NETX Crossroads by Fox Printing and Digital Publishing

C NETX

ROSSROADS

The Cass County Boys page 10

MAGAZINE

New Boston athlete sees dreams come true page 8

The tale of a courageous journey page 14

If the chili’s pink, it’s just right Paint Pitt Pink promotes awareness, supports locals page 20

The one where Sam is a hat page 30

... and more!

About the Cover

NOVEMBER 2019

Savannah Guerrero gives her hoop a spin during the annual Daingerfield Days hula hoop contest. Savannah is the six-year-old daughter of Enrique Guerrero and Stacy Johnson.

DeKalb RV Park

S D A O R S ROS on

Photo by Toni Walker

CONTENTS

NETX

MAGAZIN

t New Bos es e s e athlet ams dre e come tru

The CassBoys County

page 8

page 10

of a The tale ous e g coura journey page 14

i’s pink, If the chil t igh it’s justnkr Pi Paint Pitt awareness, promotes cals lo ts or supp

The one where Sam is a hat

Museum preserves the past for the future

page 30

re! ... and mo

page 20

Merry & Bright Saturday in the Park

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CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Di Duncan Mike Elswick Tim Emmons Shawn Larson Kenny Mitchell Miranda Oglesby Toni Walker Heather Wilson

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Leslie Brosnan Mike Elswick Tabitha Houchens Ellis Knox Miranda Oglesby Toni Walker Heather Wilson GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Joni Guess

DeKalb RV park is

Living Life

back to the basics

Story & photo by

New RV park owners Sirron and Nicole Bailey say they are truly “Lovin’ Life” out on FM 990 south of DeKalb.

NOVEMBER 2019

HEATHER WILSON

New RV park owners say they are truly “Lovin’ Life” out on FM 990 south of DeKalb. Sirron and Nicole Bailey were a military family, raising a son in two separate big cities when they decided it was time to slow down and reconnect as a family. Sirron, an ex Federal Police Officer, was stationed in Austin, Texas, while Nicole and their son were in Albuquerque, New Mexico, when he began internet shopping for a family RV park that he and his wife could run together. “I prayed about it and said, ‘Lord, I don’t know what I’m supposed to do,’ and He said, ‘Okay, now that you’ve asked, I can tell you,’” Sirron recalled. “So I went back to the websites and looked again, and saw this one and I knew it was the one. I emailed the agent, and drove up here from Austin to look at it, put my money down immediately, and here we are.” Lovin’ Life RV Park and Country Store is located on FM 990 just north of I-30 on 40 acres. It offers 21 spots, both short-term and long-term with full connections and free Wi-Fi. There is a shaded coy/goldfish pond on site, as well as a 1.5 mile mown walking trail, and a dog park. The convenience store is fully stocked with NETX CROSSROADS MAGAZINE

snack and grocery items, tobacco products, and ice. Morning coffee drinkers will be pleased to find that coffee is free, along with pastries for those with a sweet tooth. Also available are hot-box type breakfast items, Hunt Brothers pizza, burgers, and wings. All menu items are air-fried for a delicious, healthy alternative to the deep fryer. The avid fisherman will also find anything his tackle box desires in the full fishing section, including catfish bait, live worms, and frozen shrimp, liver and shad. The Baileys live on-site and run the park and store together full time. They both agree it has been a great move for all of them. “I grew up in a place just like this out in the country in North Carolina,” Sirron explained. “We only had two stop lights. Living in the city, with everything we had going on, our son kind of got lost…. that’s when we decided we needed to get back to the basics. Since we got here, found a church home, and began going to church in a nice community like this, his whole attitude has changed.” And although Nicole had a different upbringing, she agreed wholeheartedly with her husband. “I grew up in the city, and have always been stationed in the city,” she said. “So I was a little skeptical. But it has been really great. The people we have met are from DeKalb, Simms, New Boston - even Mount Pleasant - and they’ve just been the greatest.” Lovin’ Live Country Store hours are Monday through Friday 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., and closed on Sunday. You can find more information on their Facebook page at www. facebook.com/lovinlifervpark or by calling 903.717.0002.

NETX CROSSROADS MAGAZINE

NOVEMBER 2019

Museum preserves the past for the future

The Eddie Connor Case Museum, located in downtown Daingerfield, houses a large variety of historical artifacts from both the Connor Family and the community.

NOVEMBER 2019

’s local Daingerfield mesake, museum na or Eddie Conn w n at o sh case, is ly 20 approximate ddie was years old. E torian an avid his us t who left a tr run the fund to help or Case Eddie Conn er her Museum aft death.

