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Longview man has long list of thank you’s after 3-month struggle with COVID-19 EAST TEXAS/STATE
Organizers call off annual chili cook-off
The annual East Texas Oilmen’s Chili Cook-off, which usually brings about 10,000 people to downtown Kilgore, has been cancelled because of COVID-19 concerns. Page 1B
Longview, Malakoff lead preseason poll
County cases spike in July BY KRISTEN BARTON
kbarton@news-journal.com
Longview and Malakoff both ended their 2018 season playing for a state title at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. After earlier than expected playoff exits in 2019, the Lobos and Tigers enter 2020 hoping to return to championship weekend at the home of the Dallas Cowboys. Page 1C
The first 11 days of July have accounted for more than half of Gregg County’s total COVID-19 cases. Positive cases skyrocketed 105% during that period — from 397 ■ Gregg to 813 — with County County Health reports 25 Authority Dr. new COVID-19 Lewis Browne cases. Page 1B attributing the spike to more community testing and young people not wearing masks. “It appears it’s much younger people that are getting (COVID-19),” Browne said. “I think it’s just the activity and lack of protection is yielding to all their problems, plus all the activities of summer because people want to be out.” However, he added that, “We’re certainly going up in hospitalizations, but the severity of the illness is not increasing. We’re having a whole lot of positive tests but not a lot of (hospital) admissions.” Browne said Friday there
Inside
Today’s weather
Michael Cavazos/News-Journal Photo
Partly cloudy. High of 98.
COVID-19 survivor Jesus Mancha speaks Thursday in his Longview home about being diagnosed with the virus and the months it has taken him to recover. Watch a video at news-journal.com .
SEVEN-DAY FORECAST, PAGE 5B
BY JO LEE FERGUSON
What’s inside
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Advice.......................................3D Business....................................8C Letters......................................4B Leisure......................................4D Lifestyle.....................................1D Obituaries.................................2B Opinion ....................................4B
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It is the policy of the NewsJournal to correct errors. Direct requests for corrections or clarifications to Managing Editor Randy Ferguson at (903) 237-7751. Sports corrections can be found in Scoreboard.
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esus Mancha has a list. His wife, Marisol, produced it for him early into a conversation about how he survived a three-month battle against COVID-19: Dr. Saritha Kortikere, Dr. Anita Scribner, Dr. Venkatesh Donty, Dr. David Jayakar, Dr. Glenn Genovese, acute care nurse practitioner Chad Crossland, Dr. Gautam Baskaram, Dr. Adam Yu, Dr. William Torres III and Dr. Rodney Slone. Those are just the names he knows of the many health care workers who helped him along the way. He believes the larger list of people who supported him and his family — nurses and others in the hospitals who cared for him, people who provided meals and prayers — is in the hundreds, maybe the thousands. “I love this town. I love the people, and this illness has really opened my eyes even more to why I love this town,” Mancha Hayden Henry/News-Journal Photo said this past week at his Longview home. Longview head football coach John King drives past Jesus Mancha’s He was finally at home, with his family. home Thursday during a car parade to mark Mancha’s release from He has more recovery ahead as he works
See STRUGGLE, Page 7A
Longview Regional Medical Center. Mancha, who tested positive for COVID-19, was hospitalized for three months.
Life with COVID-19: ‘We are on our own’ Want to subscribe? Have delivery questions? Call (903) 237-7777 Contact us between 7-10 a.m. Tuesday through Sunday for service if your newspaper does not arrive.
Editor’s note: News-Journal advertising account executive Kerri Esposito writes about her experience after testing positive for COVID-19. BY KERRI ESPOSITO
kesposito@news-journal.com
Kerri Esposito/News-Journal Photo
Kerri Esposito is seen with her husband, Ronnie.
We were watching the Dallas Mavericks play when Mark Cuban reacted to the text he received about the first NBA player to test positive for COVID-19. That game finished, but the remaining games that evening and then the season shut down immediately. My husband Ronnie is a New Yorker, raised in Long Island. Having friends and family in
the thick of the pandemic early on made us believers. We didn’t question safety protocols health officials asked us to implement. We took those seriously and advocated for others to do the same. So when I woke up aching with a fever July 2, it sent immediate fear through me. I knew the coronavirus was now in my home. I went to a free testing site early the next morning, waiting in line for two hours feeling awful. I received the results Sunday — negative. I was so relieved. I thought whatever I had See COVID-19, Page 5A
See SPIKE, Page 7A
Abbott to Longview: Enforce face masks FROM STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS
Gov. Greg Abbott says business owners in the Longview and Tyler area should be “demanding” that local officials enforce his mask order “to make sure they will be able to stay open.” Abbott also said Friday during an interview with News-Journal news partner CBS19 that’s he’s “disappointed” that local law enforcement has refused to issue citations to residents not wearing masks. “It’s disappointing and again, I can understand the mindset being a kid who grew up in Longview myself, that this may not be the top See ABBOTT, Page 7A
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Take Two PAGE 2A / SUNDAY, JULY 12, 2020
Gov. Hogg went wild over pecan trees
N
ow most of you folks know the pecan is the official Texas state tree. But did you ever wonder why? Well, you can thank James Stephen Hogg, whom history records as Texas’ first native-born governor and a pioneer East Texas newspaper publisher at the age of 20. Hogg also was a man possessed with a wry sense of humor. After all, Hogg did name his daughter Ima. Born in 1851 near the small town of Rusk, Cherokee County, Hogg became interested in the newspaper business. At age 20 he opened Longview’s first newspaper, the Longview News, in late 1871. “This is the age of energy, progress and vigor … Longview must continue to grow more rapidly than it has ever done, and will astonish in its strides to greatness even its best friends,” Hogg told his readers. But after only a few weeks, Hogg packed up his printing press and relocated his business to Quitman. In Wood County, Hogg became a justice of the peace, studied law, was elected county attorney and then district attorney. The ambitious young man married Sallie Stinson and eventually had four
children.
Oh yes, the pecan trees. No Ura Hogg Not long after the turn of the centuDaughter Ima ry, Gov. Hogg was Hogg was born in shocked to discover 1882 in Mineola. that the once-comActually, Hogg had mon pecan tree had no pun in mind. Ima all but disappeared had been named from the Texas after the heroine in VAN landscape. a poem written by It seems that most her uncle, Thomas CRADDOCK of the trees had Elisha Hogg. But been cleared away there’s no truth to make room for cotton fields. to the tale that Ima had a sister Countless others were being used named Ura. to make furniture, boxes and Establishing a law practice in crates. Tyler, Hogg continued to climb the political ladder and was electOut on a limb ed state attorney general in 1886. In 1891, he became governor. So Hogg appealed for a state In fact, he’s considered one of the law that would protect the pecan best governors the state has ever tree. (You might say he went out had. He was immensely popular on a limb for the legislation.) with most Texans. He helped Hogg loved pecan trees. On establish the Texas Railroad Com- March 2, 1906, he told family mission and successfully lobbied members: “I don’t want when I for increased spending on public die any cold marble placed at the head of my grave. I want a softeducation. shell Texas pecan tree planted Hogg wasn’t popular with everybody, however. Early in his there and at the foot, a regular walnut, and when they bear fruit administration, the governor I want the nuts sent out to the angered the Daughters of the Republic of Texas when he vetoed farmers of Texas that they may the $15,000 that the Texas Legisla- plant.” The very next day Jim Hogg ture had approved to purchase the died, three weeks shy of his 55th San Jacinto Battleground.
birthday. Not long after his death, representatives of the State Horticultural Society, per Hogg’s request, planted a pecan tree at the head of his grave in Austin’s historic Oakwood Cemetery. A black walnut tree was placed at the foot of the plot. Later, when the trees bore fruit, the nuts were collected and given out to Texans and organizations around the state. The governor’s unusual request was printed in newspapers around the state, and soon Texans everywhere were planting pecan trees right and left. And just as he’d requested, for many years the pecan seedlings produced by the tree over Hogg’s grave were handed out for planting. Why, by 1919, there were so many pecan trees in the Lone Star State again that the Texas Legislature formally declared the pecan to be the official state tree. And even today, Texas is one of the biggest pecan producers in the nation. All because James Stephen Hogg was a real pecan nut. — Van “Pecan Pie” Craddock’s latest book is “East Texas Tales, Book 2,” available at Barron’s and the Gregg County Historical Museum. His column runs Sunday. His email is vancraddock@ sbcglobal.net .
In Focus
A SLICE OF LIFE FROM NEAR OR FAR
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Brooklyn Beckham
Shepard Smith
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People Beckham son Brooklyn engaged to Nicola Peltz LONDON — Brooklyn Beckham, son of retired soccer superstar David Beckham and fashion designer Victoria Beckham, and American actress Nicola Peltz have announced they’re engaged. Beckham and Peltz both posted the news on their Instagram accounts Saturday. “Two weeks ago I asked my soulmate to marry me and she said yes,” Beckham, 21, wrote. “I am the luckiest man in the world. I promise to be the best husband and the best daddy one day.” They posted the same picture of themselves standing in a field and embracing — he wearing a blue suit and she in a yellow dress. Peltz, 25, said in her post, “You’ve made me the luckiest girl in the world. I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life by your side.” Brooklyn Beckham is the eldest of David and Victoria Beckham’s four children.
Shepard Smith joins CNBC for news program
‘Mona Lisa’ back at work, visitors limited as Paris’ Louvre Museum reopens
NEW YORK — Shepard Smith, who abruptly quit Fox News Channel last October amid the ascendancy of opinionated programming, will bring a nightly newscast to CNBC this fall. CNBC announced Wednesday that Smith will anchor a one-hour weeknight newscast at 7 p.m. Eastern, the time slot he held for many years at Fox before being shifted to the afternoon. His show is expected to start in September. “I know I found a great home for my newcast,” Smith said in a news release. He was not made available for an interview on Wednesday. CNBC Chairman Mark Hoffman said “The News with Shepard Smith” will feature “factbased storytelling.” “We’re thrilled that Shep, who’s built a career on an honest fight to find and report the facts, will continue his pursuit of the truth at CNBC,” Hoffman said. FROM WIRE REPORTS
WHAT’S HAPPENING Thibault Camus/AP Photo
Visitors take photos of the Leonardo da Vinci’s painting Mona Lisa on Monday in Paris. The home of the world’s most famous portrait, the Louvre Museum in Paris, reopened Monday after a four-month coronavirus lockdown. BY JOHN LEICESTER AND CATHERINE GASCHKA
down in May. On Monday, as the Louvre reopened, she and dozens Associated Press of other guides demonstrated outside, forming a long line and ARIS — The “Mona Lisa” is holding up images of the “Mona back in business. Lisa” to highlight the hardship Paris’ Louvre Museum, afflicting their industry. which houses the world’s most “My whole season collapsed. famous portrait, reopened Mon- There is no one around. It’s very day after a four-month coronadramatic,” said Besnard Rousvirus lockdown and without its seau. “To live in Paris and not be usual huge throngs. able to guide is horribly frustratThe reopening of the world’s ing. I really miss it.” most-visited museum was a Inside the museum, face masks bright spot in what is otherwise were a must and visitor numbers shaping up as a grimly quiet were limited, with reservations start to the summer tourist required. Among the trickle of season in France, with far fewer returning tourists was Zino Vanvisitors than was normal before denbeaghen, who traveled from the pandemic closed borders. Belgium to enjoy the unusual Paris tour guide Katia Besnard space at both the Louvre and the Rousseau said she has had no Palace of Versailles. groups to show around since “It’s super,” he said. “The ideal France gradually started coming moment to visit.” out of its strict two-month lockAbout 70% of the giant mu-
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Vol. 89 No. 194 An M. Roberts Media Newspaper The Longview News-Journal (USPS 319-000) is published daily including Sunday by M. Roberts Media, 320 E. Methvin St., Longview, TX 75601. Periodical postage paid at Longview, Texas. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to P.O. Box 1792, Longview, TX 75606. Call from 6–10 a.m. Monday through Saturday, 7–10 a.m. Sundays for customer service if your newspaper does not arrive. Basic subscription prices: Digital/home delivery Monday – Sunday, $32, for four weeks. Home delivery Thursday—Sunday, $26, for four weeks. Digital/mail delivery Monday—Sunday, $36, for four weeks. Mail delivery Thursday—Sunday, $32, for four weeks. Individual copies: Coin-operated racks, 50 cents daily, $1.50 Sunday; inside dealer accounts, 60 cents daily, $1.75 Sunday.
