Paris Life

DEBUNKED: THE TRUTH ABOUT MASONIC MYTHS

LARRY

SNOWTON

FORMER BULL RIDER

TURNED EDUCATOR HAS LED A BUSY, INTERESTING LIFE AND IS STILL TEACHING.

WADE PARK: SUMMER FUN IN PARIS!

On the Cover Larry Snowton

CONTRIBUTORS 8

UPCOMING EVENTS 10

Local events you don't want to miss

LIFESTYLE

FOOD + DRINK 27

WATERMELON FETA SALAD

Recipe by: Chef Michael Perry, Paris Golf & Country Club

HOME & LIVING GUIDE 29

4 MAN CAVE IDEAS

FEATURES

DEBUNKED 16

e truth about masonic myths

Story by: David Money

LARRY SNOWTON 20

Former bull rider turned educator has led a busy, interesting life and is still teaching

Story by: Nanalee Nicholes

AROUND TOWN

WADE PARK 24 Summer Fun in Paris!

Photos: Megan Pedersen

IN EVERY ISSUE

HEALTH 26

Finding Relief from Varicose Veins/ Chronic Vein Insufficiency (CVI) and Peripheral Arterial Disease (P.A.D) by: Ayesha Shafiq

WISE WORDS 28

The Silence of God by: Shannon McGuire

ENTERTAINMENT

DEJA VIEW 30

Guilty Pleasures by: Genevieve Cooney

CHECKPOINT 32

Towers of Aghasba

by: Megan Pedersen

Photo Credit: Submitted

CONTRIBUTORS

1. Chef Michael Perry is a graduate of The Art Institute of Dallas in Culinary Arts and Restaurant Management. Michael has always loved cooking, from a young age. He has been cooking for over 20 years and employed as a chef for 15+ years. Michael also enjoys hunting, fishing & spending time with his son Brayden & Fiancé Karen Ballard.

4. Genevieve Cooney is Toni Clem’s little sister, a lifelong cinephile, she holds film degrees from UT and a Masters of Fine Arts from the American Film Institute’s Conservatory Program. She went on to work in the film industry as a script reader, a story editor and then Vice President of Development for an international film company.

Shannon McGuire is a graduate of Roxton ISD, after which he played collegiate basketball for four years and graduated from both Grayson County College and Wayland Baptist University. He also graduated from Dallas Bible Theological Institute. He has been employed for the last 22 years at Collin County Juvenile Probation Department serving as the Court/Legal Liaison for Juvenile Detention and Probation in the 417th District Court Collin County, Texas. He has been pastoring for 11 years and currently serves as Senior Pastor at Paris New Generation Church, 1513 Lamar Ave. in Paris. He is married with two children.

5. Megan Pedersen became a graphic artist and member of The Paris News composing team in 2014. She is married to Luke Pedersen and together they have two beautiful daughters, Emma and Lucy. She has a Youtube channel called, Megorium, where she regularly posts art and video game content.

3.

JULY 1

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JULY 3

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Find the Texas hidden in the magazine that matches the one shown here and you could be the winner of a $50 gift certificate to one of our Paris Life Advertisers! It could be hidden anywhere! Email us at: debra.larue@theparisnews.com or write to us at: The Paris News, 5050 SE Loop 286, Paris, TX 75460 with your name and phone number & tell us where you found it!

June’s Texas was on Page 30

the truth about masonic myths

To b rs of t Paris asonic Lo o 27 A A , past ast r ill ap an an past ast r illia Lin sa , isp ll inaccuraci s about t asons

The Masons are a secretive cult.

Why do people think the all-seeing eye on the top of the pyramid on the back of the U.S. dollar relates to Masons controlling all things?

It is not a cult; it's a fraternal organization and is the oldest one in the world. There are secret handshakes and code words, but they are simply used to identify other Masons.