Story & photos by

TONI WALKER Many times, things from the past get lost through the passage of time. The Eddie Connor Case Museum in Daingerfield is working to preserve the past for the future. Curated by Pat Connor, The Eddie Connor Case museum, located in downtown Daingerfield, harkens back to days gone by with vintage clothing, house wares, family memorabilia, and other historical artifacts. According to Connor, many of the items in the museum belonged to Eddie or the Connor family. In fact, even the building that now houses the museum was once home to the Connor Store. However, Connor said that members of the community regularly bring items of significance to her to preserve in the museum. “They know the item has significance either in the community, or to their family, but they really don’t want it,” said Connor, “so many times they will bring it to me, asking me to preserve it in the museum.” Connor went on to say that people from all over the country have visited the museum to search for relatives or family memorabilia. Born in 1908, Eddie Connor Case was a native of Daingerfield and a teacher in Jenkins for many years. Case was an avid historian, according to Connor, whose husband was Eddie Connor Case’s nephew. “She loved people, and she loved history,” said Connor, who added that “Eddie sponsored the original museum (in the old courthouse), and when it closed, she was heartbroken. She wanted a museum in the town, and we have worked to ensure that it is one she would be proud of. NETX CROSSROADS MAGAZINE

Many years prior to her death, Eddie Connor Case began a trust fund for the purpose of keeping the museum going. “She wanted it to be where no one could ever close her museum,” said Connor. “It is still hers and she wanted it to be a museum for the people. As long as myself and my family are alive, it is going to stay that way.” The museum features many unique items and areas, almost giving visitors a feel that they are visiting a home rather than a museum. There is a dining room area that is set up with Eddie Connor Case’s dining room set and chandelier as well as a living room set up that features many pictures of the Case family and paintings that were done by Eddie. In the research room, visitors can search for relatives and peruse old Daingerfield High school yearbooks. There is also an area that serves as a tribute to soldiers from the Daingerfield Area and includes many of Ms. Connor’s husband’s military memorabilia. Visitors can also see items that were sold in the Connor’s store, which at one time sat in the same building. Over the past few years, the museum has suffered some water damage, causing some of the paperwork and artifacts to be damaged. However, according to Connor very little of the artifacts were lost completely in either flooding incident. The Eddie Connor Case Museum is a non-profit organization that operates Wednesday through Friday from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. The museum is located at 110 Webb Street in Daingerfield. Admission is free.

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NOVEMBER 2019

New Boston athlete sees dreams come true Carlee Ratcliff is burnt orange bound

New Boston High School athlete Carlee Ratcliff will see her dreams come true after graduation, as she will continue her career in sports at the University of Texas.

KENNY MITCHELL

ew Boston High School senior athlete Carlee Ratcliff announced from Austin, Texas that she will continue her athletic career after graduation as a member of the University of Texas Longhorns softball program. The announcement was made from Red & Charline McCombs Field, the home of Texas Softball. Ratcliff was the Tribune Female Athlete of the Year last year, after posting some of the best stats in Texas high school softball in 2019. This past year, she has been scouted by college programs all across the country, including Texas A&M, Houston and many others. Carlee is a part of a very strong New Boston Lady Lion athletic program, including the volleyball team that is currently unbeaten in district and ranked in the Top 25 in the statewide polls. After graduation, she will wear the trademark burnt orange of

NOVEMBER 2019

the Longhorns and join a Big 12 team that is loaded with talent and has been to the NCAA tournament every year since 2005. In 2018, the Longhorns made it to the NCAA Seattle Regional, and with the lineup that Head Coach Mike White and his staff have put together, they are a team destined to make the College World Series. The new Texas Longhorn states, “I am very excited to be a part of The University of Texas Softball program next fall. I can’t wait to work with all of my teammates and coaches. Since I was young, I would always walk around saying horns up, bleeding burnt orange, and dreaming of becoming a Longhorn. I have worked very hard, putting in countless hours of practice, and traveling the country playing the game I love. I would like to thank my parents, family and friends, Jimmy Phillips for always believing in me, Chet Zachry, Jared Stringer, Todd Crites, and Stan Wells just to name a few.” NETX CROSSROADS MAGAZINE

Lady Lions’ program director and head volleyball coach Haylee Houston says of Ratcliff, “Carlee is an all-around athlete, a fierce competitor, she works hard, and plays big roles in every sport. She’s a good girl, and someone that you would want to be a part of your program.” Hitting coach Jimmy Phillips, Jr. also had high praise for Ratcliff, saying, “When I first got Carlee she wanted to pull everything, and she is a strong minded person, so we butted heads, but when she started seeing that it was important to have perfect balance, that was when she started to become a great hitter. She has a chance to be as good as she wants to be. She put in a lot of effort and did a lot of listening. When she got on board her numbers blossomed, and now she is definitely one of the best players, and best hitters that I have ever seen. It has been a lot of fun to watch, and she deserves every accolade she gets.” Her older sister, NBHS grad Hannah Ratcliff, states, “I am so proud of my little sister. I always knew she was special from the first tournament I was dragged to. She has worked extremely hard to pursue her goals in life and I couldn’t be any more happy for her.” Carlee’s mom, Kelly Ratcliff says, “We are all so excited. I have never seen a kid want something so bad. She has worked for this for years, and I am so proud that now all of the hard work has paid off.” Carlee Ratcliff is a testament to how much Texans love their sports, any sport, and she is a living example that hard work and dedication pays off and that here in Texas, big dreams do come true. Hook ‘em Horns!

Ratcliff has spent her whole life playing softball, and in the fall of 2020 she will do so as a UT Longhorn.

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NOVEMBER 2019

Featuring the Cass County Boys By

SHAWN LARSON

At a time when entertainment was fun and could be watched by the whole family, a group called the Cass County Boys played music and sang with the likes of Gene Autry and Bing Crosby. Fred Martin (1916-2010), the accordion player and singer originally from Cass County, in Linden, baritone Jerry Scoggins (1911-2004) from Mount Pleasant, and later tenor Bert Dodson (1915-1994) on bass from St. Petersburg, Florida collectively made up the Cass County Boys. It started in the 1930s while they were staff musicians on the Dallas radio station WFAA. The pair (Jerry and Fred) were told to fill in airtime between programs and subsequently began performing together. Shortly after they began they invited bassist Bert Dodson (1915-1994) to join them. Dodson, at the time, was playing bass for the Light Crust Doughboys. It was during that 10

NOVEMBER 2019

time they adopted the Cass County name after a WFAA radio announcer called them the “Cass County Kids”. Old Corral Website’s research of the Boy’s shows that “In the early 1940s, Gene Autry had Jimmy Wakely, Eddie Dean and others doing musical support on his MELODY RANCH radio program. And then Autry left for World War II duty in the Air Corps and the half-hour MELODY RANCH went on hiatus for about two years, from late Summer, 1943 through late September 1945. Upon his return to civilian life, Gene invited the Cass County Kids to join him. The three members were in their thirties and no longer “kids” ...the group then became the ‘Cass County Boys’.” Among some of the notable things they accomplished includes participaiting” on the MELODY RANCH through the final broadcast in 1956. The trio also did extensive touring and personal NETX CROSSROADS MAGAZINE

appearances with Autry and can be seen in Gene’s TV program as well as several of his post-World War II Republic and Columbia westerns. They also worked in a few Durango Kid oaters with Charles Starrett at Columbia Pictures.” ~ Old Corral. According to Gene Autry Entertainment “They were in 14 feature films with Gene Autry and also in 9 episodes of “The Gene Autry Show” television series. The Cass County Boys were on Gene Autry’s “Melody Ranch” Radio Show and toured with Gene as well.” They were also included on several record tracks including their own, “Round-Up in the Sky, a 72 record tracks.” AllMusic.com notes Bert Dodson, Fred Martin, Jerry Scoggins, (The Cass County Boys), and Gene that the Cass County Boys were inducted into Autry at a “Gene Autry Melody Ranch Radio Show” rehearsal, Circa 1950. Courtesy the Western Music Hall Of Fame in 1996. of © Autry Qualified Interest Trust and Autry Foundation. It is worthwhile to note that Jerry Scoggins from Mount Pleasant recorded the Beverly Hillbillies Theme “The studio had envisioned Johnny Cash or Willie Nelson singSong. ing the theme song, but director Penelope Spheeris held out for “In 1962, the country and western singer (Scoggins) was workMr. Scoggins,” continued Oliver. ing as a stockbroker and singing only on weekends when he was Fred Martin’s from Daughter shares about time in Cass County asked to record a theme song for a television series pilot starring and with the “Boys” Buddy Ebsen (The Beverly Hillbillies). In the song, that memoIn a recent interview with the Sun, Lemora Martin, the daughrable The Ballad of Jed Clampett, bluegrass stars Lester Flatt and ter of Fred Martin gave a candid interview about Fred’s time in Earl Scruggs played guitar and banjo while Mr. Scoggins sang the Linden, the background of the Cass County Boys and her unique lyrics,” says Myrna Oliver from the Los Angeles Times. perspective as the daughter of Fred Martin.

NETX CROSSROADS MAGAZINE

NOVEMBER 2019

The story begins when Fred “was born in Linden on June 22, 1916, and he left around 1930-31 due to a falling out with his father, Harry Martin. Harry broke into Fred’s chest and stole $300.00 that dad kept in there, earnings from accordion jobs. There was also an evil stepmother, Mary Martin,” says Lemora. In Linden, was a mixed bag explains Lemora, “He loved his uncle Tom Burns and cousins Pearl and Monroe Allen. Dad was self-taught on the accordion and he honed his skills playing for local festivals and county fairs. However, Cass County was “hard times” in those days. Harry and Ellen Martin got a divorce and Harry re-married Mary, who was abusive to the four kids. All of them ran away from home. When Ellen opened a restaurant in another town, Fred’s two sisters Ruth and Ruby Jo, went to live with their mother. Fred got adopted by Virgil Stamps in 1932 (Harry and Mary died of pneumonia in late December.) Mr. Stamps basically saved dad’s life and gave him his professional start. Dad moved to Abilene and began performing with the Stamps Gospel Music Quartet.” According to Lemora, “Dad and Jerry Scoggins both worked for WFAA Radio Station, out of the Baker Hotel, in Dallas, Texas. (In 1935, dad dropped out of Hardin Simmons University to take a job with WFAA. It was the Depression, and dad probably figured he could go back to college any old time.) One day, in 1938, Dad and Jerry were jamming (called “chinking” in the typed memo I read) to fill dead airspace and announcer Ralph Nimmons adlibbed that the Cass County Kids were playing. This was totally spontaneous. Jerry wasn’t from Cass County, but Ralph knew that dad was from there and it was euphonious. So, it stuck. Bert Dodson joined them and they became a trio shortly after that day. I’m not exactly sure when. Seven years later, when they moved to California to work for Gene Autry, someone at a film studio changed their name to the Cass County Boys, because “you’re all men in your thirties, married, with families.” I saw the letter making this change back in 1994 and haven’t been able to find it since. I don’t know if this was someone in Autry’s office or who it was, unfortunately. The letter was dated 1945.” For Lemora, she got a kick out of seeing dad on TV on the Gene Autry Show and in the Autry Westerns. “I don’t remember seeing him playing with other famous people, unfortunately. I know the Cass County Boys did work with Bing Crosby in the early 1950s. They were all Decca Recording Artists. (I sold the poster to a collector.)” She even remembers being in the studio audience watching the Melody Ranch TV Show while it was being filmed. In the beginning, she doesn’t remember much since most of the Melody Ranch radio programs were broadcast from CBS in Hollywood. “Until I began kindergarten in the fall of 1953, mom and I traveled all over the United States, wherever Gene Autry and the Cass County Boys were on tour. We also traveled extensively when just the Cass County Boys performed. My best memories are of Palm Springs, Las Vegas, Madison Square Garden, and Lake Tahoe (in California) in the summertime. I wish my memories were clearer, but this was a long, long time ago!” Lemora fondly recalls that “The Boys” were a tight-knitted group. “They were together for almost 20 years, from 1938 until 1956. There were a few performances after 1956. They all got 12

NOVEMBER 2019

Bert Dodson – Bass, Fred Martin – Accordion, Jerry Scoggins – Guitar, stand together for photo. Courtesy Photo

along wonderfully and there were no personnel changes. The last time I saw dad perform was with Jerry Scoggins (don’t remember why Bert Dodson wasn’t there) at the Pioneer Broadcasters Luncheon in 1985, when the Cass County Boys won the Golden Boot Award.” Among some of the noteworthy things, she remembers the Cass County Boys did include their time with Gene Autry from 1945 through 1956. “There was the Melody Ranch Radio Show, the TV show (which I can’t remember the exact name for) the movies, and touring cabarets, arenas, and rodeos. I know he played with Bing Crosby, but I don’t know who else. I think he was on a record with Doye O’Dell (about 1956) and probably others.” Fred was proud of all his accomplishments as a musician, says Lemora. “I think mainly he was most proud of being self-taught on the accordion, and getting recognized and appreciated for that talent.” For Lemora her most favorite times with her dad as a musician were “traveling with him, as a family, and seeing and hearing the Cass County Boys play when I was a little girl, drinking Shirley Temples, and thinking, “Wow, that’s my dad!” I was aware that my dad did something special and out of the ordinary to earn a living. It never occurred to me that for the musicians, what they were doing was hard work, or that holding a heavy accordion for several hours was difficult. I thought they were all just having fun. Oh, the innocence of childhood.” NETX CROSSROADS MAGAZINE

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NOVEMBER 2019

Lexie Mason once made a courageous journey

Atlanta’s Lexie Mason took part in the Texas 4000 when she was a student at the University of Texas. She had so much to ride for when she signed up to do so. The Texas 4000 is an 18-month program designed to cultivate the next generation to lead the fight against cancer. The bike riders travel more than 4000 miles from Texas to Alaska for the cause.

TIM EMMONS

lexis Mason or to most who know of her from this area, Lexie, has been on quite a ride since graduating from Atlanta High School in 2013. As life goes little did she know the ride would be wrought with sadness, life altering measures, and perplexing circumstances which would lead to a devotion to make the ride take on the meaning of courageousness, endless perseverance and never-ending compassion for many inflicted with diseases across the world. She was born and raised in Atlanta which is known for being the “Gateway to the Piney woods”, and has quite an ambitious set of goals she would like to reach and things which she truly adores. “I am blessed to say I have a family large in size and they give support towards my many ambitions,” Mason said. “I am obsessed

NOVEMBER 2019

with dogs, golden retrievers to be exact, and flowers are at the top of my ‘favorite things’ list.” “One day I’d love to write a book and I love to wander in new places I’ve never been before,” Mason remarked. “This randomly constructed list is just a few of the reasons I find myself full of thanks, happiness and wonder.” After high school Mason enrolled at the University of Arkansas, but at some point during her inaugural year in college she was rushed to a local emergency room where she was diagnosed with Type One diabetes. “I constantly have bruises on my stomach from the daily insulin injections I give myself because I am a Type One diabetic,” Mason mentioned. NETX CROSSROADS MAGAZINE

This may have been a confusing and strange turn for her since she was a conditioned athlete who ran cross country and track all throughout her school years. In a short story version this event re-shaped her life and sent her down a different path than planned. Mason made the choice to transfer to the University of Texas, change her career path and develop a compassionate heart for health. Mason, who would rather people call her Lex, studied nutrition as a senior at UT and aspired to apply to medical school. Just as Mason’s new path seemed to be shaping up another unexpected curve ball from life was thrown at the young athlete’s family. “In April of 2016, I lost my No. 1 fan My Tutu (grandmother in Hawaiian). Cancer attacked her body and cut her story shorter than deserved,” Mason said. “She was the loud voice who was enthusiastically supportive of literally all of my endeavors.” This event coupled with her own battles led Mason to something called the Texas 4000 which is a bike ride mission to cultivate student leaders and engage communities in the fight against cancer. The Texas 4000 envisions a world where all students can become leaders in creating a cancer-free future and the riders share hope, knowledge and charity through leadership development, grant-making, and their cornerstone event, a 4,000-plus mile bike ride from Austin to Anchorage, Alaska. This event caught the attention of Mason who adopted the meaning of the ride, and made it a point to join for a cause much bigger than any of us. “My Tutu always got overly excited and re-astonished that I wanted to bike to Alaska,” Mason said. “My petite Hawaiian/Asian grandmother would bounce her knees whilst massaging her lower thigh muscles and say ‘Ahhhlexis!’ ‘Your legs!’ ‘I’m so excited for you!’ ‘I’m so proud of you!’ ‘Your legs!’” “I feel deep inside me, not only how much I miss her, but how having to say goodbye to her because of cancer made the ride exponentially more meaningful than before,” Mason said. “I could so very easily write pages and pages of my Tutu’s great legacy and love. She was one of those people you meet and do not forget.” “She sewed my dance costumes when I was eight years old and helped me make sure my senior prom dress fit in all the right ways. She got overly scared when I was taken in an ambulance to be diagnosed with Type One diabetes but she fired back with ‘I know you’re stronger than this’. She never quit,” Mason added. “She was the loud grandmother at my little brother’s baseball games who would tell the umpire he was wrong in a heartbeat, multiple times throughout the game as she sat right behind the plate. She was the one who had the perfect amount of change in her van for my two brothers and me to get a Coke Icee after school. She was the one who offered to give me refuge when I felt like I wasn’t capable of chasing dreams. I miss her deeply. But I prepared for the journey to Alaska with my Tutu as the cornerstone in my heart for kicking cancer gone. I rode for my Tutu.” “I rode for the awareness, prevention, and treatment of disease. I rode because I do not want to be a helpless bystander but rather NETX CROSSROADS MAGAZINE

one of the many that offer to take cancer by the horns and do something about it. I rode for that ceaseless sense of striving for a world free of cancer,” Mason said. Since that time of sadness a couple of more reasons fuel Mason’s desire to ride for a cause. “I rode for one of my dear friends, Mal. Her sister, MacKenzie was diagnosed with neuroblastoma at age 4. The physical treatment was killing her body and Mallory recounts that watching someone go through cancer is a big factor that shapes who you are/will be as a person,” Mason remarked. “MacKenzie beat the grim prognosis and gave Mallory a different outlook challenging her to cherish not only her sister more but all others in her life. Cancer gave Mallory a passion in which she is currently on a path to devoting her life/future career to helping others through the same journey she and her family went through.” “I ride for Maggie, one of my best friends. She held close to her, like a brother, the brave soul that will forever be remembered in the hearts of my hometown and anyone that knew Hunter Watkins. He was diagnosed with cancer that soon became very aggressive,” Mason continued. “I know the courageous guy he was NOVEMBER 2019

would fully support this completely outrageous task I have set before myself. Throughout his daunting fight against cancer he continued to quote the phrase ‘YOLO’ (you only live once). Because of that outlook he had, I cannot let fear stop me. I cannot let the fear of how challenging managing blood glucose levels on a bike for thousands of miles stop me. I will not let the fear of the unknown inhibit me from fighting for those who truly deserve life over cancer.” “Lastly, I rode for all of the people along the way that are/ have been affected by cancer that could not ride to Alaska,” Mason said. With what Mason listed she had more than enough fuel and desire to make it 4,000 miles plus some, and from what she’s faced it all comes down to a divine purpose. “I now find myself here countless finger pricks and endless insulin injections later, thankful for what all this disease has allowed me to experience,” Mason said. “The combination of a concept I value so deeply and a quote, help me to find purpose in every moment I am alive. Purpose to me, is everything. I long to forever proclaim the excellencies of the One who created us, and Jesus who gives an everlasting fountain of assurance, hope, and purpose.” “If you can fill the unforgiving minute with sixty seconds worth of distance run yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it” –Rudyard Kipling. Mason is the daughter of Dr. Matthew Hogan and Karen Hogan and Rob Mason and Tammy Mason. She is the granddaughter of (Nana) Jeri Mason and (Papaw) Danny Mason and (Papaw) Kermit Duane Adcock and (her Tutu) the late Katherine Adcock. For more information concerning the Texas 4000 please visit www.texas4000.org. 16

NOVEMBER 2019

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NOVEMBER 2019

Saturday in the Park Photos by

TABITHA HOUCHENS

DeKalb celebrated its annual Saturday in the Park festivities the last weekend in September. The day full of fun included a 5K run, a donut eating contest and a pie eating contest, a chili cookoff and lots of other fun things for all ages. The day ended with a concert by local band, One Night Stand, which s fronted by the Bowie County Citizen Tribuneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s staff reporter Heather Wilson. The crowd gathered for the concert were thrilled by a special guest appearance as country music recording artist Derly Dodd stepped in and sang a rousing version Seven Spanish Angels with Wilson and the band, much to the delight of all those gathered at DeKalb City Park.

NOVEMBER 2019

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NOVEMBER 2019

IF THE CHILI’S PINK, IT’S JUST RIGHT

Photos by ELLIS KNOX

Paint Pitt Pink promotes awareness, supports locals By

DI DUNCAN In October the Pittsburg Camp County Chamber of Commerce hosted its second annual Paint Pitt Pink Chili Cook-Off. Paint Pitt Pink draws attention to breast cancer fighters, survivors, and those who have loved victims of breast cancer. Businesses and homes in Pittsburg can choose to adorn their yards and windows with pink to enter the decoration contest. Some businesses add details such as the names of local residents who have been diagnosed with breast cancer. 20

NOVEMBER 2019

NETX CROSSROADS MAGAZINE

The event was held at the Camp County courthouse. All proceeds from the event went to Whitney McNeil, a local woman currently fighting breast cancer. A baker’s dozen of cook teams from local businesses were in attendance, each with their own flavor of chili. Awards were distributed for most “pinked out” business, people’s choice for best chili, judges’ choice for best chili, and best “pinked out” site at the cook-off. The event raised $1,200 in support of McNeil’s battle. The Paint Pitt Pink Chili Cook-Off has grown significantly since 2018 and the Pittsburg Camp County Chamber of Commerce plans to have an even larger event next year to benefit more women in the community.

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NOVEMBER 2019

Merry & Bright Mount Pleasant’s annual parade brings magic of Christmas to downtown square Story & photos by

MIRANDA OGLESBY It’s beginning to look a lot like the holidays – once summer ends, visions of sugar plums begin to dance in people’s heads. Mount Pleasant’s excitement for Christmas almost mirrors the Whos of Whoville – events begin in November and continue until the week of the merry holiday. One of the most memorable and anticipated events is the Mount Pleasant Rotary Club’s Christmas Parade, which is held alongside Christmas on the Square and the OB Goolsby Memorial Chili Cook-off. This year, the cook-off and parade will be held Dec. 7. It’s a weekend where Mount Pleasant becomes, truly, a winter wonderland. It’s held annually on the first Saturday in December. 22

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Local businesses, clubs and organizations spend weeks to coordinate the creation of the exciting floats. “We are set to have one of the biggest and best parades ever. Participants do an outstanding job on their floats and spectators will enjoy lighted floats, marching bands, the Shriner’s Mustang Patrol, Christmas kings and queens, boats, dancers and of course Santa Claus,” Amy Hinton, Rotary Parade Chairman and Mount Pleasant City Director of Community Services said in a press release. Families bundle up in their jackets, bringing along folding chairs and blankets, and gather along the sidewalks of the downtown square, watching the procession. “This parade has always been a gift to the community and not a fundraiser,” Hinton said. “Any monies made go back into the parade. It’s Rotary’s way of putting service above self.” In an effort to bring focus on the spirit of giving, this year, a toy drive will be held during the parade. “We are asking that each parade entrant bring a new unwrapped toy and we are also letting spectators know they can bring a toy to the parade and boy scouts and Rotarians will collect them along the parade route, place them on a trailer that will be in the parade and then be parked on the downtown square before being distributed,” said Hinton. “This should be a special year of giving to others.” Families bundle up in their jackets, bringing along folding chairs and blankets, and gather along the sidewalks of the downtown square, watching the procession.

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CYPRESS CREEK BEEF

Terry and Jan Allen stake a claim to producing a better steak

AT A GLANCE WHAT: Cypress Creek Beef WHERE: Shelby County ranch north of Center with Cypress Creek Beef available at Mooney’s Emporium on the square in downtown Center WHO: Owned and operated by Terry and Jan Allen, Armando Lopez, Scott Stanfield and Bo Mooney WHY: Focused on producing a better grade of beef through the Wagyu breed FOR MORE INFORMATION: Visit — www.facebook.com/ccbeef/; to order — sales@cypresscreekbeef.com 24

NOVEMBER 2019

Story & photos by

ith four generations of traditional Shelby County farming and ranching experience behind them, Terry and Jan Allen are staking a claim of being on the cutting edge of producing a better steak. “Once you try it, you won’t want to go back to regular beef,” Terry says of the Wagyu cattle they are raising and marketing through Cypress Creek Beef. Each of their families have been in the poultry business and other agriculture areas with multi- generational farming family that have roots deeply tied in the Pineywoods of East Texas. “We call Shelby County home and have hooves on the ground in Panola County as well,” Terry says. Their transition into Wagyu came after a lot of research that included tasting the difference the specially crafted American Wagyu and American Akaushi Beef provided the palette. Terry says Wagyu ramps up the quality of

MIKE ELSWICK beef by leaps and bounds. “About four years ago I tried a Wagyu steak and it was so good,” he says. “We waited a few months to try it again to see if we still thought it was as good, it was, and we decided we were going to start raising some of those.” The Allens started small at their north Shelby County ranch and this year have about 150 calves on the ground, he says. Both Jan and Terry have full time “day jobs.” She owns and operates Dairy Queen in Center while he is an officer with Farmers State Bank. Both say working on their ranch with cattle is a form of stress relief. With Wagyu, Terry says it is all about quality and improving the product. He says there are not a lot of differences between raising certified Wagyu and traditional beef cattle. NETX CROSSROADS MAGAZINE

Hooves on the ground in Terry and Jan Allen’s ranch operations in Shelby and Panola counties form the basis of their ever-improving herd of American Wagyu and American Akaushi cattle.

“The Wagyu is a fairly hardy cattle, it just takes a long for them to reach harvest,” Terry says. “It’s about 36 months from conception to harvesting and about 8,000 pounds of feed in addition to grass.” That is about twice as long as raising traditional cattle, he says. “They have to be a certain age and a certain weight to get the right marbling and that’s the whole secret to the meat, the more marbling the more tender it is,” Terry says. Compared to the more traditional American raised cattle, Wagyu are genetically different in a number of ways. And, the finishing feed prior to harvest is different from traditional cattle, Terry says. “The American Wagyu beef, produced by an F1 cross of a Wagyu bull and a quality American cow, is in a category of its own,” Terry says. American beef is rated on a USDA scale from Select, Choice, and Prime. American Wagyu beef requires its own scale because it already starts above the Prime category. Wagyu were perfected by the Japanese over years of experimentation and fine-tuning production. Terry says the Japanese had no real intentions of sharing how they got their beef to the Wagyu stage and quality. “They only allowed them to be exported for a few months through a loop hole in a trade agreement in the early 1990s,” Terry says. That loop hole was soon closed by the Japanese when they realized what was happening. Cypress Creek Beef raises both the red, or Akaushi, and Wagyu. Terry says they come from different parts of Japan. For a better understanding of this magnificent animal, consumers first must understand the chemistry. Jan says the fat composition in the marbling of Wagyu will begin to melt at 77 degrees Fahrenheit, which happens to be the NETX CROSSROADS MAGAZINE

same as butter, therefore causing it to wear the phrase, “Melt in your mouth.” This results in recommended cooking sessions not to exceed medium temperatures, in turn allowing the fat to cease from liquefying. She says American Wagyu Beef is also quite good for your body. “It has less saturated fat than a typical American Angus you would find at the supermarket, boasting an astonishing 2:1 ratio, and contains high levels of oleic acid,” she says. “These are the good fatty acids commonly found in olive oils that help you to reduce cholesterol, which are good for anyone involved. “They’re beginning to become more popular but they’re probably the smallest breed of cattle in the U.S.,” Terry says. Science has played a big role in developing Wagyu to the stage is it currently with artificial insemination and then DNA testing to verify and certify the genetics of being either Wagyu or Akaushi. Scott Stanfield and Armando Lopez III are helping out with marketing and sales efforts. They say more and more restaurants and markets are carrying Wagyu beef as word spreads of the improved quality the beef has over other beef products on the market. “Wagyu cattle provide an unforgettable dining experience,” Scott says. “This beef is not one to miss, so give us a call, like us on Facebook, or visit Mooney’s Emporium for your chance to get a taste,” Scott says. Mooney’s Emporium is located on the downtown square in Center. Terry says the operation was fortunate to have a USDA approved packing house close by in Carthage at Panola Packing Co. with the services of a master butcher on staff. NOVEMBER 2019

The Allen’s transition into Wagyu came after a lot of research that included tasting the difference the specially crafted American Wagyu and American Akaushi Beef provided the palette.

“They can ship anywhere in the U.S.,” he says. So far, in addition to individual orders all over the country, Cypress Creek Beef is featured at restaurants in Shreveport, Lufkin, Nacogdoches, San Antonio and those in the Houston and Dallas area. “I expect the breed to flourish in the U.S., as more people try it because such a superior product,” Terry says. Jan says among the advantages she sees from a consumer’s point of view is that no growth hormones stimulants are used. “It’s natural, grass fed and grain finished,” she says. Terry says no commercial fertilizers are used on the pastures. Looking toward the future, Terry says he plans to continue doing research and expanding the Cypress Creek Beef herd. He says they are members of trade and professional organizations like Shelby County Farm Bureau, Go Texan, the American Wagyu Association, the Texas Wagyu Association and others. Each of those organizations offers networking and educational opportunities. “We plan to continue learning and improving,” Terry says. 26

NOVEMBER 2019

Terry and Jan Allen’s Americna Wagyu and American Akaushi herds of cattle are helping put a tastier, healthier steak on America’s dining table. NETX CROSSROADS MAGAZINE

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NOVEMBER 2019

Uncorked Food and wine festival brings new taste to Mount Pleasant Photos by

MIRANDA OGLESBY

The ‘Uncorked’ wine festival was held Oct. 5 at Camp Langston. The event offered wine tastings, food from local chefs, live music and unique wares. Fall festivities like hayrides and a pumpkin patch was available for the kiddos.

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NOVEMBER 2019

The one where Samantha is a hat By

KENNY MITCHELL

amantha Stanley is one of those young members of Generation Y that has already made a huge impact on the world around her by helping others. She is a young lady of many talents that could never be categorized as a shoe or a hat. She was born and raised in Avery and a member of the Class of 2011. After getting her secondary education at Texarkana College and Texas A&M University – Texarkana where she graduated with a Bachelors in Mass Communication in 2016. She was soon after hired as the Development Coordinator for a non-profit organization in Texarkana, The Alzheimer’s Alliance Tri-State Area. While there she worked diligently to spread awareness of the disease and worked to help those dealing with the illness. Samantha says after some prayer and a little encouragement she then applied to be the Coordinator of Career Development at her alma mater of TAMUT, and she began her work there just a few weeks ago. It was that change in careers that then led her down the path of furthering her education, and she is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Counseling degree in hopes of and becoming a Licensed Professional Counselor, where she will be able to help people overcome obstacles, discover strengths and live a productive, positive life. To help her get all of this done, Samantha has had a great support group of her own. Those include her parents Tonnya Thomson and Lynn Armstrong and three younger brothers Morgan Storey, Connor Armstrong and Tyler Armstrong. She says she is

also fortunate enough to be married to her best friend, Matthew Stanley. It is that support group that has influenced her to achieve her whole life. She says, “I have always been strongly influenced by my family. My mom, Tonnya, has always inspired me to help others through her work as a nurse and first responder. I cannot count the number of times I’ve seen her drop what she was doing to help someone else, even a complete stranger. My dad, Lynn, influenced my work ethic. I have truly never met a harder, more dedicated worker, he is the reason I am so driven and dedicated to my success.” When asked why she does what she does, Samantha states, “I know it is cliché, but I do what I do because I love it. As Coordinator of Career Development, I get to assist students in their pursuit of career and professional success. This process typically starts with an appointment to get help with a resume or part-time job search, where I am able to get to know them individually, help them discover their strengths and celebrate with them as they experience the reward of their hard work. It is so rewarding to see students and alumni achieve their dreams and celebrate their successes. I believe it is my mission in life to help others find their place in the world and am blessed with the opportunity to do it daily. I have also been met with such kindness from my co-workers that I cannot imagine working anywhere else.” She has also had many inspire her to achieve in her work life.

Samantha Stanley grew up in a small town, but she is ready to take on a big world.

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She says, “As a professional woman, I was influenced greatly by one of my professors from A&M – Texarkana, Dr. Amy Carwile. She really pushed me to reach outside my comfort zone and challenge myself. She never accepted anything less than my best and is still one of my greatest mentors in life, I do not make many professional decisions without consulting her first. Another great influence in my life has been Terrie Arnold, Executive Director of the Alzheimer’s Alliance Tri-State Area. Terrie taught me so much about being a professional woman in the world of work in a short time. She is dynamic, creative and fundraising guru, I cannot even begin to describe all I learned from her. I was also fortunate enough to work under Tina Boitnott, LPC, before she retired from A&M – Texarkana recently. She taught me great deal about the skills and personality it takes to be an empathic and effective counselor. I have to admit, I would not be the woman I am today if not for these amazing people.” There are many things that one can say to try to describe the kind of person Samantha is and the impact she has on those around her, and perhaps her mother-in-law Sherry Montgomery says it best in saying, “I would call her a rescuer of animals and people. Always trying to help, and so much life in that spirit.” Samantha Stanley is a millennial that is sure to live her life by the creedo, “I’ll be there for you, when the rain starts to fall.” She is a shining example of the benefits of living in Northeast Texas and one of those who will use her small town life upbringing coupled with a university education to make the world a better place.

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NOVEMBER 2019

A FAIR TO

Remember

Photos by

MIRANDA OGLESBY & LESLIE BROSNAN

Fresh lemonade, cotton candy and fried foods, oh my! Titus County Fair came and went Sept. 25 - 28 at the Mount Pleasant Civic Center. Thousands of people came from surrounding areas to enjoy the rides, games and shows. 32

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NOVEMBER 2019

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