seum — 484,000 square feet of space, or the equivalent of 230 tennis courts — housing 30,000 of the Louvre’s vast trove of works is again accessible to visitors starved of art in lockdown. “It’s very emotional for all the teams that have prepared this reopening,” said Jean-Luc Martinez, the museum director. The bulk of the Louvre’s visitors before the pandemic used to come from overseas, led by travelers from the United States. Americans are still barred from the European Union that is gradually reopening its borders. The Louvre is hoping to instead attract visitors from closer to home, including the Paris region, but is bracing for a plunge in numbers. Martinez said the museum was expecting just 7,000 visitors on reopening day.
President and Publisher Stephen McHaney snmchaney@news-journal.com Regional Editor John Anderson janderson@tylerpaper.com Managing Editor Randy Ferguson rferguson@news-journal.com Advertising Manager Tracy Stopani tstopani@news-journal.com Production Director Greg Weatherbee gweatherbee@tcmprinting.com Regional Circulation Director Steven Briggs sbriggs@mrobertsmedia.com
Before the pandemic, as many as 50,000 people per day toured the Louvre in the busiest summer months. The Rodin Museum in Paris, which is dedicated to the works of sculptor Auguste Rodin, is also steeling itself for a glaring plunge in typical visitor traffic when it reopens on Tuesday. The museum usually attracted 2,500 people per day — again led by Americans — during the summer months and is preparing to see a drop of as much as 80%. The Rodin also expected o make a profit this year of $1.6 million but is now forecasting a loss of 3 million euros because of the pandemic’s impact on visitor numbers and other sources of revenue. It hopes to make up some of the shortfall by selling limited-edition versions in bronze of some Rodin works.
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Longview News-Journal, Sunday, July 12, 2020
Police execute search warrant at home of gun-toting couple
AP Photo
COVID-19 patients are treated Friday at the Tshwane District Hospital in Pretoria, South Africa. Health Minister Zweli Mkhize this week said South Africa could run out of available hospital beds within the month. “The storm that we have consistently warned South Africans about is now arriving,” he told lawmakers. The African continent overall has over 523,000 confirmed virus cases after passing the half-million milestone on Wednesday. But shortages in testing materials mean the true number is unknown.
Virus up in Africa, India JOHANNESBURG (AP) — South Africa’s confirmed coronavirus cases have doubled in just two weeks to a quarter-million, and India on Saturday saw its biggest daily spike as its infections passed 800,000. The surging cases are raising sharp concerns about unequal treatment in the pandemic, as the wealthy hoard medical equipment and use private hospitals and the poor crowd into overwhelmed public facilities. Globally more than 12.5 million people have been infected by the virus and over 560,000 have died, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. Experts say the pandemic’s true toll is much higher due to testing shortages, poor data collection in some nations and other issues. Some of the worst-affected countries are among the world’s most unequal. South Africa leads them all on that measure, with the pandemic exposing the gap in care. In Johannesburg, the epicenter of South Africa’s outbreak, badly needed oxygen concentrators that help COVID-19 patients who are struggling to breathe are hard to find as private businesses and individuals are buying them up, a public health specialist volunteering at a field hospital, Lynne Wilkinson, told The Associated Press. Meanwhile, South Africa’s public hospitals are short on medical oxygen — and they are now seeing a higher proportion of deaths than private ones, the National Institute for Communicable Diseases says. South Africa now has more than 250,000 confirmed coronavirus cases, including more than 3,800 deaths. To complicate matters, the
country’s troubled power utility has announced new electricity cuts in the dead of winter as a cold front brings freezing weather. Many of the country’s urban poor live in shacks of scrap metal and wood. And in Kenya, some have been outraged by a local newspaper report that says several governors have installed intensive care unit equipment in their homes. The country lost its first doctor to COVID-19 this week. “The welfare, occupational safety & health of frontline workers is a non-negotiable minimum!!” the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union tweeted after her death. On Saturday, the union and other medical groups urged President Uhuru Kenyatta to implement a promised compensation package to ease the “anxiety and fear that has now gripped health care workers.” More than 8,000 health workers across Africa have been infected, half of them in South Africa. The continent of 1.3 billion has the world’s lowest levels of health staffing and more than 560,000 cases, and the pandemic is reaching “full speed,” the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says. Many parts of the world are facing fresh waves of infections as they try to reopen their economies. In India, which reported a new daily high of 27,114 cases on Saturday, nearly a dozen states have imposed a partial lockdown in highrisk areas. Cases jumped from 600,000 to more than 800,000 in nine days. People are packing India’s public hospitals as many are unable to afford private ones that generally uphold high-
er standards of care. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged top officials to improve infection testing and tracking, especially in states with high positivity rates. Officials on the southern Japanese island of Okinawa said dozens of U.S. Marines have been infected at two bases there in what is feared to be a massive outbreak. The officials said the U.S. military asked that the exact figure not be released. “We now have strong doubts that the U.S. military has taken adequate disease prevention measures,” Gov. Denny Tamaki told reporters. In Australia, the beleaguered state of Victoria reported 216 new cases in the past 24 hours, down from the record 288 the previous day. It hopes a new six-week lockdown in Melbourne, Australia’s second-largest city with a population of 5 million, will curb the spread. “We cannot pretend that doing anything other than following the rules will get us to the other side of this,” said Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews. In Latin America, where inequality is sharp and Brazil and Peru are among the world’s top five most badly hit countries, the COVID-19 pandemic is sweeping through the continent’s leadership, with two more presidents and powerful officials testing positive in the past week. Yet developing countries are not the only ones overwhelmed. Confirmed COVID-19 cases in the U.S. have hit 3 million, with over 130,000 deaths — the worst outbreak by far in the world. The surge has led to equipment shortages as well as long lines at testing sites.
we have to take care of each other, and my children have to almost take care of themselves as we try to avoid contact while all under the same roof. While friends and family have been wanting to help in any way they can, they can’t be exposed. We are on our own. We feel lucky right now that we aren’t experiencing any of the symptoms that change this virus from mild to life-threatening. As awful as we feel, neither of us is experiencing any breathing troubles, thankfully. We are not sure where I was exposed. Our strong desire for our community is one of unity. Whether you believe in the severity of this disease or not, we are still all in this battle together. We want our own small business to open back up, and we don’t want to see any others have to shut their doors. We miss all the events that are having to cancel, getting together with
friends and family, sports and so much more. We get that it’s easy to drop your guard and to be tired of the restrictions. We also know it will take a collective effort from all of us to get this over faster. Please take care of your family, your friends and our small businesses by wearing a mask. In all situations, please wear one. It doesn’t protect you completely from disease, but it does prevent you from spreading the disease. Wear it even if you are just running in somewhere or even if there aren’t many people around. It is the most patriotic, loving, effective tool you have, and it’s simple. We don’t want anyone else to get this disease. Even in its mild form, it takes a lot out of you. We want to get back to some sense of normal as much as anyone. We really beg you to love your community and wear your mask. Let’s all work to get this behind us.
COVID-19 From Page 1A would be gone quickly. Later that night, I lost my sense of smell and progressively started feeling worse. I went to a health care facility and when I was retested, it confirmed what I feared. I was indeed positive and now had exposed my husband and children. My husband is a small business owner. We had just opened his restaurant, Scotties Bistro, when shutdowns made us pivot how he did business. I was devastated knowing that he had to close and his employees wouldn’t have a paycheck. While my job can be done remotely, it has been a struggle to work. I am very fatigued and find it difficult to concentrate on any task for long. I have had daily severe headaches and back pain. Ronnie came down with fever and pain shortly after I did. We both are now sick with the coronavirus. It’s difficult because
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Authorities executed a search warrant at the St. Louis mansion of a white couple whose armed defense of their home during a recent racial injustice protest drew widespread attention, their attorney confirmed Saturday. Mark and Patricia McCloskey, who are personal injury lawyers, were caught on video brandishing guns as demonstrators walked past their Renaissance palazzo-style home on June 28 while headed to protest outside of the mayor’s home nearby. The video showed Mark McCloskey, 61, wielding a long-barreled gun and Patricia McCloskey, 63 standing next to him waving a handgun. Joel Schwartz, the couple’s lawyer, said a search warrant was served Friday evening and that the gun Mark McCloskey was holding in the video was seized. Schwartz told The Associated Press that arrangements have been made to turn over to authorities on Saturday the gun that Patricia McCloskey had been holding, adding that her gun was inoperable at the time of the protest and still is. The couple has not been charged, and Schwartz said charges against them would be “absolutely, positively unmerited.” “A search warrant being executed is clear indication of what the circuit attorney’s intentions are. Beyond that, I can’t comment,” Schwartz said. Circuit Attorney Kimberly Gardner, who is St. Louis’ top prosecutor, issued a statement after the June 28 incident in which she said she was “alarmed” by what happened and that “any attempt to chill (the right to peacefully protest) through intimidation or
AP File Photo
In this June 28 photo, armed homeowners Mark and Patricia McCloskey, standing in front of their house along Portland Place, confront protesters marching to St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson’s house in the Central West End of St. Louis. Authorities executed a search warrant Friday evening at the St. Louis mansion owned by the McCloskey’s, a white couple whose armed defense of their home during a racial injustice protest last month made national headlines. Joel Schwartz, who is now representing the couple, confirmed Saturday that a search warrant was served, and that the gun Mark McCloskey was seen holding during last month’s protest was seized. threat of deadly force will not be tolerated.” Calls to Gardner’s office on Saturday ran unanswered. Schwartz said that under Missouri law, people who are in reasonable apprehension or fear have the right to take necessary steps to defend themselves. “In this particular situation, people not only broke the law and trespassed on private property, but they committed property damage,” Schwartz said, adding that a St. Louis business was burned down and a retired police captain was killed in the week leading up to the confrontation. Meanwhile, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported Saturday that public records and interviews show the McCloskeys are almost always in conflict with others, typically over control of private property. They filed a lawsuit in 1988 to obtain their house, a castle built for Adolphus Busch’s daughter and her
husband in the early 20th century. At the McCloskeys’ property in Franklin County, they have sued neighbors for making changes to a gravel road and twice evicted tenants from a modular home on their property. Mark McCloskey sued a former employer for wrongful termination and his sister, father and his father’s caretaker for defamation. The McCloskeys and the trustees of Portland Place, the tony private street in a St. Louis historic district where they live, have been involved in a three-year legal dispute over a small piece of land in the neighborhood. The McCloskeys claim they own it, but the trustees say it belongs to the neighborhood. Mark McCloskey said in an affidavit that he has defended the patch previously by pointing a gun at a neighbor who tried to cut through it.
