particular citing guitarist Mike “B.J.” Hillard. Twenty-five years later, Haley said, a friend found Hillard’s 1967 Guild Starfire guitar in a pawn shop; Haley plays it today. After his brush with stardom, however temporary, and with major-label music, Cas Haley is right where he wants to be: keeping it real.
JULY/AUGUST 2013 • CountyLineMagazine.com • 29
bookmarks LITERARY NEWS Tyler’s Little Free Library Pilot Effort Promotes Literacy
The Tyler Parks and Recreation Department has placed a “Little Free Library” at Southside Park as a pilot program. The library houses a variety of free books that people of all ages are invited to take, read, and bring back or share with a friend. Participants are also encouraged to bring their favorite books to donate and share. The Tyler Public Library donated the initial stock of books. The mission of the program is to promote literacy and the love of reading by building a free book exchange. If this pilot program is successful, the City of Tyler will look to expand the “Little Free Libraries” throughout the community. For more information, call 903.531 or go to www.typerparksandrec.com.
Ben Wheeler Book Fair 2 Planned Nov. 30 in Art Jam
The second annual Ben Wheeler Book Fair is scheduled for Nov. 30 this year in conjunction with the 279 Art Jam in Edom and Ben Wheeler. The book fair features general fiction, historical fiction, Christian mystery and fiction, mystery, suspense, western, romantic mystery, humor, inspirational/ self help, poetry, short fiction, music criticism, essays, romance, detective, children’s fiction and poetry, photography and more. Among evaluation comments from authors after the 2012 fair were these: “The school was well set up for the event; enough space and a festive atmosphere . . . the overall organization and effort that went into this with the marketing/PR, etc. was very impressive . . . Thanks for the opportunity to show my works and mingle with other writers . . . Attendance was better than I expected. Having participated in several such events, as well as organizing one myself, I know how hard it can be to get
people to come . . . The setup was very good and conducive to lots of sales . . . publicity leading up to the event was as good as any of the other book signing venues of which I have been a part . . . well worth the time to be there . . . I was pleasantly surprised at the number of people that attended.” Twenty to 25 authors will be invited to sell, sign, and talk about their books and the writing and publishing processes. It’s free to attend, and it’s from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at the historic and beautifully restored Elwood School House, 5475 FM 858 in downtown Ben Wheeler.
ages 5-12 explore history through food, games, crafts, and other activities suggested by an American Girl book, heroine, and historical era. Mothers, aunts, grandmothers, and other special adults are encouraged to attend with the child. 10 a.m. - Noon. Free. 903.593.7323. Tyler Public Library, 201 S College. www.tylerlibrary.com.
Every First Sunday Texas Writers Network. Tyler. Informal gathering of writers and aspiring writers for mutual support, critique, and networking. 2 – 4 p.m. Free. Taylor Auditorium, Tyler Public Library, 201 S College Avenue. 903-593-7323. www.tylerlibrary.com.
Through July 25
Trouble on the Bosque First in Western Trilogy
The newest book from Herb Marlow, who lives in Colfax, is Trouble on the Bosque, the first in a planned series of three historical fiction westerns. The book tells the story of Earl Lamar, a survivor of the American Civil War, who struggles back to his home in Bosque County, Texas, to find that his parents have both died while he was away. Now it is up to him to run the L Bar Ranch his father and mother established.
Teens & Tweens at the Library. Tyler. A series of fun events for kids who have finished 5th grade. Registration is required. Themes include: Zombie Make-up, Animal visit from Caldwell Zoo, Duct Tape Creations, Trashion/Monster Show, Video & Board Games. 2 – 3:30 p.m. Free. Tyler Public Library, Auditorium. 201 S College Ave. 903-593-7323. www. tylerlibrary.com.
Every Third Friday Poetry Reading. Winnsboro. Local poets. 6 p.m. Free. Winnsboro Emporium, 316 N. Main. 903.342.6140. www.winnsboroemporium. com.
After the war, Texas is an impoverished and dangerous place to live, but Earl makes the best of it, rounding up cattle and driving them to sell to Colonel Goodnight in Palo Pinto County. Fighting off rustlers, scalawags and carpetbaggers, he falls in love with and marries Gloria Wilson, the daughter of a Meridian storekeeper. Trouble on the Bosque is in Ebook form only at this time, though paperback release is planned. For more information, go to www.writers-exchange.com/HerbMarlow.html.
Literary events Every Third Friday
Poetry Reading. Winnsboro. Local poets. 6 p.m. Free. Winnsboro Emporium, 316 N. Main. 903.342.6140. www.winnsboroemporium.com.
Every Third Saturday
American Girl at the Library. Tyler. Girls
30 • CountyLineMagazine.com • JULY/AUGUST 2013
Find a reading program near you!
poetry & prose Shadows of Yesterday
The shadows of Yesterday Are the jailers from which we run And it’s only when we look behind us That we cannot see the sun. Sharolyn Dawn Canton
Isolation A cold ribbon of light pierces between Low scudding clouds and the black sea Highlighting whitecaps whipped by the Grey east wind. Distant, the island house holds life within Unable to fulfill its measured mission. A vision of tragic loneliness and beauty, A gaunt, wraith like figure emerges From the scalloped Victorian veranda. An ecru shawl slips from her frame as Gnarled fingers clutch the weathered rail. Robert L. Stevens Ben Wheeler
Summer Some say that Texas is unbearable in summer; but I say, that one must offer some small sacrifice to the Sun Gods, in order to bear witness to the beauty of the season. Red and yellow and bronze and gold, all have their place on this summer palette so bold, that even the fiercest of Ra’s demons could not dispel the radiance that emanates from the Artist’s brush. As the emerald canvas fades to brown, the days will mercifully grow shorter, and cooler, until once again God’s festive palette bursts forth with the shades of Autumn. Some say that Texas is unbearable in summer; but I say, grab a glass of sweet tea and sit in the shade of your favorite tree, and bear witness to what may be, the most wonderful season of the year. Summer. Harold Burke Edgewood
A forlorn bateau awaits the lazy summer fisherman, as the summer sun reclines in the west. Photo by Ine Burke, www.inegaleri.com
Man vs. Machine By Edward H. Garcia When I was a kid, there were people around--not necessarily in my family--who could fix every machine they owned. No doubt that had been truer in earlier generations, but even in, say, 1950, most machines were fixable. When one broke down, your first thought was not to toss it and buy a new one. It was in that era that the term “planned obsolescence” gained currency. The concept was seen as a kind of conspiracy to force us to buy new products rather than fix old ones. It was generally decried and cited as another example of how we were going to hell in a handbasket. Sure enough, it came to pass that most of us could not fix most of the machines we owned. We survived and gave business to those of us who could fix them. And I think we quit worrying about planned obsolescence and embraced it as the new status quo, filling our landfills with old appliances and, more recently, working computers that are just too slow for us. Now, it seems to me, we have reached a new milestone: not only do we not know how to fix our machines, we don’t even know all that they can do. A friend told me recently that the manual for his phone is 180 pages long. Remember when you
just picked up the phone dialed? Now even the simplest, dumbest phone has more features than I know about. I could read the manual, but I don’t. And if I did, would I also have time to read the manual for my computer and my home phone and my car and dishwasher and clothes washer? The refrigerator is still thankfully simple--not to fix, but to use: you open the door, put in or take out the food, and close the door. The dishwasher, on the other hand, wants me to pick from several cycles and various temperatures and variations on drying. The dishwasher is a perfect example of our response to these brilliant machines. Though there are dozens of variations on washing dishes, absolutely every time I press “Normal wash” and “start.” Every time. I don’t think this is a trend we are going to be able to buck, but maybe there is something we can do to rescue our humanity from the machines. I don’t propose to learn everything you can do with Windows 8, but maybe I can use each of the features of my dumb little Samsung phone at least once. A friend takes his car’s manual to breakfast and pores over it until he’s familiar with all the car’s specifications . We can each carve out a little independence and use or not use the features based on experience, not ignorance. Of course, when it comes to a phone’s 180-page manual, sometimes we just have to retreat gracefully.
JULY/AUGUST 2013 • CountyLineMagazine.com • 31
play Longview Opens New Trail For Mountain Bikes, More Longview has opened the three-mile Grace Creek Mountain Bike Trail for users to mountain bike, hike, or in wooded property owned from the Maude Cobb Convention and Activity Complex south along the Grace Creek corridor. The mountain bike trail was created as the result of volunteer efforts of the Longview Bicycle Club. After approval by the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board and City Council, Longview Bicycle Club volunteers cleared a path for the trail. “Trails are the top priority in the Parks and Recreation Master Plan,” said Laura Hill, community services director. “Over the last several years, the City of Longview has added or improved several miles of trails throughout town, and this mountain bike trail adds an option for users that prefer unpaved or rugged trail experiences. Like so many of our
park improvements, the volunteers really deserve credit for having a vision and passion for making the trail a reality.” For more information, call 903.237.1270 or go to www.Parks.LongviewTexas.gov.
Watch (Out) for Dinosaurs At Discovery Science Place Dinosaurs will once again roam the earth at Discovery Science Place in Tyler this summer. The Age of Dinosaurs exhibit features eight life-like “dinosaurs” that actually move as part of Jurassic Summer, a collaboration between Discovery Science Place and Tyler Junior College’s Center for Earth and Space Education. Guests will be able to purchase just one ticket which is good for the exhibit and a planetarium show or buy tickets individually for each location.
or go to www.discoveryscienceplace. org.
events July 5 – 7 USFA Fast Pitch Softball-USFA Western League National. Sulphur Springs. 8 a.m. Coleman Lake at Coleman Park, Coleman Park. 318-617-6089. www.usfastpitch.com.
July 13 & August 10 Bird and Nature Walk. Athens. The monthly bird watching outings take place the second Saturday of every month. Explore the TFFC interpretive wetland trail and other areas of the hatchery. 9 - 11 a.m. TFFC Admission: $5.50 adults, $4.50 seniors 65+, $3.50 children 4-12. Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center, 5550 FM 2495. 903-676-2277. www.athenstx.org/things-to-do/bird-and-nature-walkjuly-2013.
The exhibits run through September 1. For more information, call 903.533.8011
The World’s Oldest & Largest Flea Market
7,000 VENDOR SPACES • GREAT FOOD • 450 acres of legendary shopping home decor, art, antiques, collectibles, jewelry, crafts, specialty items, and so much more!
C A N T O N ’ S
FIRST MONDAY
T R A D E D A Y S
Open Aug. 1-4 Aug. 29-Sep. 1, and Oct. 3-6
Thursday-Sunday before the first Monday of every month!
877-462-7467 • www.visitcantontx.com 32 • CountyLineMagazine.com • JULY/AUGUST 2013
DOWNLOAD FREE OUR CANTON FIRST MONDAY TRADE DAYS APPS FOR I-PHONES AND ANDROID PHONES TODAY. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter “Canton TX Big Shopping”
A Variety of Zipline Thrills Awaits Guests in East Texas By Jeremy Light There may be very few who associate East Texas with thrill-seeking. However, the activity of ziplining (some would call it sport, though I’m not sure that’s accurate) has become increasingly popular in recent years, especially in this region. Zooming around beautiful countryside on nothing but a thin cable is fun it seems and a few places qualify for the distinction of most-desired locales for tourists and residents alike. First on deck is Adrenaline Rush in Jacksonville offering visitors the second-longest line in Texas (1700 feet), whisking them along at a brisk 45 mph over some of the most beautiful scenic views the state has to offer. Only one of the lines Adrenaline offers does not traverse over water, a feature many visitors relish.
The company also offers night-time ziplining, a unique feature among similar organizations. The adventurous have the opportunity to experience the feel of ziplining without the view. Although the view may seem to be the point, rushing above the darkened Texas skies by wire is a challenge many find intensely exciting. Further, visitors who are paying to zipline may camp on the property for free, provided they clean up after themselves. Fishing is also encouraged, though the activity is catch-and-release only. Of note, also, is Wired, home of Texas’ tallest towers and longest ziplines. Though primarily known for Trade Days, Canton offers one of the best ziplining experiences in the state. Those interested can take a virtual tour on the company’s website from the safety of their keyboards. With the largest ziplining tours available, this feature alone will encourage those of a more adventurous spirit to visit the wonderful town of Canton and perhaps also avail themselves of the city’s premier shopping. Located in LaRue is New York, Texas ZipLine Adventures. Rated as one of Texas’ best adventure tours, New York offers guests six ziplines among one of the highest elevations in the state. Both critically and popularly acclaimed, New
An adventurous guest takes a ride on the zipline at Thomas Falls in Diana. Courtesy photo.
York is sure to offer its patrons one of the best experiences available. And finally, for those interested in not only the experience, but the history behind the company as well, there is Thomas Falls Zipline in Diana. Not only is the experience unique, so is the story behind the site’s establishment. Located near Longview, Thomas Falls not only has their exciting zipline, it is also one of the only places to offer a wagon ride to the ziplining platform. A labor of love for approximately 20 years almost everything on the property is built from the land itself or recycled materials. Talking with the owners may turn out to be just as thrilling as the ziplining experience itself. Each of these locations offers a unique experience fun for the whole family. Instead of just zipping about Texas, zipline above it at one of these truly outstanding locations. For more information, visit Adrenaline Rush- daretozip.com, Wired- ziptheusa. com, New York- goziptexas.com, and Thomas Falls- ziptf.com.
JULY/AUGUST 2013 • CountyLineMagazine.com • 33
grits & gourmet: FOOD & DRINK Four Winds Steakhouse 21191 FM 47 WILLS POINT 903.873.2225 www.fourwindssteakhouse.com
Review by Patti Light In the middle of hay fields, tucked beneath shadows of oaks trees, Four Winds Steakhouse near Wills Point is not just a great meal, it is a dining experience that will be branded on your gastronomic memory. For food lovers, and especially steak lovers, in East Texas, this home base for rustic fine dining. Chef and co-owner, Frank Rumore, knew the moment he drove onto the Four Winds Ranch that this was the canvas for his culinary masterpiece. “I did not do a lot of research — this was an instinct,” he said. “I want you to come for dinner as if you are a guest in my house. Eat, be happy and enjoy.” This philosophy radiates from the mo-
ment you walk in the lead glass and pine door and are greeted by staff. The dining room at Four Winds is a large great room with simple and elegant tables draped in white linen and of-
Best of the Upper East Side of Texas Best Steaks and Best Restaurant 2010 - 2011 Best Steaks 2012
Tuesday & Wednesday DINNER SPECIAL Mixed Green Salad Choice of Fresh Fish of the day, Ribeye Steak, or Filet Mignon Served with Whipped Potatoes and Green Beans $26.00
fers views of the ranch land from every angle. However, the co-stars of Four Winds are the food and the service. Both shine. The food is not fussy couture dining. There are no contemporary food techniques and nitrogen-cooked petite plates. This is steakhouse cooking with the portions to match. Four Winds specializes in steak — filet, New York strip and ribeye are your options. They are cut and fired when or-
Located in a beautiful lakeside lodge at 21191 FM 47 in Wills Point, one block north of Interstate 20, Exit 516 Open Tuesday - Saturday 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Available for Special Events
Reservations Recommended 903.873.2225 www.fourwindssteakhouse.com 34 • CountyLineMagazine.com • JULY/AUGUST 2013
The sorbet trio is one of the delicious desserts available at Four Winds. Photo by Patti Light
dered, as Rumore demands that everything be as fresh as possible. The kitchen makes your vegetables when your order and each day produces their own salad dressings, sauces, butters and gets as much of their produce and meat from local farmers as they can. The quality shows in each course. We began our meal with fresh baked bread and a bottle of Syrah called “Writer’s Block.” The wine selection at Four Winds is amazing. Just ask your server what pairings they suggest. As a wine lover, I do wish that Four Winds would feature Texas Wines, after all our local selections are as immaculate as the food they serve. Appetizers arrive quickly at Four Winds. The crab cakes are dressed with a aromatic sauce. You can choose from several delights like hand-cut and friedto-order onion rings or scallops and escargot. The escargot can be a hard dish to perfect and sometimes slightly overdone, but they swim in a pool of lovely sauce. Our favorite is the grilled goat cheese, wrapped in grape leaves and coated with a pepper chutney — it is divine. Besides steak other entrées at Four Winds include a hand-cut double pork chop, pecan-breaded catfish, fried breaded tenderloin and fresh fish every day. Your server will introduce the specials for the evening. Don’t forget your sides; fresh creamed spinach or corn, whipped Yukon gold potatoes with cheddar, steamed asparagus or mushrooms and onions. Sides are served family style by your wait staff, Grits & Gourmet continued Page 36
Open 24/7 Full Menu Breakfast Anytime! Hwy 19 near I-20
903-567-6551
www.dairypalace.com JULY/AUGUST 2013 • CountyLineMagazine.com • 35
Sweet Pea Bistro Creates Delicious Farm-Fresh Sandwich
FOOD & DRINK continued from page 35 so don’t over order. Everything at Four Winds is la carte. Dessert is a star here. They feature bread pudding, cake and a sorbet trio that are heartwarming. My favorite is the creme brulee, which is one of the best in East Texas. Chef Rumore does not wander the dining room — he commands the kitchen. He lets his staff be the stars in the dining room and service is superb. They do not hoover, they appear plates in hand and smiles ready. “Great service is a priority for us. My staff is my family, too. They must be part of the experience.” Rumore adds.
The Sweet Pea Bistro, located in Athens on the square, has a delicious treat for the summer. A mozzarella, tomato and basil sandwich that combines gardenfresh Saxon Tomatoes from Ben Wheeler and handmade mozzarella cheese from the Mozzarella Cheese Factory in Deep Ellum for one delicious sandwich. The Saxons sell their tomatoes from a stand in Ben Wheeler located on Highway 279. Behind the scenes, however, these delicious tomatoes are being shipped all over the state, including some to the Sweet Pea Bistro in Athens. E.L. and Mary Jane Saxon started the business in 1950 and today, it is run by their children Gary and Stacy. What makes these tomatoes so good? “The soil they are planted in and the fact that they are picked and shipped fresh off the vine,” Mr. Saxon says.
The Mozzarella Cheese Company, located in Deep Ellum in Dallas, is the creation of chef Paula Lambert. Paula studied in Italy, and when she returned home, the main thing she missed was fresh mozzarella. At this time in 1982, no one even knew what fresh mozzarella was, so she decided to start her own company. Over the years, her cheeses have become famous and featured in Food & Wine, Gourmet, and The New York Times. They’ve been served at the Academy Awards, as well as to presidents and royalty. When these tomatoes meet this cheese with some fresh basil on a sandwich, you are in for a real treat. The Sweet Pea Bistro is located at 119 E. Tyler in Athens. Learn more at www. facebook.com/sweetpeabistro.
In the Kitchen with Leah Cowboy Caviar
2-3 T. chopped fresh cilantro OR 1 T. dried 1 red onion, chopped (1/2 onion if large) 1 bell pepper, chopped 1 pint grape tomatoes, cut in fourths 1 avocado, chopped Combine all, then add: 1 can corn, drained and rinsed 1 can black beans, drained and rinsed Squeeze in the juice of one lime and stir well. Optional: Dash of tabasco and/or chopped jalepeno pepper Serve with tortilla chips. 36 • CountyLineMagazine.com • JULY/AUGUST 2013
This investment has staff that has been with the restaurant six to eight years, a feat not experienced by many in the food service business. Dining at Four Winds is not a cheap meal, but food of this quality never is. Gather some friends and family or just that special someone for a great time. Dinner is served Tuesday through Saturday 5-10 p.m. Reservations are suggested — a pleasurable meal is guaranteed.
NEWS Swart, Allen Are Winners at Buffalo Girls Cook Off
Robbie Swart won the 2013 Buffalo Girls CASI-sanctioned chili cook off with his “Blonde Moment Chili,” and David Allen won the people’s choice award with his “Killer Bee Chili.” The 14th annual event at The Mountain in Canton included a Woodstock re-enactment, and a chuck wagon set up with cowboys and cowgirls. There was also a bake sale from the Girl Scouts, a silent auction, live auction, and a drawing for CLAW (Citizens League for Animal Welfare) that raised more than $8,000. “Since CLAW is a 501c organization, and operates completely from private donations, and with volunteers that work tirelessly on a daily basis to help save these discarded pets, usually at their own expense, I wanted to help them with their cause. This cook off
supplies them with the much needed funds that they need to continue their mission,” said Susan Matisse, owner of The Buffalo Girls Hotel which sponsors the event along with The Mountain and Old Mill Marketplace. The 15th annual cook off has already been set for next April 5, 2014. For more information, go to www.buffalogirlshotel.com or call 903.567.7829.
Van Welcomes New Sweets Business to Downtown Area A new business recently opened in downtown Van called Suger Spun Dragonfly by owners/chefs Kat Miller and Felicia Kilpatrick. They have specialty cakes and other sweets as well as items made by Katherine Harvickson of “The Crafty Gourmet” including her homemade toffee. Learn more at www.sugarspundragonfly.com.
Kilgore’s Jack Ryan’s Steak & Chophouse Has New Fan County Line reader Kathy Funderburk recently reported on her visit to Jack
Ryan’s Steak & Chophouse in Kilgore. “We felt like we had eaten in Dallas, not Kilgore,” she said. “Jack Ryan’s recently opened in downtown Kilgore and it is fabulous. The chefs are brothers and have a culinary gift and it is well worth your effort to check it out.” Funderburk said they have unique menu choices such as barbecued oysters and halibut served with spinach. “Linens were on the table and the chic bar served up wine and drinks,” she said. “Everyone in our party is ready to go back soon.”
events Every Saturday
Winnsboro Farmer’s Market. Winnsboro. Winnsboro Farmers Market features Traveling Chef Debbie Fleming, Best Chef in County Line Magazine’s 2012 Best Of edition. Open every Saturday from 8 am-Noon rain or shine (April 6 - Nov. 2) at the Jack Cross Pavilion in City Park on Wheeler Drive. Shop for the freshest local fruits and vegetables in addition to pork, poultry, eggs,
County Line Marketplace R. Ann Aduddell, D.D.S., P.C. Bart F. Miller, D.D.S., M.S. - Orthodontics
Medicaid Accepted Financing Available
Cosmetic & Family Dentistry
104 Burnett Trail, Canton 903-567-2207 www.millcreekdds.com
We Sell Cars for Less Ray Ridings Buick GMC Canton, Texas 903-567-4131 www.RayRidings.com
Ray Ridings Wills Point Chevrolet Wills Point, Texas 903-873-2561 www.willspointchevrolet.com
We BUY cars too! “Our World Class Service is Second to None”
breads, honey, and dairy products; browse the selection of crafts, and taste the culinary delights created on site. Come see why this market was chosen for Best Produce in 2011. Check the website for events including homemade ice cream contest; salsa and tomato tasting; Iron Chef competition; farm tours; film festival; and gourmet farm dinner. Find the weekly products list at www. winnsborofarmersmarket.com. 8 a.m. Noon. Free. Jack Cross Pavilion, City Park. www.winnsborofarmersmarket.com.
Saturdays, Through October 26 Sulphur Springs Farmer’s Market. Sulphur Springs. Join us downtown every Saturday night for live music and lots of vendors at the Farmers Market on the Square. 6 – 10 .pm. Downtown Square, Main St. 903-8857541. sulphurspringsfarmersmarket.com.
See countylinemagazine.com for a list of restaurants in the Upper East Side of Texas by region or by town. Add your favortie restaurant if you don’t see it there by going to MY ACCOUNT at the top of the site.
To advertise, call 903.312.9556 or email sales@countylinemagazine.com
Plumbing
“ by ”
Roger M-8528
903-833-5667 Serving East Texas
Authorized E-File Provider
Bill Hullum, CPA PC 649 W. Main • Box 545, Van, TX 75790 903.963.5865 123 West Frank St. 625 Hwy 31 East #6 Grand Saline, TX 75140 Chandler, TX 75758 903.962.6200 903.849.4994
www.billhullumcpa.com JULY/AUGUST 2013 • CountyLineMagazine.com • 37
Shop “Junke & Disorderly” Going On at Sweet Pea Collection
The Sweet Pea Collection hosts the annual Junke & Disorderly from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. July 20 on the square in downtown Athens. This annual customer appreciation event features a full day of fun with strolling models, live music, a Junke jewelry trunk show, a mimosa and sweets bar, and drawings for prizes. Merchandise in the store is discounted up to 50 percent. A contest for the Worst Junke & Disorderly outfit takes place with no rules, just great imagination. First, second, and third-place winners receive gift certificates for merchandise in the shop and adjoining bistro in the amounts of $100, $50 and $25 respectively. Other contest categories include Best Use of Repurposed Junke, Best Recycled Wine Bottle, and Best Recycled
Fabric with prizes ranging from store gift cards to a bottle of Thunderbird wine. The Sweet Pea Collection is at 119 E. Tyler. For more information, call 903.677.6868, or go to www.Facebook. com/The.Sweet.Pea.Collection.Athens.
sponsored by the Paris Downtown Association and Two Rivers Antiques from 7-10 p.m. Friday night. The evening includes live music, food and drinks, and shopping. For more information call 903.249.4211 or visit paristexasantiquefair.com.
Paris Texas Antique Fair is Scheduled for October 11-12
SHOPPING EVENTS
The third annual Paris Texas Antique Fair is scheduled for October 11-12 at the Red River Valley Fairgrounds. The event features a variety of quality antiques, one-of- a-kind treasures and unique finds, as well as vintage clothing, linens, and jewelry. It also offers homemade food, wine from Paris Vineyards, free “Husband Parking”, and vintage trailer tours from Sisters on the Fly. New this year is a version of the “Antique Roadshow,” that invites people to bring items in to access their value. During the event historic downtown Paris is the site for “A Party on the Plaza”
July 4 – 7, August 1 – 4
First Monday Trades Days. Canton. The oldest and largest flea market in the world. The ultimate shopping experience. Wander 300 acres of antiques, arets and crafts, and handmade articles. Free. First Monday Trades Days Grounds. 877-462-7467. www.visitcantontx. com.
Be a part of the Nation’s leading children’s & maternity consignment sales event!™
East Texas/Tyler Event • Aug 8 - 10
East Texas State Fairgrounds • Bldg E 2112 W Front Street • Tyler •Shop and get unbelievable deals on the boutique and brand names you love! • Sell your items as a consignor and earn 65-75%! Details and sign up online! •Save 50-90% OFF RETAIL PRICES! Plus, save time as it’s all here under one roof! •Smart! Make money and save money with the Nation’s Leading Sales Event! Details and consignor sign-up are available online or call 903 275 5630! Whatever you do, don’t miss it!
jbfsale.com
shop. sell. save. smart! ™
This event benefits East Texas Charities at Alternative Living Building Blocks Program & Half Pint Book Store.
FREE ADMISSION WITH THIS AD ON AUG 8at 3pm! All other days free. Cash, Visa, MasterCard & Discover accepted.
38 • CountyLineMagazine.com • JULY/AUGUST 2013
A relaxing, cozy setting with a variety of local Texas wines. Sit and enjoy the ambiance or amble through the shop area of unique items of clothing, jewelry, and home decor.
WiFi Available
www.pocketshoppes.com
Resale Shopping Finds Brand Names for Less By Leah Lynch Many people take advantage of the summer months by cleaning out closets, and preparing for the year ahead. Some donate goods to stores like Goodwill and area thrift stores, while others look for something else for that designer wear that just didn’t quite work out. Many people in East Texas sell these items to resale stores around the area and they shop those stores too as they know they can restock their closets there as well. There is a difference between resale stores and consignment stores. Consignment stores take items from people, sell them, and return a portion of the profit to the contributor. Resale stores buy items — mostly cash on the spot — and then resell them and keep the profit. There are a number of resale stores all over the Upper East Side of Texas. Tyler has quite a few with some big name stores such as Clothes Mentor and Plato’s Closet. Clothes Mentor buys and sells upscale women’s clothes, shoes, accessories, and even designer perfume. It pays cash on the spot. Plato’s Closet is similar, but buys and sells upscale clothing for teens and young adults. Both stores buy and sell gently used items. Both buy only laundered and nicely folded items. In Mineola is Prior Attire, an upscale women’s resale store. In Longview, check out Elite Repeats and Boutique to replenish the wardrobe. For a new job, these resale stores may be just the place. In Rockwall is Kid to Kid, a children’s resale shop that buys and sells children’s clothes, toys, bedding, and pretty much anything needed to outfit a baby. With the way children grow, resale is a great way to recoup some of the money spent on clothing and items they may wear for a few months or only play with for a few days. Another trend that is making a showing in the region is consignment sales events. These sales are different from the resale stores in a few different ways. They still only take gently used, current
merchandise. However, these sales happen only twice a year or so, for a few days span, and sellers actually consign items. That is, they place the item in the sale, price it, and then if it sells, they receive a portion of the profit. There are two major consignment sales that happen in the East Texas area, both in Tyler, both consigning children and pre-teen merchandise. The Children’s Consignment Sale caters to more than 900 East Texas families buying and selling everything from maternity clothing to outdoor playground equipment. It has three days of shopping for each sale, featuring a presale for volunteers as well as a half price sale the last day. This sale actually has a global impact, as the sale donates unsold items to orphanages, schools, and other global and local organizations. Its next sale is September 12-14. For more information, go to www. cccsale.com. New to the area is the Just Between Friends (JBF) sale. JBF is a twice-a-year sales event where hundreds of moms (and some dads) get together in one place to sell their outgrown children’s and maternity items and make up to 75 percent profit, as well as shop for (almost) new items. It has an online tagging system that is very fast and efficient, and helps with drop off and pick up.
Consignors have the opportunity to donate their remaining merchandise at the end of the sale to local charities — those selected this year are Living Alternatives Building Blocks Program and the Ben Wheeler Children’s Library. It also supports the East Texas Food Bank on its prime time shopping night. Their premiere event is August 8-10 at the East Texas State Fairgrounds. Entrance fee is a choice of one of the following options: five canned goods, $5 cash, or a coupon for free admission. East Texas JBF will match donations to the East Texas Food Bank. Sign up to sell or just find more information at www. easttexas.jbfsale.com.
Parnter with County Line Magazine to promote your business and events to the world! Sign up to enter events and list your business for free! countylinemagazine.com
JULY/AUGUST 2013 • CountyLineMagazine.com • 39
Living Room: Home. Garden. real estate. BBB Offers Guidelines For Conversion to Solar
Whether to save on energy costs, to go green, or both, an increasing number of consumers and businesses are considering solar panel installation. A recent report from Bloomberg Energy Finance forecasts 22 percent annual growth in all solar installations, so it’s likely an increasing number of solar panel installation companies will result as well. Anyone considering this option for home or business should comparison shop and do the homework to make sure to be working with a trustworthy company and getting the best product for the dollar, reminds the Better Business Bureau. The bureau offers the following tips for people leasing, buying, and installing solar panels themselves: Talk to your electric company. Most utilities have net metering programs which measure the difference between
what consumers pay for the energy purchased from their utility minus the cost of energy that the consumer provides to the utility collected through the solar panels. Make sure to meet all standards and codes that are applicable along with local, state, and federal laws. Ask about the cost of installing a new meter. Go to bbb.org to find trustworthy companies. Ask these questions: Will it be a lease or purchase of the solar panels? What are the costs upfront versus long-term? Who pays for maintenance costs of the equipment? How long is the contract? Is there a cancellation fee? Is there a cost to move the panels? If the new home will not accommodate the panels, is the contract cancelable? If the panels are located on the house, what happens if there is damage during installation; who pays to repair? If a new roof become necessary, will the company remove and replace the panels for free or a cost? If the business promises
Custom bedding, home decor, antiques, collectibles, U.S.-made wearable art, ... inspired by nature
Ju nke & Disorderly Saturday, July 20, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. A full day of fun with strolling models,
for costumes, repurposed Junke, recycled wine bottles, and recycled fabric.
BIG SALE! UP TO 70% OFF The Sweet Pea Collection, Inc. 119 E. Tyler • Athens • 903-677-6868 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Wed.-Sat. www.sweetpeacollection.com 40 • CountyLineMagazine.com • JULY/AUGUST 2013
BBB said it’s also important to know the details on federal and state tax credits. Ask how much will be received per amount of energy generated, how long tax credits will be received, and if credits are taxable. Also make sure to know what the process is and whether or not there is a deadline.
Four Van Zandt County residents graduated to become Texas Master Gardeners. Donna Burcham, Theresa Leftwich, and Lou Ellen Bliss of Canton and Elaine Smith of Van each completed the mandatory 50 hours of instruction and are giving back 50 hours of volunteer time.
Winnie & Tulula’s
live music, Junke jewelry trunk show,
Other things to keep in mind when considering solar panels: Savings are usually based on the prior year’s utility costs, which may not reflect the current year’s conditions. Ask who will pay for damage, if done by the business and make sure that’s written in the contract. Make sure the business is licensed and insured. Ask for a date of installation in writing. The new panels and electric wiring may need to be inspected by a licensing authority. If the electrical system is outdated, before signing a contract, ask the licensing authority if it will approve solar panel installation. Before signing a contract, verify any partnerships with the utility company.
Wood County Gardeners Help Van Zandt Group Grow
and
mimosa and sweets bar, prizes, contests
a percentage savings from the current utility bill, what happens if that savings doesn’t materialize?
Sweet Pea Bistro and
Espresso Bar W-F 10-2 Sat. 10-3
soups • salads • desserts gourmet sandwiches coffee • cappuccino
Van Zandt County participants were able to join the Wood County Master Gardener program this year to get the program started. They will now help form the first ever Master Gardener program in Van Zandt County. The Master Gardener program is an educational and volunteer program offered by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, designed to increase the availability of horticultural information and extend horticultural project throughout the community. For more information, call 903.567. 4149.
2100 N. Trade Days Blvd Canton, TX | 903.567.0363 www.PaulMichaelHome.com
Just City Folk By John Rutledge There were few warnings that anything could ever go wrong when we moved from Dallas to East Texas. Ah, to get away from it all! At age 64 and on the cusp of retiring, I had the good fortune of being able to work from home. My wife was offered a job in small town near our country home, so faster than you can say, “Green Acres is the place to be,” we were packed up and raring to go. Our dream. I mean, how hard could living in the country be after years of big city stress? Though I’m not at all handy with tools and have failed miserably at assembling everything from Christmas tree stands to training wheels, I’ve never under-
stood what keeps airplanes in the air either and it’s never stopped me from flying. Plus, I have a degree from S.M.U. and was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey, (where many of The Sopranos episodes were filmed). So I was self-confident and knew my way around a Zippo well enough to start a campfire if need be. Besides, what problems could possibly arise in the serenity of country living? Not long after we settled in, I bought a zero-turn mower. The biggest they had because why screw around. I was told it was just what I needed to handle our sprawling lawn that slopes dangerously downhill towards the lake. Sitting on it for the first time in the showroom, I told the salesperson that I thought the steering arms seemed uncomfortably far apart. “That’s the way they’re spos’d to be in the off position. Safety feature,” as he rolled his eyes. “Just set yer blade, release yer brake leever and turn the key. Then you push this yella knob and that lowers yer blade carriage.” Piece of cake. And they gave me a free, camouflage ball cap with their logo on
it too. Ha! Officially now an East Texas farmer! By the time I got it home, I’d forgotten everything he’d said. Sat on it for a good hour and a half while turning the key, yanking this, pulling that — nada. Thank goodness for a sympathetic neighbor who fired it up in less than 10 seconds. So with my new cap and sunglasses squarely adjusted, I pulled the steering arms together and pushed them forward. ZOOM! “What power this bad-boy has!” I’d obviously made the correct, expensive choice. That’s pretty much all I remember before careening down the hill and into the water. I do recall stomping on the brake pedal, which I was later told, is the pedal that raises and lowers the blade (but you need to remove a largediameter steel pin first. Otherwise it’s simply an impervious, useless piece of steel in the way. Why wouldn’t I have known that?). I hear my wife, an acre and a half away on the front porch of our new home. “Are you having fun fishing honey? Don’t you just love it here?”
JULY/AUGUST 2013 • CountyLineMagazine.com • 41
East Texas Couple Truly Lives Off the Land By Lynda Stringer It was the year 2000 when Allen and Diane Weatherford decided to pack up their whole lives and move to the country. The couple and their six kids — Andrew, Wendy, Madlen, Micah, and twins Jemma and Joelle — ditched the city lights of Austin and headed for unknown territory. The couple bought a six-acre patch of land with a small cabin near the CampUpshur county line near Pittsburg where they could cultivate, not only crops to feed their family, but a whole new way of life. The turning point that led to the drastic uprooting was a trip to the grocery store during the Y2K panic of 1999. The shelves were picked over and the store clerks said their trucks hadn’t come in. “I thought, if we’re relying on trucks to bring our food, we’re in trouble because the day the trucks don’t come, what do you do,” said Allen Weatherford, 49, the executive director of the Camp County Chamber of Commerce. “So I decided I needed to get a better handle on my food source.” They lived in a mobile home they’d hauled with them, tilled a garden that at first consisted of just collard greens and purple hull peas, and populated the acreage with goats, rabbits and chickens for meat, eggs and milk. The garden has since grown to include squash, watermelon, zucchini, corn, okra, carrots, tomatoes cucumber, cream peas and onions. While gardening is nothing new around these parts, the Weatherfords use their farm as their main food source. While he grew up on the stuff, you won’t find Kraft Macaroni & Cheese or Hamburger Helper in the pantry of the Weatherford kitchen and the family eats out only a few times a year. “A lot of people have gardens, but they sell it,” Allen said. “I don’t trade my food for money. People look at me like I’m strange. They sell [their produce] and go buy stuff. Why don’t you just eat it,” he said of his fellow farmers. He discourages — but doesn’t forbid —
Allen and Diane Weatherford raise animals and crops and get almost all of their food from their farm near Pittsburg. Photo by Lynda Stringer
his now teenaged children from discovering convenience foods. But with the values that he and his wife have instilled in them, he says they are all healthier because they’re eating “real food.” “Our kids are more in touch with the environment. They know where their food comes from. I plant it, they weed it and pick it, mama cooks it and we all get to eat it. It just seems like a better way,” he said. The family patriarch said his family philosophy would have to be “Do it yourself.” He said he and Diane thought about writing a book and calling it “They Let You Do That?” “We had our babies at home and people said, ‘They let you do that?’ We homeschool our kids, ‘They let you do that?’ Kill a chicken and eat it, ‘They let you do that?’ Who’s they? I never asked,” he said. Before moving to East Texas, Allen worked a fulltime job like most people, but gladly shed the 8 to 5 chains with his new vision of how life should be. “I didn’t have a ‘real job’ for 10 years. I worked a flexible schedule as a doorto door insurance salesman and we got our bills down to where we could live on less than $1,000 month. That made it easy to pick up work wherever I could,” he said.
42 • CountyLineMagazine.com • JULY/AUGUST 2013
He also worked selling advertising for a small news publication on straight commission. And while he was frequently offered sales jobs, he turned them down, opting to focus his time on his family, teaching his children and managing his land, where he is now building a new house. Sharing the role of teacher, Allen and Diane approached their children’s education with that same idea of disciplined flexibility. “They all excelled in school. Some were better in math and some better in reading. We taught them their basics and if one excelled in one area, we let them go in that area instead of holding them back in all areas until they equaled up. That’s what standardized education does to kids,” Allen said. The kids are also part of a local homeschool group, participating in group activities, including field trips, sports, prom and graduation. Even taking the job at the chamber did not come after the typically exhaustive job search. He had volunteered and served on the board and when the executive director left in 2011, he applied for the job and was hired. “By then the twins were 12 and they could stay home by themselves if they had to,” he said.
It was a job he knew and understood well and he said the timing just felt right to go back into to the workforce fulltime. The added income is helping the family budget too. He puts half his salary into savings every month and puts that money toward building their new home that he estimates will take him two years to complete. At the chamber, Allen has employed his natural sales skills and his “roll up your sleeves and get it done mentality.” And, like a farmer tilling, planting and weeding his garden, he started the task by culling non-revenue producing programs, planting seeds of growth in areas of tourism, and cultivating fresh ideas that have helped build the chamber into a thriving organization that continues to ad new members. The matriarch of the family also has a strong sense of values that she has instilled in her children. Diane became interested becoming a midwife after giving birth at home.
their own or teenagers now, the couple is proud of how they have raised them and at times amazed at the work ethic the children demonstrate. “I tell them to go weed the garden and they go weed the garden. They complain about it, but they do it. I guess that’s life. The earlier in life you learn that, the better off you’ll be,” Allen said. “A lot of people don’t learn that for a long time.” Taking the lead from their parents, their children are very entrepreneurial.
m a g a z i n e
“I approach birth from the standpoint that it is a normal, natural process. It’s not an illness, not a disease. It is meant to happen a certain way,” she said. Natural is the constant thread in the fabric of the Weatherford family. In addition to the back to nature ideals for feeding their family and turning their house into a classroom, they use herbs and essential oils for any ailments they have other than serious illnesses. With their kids either grown and on
people places culture art music events
great gift for family, friends, employees, customers, yourself!
Through that, she met a midwife in East Texas who began training her as a birth assistant.
She opened her midwifery business, Fair Flowers Birthing Service, in 2007, and now has an office in Pittsburg. She says giving birth is one of the most natural things a woman can do.
“I think [the way we live] has made them better adapted. They don’t necessarily know any bounds,” Diane said. They are very independent and I am not worried about my kids be able to find their way in the world.”
county line upper east side of texas
“I wanted to help other women have that kind of experience with their births, so when the kids were little, I started working as a doula, somebody who supports the mother emotionally during labor,” she said.
“Allen said if she was going to teach me all these skills, I might as well become a midwife. So, I looked into it, got a scholarship and studied for two years to become a midwife,” she said.
Twenty-six-year-old Andrew works in home health care as does his 24-yearold sister Wendy. Madlen, 17, graduates next year and works at Brookshire’s in Pittsburg, and does freelance photography. Sixteen year old Micah and 14-year-old twins Jemma and Joelle stay plenty busy on the farm.
dining stage film books poetry home garden outside lakes
SUBSCRIBE
wellness play life
JUST $18
for 12 issues Purchase online or return this form with payment attached to: County Line, P.O. Box 608, Ben Wheeler, TX 75754
Name________________________________________________________________________ Address______________________________________________________________________ City _______________________________ State ___________ Zip___________________ Phone_______________________________________________________________________ Email ______________________________________________________ (special offers/events) ❏ $18 one year ❏ $32 two years ❏ $45 three years SAVE! Total Payment $ ______________ Make checks payable to County Line Magazine ❏ Visa ❏ MasterCard ❏ Discover Credit Card #___________________________________________ - _________(auth. code) Signature ________________________________________________ Exp. _____________
www.countylinemagazine.com 903.963.8306 JULY/AUGUST 2013 • CountyLineMagazine.com • 43
Youth May Reclaim Lost Dreams Through Workforce Agency By Tom Geddie Imagine a young woman who says she doesn’t have any dreams for her life anymore. She’s 18, and is described as “a sweet girl who’s been through some rough times.” She hasn’t lived with her parents, who are divorced, for two or three years, but stays with a friend and that friend’s grandparents. Her mind is filled with shadows and confusion and uncertainty, and, from time to time, fields of wildflowers.
5. Or, perhaps, get into a short-term state program through Workforce Solutions that provides training and, if she’s qualified, transportation, and help her wind up with a career and as a contributor to society. Now, stop imagining.
“I am nothing,” she might tell a stranger, one she, for some reason, trusted, but would she mean it?
Know that this young one is one of thousands in Texas — young men and women — in similar situations, facing similar limited choices. We know this because there are 28 Workforce Solutions regions in the state, and one of the smaller ones — Northeast Texas Workforce Solutions, which covers the far northeast part of the state: Bowie, Cass, Delta, Franklin, Hopkins, Lamar, Morris, Red River, and Titus counties —works with as many as 150 young people in similar situations every year. If each of the 28 territories helps no more than that many, that’s more than 4,000 people a year; most of the territories are larger and many are in bigger population centers.
Imagine that she’s earned her GED. She’s earned her driver’s license. She wants to work. But she has no transportation and no work experience.
Not all of these young ones come from the same or similar circumstances as the imagined example, although quite a few do.
Her possible choices are limited, basically, to a few:
Most of the ones in need of help don’t even know the program exists.
1. Keep “hoping” that she’ll somehow find a job.
3. Find a spot in Job Corps, which is a free education and training program for low-income young people, or Americorps/VISTA, a national antipoverty program similar to a domestic Peace Corps that places volunteers in communities throughout the United States to enrich educational programs and vocational training for needy people.
Stacie Gregory, director of special programs for Northeast Texas Workforce Solutions, said the state-run, federally funded Workforce Investment Act (WIA), keeps its clients close to home while they get valuable job experience and skills, through targeted training, that lead to brighter futures. WIA helps young ones up to age 21, but is not limited to youth. It also helps retrain adult workers who’ve lost their jobs through massive layoffs or other circumstances. Goals include improving the quality of the workforce, reducing welfare dependency, and enhancing the productivity and competitiveness of the Texas economy.
4. Eventually wind up on one or another sort of long-term public assistance.
WIA youth programs provide job and career assessment including review of academic and occupational skills and
Her childhood may be unfinished, or finished too soon. She has very little control over her own life. The dreams still exist, deep down, but she feels like they’ve been buried. Is it her own fault? Her family’s? The community’s? Or some combination of those?
2. Go into the military, which may have some appeal and, along with the risks, some long-term benefits but may or may not be right for her.
44 • CountyLineMagazine.com • JULY/AUGUST 2013
helps build individual plans including age-appropriate career goals, preparation for postsecondary educational opportunities, and links between academic and occupational learning — despite, sometimes, long odds. “Through the years, individuals have come into the youth program in shorts and baggy t-shirts, with no idea what to do, and we helped them get jobs, get experience, or go on to college which they had not been planning to do,” Gregory said. “WIA has been around long enough — earlier called the Job Training Program Act — that we’ve had staff who in their youth were in the summer youth program.” Gregory said challenges for younger workers as the economy begins to improve include the fact that a lot of adult jobseekers with experience are filling some jobs that have been tradi-
tionally open to younger, less-experienced jobseekers. In addition to lack of experience, one of the other challenges for young jobseekers, she said, is lack of so-called “soft skills.” Soft skills are the social graces — including communication, personal habits, friendliness, and optimism — that characterize relationships with other people. In some jobs, those skills actually are more important than technical skills. “Generally, the population used to be brought up with a work ethic such as showing up on time and dressing properly. Sometimes the younger generation is not getting that training at home or anywhere else,” Gregory said, acknowledging that just a few without these skills can make it harder for others. “We’ve had to incorporate into our job search workshops things like, is your email address appropriate to give to an employer. Employers are now checking Facebook and Twitter accounts, anywhere they can find you as part of the reference process. If all they see is you partying all the time and doing things you shouldn’t, they are less likely to hire you.” Young people accepted into the WIA program learn, basically, how to act on the job and then get help with job searches including skills assessments, steps to take to improve those skills, and job interviews.
Debunking the Low-Fat Myth
FEEL GOOD Volunteer Helps Canton Earn Texas Walk TItle
By Trent Golden
Canton is now the official walking capital of Texas after the Texas House of Representatives passed a non-contested bill creating that designation. Canton resident Bob Moore, whose own daily walking habit and diet have helped him significantly lower his blood pressure and weight, began the effort in 2006 and has walked it along the public opinion and legislative paths. “I knew it would generate economic development in Canton,” he said. Canton is also a part of a $230,000 Northeast Texas Health Grant to promote healthy living through development of walkways, sidewalks, and bike trials. Moore is already at work for more, including a major health fair in nearby Van and health programs for schools beginning next spring. “This is just the beginning,” he said. “It’s been my passion since June 12, 2006.”
Yet if you look around, has the population at large, pun intended, gotten healthier and leaner or more obese? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that currently 35.7 percent of all adults are obese. Further, the idea that heart disease is caused by saturated fat has never been proved. The real problem? Sugar. While its true, fat grams pack more calories than carbs and proteins, replacing fat with sugars causes insulin spikes, which is what puts your body in fat- storage mode and leads to obesity. So what can you do? 1 . Take Steps Back to Nature. Eat less boxed and canned foods and more fresh and real food. 2. Be Careful What you Drink. Energy drinks, sodas, and even fruit juices are packed with refined sugar. Eat the fruit, don’t drink the juice.
“One of our programs is the summer youth program, a subsidized employment program where we try to match people’s interests with employers in the area, and to create a short-term job for them,” Gregory said. “If an employer has an opening and likes them, they may make an offer for entry type positions whether it’s sales, cashiers, office work, or something else.”
3. Get Your Sugar-Fix from Nature. Instead of buying candy fruit snacks, buy real blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries. 4. Eat Less Carbs, and MORE Fat. Eat less pastas and noodles, and get satiated by eating healthy fats like avocados, seeds, and nuts like almonds and cashews. 5. Ask: Would a Caveman Eat This? When in doubt, do a “caveman” test. If a caveman couldn’t find what you are thinking of eating in nature, you probably shouldn’t eat it.
Such jobs are a foot in the door for individuals like the imagined young woman who says she no longer has dreams, who wants a bright future but is filled with shadows and confusion and uncertainty. Will she become simply another statistic? Hopefully, she can finally admit that she does have dreams, and now, if she works hard, she can find opportunity and reclaim them.
Remember when “low fat” started popping up on labels in the 90s? Suddenly you could buy all your guilty pleasures like cupcakes and potato chips with reduced, low, or no fat. Many people mentally made the connection: “Fat free equals good for me.” The American Heart Association touted the low-fat diet as the answer to preventing heart disease and living healthy.
A few dedicated men walked around the Athens downtown square in red high heels in June as part of the international “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes” men’s march to stop rape, sexual assault and gender violence. Photo by Gloria Kerzee
Start taking baby steps back to natural eating and watch as not only your weight, but also skin, energy, and overall health improves. Trent Golden is a world-traveling writer, speaker, and coach on holistic health and spirituality who helps awaken, inspire, heal, and empower others. Visit trentgolden.com.
JULY/AUGUST 2013 • CountyLineMagazine.com • 45
Volunteers Make Positive Changes in Kids’ Lives By Patti Light A small toddler is found living is squalor after a parent is arrested on drug charges. The child has not be bathed, fed or looked in on for several days. Two preteen siblings are reported by a concerned teacher to authorities because they arrive in school haggard in appearance and have bruising visible on their bodies. Police investigate and find that both are living with a parent who is physically abusing them daily. These sound like a stories on the news in a large city or urban area, but they are not — they are children East Texans see every day. Drivers stopped at the corner of East Fifth and Donnybrook may never look to the left and notice the small orange brick building with the white columns that silently house one of the hardest working non-profit organizations in any county. This is the home of Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children of East Texas (CASA). CASA has served Smith, Wood and Van Zandt counties since 1990 as a voice for children removed from their homes and placed in foster care or are orphaned due to neglect or violence. It is a purely volunteer service. There are no paid representatives and the CASA advocates do not work for the courts, lawyers, families or Child Protective Services (CPS). They work whole-heartedly for and with the children in these cases. “We are a unique fill for the gap for a child who has no home,” said Kimberly Abeldt,
board chairperson and CASA advocate. Serving three of the largest counties in East Texas with a caseload of more than 525 children in these three counties in the first six months of 2013 is the scope of the work lovingly accepted by CASA. The magnitude is illustrated when Katherine Elliot the Community Outreach Coordinator for CASA says “all of those cases have or are being handled by just 135 volunteers.” These volunteers travel far and wide to make sure that every victimized child they can help has a voice. Sadly there are not enough CASA advocates and some cases must be turned away. “CASA is there just for that one child at that
First BBB Certification Goes to East Texas CASA CASA for Kids of East Texas is the first East Texas nonprofit to have met all 20 standards for charity accountability as identified by the Better Business Bureau Serving Central East Texas. The system is designed to provide a way for donors at all levels to make wise giving decisions, in the face of these voluminous appeals. The program also provides charitable organizations with a means to establish their accountability to donors and potential donors by adhering to voluntary BBB charity standards which address organizational governance, fundraising, and financial issues along with other provisions.
ful to the Better Business Bureau for an opportunity to show our transparency”, said Patty Garner, executive director for CASA. President and CEO of the Better Business Bureau Serving Central East Texas, Mechele Agbayani Mills, said meeting all standards is a significant accomplishment for an organization and that this new program is a powerful addition to East Texas’ giving community, communicating to potential donors an organization’s commitment to the highest standards of ethics and integrity.
Charities interested in participating can initiate the process by contacting Jim “CASA for Kids of East Texas values Judge at 888.253.3385 or going to east• CountyLineMagazine.com 2013 our 46community support and is• JULY/AUGUST gratetexas.bbb.org/charity-review.
moment,” she said. “Each advocate looks out for not only what is best for the future, but what is best for right now for the child.” Volunteers do not take this lightly. Elliot and her husband needed a CASA advocate almost 12 years ago with their adopted son. That CASA advocate fought with them for their son. After being helped so greatly, the Elliots began to work with fundraising for CASA and became advocates themselves. Now, for the past six years, Katherine has been a full-time coordinator for the group. Both Abeldt and Elliot know and have experienced the power of this group. They have watched families repaired, children pulled from horrible circumstances that grow and thrive, dreams of forever homes and families realized in hours of adoption proceedings and even seen advocates be the loving arms that hold a child when no one will as they take their last breath. “This is a hard role, but our volunteers give so much of themselves for these kids. They have no fear,” Abedlt said. For the first time in its history the East Texas CASA had to report in the last year that in the cases they served seven of the children were witness to or involved in a circumstance or event involving homicide. CASA advocates serve as the neutral ground in a victim’s life. They speak to the judge on behalf of the child, but they may do so much more such as meeting with their teacher when school issues need
to be addressed, taking them to a doctor when health is a concern, seeing counselors when a young mind and spirit need release, seeing lawyers when courts issues arise, visiting family when connection and updates must be reported and most importantly, they talk with the child. They listen to the dreams, hopes, fears, needs and wishes that child is dreaming, no matter if it is a forever family or an ice cream on a warm afternoon. One advocate listened so closely that they knew that an extended family member with a home too small to keep a child who was abandoned, was the right solution and home for a child caught up in a tragedy. The CASA, court and community of East Texas worked together to make sure room was added on that home so a child could stay safe, loved and with family. All the work, building and man hours were done for free and a child’s life was made whole again. CASA operates on donations from grants and its annual Justice is Served fundraiser. They are not government funded. East Texans serving jury duty in their service counties can elect to have their jury pay donated to CASA. “That is a huge help to keep us going,” Abedlt said. Monetary donations are not CASA’s greatest need. They need advocates, especially in Wood and Van Zandt Counties. These volunteers make sure that every victimized child they can help has a voice, but there are not enough CASA advocates and some cases must be turned away. “Our greatest need is for advocate volunteers in Wood and Van Zandt counties,” Elliot said, noting that each of these counties has fewer than 10 volunteers living in that assigned district. The commitment is asked for at least one year and is a very extensive application with criminal background checks and the interview process. Once accepted, volunteers must go through 32 hours of both online and group training, conduct court observations, and be sworn in by a standing judge. Anyone interested in becoming a CASA advocate and who has a flexible schedule to become a driving force for change in a child’s life they should call Katherine Elliot at 903.597.7725. “These children are gifts to all of us and this is never a burden.” Elliot said.
www.healthyeasttx.org Van Zandt County: 903.567.2673 This publication was made possible by grant number 2012-040767 from the Texas Department of State Health Services. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the Texas Department of State Health Services.
JULY/AUGUST 2013 • CountyLineMagazine.com • 47
WORLD-CLASS GOLF ON A WORLD-CLASS BASS FISHING LAKE!
n Each lodge features six rooms with a common lounge area and outdoor deck with great view.
The Lodges At Land’s End
n Every room has two full beds, private bath, satellite TV, refrigerator and coffee pot. n Conveniently located just inside the gates of The Links at Land’s End.
Stay & Play with this ad
$79 per person for a nights stay* and unlimited golf Sunday through Thursday *based on double occupancy
285 Private Road 5980 • Yantis, TX 75497 • 903.383.3290 • www.GolfLakeFork.com SPECIAL EVENTS. RETREATS. GETAWAYS. CLUB & RESTAURANT. NATURE. LUXURIOUS PAVILION. SPECTACULAR VIEW.