That comes from the fact that most all the Founding Fathers were Masons. Masons come from a variety of backgrounds. They offered the example of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s gardener was his grand master in the Masonic Lodge they belonged to.

www.whitehouse.gov/about-the-white-house/presidents/franklin-d-roosevelt/

There is no basis to this rumor. Freemasonry is not a religion and it is not a substitute for religion, however Masons do believe there is one od. Masonry believes in religious freedom and that the relationship between the individual and od is personal, private and sacred.

Masons are hiding the Templar Treasure.

onsense, there is no proven connection between the night Templar and the formation of freemasonry centuries later.

Absolutely not. That is a joke.

TRUTHS

t is a demonic religion.

e members have to ride a goat.

27 A A , ar lon ti asons an founts of infor ation on fr asonr il t ar lon ti b rs, t r not aroun for t foun in of t Paris lo 78 ars a o

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b or s or s cr t no l or an ot r ans, t sai

t is not a cult, Lin sa sai t is t ol st frat rnit in t orl ta a oo an an a a b tt r on of i , ip an sai of t sta s of ro in in t frat rnal or r

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s, as in ton, as lai out b fr asons b caus ost of t oun in at rs r alr a fr asons, Lin sa sai

T at is t istor not in s cr ti or controllin about it

T r ust oin t ir obs as oun in at rs, sai

T r ar s cr ts as it an frat rnal or ani ation, t sai or instanc , t r is a s cr t an s a a on asons an co or s

Bill Chipman is on the left and William Lindsay is on the right

They are simply used so that Masons can recognize other Masons who are outside their own lodges.

They both laughed when asked about new members being initiated by having to ride a goat.

“That is just a joke,” Chipman said.

“They usually told that to young men,” Lindsay said. “We don’t ride them or kill them.”

They dismissed the

Knights of Templar rumors, too.

“If there is a treasure, I would like to know about it,” Chipman said.

They noted that Masons do not solicit members, it is not an insurance society nor an or ani ation for pro t It is not a secretive society in that it does not conceal its existence or purposes.

Masonry is a voluntary association of men with codes of conduct, an

adherence to the Golden Rule, the belief of teaching morality through symbolism and also using rites and ceremonies to instruct members, they said.

Masonry is a way of life, they said.

“Masonry is very deep. It is a way of living,” Chipman said. “It is how a man should live his life, assisting and taking care of each other.” u

LARRY SNOWTON

Former

What do you call a cowboy without a girlfriend? Homeless.

There are lots of jokes poking fun at the cowboy lifestyle. Rodeo cowboys are often perceived as footloose and reckless on the rodeo circuit.But those are stereotypes and there are many, many disciplined and dedicated professional cowboys who pursue the rodeo life without rin in , tin or irr sponsibilit Larr Sno ton is nit l on of them.

It’s not unexpected though, because Larry lives by a number of quotes and beliefs that have created a selfdisciplined, caring Christian whose

values haven’t wavered.

“When your values are clear, your choices are easy” isn’t an empty quote for him, it’s something he lives by.

This is a man who went to college, quit to follow rodeo, then returned for his degree. It’s given him an interesting perspective on life.

Watching world champion Larry Mahon on Wide World of Sports at age thirteen he told his dad “that’s what I want to do!” The son of a minister and a cosmetologist (who later taught cosmetology at Paris Junior College) it was an unlikely dream. But with the determination that shows in everything he undertakes, and the freedom his

parents gave him to pursue a dream that would cause them worry, that’s what he did.

He participated in high school rodeo and earned a scholarship to college. From there he headed to Big Springs to Howard College where he continued climbing on enormous bulls to see if he could ride their explosive power for 8 seconds as well as pursuing his education.

Dusty Johnson was his coach and Larry’s dad told him “he don’t drink, smoke or dip and I want him back that way”.His dad got him back without those habits and he still doesn’t have them.

From 1974 to 1984 he won $40,000

bull rider turned educator has led a busy, interesting life and is still teaching.

Story By: Nanalee Nicholes Photos: Submitted

This photo of Snowton was taken at the Houston PRCA rodeo back in 1992, when he made his living riding bulls instead of teaching.

il at o ar oll P opl b an to ur i to t is Prof ssional o o o bo s Association car l ft coll an as a prof ssional bull ri r fro 84 to 5

T rst ti nt to t ro o in nn c an lif a n r b n to so t in so u , so citin an o r l in

Sno ton ur out so t in lif c an in , ass rts f ou run it c a pions ou l arn o to in, if ou run it t i s ou l arn o to st al An fro t n on, ot i s lf to l arnin not ust fro c a pions, but c a pions it stron oral c aract r

To r uson, orl c a pion calf rop r an bull o r, a i t at a ic an follo it

To as alon in t ar na ours b for t ro o as suppos to start Larr sa i an al o n to tal it t c a p r uson as insp ctin t barri rs, t con ition of t ar na an plannin car full for is p rfor anc Aft r t ir isit Larr a it a point to t to no t succ ssful cont stants an i is b st to l arn fro t

Larr Sno ton as a blac an at a ti n t r r f African A ricans in ro o ut ust s il s an s ru s an sa s a , at s color, it as about ro o

o s pr ss pri in arli Sa pson b in t rst African A rican orl a pion ull i r in 82

r t ars suff r , as all bull ri rs o, ultipl bro n bon s an in uri s

ttin or in t c as t ost u iliatin sa s T at s b caus it as not t

c on is fac asn t n ri in as or in at a sal barn n a r for bull or i in t bac si an n up l in on is sto ac ttin stitc s is ot r as al a s t rri for i i in buc in bulls as not at s n ision for r bo par nts r roc , but t also a t fr o to pursu lif i n t r ali 0 o ar t at ust a b n for t for a lon ti Sno ton ass rts is ost s rious in ur un rscor is ot r s f ars for i as or un r t c in urin a ri T ol as bi nou t at stuff a coupl of ban anas into t apin oun llo ri rs off r to ta i to E but insist on oin is n t t o ri s

Aft r ot to E t ou t t oul cl an it out an stitc it up To is surpris as ta n to sur r an o up it is a s ir s ut is a a, stan in b is b si sai ll, u ss ou ll uit t is no n assur r a no int ntion of uittin is an rous occupation, s faint b is b si

T ar turn 4, aft r t ousan s of il s tra l an un r s of bulls ri n, is bu call to s if as r a for t n s ason not oin r calls sa in , bo is t llin it s ti to uit ust on t a t ri t is ar

An ust t at si pl , as on is alu s r cl ar, an t at c oic as as nst a , Larr nt bac to coll an ra uat fro T as A it an a ricultur t ac in r

This photo of Ag teacher Larry Snowton appeared in Texas FFA magazine inn2021 when he was awarded to highest honor, Texas State Ag teacher of the year.

His second career brought so many or r ar s too on if cult students and he taught with the same passion and dedication he had ridden bulls with.

He began his second career in life at Kemp. His eyes light up with laughter as he recalls the hiring process. He had never negotiated on anything like a job in his life. His mom was with him that day as t sup rint n nt ntion a ur and Larry hesitated and said, “I don’t know”.

The superintendent wrote a larger ur o n an pus it across t s and Larry’s response was “I don’t know”. A third time the paper came across the s it a bi r ur an a ain said he didn’t know.

The Kemp superintendent handed him the school’s credit card and told him to take him mother to lunch and come back in an hour.When they returned, they were met by the school board as well as the superintendent. And they offered him more money! He took the job and then teaching was part of his life.

On the way home his mother complimented him on his negotiating skills.He looked at her in astonishment.

“Mama, I didn’t know I was negotiating, I honestly didn’t know if I should take that amount or not!”

At every school he taught the FFA programs improved, more students signed up and more winners banners appeared on the walls.

His love for teaching these teens shines through when he talks about teaching . i n if cult, r b llious stu nts, is usually able to break through and make a difference in their lives.

A group of teachers were talking one day and he was asked how he did it.