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Struggle From Page 1A to regain his strength, but his focus was on how thankful he is to the people who helped him and his family. The Manchas are Hispanic, he said, but people of all races cared for them. “I had the best medical care I could get anywhere in this country,” Mancha said. “This sickness made me realize that I was right — I don’t want to live anywhere else.” Mancha hails from a family that has long been a part of the fabric of East Texas. His father, Ricardo “Lupe” Mancha, was a manager for El Chico restaurant in its early years, until he and his wife, Flor Estela, decided to start their own business, Lupe’s Mexican Restaurant. The restaurant chain operated for about 35 years, with Jesus continuing the business after his father’s death in 2009 and on his mother’s behalf until he closed the business in 2016. Jesus and his wife have three adult children who, like him, all graduated from Longview High School: Jessica, a speech pathologist who works in a local nursing home; David, a teacher at Judson STEAM Academy; and Daniel, who attends Texas A&M University. “I always thought (the coronavirus) was more dangerous than people thought,” Jesus said, as he and Daniel recalled how Mancha made predictions about how the virus would spread in America that came true, time and again. Mancha described telling his youngest son that, because of the virus, he likely wouldn’t be returning to school in College Station after spring break. “We were careful,” Jesus said, describing how he and his family wore masks and avoided crowds early in the pandemic.
Still, everyone in the Mancha family became ill, although Daniel had minor symptoms. The family says tests confirmed Jesus and David had COVID-19, but it was assumed for Marisol and Jessica since they became ill and live in the same house. “Me and my boy both got sick,” Jesus said of David. His son, though, ran a high fever. “I never had a fever, ever.” It was early April, though, and it was hard to get tested. He said the first clinic he took his son to wouldn’t test him. “He didn’t fit the criteria,” Jesus said, explaining that his son was 24 at the time, now 25. The family used a pulse oximeter to measure the oxygen level in David’s blood. It fell into the 80s% range, which Jessica said was alarming. “(David) finally, he got so weak I took him to one of those 24-hour clinics,” Jesus said, and his son was taken by ambulance to Longview Regional Medical Center. It was a Wednesday. David returned from the hospital three days later to quarantine at home as he continued to recover.
pounds by the time he became ill. “I was just zapped of energy completely,” he said, and expressed concern that there’s so much reliance on temperature screenings to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, considering that he didn’t have a fever. He was admitted to Longview Regional immediately, he said, and tested for COVID-19. It was April 5. On April 8, he was placed on a ventilator, with his daughter documenting his illness in a timeline she kept. “I went through a lot, but I should be home free, God willing,” Jesus said. “The true suffering was with my family.” Also on April 8, his wife and daughter were ill. Jessica said she never had fever, although her mother did. They both had labored breathing, but recovered within a couple of weeks. David was sick for about a month. Marisol and Jessica recalled getting a phone call from Jesus while they were at Diagnostic Clinic of Longview for an EKG to determine if they could be treated with hydroxychloroquine. Jesus told his wife, “He wasn’t going to make it.” Hospitalization to home “He was saying goodbye,” Marisol said. By that Sunday, Jesus’s condi“You’re going to be just fine,” tion had deteriorated. she remembers telling him. Jessica recalled seeing her “You’re going to be home next father sitting at the table that week. Well, three months later, he morning, struggling to breathe. was home.” She checked his oxygen level as Jesus also called his sons at well. home and made a phone call “If it wasn’t for the oximeter, to family friend John King, I might not be here,” Jesus said. “Another day might have been too Longview ISD athletic director and Lobo head football coach. late.” “I told him to watch over Daniel. Jesus said he’d had his first My family was going to raise him physical in October, and his doctor, Kortikere, had told him he right, but there’s nothing like a strong male figure,” Jesus said. didn’t have high blood pressure Jesus was on a ventilator for and he wasn’t diabetic. He did start a diet, though, and had lost 34 more than 60 days, from April 8 to
June 8, Jessica says, but he said he doesn’t remember any of that time beyond the strange dreams he had. His mother died April 11, three days after he was placed on a ventilator, a date Jessica noted as the day “Abuela passed” in the timeline she kept. “She was heartbroken,” Marisol said, with the family adding that Flor Estela died of a heart attack.
He had “great doctors,” he said. “I need to thank them all.” Jesus went from Longview Regional to Select Specialty Hospital inside Christus Good Shepherd Medical Center and finally to physical rehabilitation at Christus. He said he lost 100 pounds while in the hospital. His family wasn’t able to visit until those last couple of weeks at Christus. Once he was off the ventilator and awake, the hardest Light a candle part, Jesus said, was not being Jesus said before he went to the able to see his family at first, and hospital, he had called his mother not being able to drink water until and asked her to light a candle for he had been cleared to eat and him. He usually talked to her sev- drink. He returned home Tuesday, eral times a day, and he believes she passed away believing that he with a homecoming car parade organized by King. He ate Whahad already died. taburger for dinner, and on During that time, the nurses Wednesday, he and his family caring for Jesus would call the family on their phones and allow celebrated his 54th birthday with a them to speak to him even though meal from Olive Garden. Being home has its challenges he was heavily sedated. For the — trying to shower while he’s not first time in their 29-year-marat full strength and dealing with riage, Marisol and Jesus were a lingering cough. He’ll continue separated when they celebrated with physical therapy. their anniversary April 26. “I’m trying to bust my butt. I Her father’s condition was “up want to walk as soon as I can,” he and down” for the first two or said. “I’m not asking for anything. three weeks, Jessica said, with I already got my miracle.” Marisol describing receiving bad When he spoke Thursday, he news every day. In the meantime, they said, Kor- was planning to be sitting today in St. Mary’s Catholic Church. Then, tikere — who would sometimes call Marisol late at night to update in the coming days he has plans to her on her husband’s condition — see his mother’s grave and to start and other physicians began a na- visiting the many people he wants to thank in person. tionwide search for plasma from “My kids are young. We all someone with Jesus’s specific blood type who also had been sick go through phases. Faith can be with COVID-19. The antibodies in difficult,” Jesus said. “Most of that person’s blood were expected us as we get older, most of see so many things in our lifetime to help Jesus survive. that we increase our faith. We’ve A match was found through always been pretty faithful, but for the Mayo Clinic, the family said, and two transfusions later, Jesus’ my young kids, it’s so inspiration to see them to know what it means condition stabilized. to have nobody else to turn to, to “That’s what saved me, most have to have faith. “ likely,” Jesus said.
Abbott
Spike
From Page 1A priority,” he said during the interview. “A murderer or a rapist or a robber is far more serious to concentrate on. However, I know this also, and that is if we do not all join together and unite in this one cause for a short period of time, of adopting a mask, what it will lead to the necessity of having to close Texas back down. “The only way those businesses are going to stay open is to make sure people wear masks to slow the spread of the coronavirus.” The order issued by the governor July 2 says Texans must wear a face covering over their nose and mouth in public places with some exceptions. According to the order, after a written or verbal warning for a first-time violator, a person could have to pay a fine not to exceed $250 for their second violation. Further violations would be punished by a fine not to exceed $250 each time. However, county and city officials in the Longview area have said they can’t or won’t enforce the mandate, with Longview Mayor Andy Mack saying enforcement is “impossible.” “We need our police department focused on criminal activity rather than mask compliance,” he said. Sheriffs in Upshur, Rusk and Smith counties also said the day after the order was issued that they would not be issuing fines for residents who do not comply. East Texas isn’t the only part of the state where the governor’s order faces resistance. In Montgomery County, which has a population of over 600,000 and has reported more than 2,700 coronavirus cases so far, the sheriff’s office said
July 3 that it would not take action on the mask rule. “This order includes specific language prohibiting law enforcement from detaining, arresting, or confining to jail as a means to enforce the order,” the agency wrote in a statement. “This language strips law enforcement of the necessary tools to enforce compliance with the law.” The statement added that the department would only respond to calls about violations of the order if they are from an “authorized supervisor representative of the business” that is reporting a person who refuses to leave the property. In a statement the next day, Gillespie County Sheriff Buddy Mills made a similar declaration. He also said his deputies would not be required to wear face masks on duty because it could put them at a disadvantage during a physical confrontation. Citing recent protests over police brutality, he said he wanted the deputies to be able to clearly communicate their intentions when interacting with residents. “The sheriff’s office does not make this statement as any disrespect to Governor Abbott and we encourage all citizens to take reasonable precautions in their own life to mitigate possible exposure to the corona virus,” Mills wrote. Law enforcement officials in Kerr County and Wood County and the cities of Hawkins and Winnsboro have also said they won’t enforce the mask rule. However, others have fallen in line. On June 25, the city of Colleyville, a suburb northeast of Fort Worth, issued a statement saying it would not adopt or enforce Tarrant County
Judge Glen Whitley’s mandate requiring businesses to call for their employees and customers to wear face masks. Jerry Ducay, Colleyville’s city manager, said that while Colleyville Mayor Richard Newton encouraged people to wear masks, he did not believe it was “appropriate for our police officers to be put in a position of being asked to enforce an unenforceable act.” However, the city changed its stance after Abbott’s order. “I believe the vast majority of (people) were already wearing masks, and certainly were doing so in areas that they could not social distance,” Ducay said. “And I believe that effort is continuing throughout, and our business owners and our citizens recognize that wearing masks provides a benefit in our ongoing fight with COVID.” Abbott also gave counties the opportunity to opt out if they have a low number of active coronavirus cases. A week later, 78 counties have taken him up on that offer. “I think it’s an insult to Texans to be required to do something they should have discretion for,” said Hugh Reed, the top administrator for rural Armstrong County, near Amarillo, which opted out. In order to opt out of the requirement, the counties need to have 20 or fewer active COVID-19 cases. Given the spread of the virus in recent weeks, only counties that are sparsely populated and rural tend to qualify. Most are in conservative areas of the state. Rex Fields, the top elected official in Eastland County, said Abbott’s option for counties with low coronavirus case counts “gives people some personal freedom.”
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From Page 1A are 56 COVID-19 patients hospitalized in Longview, and he is not concerned about running out of space soon since there are about 400 beds in the city’s two hospitals. “Both of them have the ability to expand higher than their normal bed count,” he said. “We’re not anywhere near being at capacity; we still have plenty of ICU beds.” Browne said there are about 72 ventilators available in Longview, but in an emergency, other machines can be made into ventilators. The county’s recovery rate increased 27% from July 1 to July 11, from 145 recovered patients to 184. Browne said a person is declared recovered if he or she does not feel sick or have any symptoms 10 to 14 days after a positive test. Some people choose to get another test to determine if they are recovered, Browne said. And some employers also require a negative test before people can go back to work, but a negative test is not required to be considered recovered. Browne also addressed other questions related to positive COVID-19 cases:
Reporting the numbers
Gregg County considers many factors when reporting numbers to the public to ensure they are fair and accurate, he said. Browne said people who retest are not counted again in the positive case count. “Once you get a positive, we don’t include you again. That would be too confusing and not fair,” he said. After a first positive result, people are not again included in reported numbers until they are recovered, then they are added to the recovery total, he said. “Even people who get
well, but then within 10 days get sick again, we don’t count them twice,” Browne said. Anyone who is tested at a hospital before a surgery or birth are only included in Gregg County’s numbers if they live in the county, Browne said. If they live in another county, those results are reported to their county of residence. Browne also said antibody testing is not included in the COVID-19 numbers reported by the county.
Nursing homes
Rumors that nursing home patients who test positive are taken to a hospital until they are symptom-free for 30 days and test negative twice are not true, Browne said. COVID-19 patients are only brought to a hospital if they are sick enough to require hospitalization, he added. He said the entire population of a nursing homes isn’t tested more than once.
Steps after a positive test
Patients are notified of their test results by the facilitator of the test, Browne said. That could include the National Guard for mobile testing or hospitals and clinics. Browne said the county speaks to patients as part of the contact tracing process to see who they have been exposed to and where they have been since they started showing symptoms. “If they’re positive, they’re supposed to self-quarantine for 14 days; we reinforce that and reiterate you need to be quarantined for 14 days,” he said. During that time, patients are told to check for symptoms such as fever, cough and shortness of breathe, Browne said.
East tExas/statE
news-journal.com
SECTION B / SUNDAY, JULY 12, 2020 AREA
Digest AUSTIN
Flood planning group nominations extended The Texas Water Development Board has extended the deadline to Friday for nominations of potential members of Texas’ first-ever regional flood planning groups. The 15 regional planning groups, formed around river basin boundaries, will require 12 representatives of specific interest categories, including agriculture, industries, river authorities, counties, municipalities, water districts, flood districts, electric generating utilities, water utilities, environmental interests, small businesses and the public. The planning groups will develop regional flood plans by January 2023, which will culminate in the inaugural state flood plan in 2024. Interested candidates should fill out a nomination form available on the Water Development Board website at twdb.texas.gov . Forms must be submitted by Friday. The board will select planning group members by early fall. The Texas Water Development Board is the state agency charged with collecting and disseminating water-related data, assisting with regional planning and preparing the state water plan for the development of the state’s water resources.
Gregg County adds 25 COVID-19 cases State posts 1-day record FROM STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS
As Gregg County continued its streak Saturday of double-digit increases in COVID-19 cases, state officials reported a record 10,351
new cases. Gregg County Health Administrator A.J. Harris said Saturday that the county recorded 25 more cases for a total of 813. He said a total of 4,294 tests have been administered in the county, with 3,243 negative and 238 pend-
ing. There have been 184 recoveries and 14 deaths, both unchanged from Friday. Elsewhere in the area, Harrison County Judge Chad Sims reported eight more cases Saturday to bring the total there to 415. Sims also said there have been four more recover-
Vroom, Vroom
Cops: Gunman shoots 2 officers, sister, self Two law enforcement officers were shot when a suspect accused of killing his sister and threatening others opened fire on them in North Texas and barricaded himself in a home, authorities said Friday. Police in Reno, about 20 miles northwest of Fort Worth, say the suspect was later found dead of what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
FORT WORTH
State confirms first case of virus in animal A North Texas dog has been found to have the first coronavirus infection confirmed in a Texas animal, state officials said. The Texas Animal Health Commission announced in a statement that the Fort Worth-area dog was confirmed to have the virus that causes COVID-19. A private veterinarian tested the pooch Tuesday as a precaution after its owners were confirmed to have COVID-19. The veterinarian reported the 2-year-old dog is otherwise healthy, according to the commission statement. FROM STAFF REPORTS
MARVIN NICHOLS
Reservoir uproar at water meeting BY KIM COX
New special needs playground work starts
RENO
See CASES, Page 6B
The Paris News
KILGORE
Kilgore’s crews have started site preparation for the new Friendship Playground, adjacent to the pavilion at the Harris Street Park. The playground, designed specifically to be accessible to children with special needs, is a project of the Kilgore Chamber of Commerce’s E4 Leadership Class. Stacey Cole, Kilgore city librarian and a member of the class, said the class expects equipment to be delivered within the next week to 10 days. “Right now, community build dates are set for July 27 and 29 weather permitting,” Cole said about volunteer efforts to install the equipment. “So far, Republic Services and SWEPCO employees are going to help, as are several city employees.”
ies for a total of 245. Harrison County has had 30 coronavirus-related deaths. The Rusk County Office of Emergency Management said in a statement late Friday that the county’s
Les Hassell/News-Journal Photos
Above: A group of people sit in the shade Saturday to visit while attending the Outlaw Nationals Car Show in Jefferson. Below: A vintage Studebaker glows on display. Below, right: Visitors check out the colorful array of vehicles at the show.
Outlaw Nationals Car Show rolls into downtown Jefferson FROM STAFF REPORTS
C
lassic and unique cars rolled into downtown Jefferson on Friday and Saturday for the 20th annual Outlaw Nationals Car Show, which benefits the Percy. R. Johnson Burn Foundation and Camp I’m Still Me. The open class car show, usually hosted in the spring, was pushed to this weekend because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and hand washing stations were set up throughout downtown Jefferson. Entry fees for the participating vehicles go to the Percy R. Johnson Burn Foundation and the annual Camp I’m Still Me for burn victims in Scottsville. Organizers also held a 50/50 drawing and an auction to raise money for the foundation. To learn more about the annual car show, visit www.outlawnationals.com. For informa-
Les Hassell/News-Journal Photo
Visitors check out the vehicles on display Saturday at the Outlaw Nationals Car Show in Jefferson. tion or to donate to the Percy R. Johnson Burn Foundation or Camp I’m Still Me, visit www. campimstillme.com .
Kilgore chili cook-off canceled BY STELLA WIESER
swieser@kilgorenewsherald.com
The annual East Texas Oilmen’s Chili Cook-off, which usually brings about 10,000 people to downtown Kilgore, has been cancelled because of COVID-19 concerns. The fundraising event that takes places in late October or early November on Commerce Street won’t be held for the first time in its 28year history. The decision by the board to cancel the event was a difficult one and not taken lightly, but event chair Nicole Oubre believes it was the right one. “It wasn’t easy, but I feel like our country is facing
something that we’ve never faced before, and how do you prepare for something months in advance when you don’t know what months in advance brings?,” Oubre said. “When they closed everything down back in March, I’m sure we all thought by July we’d be back to normal, and here we are not back to normal. Here we are now all being required to wear face masks any time we’re in public, so I just think right now you can’t really foresee what the rest of 2020 has for us.” Oubre said social distancing would be impossible at the cook-off. “It’s a 10,000-person event, and right now the state isn’t
even allowing 10 or more to get together, so things may get better, I’m praying, between now and October, but it’s very hard for us to plan and take people’s money, take company’s money, get prepared if it may not even happen,” she said. “So, it was a very very, very difficult decision to make, but we don’t even know if the state would allow us to have it come October, let alone what stipulations we’d have to abide by to have that event. We’d rather play safe than sorry.” With the oilfield hurting, Oubre said organizers didn’t want to take money from the See CHILI, Page 6B
MOUNT PLEASANT — A recent hearing conducted by the Region D Water Planning Group, which represents Northeast Texas, concerning its draft regional water plan featured remarks exclusively about how the proposed Marvin Nichols Reservoir should not be part of the state’s water plan. In Mount Pleasant, sitting in chairs spaced 6 feet apart because of COVID-19 concerns, one by one, several speakers stood to decry the inclusion by Region C — or the Dallas-Forth Worth area — of the reservoir in its part of the state’s upcoming five-year water plan. Regional boards have until March 2021 to submit their final plans to the state water board for inclusion in the 2022 state water plan. Region C decided to ignore an agreement reached in 2015 between the two groups, one commenter said. “Region C arbitrarily wants to change the content of the agreement,” said Richard LeTourneau of Harrison County. “I don’t believe there is any reasonable answer to why Region C changed it.” After years of disagreements over the proposed reservoir, the two regions sat down in 2015 and created an agreement that the reservoir wouldn’t be considered in the water plan until 2070. Region C’s plan now has bumped up the timeline for the reservoir to 2050, in direct conflict with the previous agreement. For their part, Region C representatives, who met after the Region D group met, have responded to the accusations about changing the 2015 agreement, pointing out the agreement was only for the 2016 plan. At the Mount Pleasant hearing, Gary Cheatwood of Red River County said he and his family have been fighting the reservoir for more than 30 years. “This is the most detrimental thing that can happen to the Sulphur River Basin,” he said. “This ain’t right, what they’re doing. We are a free and independent people. We should have the right to live where we want to live. … They are trying to boot us off of our land … so they can make a dollar or two off of it.” Kevin Ward, the general manager of the Trinity River Authority and chairman of the Region C Water Planning Group board, said the group pushed up the Marvin Nichols Reservoir because of population changes that have occurred in the Dallas-Fort Worth area since the See WATER, Page 6B
PANOLA COUNTY
Gift of painting memorializes fallen deputy BY STELLA WIESER
swieser@panolawatchman.com
CARTHAGE — A gift from a neighboring sheriff’s office will forever memorialize a fallen Panola County sheriff’s deputy. Capt. Joey Bartlett of the Shreveport Police Department and JaNiece Cefalu with the Bossier Sheriff’s Office presented a painting of Chris Dickerson during a ceremony Wednesday morning attended by Dickerson’s wife and two children. See PAINTING, Page 6B
Obituaries
news-journal.com ory are her children, Terry Arden of Pine Mills, Kevin Arden and his significant other Gretchen Jackson of Kilgore, Lori Rosas and her husband Alejandro of Kilgore; sister, Lillian Lee of Vidor grandchildren, Tammy Selman (Jay), Amye Corrado, Keri Ross (Eddie), Misty Arden (Rob Anderson), Erica Rosas (Jeremy McGlasson), Adam Rosas (Nicole), Jackson Rosas, Garret Rosas; great-grandchildren, Eric Cabrera, Veronica Vasquez, Priscila Torres, Presley Torres, Olivia Corrado, Johnny Corrado, Tori Tozetto, Carli Self, Leila Anderson, Lainee Self, River Williams, Carly Rosas, Avery Rosas, Abram Rosas, Aiden Rosas; great-greatgrandchild, Easton Jarrell Also, left to carry on her legacy are numerous nieces, nephews, friends and other loving family members. Billie Jean was preceded in death by her parents, husband M.L. Arden, sons Lynn Arden, Michael Arden, siblings Homer Maynard, Kenneth Maynard, Vivian Satterwhite, Maudie Williams and Blanch Maynard. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Sunday, July 12, 2020 from 2 until 4 in the afternoon. Please be aware that face coverings for people 10 and older are required as well as maintaining social distancing. A memorial registry book will be available for signatures. Memorials may be made in her name to the National Kidney Foundation and the American Heart Assoc. Online condolences may be left at www.raderfuneralhome.com
Billie Jean Arden
KILGORE — Chapel Services for Mrs. Billie Jean Arden, 88, of Kilgore will be held at 10 a m on Monday, July 13, 2020, in the Chapel of Rader Funeral Home in Kilgore with Rev. Chad Hlavaty officiating. Interment will follow in the Kilgore City Cemetery. Mrs. Arden completed her earthly journey on Wednesday, July 8, 2020 in Longview. Billie Jean was born on November 10, 1931, in Joinerville to Horace B. and Lilliar Maynard. She graduated from Gaston High School in 1950, where she also lived on the campus because here father was the caretaker of the school. Billie married the love of her life, M.L. Arden in 1950. She was a lifelong member of Mt. Hope Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Billie worked as daycare worker for Sugar and Spice and Lad and Lassie daycares. She cared for numerous children both in the daycare and privately and they called her ‘Mimi”. When not caring for children she enjoyed painting landscapes and florals, crocheting and working crossword puzzles. Billie enjoyed collecting church cookbooks as well as angel and cat figurines. Her family, especially her children and grandchildren were the source of her strength and spending time with them was when she was happiest. Having touched so many lives she will be greatly missed. Left to cherish her mem-
Laura Ann Skinner
Wanda Faye Daughtry
LONGVIEW — Laura Ann Skinner was born September 25, 1941 in Pampa, Texas to John and Opal Ferrell. She was a graduate of Pine Tree High School, a former LeTourneau University cheerleader and a longtime resident of Longview, Texas. Laura was a charter member of New Beginnings Baptist Church in Longview, Texas. She attended Forest Home Baptist Church in Kilgore, Texas at the time of her death. Laura Ferrell Skinner, 78, passed away July 8, 2020 in Longview, Texas. She leaves behind her only child, Stephen Kyle Skinner & wife Alison; 3 grandsons, Bailey Kyle Skinner, Harrison Stephen Skinner, and Graham William Skinner; brothers, Bobby Ferrell & Gene Ferrell; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Arnold Ira Skinner; parents, John and Opal Ferrell; brothers, Reuben Daily, Charles Ferrell; & Sister, Leatha Daily Glisson. Private family interment took place at Rosewood Park in Longview where she is now joined with her beloved husband.
3B
Longview News-Journal, Sunday, July 12, 2020
rose in the ranks of ROTC and graduated in 1963 with a degree in mechanical engineering. From college, he entered the Air Force at Eglin Air Force Base in Fort Walton, Florida as second lieutenant and quickly rose to Captain. In 1965 he met his first wife, Laura Sue Lane, with whom he raised four boys in Louisiana. His first child, Chad Jr was born in February 66. In June 1966 he received his orders for Vietnam and was stationed at a base in Saigon. In the late eighties he moved to Longview Texas to start an MEP engineering firm. It was there he met his second wife Dianne Lynn Morrow. He supported his new wife, her four children along with his four boys while launching his own business. A testament to his incredible work ethic, tenacity, and loving support. After the kids all graduated high school, he made a move to Dallas and signed with a large company as chief engineer. There he remained until his retirement when he moved back to Lafayette to take care of his mother. He and Dianne lived in Lafayette until early this year when they moved back to Longview to be closer to family. Chad was a father, a teacher, a mentor, and was loved by many. The family will receive friends for a personalized visitation on Monday July 13 from 12-5pm at Rader Funeral Home in Longview, Texas. His service and burial are scheduled for Tuesday July14th at 10 am in Rosewood Park Cemetery.
Chadwick Breaux
LONGVIEW — Wanda Faye Daughtry, age 72, passed away July 8th, 2020 at Longview Regional Hospital, surrounded by her loved ones. Wanda, born on November 19, 1947 in Marshall, Tx, was one of five children born to Troy Staples and Eva McIntosh. She left school to start her family, after completing the ninth grade. Wanda called East Texas her home, her entire life, and never wanted to live anywhere else. Wanda truly appreciated the little things in life. She loved spending weekends at the lake with her family, driving down country roads, and camping. Anyone who knew her, knew of her deep love for animals and Elvis. The only thing she loved more, was her family. She was a strong pillar of love and support and will be missed beyond words by her surviving sister, Linda Fitch, and her surviving daughters, LaRonda Sprayberry; Sandra Chambliess, and husband Stephen (Bruce); Machelle Dorsey and husband Alfred; her sister-in-law Doris; 17 grandchildren, and 11 great grandchildren. Wanda is preceded in death by her brothers, Albert Ridgeway, Ricky Staples, and Kenneth Staples; her loving husband Michael Daughtry; and her youngest daughter Sharelle Daughtry.
LONGVIEW — Chadwick Paul Breaux departed this world on Friday July 10, 2020 with most of his family nearby. He was ready to pass and left in peace. Chad was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his siblings Sheryl Coulter and Charles Breaux, his wife Dianne Lynn Breaux, his four sons Chad Jr., Matthew, Andrew and his wife Whitney, and Stephen, his step children Mike, Michelle, Marc, Melynda, his grandchildren Hailey, Morgan, Katelyn, Lilly, Izzi, Joseph, Zach, Sydney, Grayson, Hudson, Lucas, Chloe, Michael, Andrew, Bryan, Megan, Jarad, and Jordan, and his great grandchildren Charlie, and Tristan. Chad was born in Church Point, Louisiana on September 7, 1939 to Joseph Paul Breaux and Wilda Mae DeJean Breaux. His early years were spent playing marbles under the house, riding his bike, making his paper route, hunting birds in the nearby corn field, mildly terrorizing the neighborhood, and standing up to the bullies of Acadiana. He began his education at Rugg elementary school in Alexandria. He graduated from Bolton high school where he attended four years of ROTC. He then attended Louisiana Tech in Ruston where he
POLICE BEAT
Lois Marie Jones
LONGVIEW — Lois Marie Jones, 79, of Longview, Texas, passed away peacefully on July 8, 2020. Mrs. Jones was born in Pampa, Texas on August 26, 1940 and was the daughter of the late Paul and Helen Rittenhouse. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her sister Beverly (Tom) Johnson of Braggs, Oklahoma. Surviving is her husband James Jones; two sons, Tony and Jeff (Karyn) Jones of Longview, Texas; Stepdaughter, Nancy (Jerry) Kilpatrick of Levering, Michigan; two grandchildren, Nycole (Jeff) Bowden and Cory (Paige Siglin) Jones; and 4 great-grandchildren, Rilee, McKynna, Logan and Gatlin all of Longview, Texas; her sister Muriel (Warren) Thomas of Bartlesville, Oklahoma.
Gregg County Jail
All information from police and jail records: ■ Conner Frank Acheson, 20, of Longview was held Saturday on charges of assault of a family/household member to impede breath/circulation and interfering with an emergency call request for assistance. Bonds had not been set Saturday. Acheson was arrested by Longview police and booked into jail at 12:50 a.m. Saturday. ■ Ricky Ray Caraway, 54, of Longview was held Saturday on $30,000 bond on a charge of a family/household member to impede breath/circulation with a previous conviction, if at trial. Caraway was arrested by Longview police and booked into jail at 9:43 p.m. Friday. ■ Chester Wayne Carmack, 36, of Longview was released Friday on a warrant for deadly conduct. Carmack was arrested by Gregg County sheriff’s deputies and booked into jail at
More obituaries
■ See more notices. Page 6B
10:37 a.m. Friday. ■ Glenn Charles Davis Jr., 45, of Longview was held Saturday on $5,000 bond on a charge of possession of less than 1 gram of a controlled substance. Davis was arrested by Longview police and booked into jail at 12:31 a.m. Saturday. ■ David Wesley Dennis, 37, of Longview was sentenced to 10 months in a state jail for a conviction on a warrant for theft of property less than $2,500 in value with two or more previous convictions. Dennis was arrested by Harrison County sheriff’s deputies and booked into jail at 6:36 p.m. Friday. ■ Cynthia Ann Graham, 54, of Longview was released Saturday on $5,000 bond on a charge of possession of less than 1 gram of a controlled substance. Graham was arrested by Longview police and booked into jail at 5:10 p.m. Friday. ■ Marcus Deshun Hawkins, 37, of League City was held Saturday on $20,000 in bonds
on charges of driving while intoxicated, third or more offense; and possession of between 1 and 4 grams of a controlled substance. Hawkins was arrested by Texas Department of Public Safety troopers and booked into jail at 8:32 p.m. Friday. ■ Antonie Monroe King, 23, of Longview was held Saturday on $15,000 in bonds on a warrant for continuous violence against the family and a warrant for violation of a bond/protective order. King was arrested by Gregg Count sheriff’s deputies and booked into jail at 10:29 a.m. Friday. ■ Steven Blake Lampkin, 32, of Longview was held Saturday on $10,000 bond on a charge of tamper/fabricate physical evidence with intent to impair. Lampkin was arrested by Longview police and booked into jail at 7:18 p.m. Friday. ■ Brodrick Demond Leatch, 29, of Henderson was held Saturday on $16,000 in bonds
on a charge of possession of less than 1 gram of a controlled substance and on a warrant from Rusk County for motion to revoke probation for a previous conviction for contempt of court disobedience of a court order/child support. Leatch was arrested by Kilgore police and booked into jail at 5:09 a.m. Saturday. ■ Brandon Durrell Medford, 35, of Troup was held Saturday on $50,000 bond on a warrant for failure to comply with sex offender’s duty to register for life and annually, for a parole violation and was held on a U.S. Marshals Service detainer. Medford was arrested by Gregg County sheriff’s deputies and booked into jail at 3:24 p.m. Friday. ■ Sarah Porier, 57, of Longview was held Saturday on $5,000 bond on a charge of theft of property less than $2,500 in value with two or more previous convictions. Porier was arrested by Longview police and booked
into jail at 8:20 a.m. Friday. ■ Robert L. Price III, 26, of Longview was held Saturday on $10,000 bond on a warrant for assault of a family/household member with intent to impede breath/circulation and on a parole violation. Price was arrested by Gregg County sheriff’s deputies and booked into jail at 9:55 a.m. Friday. ■ Justin Leeroy Risinger, 39, of Henderson was held Saturday on a warrant for violation of probation for a previous conviction for possession of less than 1 gram of a controlled substance. Bond had not been set Saturday. Risinger was arrested by Gregg County sheriff’s deputies and booked into jail at 10:47 a.m. Friday. — Find Police Beat by clicking on “police” at news-journal.com. Gregg County Crime Stoppers might pay up to $1,000 for information leading to an arrest or conviction. To report a crime, call (903) 236-STOP.
ATTENTION PARADE OF HOMES VISITORS: There was some incorrect information printed in Friday’s Parade of Homes section. The Longview News-Journal would like to apologize for these errors. Below are the corrections.
07
2501 WINDMILL LANE, LONGVIEW, TX 75601
08
420 ROESCH ROAD, HALLSVILLE, TX 75650
MEET THE BUILDER
09
105 DEERFIELD LAKE CIRCLE, LONGVIEW, TX 75605
MEET THE BUILDER
PYRAMID HOMES Anwar Khalifa
MEET THE BUILDER
JCJ & ASSOCIATES Jack Jenkins
Office: 903-894-8400 Cell: 903-530-6464 khalifa@pyramidhomes.com www.pyramidhomes.com
MKO CUSTOM BUILDERS Mark & K’Dawn O’Rear
903-738-5957 jcj.assoc@sbcglobal.net www.jcjandassociates.com
Cell: 903-571-7239 mkobuilders@outlook.com
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4
3
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Hallsville ISD
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2
3,702
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3,236
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Visit www.EastTexasParade.com or www.EastTexasBuilders.org for the the most accurate and up to date information
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Longview News-Journal, Sunday, July 12, 2020
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OpiniOn
Trump’s speech divine, not divisive
Editorials are the opinion of the News-Journal editorial board, which is led by Publisher Stephen N. McHaney, Regional Editor John Anderson and Editor Emeritus Phil Latham
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TODAY’S BIBLE VERSE “For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law.” Romans 3:28
Other voices
College chaos
Michael Cavazos/News-Journal File Photo
Servings of crawfish — also known as mudbugs — are seen at the 2018 Harvest Festival and Livestock Show Crawfish Boil at Maude Cobb Convention and Activity Center.
Risk COVID-19 or leave is choice for international students HOUSTON CHRONICLE
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n a move with no discernible benefits but dire consequences, the federal government is forcing international students to pick a priority: safeguarding their health against COVID-19 or continuing college in the U.S. The ultimatum, Rice University President David Leebron said this week, is “surprising in its clarity and cruelty.” “We should relish the fact that students from all over the world are choosing to come here, and not, in the midst of this health crisis, impose additional risks and burdens on them,” Leebron said. We couldn’t agree more. The Trump administration must reverse course, now — lest it compound one academic crisis with another. When universities responded to the outbreak this spring by switching to online courses, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement rightfully suspended requirements that international students must take in-person classes to keep their visas. With the coronavirus nowhere near under control, higher education officials expected those exemptions would continue at least through the fall semester. On Monday, the government announced that it was going back to business as usual and international students at schools offering only online classes must either transfer to an institution that offers face-to-face instruction or leave the country. “You don’t get a visa for taking online classes from, let’s say, the University of Phoenix, so why would you if you were just taking online classes generally?” White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany said at a news conference Wednesday. This response may make sense at any other time, but it blatantly ignores the public health dangers under the coronavirus and the larger ramifications for American colleges and universities. They’ve been thrown into chaos by the short-sighted move. Not only are schedules and plans for the upcoming academic year upended, schools are further constrained as they seek ways to safely offer classes during the growing pandemic. And let’s face the pragmatic truth: the rule means colleges and universities already suffering financially due to the pandemic now risk losing some of their best-paying customers, international students, who generally pay full price and may help subsidize American students. Universities that planned in the fall to replace most or all in-person classes with online courses, including Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of California, are suing the government over the decision. Students forced to leave the country can continue their U.S. studies online, but they face uncertainty and other obstacles. They may have to break leases. Travel restrictions can make trips home difficult. They’d have to reapply for visas if they wish to return to the U.S. The harm also extends to the broader economy. International students contributed more than $2 billion to Texas alone during the 2018-19 academic year, part of the more than $40 billion that they added to the U.S. economy. The United States benefits not only financially, but by harnessing talent from all over the world inside our research institutions. International students bring diverse perspectives and cultures, making for a richer, more rigorous educational experience for all students, better preparation for the global marketplace and help building crucial lifelong ties that improve America’s standing in the world. These are all benefits that other countries — including Canada, Australia and Singapore — are more than happy to take from us. The administration has already used the pandemic to further its agenda against legal immigrants. Last month, it suspended some work visas and expanded a ban on new green cards, and it continues to delay naturalization ceremonies, leaving hundreds of thousands of would-be citizens in limbo. In targeting international students, the administration gets to keep immigrants out of the country and force universities to open their classrooms if they want to keep their students enrolled. There’s something perversely askew in this country when a win-win for the president means a loss for America.
T
Taking mudbug madness to another level
he caller wanted me to wood — one of the best radio write something consports play-by-play men in demning Joey Chestnut the business — asked me to and the annual Nathan’s Hot come to Jefferson and be part Dog Eating Contest, held each of a mudbug eating contest. Fourth of July. Charlie is a smart man. He “It’s nasty and wasteful, knew Jefferson is one of my and it sets a bad example for favorite towns in Texas, and our children,” he screamed. — because he has spent much The caller wasn’t alone in of his adult life hanging his feelings about the event, around sportswriters — he JACK knew all he had to do to get which was won by Chestnut STALLARD my attention was mention for the 13th time in his comfood. petitive eating career. Here’s the problem. Longtime National Football I grew up in the mountains of East TenLeague writer Peter King tweeted “The fact is, ESPN celebrates the birthday of our nessee, and what they call “mudbugs” here country by airing a gluttonous, vomitous in Texas we called “crawdads.” We also and grotesque event. Eating is not a sport. called them “bait,” meaning I often put Competitive eating is a sin.” them on a hook in hopes of catching food, Full disclosure here. Back in 2008, I but had no idea folks actually considered sinned. But, in my defense, I wasn’t very them food. good at it. Also, since I wasn’t aware of the edibility More on that later. of mudbugs, I had no idea how to approach Chestnut, in case you missed it, the things. Finally, I’m very competitive, so crammed down a world-record 75 hot dogs when the judges told us they would weigh to win the annual Independence Day event. the box of mudbugs before and after the Miki Sudo won the women’s competition contest and the winner would be deterwith a record-setting 48.5 hot dogs. She’s mined by how much less the box weighed, now a seven-time champion. carnage ensued. The event was indeed televised, and you My competitive juices kicked in before can probably find a replay somewhere. I my brain engaged, and when the whistle wouldn’t recommend it unless you want to sounded to commence eating I popped a watch grown men and women jam food in couple of mudbugs in my mouth — whole their mouths at a remarkable pace while — and began to chew. their eyes bulge, sweat and slobber fly and It’s hard to describe what happened next, an explosion of epic and grotesque propor- but I do remember small children running away in fear, women fainting and a large tions seems likely at any moment While I agree with the caller the contest group of burly, tattooed bikers climbing on their Harleys and calling it a day. is nasty and wasteful, I’m not really sure I also know the town of Jefferson, which about the “bad example for children” part. If you have to tell your child NOT to eat 75 used to host an annual Bigfoot convention hot dogs in one sitting, there are probably and claims to be the home of a haunted hotel, decided I was too scary to invite back other issues you need to confront first. And, knock him if you want, but Chest- to the next mudbug eating contest. Which was fine with me since I lost the nut made $10,000 for his Fourth of July contest, and my participation trophy was a victory. I’ve seen that he easily makes $500,000 a year thanks to a combination of bout of indigestion so mean it would make Joey Chestnut go on an all-liquid diet. his winnings and sponsorships. My competitive eating career was much — Jack Stallard is sports editor of the News-Journal. shorter and much less lucrative. Email: jstallard@news-journal.com; follow on Twitter @ lnjsports . Back in 2008, my friend Charlie Chit-
Stupid excuses
I witnessed a man without a mask walk behind a retail counter and talk to a clerk within inches of the clerk’s face. Forget the arguments about the clerk should have stopped him, the store should regulate, it’s your right to not wear a mask, the whole thing is a hoax, etc. They are all wrong or just stupid excuses. The retail people are putting themselves at risk every day to service us. It is beyond irresponsible to not wear a mask. The infections in Gregg County are escalating. If you want everything to stay open, then become part of the solution. Wear a mask. I hope our mayor will come to the conclusion that what is needed in order not only to stay open but to save lives is to require masks. Once more, all of the excuses and arguments anyone comes up with are wrong or just stupid. — Robert Lowery, Longview
Letters TO THE EDITOR
tally the Forms of our Government.” For Trump, what Congress, Supreme Court, governors of the States?” And the king “has excited domestic insurrections among us.” Trump’s daily event. In 1776, “character marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be ruler of a free people.” So say we to Trump in November 2020. — Frank Supercinski, Longview
Report was needed
I normally just comment on opinions, but this time I feel I must write. It was exactly 50 years ago that the King’s transgressions Longview school buses were bombed The Declaration of Independence lists because our schools were about to be intethe following king of England transgresgrated, years after the federal mandate. I sions that President Donald Trump does or feel you should have done a report on that. desires to do. The News-Journal is mostly about local For example, “let Facts be submitted to happenings, and this horrible incident a candid worldly of repeated injuries and should have been told. usurpations (the king) has obstructed the — Sandi Sachnowitz, Austin Administration of Justice...for refusing his Assent to Laws.” Trump instructs disobedience of subpoenas and fires officials looking into his wrongdoing. The Longview News-Journal believes a comThe king was accused of “obstructing munity is best served when a chorus of voices is the Laws of Naturalization of Foreigners heard. Just as a musical choir depends on differ... refusing to encourage their migrations ent voices of different tones, so does productive hither.” Trump, the immigration hater, discourse about the issues of the day. except for his own family. Share your thoughts with a letter to the editor. The king “has affected to render the The guidelines are simple: Military independent of and superior to ■ Limit letters to one topic. the Civil Power.” The military disperses ■ Limit letters to 200 words or less. peaceful protesters. ■ Focus on issues, not personalities. The king “has made Judges dependent ■ We do not publish anonymous letters. on his Will alone.” Trump blasts judges ■ We do not publish letters involving individuruling against him. al disputes or business disputes. The king was noted “For cutting of our Mail: Letters, P.O. Box 1792, Longview, TX 75606 trade with all parts of the World” (Trump’s Email: lnjletters@news-journal.com tariff damage) and “altering Fundamen-
What do you think?
AN DIEGO — This being an election year, and with the media determined to send President Donald Trump into retirement, we shouldn’t expect to hear anyone give Trump credit for anything. All they have to offer is blame — and criticism. Even as a Trump critic myself — and an original Never Trumper who has despised the real estate mogul since June RUBEN 2015, NAVARRETTE when he declared his White House bid and revved up the crowd by essentially calling my Mexican grandfather a criminal, rapist, and drug dealer — I get sick of it. No president gets everything wrong, or everything right. Whether we’re talking about CNN on the left or Fox News on the right, the media is always trying to hypnotize the public. Why not just report events? Trump haters are stuck on the narrative that failed Democrats in the 2016 election, i.e. Trump is a bad person. Why, even going to Mt. Rushmore to praise America on the Fourth of July, we are told, is a diabolical attempt by an evil president to stoke divisions and start a “culture war.” If there is a war, the first shot was fired decades ago. In the words of Billy Joel, Trump didn’t start the fire. I don’t think the left has thought out this line of attack. It takes as least two parties to go to war. If Trump supports America, then can we assume that his opponents are against America? Is that really where anti-Trump liberals want to make their stand? The 2020 election should be about a whole host of things — from reviving the economy to battling the coronavirus to curbing police violence. Instead, the election could boil down to how we all feel about America. I’ll play along. I don’t care for Trump, but I love America. And I liked his speech. “We declare that the United States of America is the most just and exceptional nation ever to exist on Earth,” Trump told cheering supporters. Now that the activist fringe has succeeded in pulling Biden to the left and away from the moderate center, whenever the Democratic candidate talks about America, his robotic cadence sounds like this: “We won’t just rebuild this nation. We’ll transform it.” You know who’s been transformed? Joe Biden. To think that this is the same guy who, in 2008, Barack Obama put on the ticket because the Delaware senator had built his whole brand around being the “working-class whisperer.” While Democrats abandoned their common man roots and became the party of coastal elites, Biden remained connected to blue-collar folks who wear hard hats and carry lunch buckets. This year, Trump’s campaign message is obviously: “America the Beautiful.” Biden’s message seems to be: “America the Broken.” That’s a stark choice. Which message do you suppose will resonate with more Americans? Yeah, me too. I was afraid of that. Most Americans think the country is like a house that could use a touch up, a little paint, maybe some minor repairs. But America does not need to be torn down to the studs and rebuilt with safe spaces, “woke” culture and police-free CHOP zones. But do you know what really bugs me about the media’s attack on Trump’s speech? It’s not partisanship or politics. It’s personal responsibility, or rather the lack thereof. Trump told the crowd: “Angry mobs are trying to tear down statues of our Founders, deface our most sacred memorials, and unleash a wave of violent crime in our cities.” That settles it. The hard left — and the Democratic Party it now controls — should be disqualified from leading this country. How can they run it? They don’t even understand it. — Ruben Navarrette is a syndicated columnist with The Washington Post Writers Group. Email ruben@rubennavarrette.com
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Longview News-Journal, Sunday, July 12, 2020
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Mary “Sissy” Dryden Stahl
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LONGVIEW — Our beloved mother, Mary “Sissy” Dryden Stahl, was reunited in Heaven with all her family and friends who had gone Home before her on July 9, 2020. She was born during the Great Depression. Her childhood saw a World War. An oilfield brat, her family moved frequently throughout Texas. She attended college by modeling for Barbizon in Dallas. When she moved “home” to care for her ailing Mother, she never dreamed she would marry “The Boy Next Door”, Frederick Stahl, Sr. Their love story endured for 52 years, until his death in 2009. Throughout her marriage, Mrs. Stahl volunteered faithfully for her church, her children’s schools and her community, contributing thousands of hours and to the lives of countless children and those in need. Left to cherish her memory are her children: Rebecca “Becky” and CSM (R) Philip Brunwald of Lawton, OK, Elizabeth “Beth” and Mike Yeager of Taos, NM and Frederick “Freddy”, Stahl,Jr. and Bonnie Smith of Longview, TX. MeMe’s true treasures, however, were her grandchildren: Taylor (James) and Hunter (Endija) Brunwald, Will Yeager, and Baylea (Ryan) Smith. The birth of her first great grandchild, Henry Assenheimer, brought her incredible joy. In keeping with the wishes of our mother, there will be no funeral services. Please honor our mother’s memory with acts of kindness to others.
Chili From Page 1B companies that usually participate in the cookoff. “Kilgore is an oilfield-based town, and right now the oilfield is not doing good,” she said. “So although the oilfield companies that have participated have always been very generous, at this point in time I would rather them put that money back into their own companies. People are getting laid off left and right. Hours are getting cut, businesses and doors are being closed, and I’d rather a company invest that back into themselves than donate right now. If companies can donate, that’s great, but I just don’t feel comfortable asking for that right now. “In addition to us, these companies that participate, a lot of them reserve things and start planning and purchasing things before the event in addition to paying their entry fee, and I just think right now it’d be irresponsible for us to even give people the possibility that it could happen. It’s just safer for us to say no and keep everybody safe in the long run.”
Cases From Page 1B total had increased 10 to 135. Rusk County has had 80 recoveries and three deaths. And Titus County Judge Brian Lee said Saturday that while his county recorded only a single new virus case Thursday and Friday, one more death was reported. “Sadly, we had another patient that was on a ventilator pass away,” he said. Titus County has a total of 967 COVID-19 cases and seven deaths. Saturday’s single-day record brought the state’s total to just more than a
quarter-million dating to the start of tracking in early March. The true number of cases though is likely higher because many people have not been tested, and studies suggest people can be infected and not feel sick. A record 10,083 COVID-19 patients were hospitalized as of Saturday, while 99 new fatalities were reported. That total is second only to the record 105 reported Thursday and brought the state’s overall death toll to 3,112. Harris County had the most active cases with almost 27,000, with Dallas County coming in a distant second with almost 13,000.
Northeast Texas case count The total of reported cases of COVID-19 by Saturday evening in Northeast Texas was at least 7,961, up from 7,737 on Friday. Across the region, 218 total deaths had been reported Saturday, which was up eight from Friday. Here’s a look at totals by county Saturday and changes from Friday: ■ Anderson: 211, 3 deaths (+2) ■ Angelina: 743, 9 deaths ■ Bowie: 353 (+21), 26 deaths ■ Camp: 131 (+1), 2 deaths ■ Cass: 57, 3 deaths ■ Cherokee: 357 (+71), 2 deaths ■ Delta: 7 ■ Franklin: 55, 1 death ■ Gregg: 813 (+25), 14 deaths ■ Harrison: 415 (+8), 30 deaths ■ Henderson: 256 (+26), 4 deaths ■ Hopkins: 80, 2 deaths ■ Lamar: 392 (+15), 14 deaths ■ Marion: 37, 1 death ■ Morris: 51 ■ Nacogdoches: 554 (+29), 31 deaths (+5) ■ Panola: 241, 25 deaths ■ Red River: 119, 12 deaths ■ Rusk: 135 (+10), 3 deaths ■ Shelby: 294 (+2), 14 deaths ■ Smith: 1,299, 7 deaths ■ Titus: 966, 7 deaths (+1) ■ Upshur: 90 ■ Van Zandt: 182 (+15), 3 deaths ■ Wood: 123, 5 deaths ■ Totals: 7,961 and 218 deaths Sources: Texas Department of State Health Services, Northeast Texas Public Health District, local officials
Water From Page 1B last state water plan. “The new drought of record for the Sulphur River basin, combined with unfavorable review of the Wright Patman strategy by the (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers), led the project sponsors to the decision to put the Marvin Nichols strategy in 2050,” Ward said. The specific wording of the agreement, available on both regions’ websites, denotes the compromise is only for the 2016 State Water Plan. “Region C will move the Marvin Nichols Reservoir as a designated strategy to the year 2070 in its 2016 regional water plan,” is the first condition in the agreement. The second one agrees that Region C will support Region D in studying alternative water resources to Marvin Nichols. The third condition states Region C will not submit any applications for reservoirs in Region D through the fifth planning cycle, which is 2017-21, the cycle the boards are currently in. This means that Region C can, legally, include Marvin Nichols in its 2021 plan, and even possibly apply for the reservoir to be built after next year. However, reservoirs can take decades to come into existence. The state Legislature has to sign off on it, along with the state water development board and several other entities. Most reservoirs in Texas are built by the Army Corps of Engineers, which would need studies conducted for many factors, including viability and environmental impact
before it could even plan a dam on the Sulphur River. At a joint meeting between the two regions in this past December, Region C representatives said part of their plan for Marvin Nichols would be that 80% of the water supplied by the reservoir would go to Dallas, but the rest would go to Northeast Texas. “Paid for by Region C,” Ward said. Region C plans to give continued support for Region D studies about the effects of Marvin Nichols and a resolution recommending no applications for the reservoir through the adoption of the 2027 state water plan, which will be the sixth planning cycle, Ward said. Other parts of the proposal are for shoreline improvement regulations and leasing back the land acquired until it is needed for construction of the reservoir. If the two regions are unable to come to some kind of agreement over the proposed reservoir for their respective water plans, the Texas Water Development Board will have to step in. The first step is the state board having the regional board appoint representatives who can negotiate on behalf of the regions and try to get both groups to come to the table with an agreement. If that doesn’t work, the state board’s executive administrator, Jeff Walker, is allowed to step in and determine a proposed recommendation for the conflict. After a public hearing for the proposal, Walker can then put the proposal before the state board for a vote.
Painting
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From Page 1B Cefalu painted the portrait that was given to the Panola County Sheriff’s Office, and a framed copy also was presented to Dickerson’s wife, Krista. Dickerson, a 2009 graduate of Carthage High School, had worked with the Panola County Sheriff’s Office for eight years until he was shot and killed Dec. 31 during a traffic stop. Cefalu said she has painted portraits of other fallen law enforcement officers in the
area as a tribute, including officers in Shreveport, Baton Rouge and the five Dallas officers killed by a gunman in 2016. “I was with Shreveport police for a long time, and we lost some officers out there, and after losing a child myself, I wanted to do something to keep their memory alive, so I began painting,” she said. “Then we went on trips to Baton Rouge to deliver paintings and Dallas, and then I’ve been to Houston to an officer there, to Nacogdo-
ches where one of my friends from the sheriff’s department was killed in the line of duty.” Bartlett described Cefalu’s work as a way to honor officers who give the ultimate sacrifice while on the job. “It’s to memorialize them, and let’s not forget what happened,” Bartlett said. “A lot of times, something like this, we try to self-preserve ourselves and not think about it all the time, but we want to remember his memory and what he did sacrifice.”
SportS
ALSO INSIDE
■ Sports On TV: 2C ■ Baseball Roundup: 4C ■ Business: 8C
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SECTION C / SUNDAY, JULY 12, 2020
Longview, Malakoff lead preseason poll
KILGORE COLLEGE TRYOUT CAMP
BY BRANDON OGDEN Tyler Morning Telegraph
Les Hassell/News-Journal Photos
Above: Coach Brian Hoberecht watches as area players compete during a tryout camp for the Kilgore College basketball team on Saturday. Another tryout camp is set for 1 p.m. on Aug. 1. Cost is $20, and the tryouts are open to any college-age basketball player with collegiate eligibility. Tryouts will be held at KC’s Masters Gymnasium, and all CDC guidelines will be followed for social distancing, health and safety. Registration begins at noon, and players are asked to wear rubber-soled basketball shoes, shorts and a T-shirt. Below: Justin Crawford of Mansfield and other area basketball players take part in Saturday’s tryout camp.
NASCAR
TYLER — Longview and Malakoff both ended their 2018 season playing for a state title at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. After earlier than expected playoff exits in 2019, the Lobos and Tigers enter 2020 hoping to return to championship weekend at the home of the Dallas Cowboys. Longview tops the Class 6A/5A/4A portion of the #bEASTTexas Fabulous 15 preseason poll, while Malakoff leads the way in the Class 3A/2A/TAPPS poll. The Lobos, coming off of an 11-1 campaign, received nine first-place votes and 204 points. Malakoff, which went 11-2 received four first-place votes and earned 185 points. Malakoff’s two losses came to Grandview, which won its second consecutive state title, and Pottsboro, which fell to Grandview in the state championship game. Those two losses for the Tigers were by a total of eight points. Longview is followed in the big-school poll by defending Class 4A Division I champion Carthage. The Bulldogs received five first-place votes and earned 192 points. Rounding out the top five are Pleasant Grove (174 points), Lufkin (173 points) and Gilmer (136 points). John Tyler is just outside of the top five and is followed by Marshall and Tyler Lee. Pine Tree is the only team in the 2020 preseason top 15 for Class 6A/5A/4A that didn’t finish the 2019 regular season in the top 15. In the Class 3A/2A/TAPPS poll, there was plenty of diversity as 35 teams earned at least one vote and five different teams received a first-place vote. Following Malakoff was Daingerfield with three first-place votes and 180 points. Gladewater, which will be under the direction of alum Jonny Louvier after John Berry left to become the defensive coordinator at Longview, picked up five first-place votes and earned 172 points to start the season at No. 3 in the poll. San Augustine (149 points) comes in at No. 4. Paul Pewitt, which played in the Class 3A Division II title game last season, rounds out the top five with 132 points and one first-place vote. Atlanta finished last season outside of
Voters in the poll were Jack Stallard, Hayden Henry and George Whitley of the Longview News-Journal, Phil Hicks and Brandon Ogden of the Tyler Morning Telegraph, J. Scott Russell of the Panola Watchman, Nathan Hague of the Marshall News Messenger, John Krueger of the Nacogdoches Daily Sentinel, Josh Havard of the Lufkin Daily News, Mitch Lucas of the Kilgore News Herald, Juwan Lee of the Palestine Herald-Press, Jay Neal of the Jacksonville Progress, Reagan Roy of CBS 19 and Harlen the Sports Guy of the Friday Night Scoreboard Show.
Associated Press
Associated Press
See NASCAR, Page 3C
the top 15 but checks in at No. 6 in the 2020 preseason rankings. Diboll received the final first-place vote and is No. 7 in the poll. West Rusk, Waskom, Newton and Tenaha join Atlanta as teams to finish 2019 outside of the top 15 but land in the top 15 heading into the 2020 campaign.
BY GREG BEACHAM
GARY B. GRAVES SPARTA, Ky. — The Kentucky Speedway winners’ club is exclusive — just five drivers have combined to win the first nine NASCAR Cup races. All have championships, with the 400mile race providing a springboard to the title for Kyle Busch (2015), Brad Keselowski (2012) and Martin Truex Jr. (2017). That trio also has multiple Kentucky wins, which speaks volumes of their mastery of the 1.5-mile oval. Today’s event provides different hurdles, running in daylight for just the second time with drivers having to adjust on the fly without practice and qualifying because of concerns caused by the coronavirus pandemic. How well they adapt could determine whether club membership expands or remains the same. For sure, plenty of drivers have been on the cusp of getting in. “We’ve got a few top-five finishes, but just haven’t been able to close it out at the end of the race,” said Denny Hamlin, who finished fifth there last July. “With the way this team has been performing this year, I don’t see any reason why we can’t change that this weekend and get our first win at Kentucky.” Hamlin is fifth in the standings but holds a one-point playoff edge over firstplace Kevin Harvick, who’s coming off last Sunday’s Brickyard 400 triumph at Indianapolis Motor Speedway that matched Hamlin’s series-best four wins this season. Harvick now carries momentum to a venue where he has six top10s in his past seven starts. Jimmie Johnson, meanwhile, simply seeks better luck at Kentucky following several subpar runs. Right now, the seven-time Cup champion is giddy just to race the No. 48 Chevy again after missing his first career race last week in Indianapolis following a positive COVID-19 test. Johnson was cleared this week after two negative tests ; NASCAR has reminded teams to follow coronavirus protocols.
CLASS 6A/5A/4A Team Points 2019 Record 2019 Finish 1. Longview (9) 204 11-1 1 2. Carthage (5) 192 16-0 2 3. Pleasant Grove 174 15-1 4 4. Lufkin 173 9-2 3 5. Gilmer 136 10-4 6 6. John Tyler 121 3-8 13 7. Marshall 99 7-4 7 8. Tyler Lee 93 6-5 9 9. Texas High 88 7-5 14 10. Whitehouse 61 8-4 10 11. Lindale 60 7-4 11 12. Kilgore 55 5-6 15 13. Henderson 50 7-4 8 14. Pine Tree 33 5-6 NR 15. Van 32 6-4 12 Others receiving votes: Jasper 28; Paris 27; Palestine 10; Crandall 10; Mabank 9; Center 8; Athens 7; Pittsburg 5; Nacogdoches 4; Spring Hill 1. CLASS 3A/2A/TAPPS Team Points 2019 Record 2019 Finish 1. Malakoff (4) 185 11-2 2 2. Daingerfield (3) 180 11-3 5 3. Gladewater (5) 172 10-4 10 4. San Augustine 149 13-1 3 5. Paul Pewitt (1) 132 14-2 6 6. Atlanta 119 5-5 NR 7. Diboll (1) 101 11-1 1 8. Alto 91 11-1 4 9. Hughes Springs 65 8-3 8 10. West Rusk 59 7-4 NR 11. Waskom 55 5-5 NR 12. Newton 44 11-2 NR 13. Grapeland 42 10-3 15 14. Tenaha 38 5-5 NR 15. Jefferson 34 9-3 7 Others receiving votes: Harmony 32; Mount Enterprise 21; Sabine 20; Groveton 20; Joaquin 18; Mount Vernon 16; Hooks 12; Fairfield 11; Elysian Fields 11; Carlisle 10; Tatum 7; Lorena 7; Bullard Brook Hill 6; Winona 6; Harleton 5; Garrison 5; New Diana 3; Tyler Grace Community 2; Rivercrest 1; Cayuga 1.
LeBron won’t wear message on his jersey
STORIES OF THE DECADE
Familiarity key for drivers at Kentucky oval
#BEASTTEXAS PRESEASON POLL
Les Hassell/News-Journal File Photo
The Longview Lobos celebrate after winning the state championship game over Beaumont West Brook on Dec. 22, 2018, in Arlington.
Lobos won it all in 2018 BY JACK STALLARD
after his 12-tackle performance. ! 2. Title town. Beckville’s baseball and volleyball teams won state championships in 2018 — ironically in different ! Editor’s note: This is the ninth in a 10-part series looking back at the top stories of the decade in classifications. Beckville won the Class 3A baseball the Longview News-Journal’s coverage area. championship in June with a 5-4, walkoff, 10-inning win over Clifton. That ended the hristmas came a few days early in 2017-18 school year. Longview as the Lobo football team Five months later, the Ladycat volleyball brought home the program’s first state championship since 1937 — a span of team capped a 42-8 season season with a five-set win over Lindsey in the Class 81 years. 2A state title match after Beckville had After playing for titles in 1997, 2008 and dropped in classification to begin the 20182009, the Lobos battled their way back 19 school year. to the championship and then capped a ! 3. Kilgore kicking it. The Kilgore perfect 16-0 season with a 35-34 win over Beaumont West Brook on Dec. 22 at Arling- Lady Bulldogs advanced to the UIL State Soccer Tournament for the second time ton’s AT&T Stadium. in three years, falling to Jasper, 1-0, in the Haynes King, son of longtime head state semifinals and finishing the year with coach John King, passed for 423 yards, a 23-6-2 record. rushed for 65 yards and accounted for ! 4. LETU hoops history. LeTourthree touchdowns to earn game offensive neau University’s men advanced to the MVP honors. Kamden Perry hauled in NCAA Division III National Basketball eight passes for 218 yards and a touchdown, and team defensive leader JephaSee DECADE, Page 3C niah Lister earned defensive MVP honors jstallard@news-journal.com
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LeBron James says his thoughts on social justice can’t be contained on the back of a basketball jersey. The Los Angeles Lakers superstar won’t wear one of the NBA-approved social justice messages on the back of his jersey when the NBA resumes competition later this month in the Orlando bubble. “It was no disrespect to the list that was handed down to all the players,” James said Saturday in a confernece call from Florida. “I commend anyone that decides to put something on the back LeBron of their jersey. It’s just James something that didn’t seriously resonate with my mission, with my goal.” As part of the NBA’s recognition of the nationwide invigoration of the social justice movement sparked by the death of George Floyd, NBA players are allowed to choose from a lengthy list of possible messages for their jerseys during the league’s restart. James is among just a few who declined to choose one of the messages, he said. “I would have loved to have a say-so on what would have went on the back of my jersey,” James said. “I had a couple of things in mind, but I wasn’t part of that process, which is OK. ... Everything that I do has a purpose, has a meaning. I don’t need to have something on the back of my jersey for people to understand my mission or know what I’m about and what I’m here to do.” The 35-year-old superstar has a long history of social involvement and advocacy for progressive causes. James speaks frequently of what he feels is a responsibility to campaign for positive social change from his powerful position in sports and pop culture. “This is the mission I’ve been on for a long time now,” James said. “It’s great See LEBRON, Page 3C
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NASCAR From Page 1C “Yeah, I’m super excited and in my head of optimism,” said Johnson, who is scheduled to retire from fulltime NASCAR racing after this season. “I’m like, what a comeback story. It could really be a special moment. I’ve always been highly motivated, but it would be really cool to have great success on Sunday.” Especially with Kentucky’s little nuances. The track is different from the four scheduled 1.5mile tracks that comprise much of the NASCAR playoffs. The first two turns offer higher banking than the other two, and the afternoon start could make the repaved surface stickier compared to night racing. Keselowski, a three-time winner here, looks forward to the intrigue. “A lot of success instantly, and just a place I really was thrilled to go to and ran well,” said the Team Penske driver, who’s third in points with two victories this season. “And then, of course, it got grippy. No good deed goes unpunished, and after the repave it’s been a bit
of a struggle for me lately making a good run there. I’m hopeful this year that you think some of the things we’ve we learned from Pocono and apply them. If so, I think we’ll be really strong.” Kentucky’s winners’ list includes 2003 champion Matt Kenseth and Kurt Busch, the 2004 champ who outdueled his younger brother in a door-to-door overtime battle last July. Kyle Busch remains the perennial Kentucky favorite with sevens wins across NASCAR’s three national series, including two in Cup, and a slew of top-10s. As if that isn’t enough for hopefuls to overcome, the Joe Gibbs Racing driver will start first in the No. 18 Toyota, aiming to maintain his expertise in different circumstances. “When we first started going there, the asphalt was old, rough and bumpy,” said Busch, 10th in points and seeking his first win in 2020. “Then they ground it a couple times and it kind of changed a little bit. I kept up with the changes and now it’s all repaved. We’re still trying to work in the surface a bit.”
Decade From Page 1C Tournament for the first time in school history, defeating Hanover (85-77), but falling to Emory (83-82) to end the year with a 24-5 record. ! 5. KC hardwood success. The Kilgore College men and women caught fire at the right time, with both teams advancing to the championship games at the Region XIV Conference Basketball Tournament. The KC men defeated Bossier Ciy, Trinity Valley and Blinn before falling to rival Tyler in the title game. The Lady Rangers defeated Blinn and Trinity Valley at the tournament, but fell to San Jacinto in the championship match. ! 6. In the hall. Bill Manning, an East Texas trailblazer for the sport of soccer, was incucted into the Texas Association of Soccer Coaches Hall of Honor in November. Manning started the Pine Tree soccer program and won 213 games in 13 seasons at the school. In 27 seasons overall, Manning’s teams won 402 games and 17 district championships. Former Longview Lobo and Arkansas Razorback football standout Loyd Phillips was selected for inclusion to the Texas Sports Hall of Fame. