Kilgore Magazine Issue 7 by Kilgore Magazine

KILG RE Issue 7

THE MAGAZINE ABOUT LIFE IN KILGORE

A Texas Tradition That Still Has Legs

Director Dana Blair & Assistant Director Shelley Wayne

WWW.KILGOREMAGAZINE.COM

MAGAZINE

CONTENTS 5 Project HOME By Fallon Burns

Trips With Kids

13 A Texas Tradition By Fallon Burns

Creative Director Amanda Reel

Mary Ramos

Contributing Writers Fallon Burns John Grubbs

Sean Landry

Southwest Studios

Fallon Burns

Amanda Reel

By John Grubbs

Mailing Address

20 Mother’s Day 21 What Do Mother’s Want?

Fallon Burns

Contributing Photographers

19 A Desire To Lead

Mary Ramos

Customer Service

9 10 Tips On Taking

Editor

421 North Center St. Suite A Longview, Texas 75601

Ofﬁce : 903-757-4444 Fax: 903-236-7541 Kilgoremagazine@gmail.com www.KilgoreMagazine.com

Amanda Reel

View, download or subscribe to Kilgore Magazine online.

ON THE COVER

Mrs. Dana Blair is the director of the Kilgore College Rangerettes. Mrs. Shelley Wayne is the assistant director and choreographer of the Kilgore College Rangerettes. They both are lifetime members of Rangerettes Forever.

Advertise in Kilgore Magazine! To purchase advertising space or submit editorial stories,

call 903-757-4444 or email KilgoreMagazine@gmail.com

20 3

Calendar of Events April

May

1 4 4 5

April Fool’s Day First Thursday Downtown Shopping, 10 am until Kilgore Citizens Police Academy, 6:30-8:30 pm Triple Crown Band featuring Clint Williams at The Back Porch 5 Friday After 5 Concert, World’s Richest Acre, Darby Warren Project 6 Guitarded at The Back Porch 10 Matthew McDaniel at The Back Porch 10 Rangerette Revels, Dodson Auditorium, 7 pm 11 Rangerette Revels, Dodson Auditorium, 7 pm 11 Kilgore Citizens Police Academy, 6:30-8:30 pm 12 Darrin Morris Band at The Back Porch 12 Rangerette Revels, Dodson Auditorium, 7 pm 13 Johnny & the Nightcrawlers at The Back Porch 13 Rangerette Revels, Dodson Auditorium, 1 pm and 7 pm 13 Dalton Days, Longview Fair Grounds, Rodeo Arena 14 Puppy Plunge 12pm-5pm at Parkway Gym Longview for the Humane Society of Northeast Texas 17 Bo Brumble at The Back Porch 18 Kilgore Citizens Police Academy, 6:30-8:30 pm 19 Relay for Life 19 Dazed Live at The Back Porch 19-20 Longview PRCA Rodeo, Longview Rodeo Arena 8:00 pm 20 Remedy Stick at The Back Porch 25 Kilgore Citizens Police Academy, 6:30-8:30 pm 26 Voodudes at The Back Porch 27 Ally Venable Band at The Back Porch 27 Spring Fling, Historic Downtown Kilgore, 9 am till 29 City Early Voting Begins (until May 7th)

1 2 3 3 4 4-5 5 7 8 10 10 11 11 12 15 17 18 18 21 22 27 30 31 31

Heart’s Way Hospice 18th Annual Memorial Golf Tournament First Thursday Downtown Shopping, 10 am until Triple Crown Band featuring Clint Williams at The Back Porch Friday After 5 Concert, World’s Richest Acre Guitarded at The Back Porch KYKX Big Bass Bonanza Cinco de Mayo National Teachers Day Bo Brumble at The Back Porch Shinebox at The Back Porch Kilgore College Spring Graduation Westbound 21 at The Back Porch City Election Day Mother’s Day Matthew McDaniel at The Back Porch Dennis Ross and the Axberg Brothers at The Back Porch Armed Forces Day Terry Applegate Horseshoe Classic, 9 am, City Park Texas Shakespeare Festival Welcome Reception Ally Venable at The Back Porch Memorial Day KISD - last day of classes Voodudes at The Back Porch E.T. Christian School Graduation

At Meadowbrook Country Club

Drawing: June 8, 2013 - Need not be present to win - Must be 18 years of age - Winner responsible for Tax, Title and License

1200 Dudley Rd. Kilgore, TX • 903-984-5571

Project

HOME

By Fallon Burns

“ I have attended several closings and the recipients often have tears in their eyes. Many are overjoyed at the prospect of a new home, something they never dared dream of before now. ” - Mayor Ronnie Spradlin

ranesta Geter had tears in her eyes as she walked through her new home for the ﬁrst time. The strategically placed 2X4’s that kept the ceiling from caving in were no longer needed. When she turned on her bathroom faucet, hot and cold water ran freely. The smile across her face broadened as she realized that the years of worry and heartache about her crumbling foundation, corroded plumbing and collapsing roof were over.

Everyone deserves a safe place to call home and in today’s economy obtaining a loan is increasingly difﬁcult. That’s why the City of Kilgore is partnering with the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs to build seven new homes for qualiﬁed low income residents of Kilgore. Janet Amiri, the HOME Project Manager with Traylor and Associates says, “This program gets the home owner in a safe and sanitary environment.”

ﬁnish. Amazingly, HUD has waved the matching funds requirement that would typically be funded through the city budget. Mr. Owen said, “We do have administrative cost associated with the program. We wave permitting and tap fees to keep construction cost down and we also assist with things like surveys and driveway approaches.” The obvious plus to residents of Kilgore is the grant program removes slum and blight from the community and helps the under privileged. Another factor to consider is the creation of jobs and improvements to the tax roll value. According to Kilgore City Manager Scott Sellers, “The HOME program has been a very positive tool to preserve the health, safety and welfare of Kilgore, while at the same time enhancing our beauty and livability. This is yet another example of why our citizens are so proud to live here.”

Each home comes with landscaping and a paved driveway. Recipients have the choice of a two or three bedroom one bath ﬂoor plan. All homes come furnished with new kitchen appliances and handicap accessible bathrooms. Legend Construction broke ground on all seven homes last summer and hopes to be ﬁnished in the middle of March. B.J. Owen, Director of Special Services, is the grant coordinator for the project. “There are programs out there that work, and this is one of them,” said Mr. Owen. To be considered for assistance the initial requirements include owning their home, it must be located within the city limits of Kilgore and they must meet HUD‘s income eligibility guidelines. Once the recipient has been approved they must completely vacate their home. Construction starts immediately by demolishing the substandard house so new construction can begin. The whole process takes between six to eight months from start to 5

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Tips for Taking Trips with Kids

By Kat Saveal

Like many other families, our family takes a number of road trips each year. People often say to me “How can you stand to take road trips with young kids?” In fact, I love taking road trips. I now prefer them to traveling by plane. Here are my top 10 tips for having a fun and non-stressful driving vacation. 1. Leave early in the morning, before Breakfast. This way you can get a few hours under your belt while the kids (hopefully) sleep in the car. Then stop for breakfast. 2. If your budget allows, buy your child(ren) a new toy for the trip. Don’t let them play with it until you are in the car and on your way. 3. Bring along a portable DVD player if your car doesn’t already have one. For long trips, pack at least 3 or more DVD’s. It’s even better if you can buy a couple of new ones to keep your child(ren)’s attention better. 4. Pack a cooler with lots of your kids favorite snacks, drinks and sandwiches. Keep the cooler handy in the car, so you can just reach in and give them something. Packing your own food saves on costs. 5. Stop at a nice rest area to eat your meals. This will be less stressing then hauling the kids into a crowded McDonald’s. When we travel from Texas to Maryland each year we stop at a beautiful rest area in Tennessee. It has nice bathroom facilities and is located on several acres giving the kids a chance to run around and exhaust some of their energy. 6. Stop every 3-4 hours. If you are traveling with small kids like us, you will really want to take advantage of this tip. Kids don’t have a concept of time. By the time 3 hours goes by in a car it seems like forever to them. Even stopping at a gas station and letting everyone get out of the car and stretch their legs for a few minutes really works. 7. Play car games. A favorite of ours is ‘Cops and Vette’s’. One point is given for every police car spotted and two points are given for Corvette’s. But if you call a car and it’s not correct then you deduct the points. It even helps to spot that hidden police car before he spots you! 8. Bring plenty of pillows and blankets. Children are more likely to sleep in the car if they are comfortable. 9. If you plan to stay somewhere overnight before traveling the next day, pack everything you need for the night in one bag. That way when you get to the hotel you don’t have to unload the whole car. I buy the biggest Ziploc bags I can find and put my children’s clothes in them and write their name on it. Then I only take what is needed. 10. Check the hotels to see if they offer free breakfast. Our favorite hotel to stay in is Holiday Inn. Kids stay and eat free. If we arrive at the hotel in the evening, they can eat dinner for free and then breakfast the next morning. Once again it saves on costs , especially if you pack your own lunch. I hope these tips help you on your next road trip.

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Nanny Goats Cafe Located in the heart of downtown Kilgore, we have a fun and friendly atmosphere. Come see what everyone is talking about!

Now Serving Dinner • Wednesday, Thursday, Friday

107 N Kilgore St · Kilgore, TX 75662 · (903) 988-8000

Meet the new owners:

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We ♥ Rangerette Revels

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Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a lot of pride watching 72 girls effortlessly kicking the tips of their white cowboy hats with pristine white boots in perfect unison. Rangerette Director Dana Blair and Assistant Director Shelley Wayne know what it takes to achieve this perfection. Having personally worn the white hat, their experience and dedication to excellence keeps the Rangerette vision alive and well.

Dana Blair Director

he year is 1939 and Kilgore College Dean, Dr. B.E. Masters has a problem. Students are disappearing under the stands during half time at football games to sip improper beverages. He needs an organization that will attract young women to the college and keep people in their seats during halftime. Dr. Masters shared his vision with Miss Gussie Nell Davis and she created the first group of it’s kind, ultimately changing sports half time entertainment forever. Chip Hale, with Overton Films is currently filming his documentary; Sweethearts of the Gridiron: An American Story, to be completed in early 2014. The film’s focus will be how Kilgore’s oil boom history produced a thriving arts culture in blue collar America. According to Mr. Hale, “Without the Rangerettes, national football half time entertainment would not be as we know it today. To maintain the integrity of the Rangerette organization and evolve with the times, Mrs. Blair and Mrs. Wayne have implemented changes. Their signature style remains largely unchanged, with the exception of a shorter hemline. According to Mayor Ronnie Spradlin, “Miss Gussie Nell Davis chose the red, white and blue color pallet because she felt the popularity of other colors may come and go, but the color of our national flag will never be unpopular.” Mrs. Blair implemented academic, dance, health and nutrition standards to give the girls a well rounded education in addition to becoming better dancers. Mrs. Wayne says, “all the young girls that come in are all very talented but the Rangerette performance quality is different, the expectation is higher.” Rangerettes must be full time students at Kilgore College, maintain a passing GPA and visit regularly with a health and fitness trainer. Ms. Blair stated, “If they don’t make their grades, they don’t dance. When the girls leave here they have transferable college credits and a good GPA.”

“Watching the amazing transformation as a dancer and young lady is the favorite part of my job”

For the girls, becoming a Rangerette is more like enrolling in a military-style ﬁnishing school with strong morals, a positive outlook, and a dedication to greatness. When Mrs. Blair served on the line, there was a strong hierarchy between the freshman and sophomore classes. According to Mrs. Wayne, “Dana’s legacy will be her ability to bring the two classes together.” Mrs. Blair leads by example and empowers the line from the

inside out. She teaches her girls to pass down the magnitude of the Rangerette name to each other. Although not in the job description, Mrs. Blair and Mrs. Wayne serve as counselors, care takers and educators. They organize international travel, produce Broadway style productions and still manage to make it home in time for dinner….. most nights.

Shelley Wayne

Assistant Director

A wise man once said, “You don’t know where you are going until you know where you have been.” Mrs. Blair and Mrs. Wayne adorned the Rangerette uniform and have used their experience towards the positive development of young women and the Rangerette name. President of Kilgore College, Dr. Bill Holda confirms, “Dana Blair and Shelley Wayne have tremendous credibility not only with the current Rangerettes, but also with Rangerettes Forever alumni groups, because they have been Rangerettes themselves. To have known and worked with both of the first two directors, to have a sense of the tradition and history of the organization first hand as Rangerettes is invaluable. They have credibility, experience and a historical perspective, only available to someone who has gone through the entire Rangerette experience. Dana and Shelley understand the concepts and expectations of excellence, precision, discipline and dedication characterized by every young lady who understands the Rangerette experience.” Mrs. Blair and Mrs. Wayne have shown impeccable leadership abilities that brought the Rangerettes into the 21st Century. Their big picture perspective makes the 75 year old line relevant in today’s society while preserving the traditions that make them uniquely Rangerettes.

2013 Rangerette Revels

“The Rangerette Express” April 10-13 Call 903-983-8179 for ticket information

Visit the Rangerette Showcase Museum Monday-Friday: 9-4 Saturday: 10-4 903-983-8265 www.Rangerette.com

“It’s very important that this be a positive experience for everyone.”

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A Desire to Lead? By John Grubbs

JK K J I have had my suspicions now for quite a while. I knew something was not quite right when it came to leadership positions in most organizations. After all, how could there be so few excellent supervisors? How many followers would consider current supervisors to be actual leaders? I have been puzzled by the epidemic of bad leadership and it exists at all levels. Freshly minted supervisors all the way up to seasoned executives are all struggling to earn the title of leader from their followers. Looking at some historical context, bad supervisors have been around since the beginning. There are countless examples such as the fictional character, Ebenezer Scrooge and the more contemporary version of a bad boss, Montgomery Burns from “The Simpsons”. While certainly exaggerated for entertainment, they are rooted in the reality of the writer and came from real painful experiences locked in someone’s mind. In reality, what is the possible connection among so many underperformers in the workplace? We send them to workshops, they read management books, and they see the exaggeration on television. So where does the failure come from? When I ask the difficult questions, I seem to get transparent answers. Do most supervisors dislike the work and stress that it takes to lead others? Do they dislike the confrontation and worry? Simply put, do most supervisors desire to be a leader at work? The latent answer is a resounding “No”! It takes a rare individual indeed to like these activities. So why take the job? Reality is rooted in our fundamental need to self-actualize as Maslow has told us. So let us get this straight. We are going to leave a job that we might enjoy. We are going to accept a job we may very well hate. And, we will be asked to perform activities that we despise. Why would we do this? Money and status are the answer. When really pushed for an honest answer, many supervisors in a hierarchical organization will say they took the job because it was the only way to grow their financial and societal status. In other words, I must take the job and do the things I dislike in order to better myself in life. Sound crazy? Overlay that with the fact that most supervisors are not trained at all, and the desire to be a leader becomes very rare.

Even worse, the optimists in this population think they will take the job and eventually learn to like it. After all, the money is better. How long does this last? Even the most optimistic individuals can become cynical over long periods of time. Insert power (as a supervisor) and the resentment turns into a mean and hateful demeanor. In other words, the supervisor can become abusive to subordinates because they have the power to do so. When asked, many of these individuals would gladly go back to the old job if they could still make the same money and grow ﬁnancially for their family.

The most common mistake when assessing talent at the supervisor level is a disregard for an individual’s desire to lead others. Why do you want the supervisor position is now replaced by we have decided to offer you a promotion. Even the word “promotion” makes us feel good. How many people are going to say “no thank you, I would rather keep doing what I am doing”? The positive feeling is more about prestige and power than it is about the love of leadership. It is more about improving our own life than it is about improving the lives of others. It is more about what I get than how I can serve. This powerful driver is the force behind the many struggling supervisors and managers in the workplace. We have been conditioned over time to believe that success at work is climbing the corporate ladder. If we just want to stay in our current job, we are described as lacking ambition. In reality most people are not naturally wired to be successful as a supervisor. And, for those that have the desire, the skills can certainly be learned. The motivation and desire to truly lead others cannot be faked for very long.

John Grubbs, MBA, CSTM, RPIH, is the principal consultant and owner of GCI, a high impact training and consulting ﬁrm in Texas. Specializations include executive coaching, sales training, human resource consulting, safety consulting, behavior-based safety implementation and leadership training for supervisors, managers and executives. 19

Mother’s Day

Mother’s Day Gift Baskets

Another very thoughtful yet appropriate Mother’s Day present that you can give your mother is a gift basket. When you wish to pamper your mother with loads of gifts on this very special occasion, gift baskets make an excellent gift idea. You can customize or personalize a gift basket especially for her. This way you can give her multiple gifts that also suit her nature and her sense of style.

Accessories for Your Mother

other’s Day is the time to honor and cherish the special bond of love that you and your mother share. A mother does so much for her children, the least one can do is acknowledge her hard work and her selﬂess love for you. It is the perfect occasion to pamper your mom with special gifts and lots of love. And not just your mother, one should also take this opportunity to indulge all women who have loved and cared for you like a mother. This may include your grandmother, mother-in-law, aunts, sisters, colleagues, teachers and the other mother ﬁgures in your life.

Mother’s Day Flowers

Flowers speak a thousand languages. They are the best way of expressing your feelings and emotions for your mom on her special occasion. Although, carnations are the traditional Mothers Day ﬂowers, the choice should depend on what your mother loves. So, be it a mixed bouquet, lilies, daffodils, roses, tulips or irises or any other ﬂower, the main thing is making your mother happy. Flowers are the best way to do so. Whether she is a working mother or a stay at home mom, these beautiful gifts are sure to make her day. Flowers can also serve as an add-on gift with any other Mother’s Day gift idea.

A Holiday to Remember

If your mother is working round the clock, be it home or ofﬁce or someplace else, she deserves a day or more off for herself. Make sure that you plan the day or days so that it becomes the best gift for her. Consider taking over all or most of her responsibilities, sharing them with someone or pampering her with a visit to the spa, shopping, dinner or movies. You can even take this a step further and organize a trip for her, a special getaway for her with whoever she chooses to go with.

Your mother is someone who balances both work and household duties with ease. She is a multitasker and someone who values organization. So, a gift that suits her lifestyle and attitude would be accessories. On Mother’s Day you can compliment her with gifts that ﬂatter her and are also useful for her. Stylish Mother’s Day accessories like watches, scarves, handbags, footwear, hats are good choices for a gift that embodies all these qualities.

The Gift of Time

One of the greatest gifts you can give your mother is your time. She may have a special project that needs to be done. She may have a place she has wanted to visit but would not go alone. She may want to just talk and enjoy a meal. Remember the time she dedicated to you growing up and give that time lovingly back to her. As a mother, that will be the greatest gift.

What Do I MOTHERS Want?

have a mom, I am a mom and my daughter is a mom. I love mother’s day. It is a wonderful contest, which mom could call the other first. Gifts galore and all the love expressed is wonderful. But, that’s only one day. What do mom’s really need and want the rest of the time? 1. Family love and respect and help in the kitchen, make your own bed and take out the trash without being asked. 2. An unexpected hug and “I love you mom.” 3. Peace and quiet every once in a while. 4. Good child care for those who work. 5. Adequate health coverage for her family. 6. Equal pay and no glass ceiling. 7. Good education for her kids. 8. Safe streets. 9. Adequate after school care. 10. Her own choice about how she wants to teach their kids. 11. A family that cares and shows that they do. 12. Breakfast in bed, even when it’s not mother’s day. Honoring mom on her special day, is a wonderful opportunity to say and do something special. But, please remember Mom the other 364 days of the year. That’s even more special. Life is too hard to do alone.

Enjoy Rediscover Your Space

Devote More Time to Family

Pride Neighbor Envy

Relax Retreat to Your Oasis

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Pistol Packin’ Mama’s Graduation

Rangerette Revels Rehearsal

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access to quality healthcare convenient – and local. As an Orthodirect location, we are also able to evaluate orthopedic injuries and fast-track an appointment

Good Shepherd Emergency Center in Kilgore is well equipped to treat all emergency care needs with 11 exam rooms, a full chemistry lab onsite and a

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