“You’ve got to love them and let them know it” he smiled.

One of the other teachers replied “Larry, you CAN’T love some of these kids”.

ut o s t lls t , rst of all, that he believes in them. That makes a huge difference. And, when he says it, they believe him. His warm brown eyes an r , carin oic is so sinc r n if cult stu nt s nt to is a class was considered a Minimal Student to Graduate. For all four years the boy was in school, Larry encouraged him, helped him and kept assuring the boy he believed in him.

Eight years later, his phone rang and it was the student’s dad, wanting to tell Larry that his son was going to graduate from Texas A&M University!

“I went to his graduation. I wore my cowboy hat so he would know me.That

boy cried that Ihad cared enough to come. That inspired me to try to be an even better, more compassionate teacher.” Snowton recalls.

“You plant a seed. You may not know how it will come out, but you know you tried”he says.

While he was still rodeoing he was appoint to ll Larr Ellis un pir term on Chisum school board. He had two kids attending Chisum and ran for t of c n t t r as up as on the board for 11 years.

During these years he had a ranch with 250 head of cattle, was married with children.His two boys tried a bit of rodeoing. They discovered it wasn’t for them. Like his parents, Larry allowed them to make their choices.

He took a break from teaching when they deregulated the power industry in Texas and he sold people electricity programs. He did really well at that, but his heart drew him back to teaching.

Over the years he has taught at several schools, including Greenville and Desota. nus S ant i an s still t r T rst ar 5 i s ot A rican Lone Star Degrees and they had 75 Lone Star Farmers and 48 banners were presented. For anyone familiar with Future Farmers of American they know this is a huge achievement.

Larry Snowton and two of his students attended the Ag Teacher Summit where they chose 20-25 Ag teachers that have made the iggest di erences in their student success rates. The event is held in Austin.

n 202 it as Larr i s lf t at r c i t a ar as c os n as T as Stat A ricultur T ac r of t ar

s still t ac in an lo in it o sn t iss is ro o a s uc n as 55 cli b on a bull a ain ust for fun at a uc ut nt it t roun an asn t urt but n t clo n as i n t t up lau caus n s on t l t t

r t ars s att n c urc r r coul n nt to a o bo urc t rst ti sa s n it as r b lon an it s r still o s

still li s ust sout of Paris an is in ol in ranc in ot t n r of a oun r an an is lo of ucation an ucatin no s no boun s

cr its is succ ss in lif to a list of p opl o r a li a o s o of Paris ar a t ac rs an b rs of t co unit

T s fol s ar iff r nc a rs in lif an n t ou so a pass on, li t ir fa ili s to no o uc t in u nc

f cours , rst on t list ar o l an orot Sno ton, is par nts ro t r t list o s on to r An rs alp o rs, rs oan at is, r ar Ens , r L Laru , r Larr lin b il, rs is lc , rs onni ls o , rs arl n lount P l, Lor n St p ns, oac i Lon , r An rs on asla , ar an an ll allo a , ic ssl r, oac S ila au tr an

A T ac rs utc ilfor an l on u

T r s no oubt t at Larr

Sno ton, too, as in u nc so an of is stu nts

n i a in s t at if is for r stu nts a a list of p opl o a a a iff r nc in t ir li s, is na ill nit l b inclu or Larr Sno ton as li a lif of c nc , t r ination an ication to ucation t s not surprisin b caus is for ost uotation is if o is all ou a ou a all ou n u

Some of Ag nstr ctor

Larry Snowton s st dents ha e een s ccessf in e ents s ch as the a f Scram e. Se era are he d aro nd rodeos state wide inc ding the Ft. orth Li estoc Show and o ston Li estoc Show. The ids eep rac ing p Lone Star Farmer degrees in a wide array of categories and the wa s of the Ag i ding gain more anners e ery year.

aris oca Larry Snowton stands with some of his recent st dents at a i estoc show where, as s a , they did we .

HEALTH

By: Ayesha Shafiq

Director of Paris Cardiology Center

In the human body, the circulation consists of 2 parts-arteries and veins. Arteries supply blood to the extremities from the heart, while veins drain blood from the extremities and return the blood to the heart.

Problems with arteries can lead to Peripheral Arterial Disease (P.A.D) while problems with the veins can lead to aricos ins ronic nous

T ar in p n nt of ac other and there are tests to check both. These tests include arterial and venous leg duplex ultrasound, ABl's, CTA, Angiogram an no ra

Peripheral Arterial Disease (P.A.D) usually means atherosclerosis (hardening of the walls of the arteries due to calcium/fat deposits) that can cause the bloc a of bloo o t rou t arteries which can result into pain with walking, fatigue in the calves with walking, wounds that do not heal, leg ulcers, or severe pain in the feet.

Patients having Varicose Vein/ Chro i e o s e isease C ; have an underlying condition in which the valves in the veins no longer function, causing blood to pool in the legs and l a to s pto s li aricos ins Leg or ankle swelling. Leg Heaviness and Fatigue, Leg pain, aching or cramping. Burning or itching of the skin. Restless legs. Skin changes or rashes, ulcers, open oun s or sor s nous r u is as is a progressive disease and if left untreated may worsen and may develop into a more serious disease called chronic venous insuf ci nc

FINDING RELIEF FROM VARICOSE VEINS/CHRONIC VEIN INSUFFICIENCY (CVI) AND PERIPHERAL ARTERIAL DISEASE (P.A.D)

AT PARIS CARDIOLOGY CENTER CATH LAB.

T ou , aricos in ronic nous insuf ci nc an P rip ral Arterial Disease (P.A.D) are similar in approach for treatment but 2 different problems. An Interventional Cardiologist or a ascular Sur on can iff r ntiat venous disease from arterial disease (P.A.D) easily with a patient history and clinical exam.

Some patients can have both arteria a e o s isor ers whi h a physi ia ee s to test or The concern is; however, if both these iseases are e t treate a ea to AMPUTATON

Treat e t optio s o ere at Paris Car io ogy Ce ter Cath a to pre e t amputation:

FOR PERIPHERAL ARTERIAL DISEASE (P.A.D): When checking for P A r S a a p rfor a si pl non-invasive test called an ankle-brachial index (ABI). The (ABI) readings compare the blood pressure readings in your ankles with the blood pressure readings in your arms.

This painless and easy test can determine whether you have P.A.D. or not. Aft r r c i in con r ation t rou t is t st for pr s nc of P A , r S a a decide on further testing and treatment.

Non-surgical treatment options of P.A.D include: Atherectomy such as T r o aw there to y a et trea there to y giop asty a Stent Placement in arteries of the legs.

Moreover, the upcoming new generations of drug eluting stents and balloons offer further hope for long-term

successful results in patients with P.A.D. r ali S a off rs t s non -surgical options to Patients with Peripheral Arterial Disease. (P.A.D.) at his of c bas Lab L Paris ar iolo Center Cath Lab. Patients are discharged the same day after treatment.

VARICOSE VEIN/VENOUS REFLUX DISEASE

FOR

(CVI): At Paris ar iolo nt r at Lab, r S a offers the C os re ast pro e re for Venous ablation on an out patient basis where the catheter is placed in the diseased vein through a small incision in the skin. The catheter delivers heat to the vein wall causing it to shrink and seal the vein to close. Once the vein is closed, blood will reroute itself to other healthy veins in the bo Pati nts s instant b n ts an experience relive from symptoms with in 2 days of the procedure.

In more serious cases a Venous giogra a e o s giop asty is performed on a patient and discharge happens the same day of procedure.

Call Paris Cardiology Center Cath Lab for more information. It is a Joint Commission Accredited Center for the lat st tr at nt in nous Ablation an P.A.D. (Peripheral Arterial Disease).

PREVENT AMPUTATION!

Patie ts are is harge the sa e ay o pro e re Call: 903-739-2700 for an appointment.

Location: 2620 Spur 139, Paris, TX 75460.

www paris ar io ogy e ter o u

Feta Salad Ingredients

Paris Golf & Country Club

By: Shannon McGuire WISE WORDS

The Silence of God

Ihave to admit in writing this article, for t rst ti , p ri nc rit r s block. My brain usually never stops, receiving inspiration in everyday experiences or ncount rs it p opl t at n is i in l inspired, or simply hearing God’s voice. But nothing ... it’s been frustrating. Then early this morning, inspiration struck!

I began to think about the silence of God. Why is God silent at times? Sometimes it’s when he feels we have turned away from him and he chooses to discipline us. What about those who pray for the Lord to intervene and change their situation while experiencing unimaginable suffering? A perfect example of this would be the story of the captivity of the children of Israel in Egypt under the oppression of pharoah that lasted for 430 years. God is patient before he disciplines us and in his discipline of us. They may have thought God had forgotten them when

prayers went unanswered. But listen to what the Bible says in Exodus 3:7 (NLT) The Lord said I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers and I am concerned about their suffering. God did, in fact, intervene and rescue them in a mighty way and in His time.

Obviously, I had been praying too for direction in writing my article. Even though I didn’t have to wait very long, it was still uncomfortable. Through his silence, he reminded me of my need for him and my dependence on him. Psalms 62:5 soul, ait t ou onl upon o or my expectation is from Him.

On June 19, the African American community celebrated Juneteenth. Our nation will soon be celebrating American’s independence on the Fourth of July. Being Black and an American I believe I can speak on behalf of both these groups of people. Obviously, I could speak of the many differences each have, but I’d rather speak on what they have in common. Both were oppressed and longed for freedom. Those that fou t t if cult an ar uous t for fr o felt discouraged at times, felt like giving up or that God didn’t care, but obviously they had faith to s t t t rou caus in ar their cries for freedom from their oppressors. While waiting on the Lord they may have drawn strength by reading the story of the Exodus from E pt, t partin of t S a an nall t entry into the Promised Land or the countless other stories in the Bible of God answering prayers and his miraculous delivery of his people.

You may be thinking that today we are living as an oppressed people. That is true to some t nt So oppr ssion is s lf in ict , an some is imposed by those in power. You may be wondering does God see what’s going on, does he hear our prayers, and does he care? I promise you He does! There is a purpose in his silence. Hold on! A change will come, but in his time.

Finally, I’m thankful for my freedom; for those who fought so valiantly to keep me free. I’m especially thankful for my Savior Jesus Christ who left his Heavenly home to come to Earth, willing lay down his life on a cross, rise in three days just to save my soul and all those who choose to believe on him. For by that are we truly free. The Bible says 2 Cor3:1 (NLT) For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom. u

Pastoring for 11 years and currently serves as Senior Pastor at Paris New Generation Church

Photo by Jack Sharp on Unsplash

4 Man Cave Ideas

A man cave is a place to escape the stresses of the day. ou can turn an un nished basement, attic or underutili ed garage space into a place where you can indulge in hobbies or spend time with friends.

Whether you love poker, role-playing games or chess, make a games table the hub of your man cave. Add a foosball table for variety. f you re a video-game fanatic, invest in a bigscreen television,

Who says the man cave has to be inside! uild a re pit in the back yard and create a

Watch the big game with your buddies in a sports-themed man cave decorated with hockey, baseball and football memorabilia. hoose paint colours that match your favourite team.

nstall wall-mounted wooden guitar hangers to show off your instruments, and display posters and albums of your most-loved bands. nstall wallor ceiling-mounted speakers that connect wirelessly to your devices. No matter your theme, every man cave should have a beer fridge, good speakers and a comfy chair or couch.

Visit your local home improvement store for more ideas, and start building your man cave today. u

By: Genevieve Cooney

Guilty Pleasures

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A lifelong cinephile with degrees from UT and a Masters of Fine Arts from the American Film Institute’s Conservatory Program.

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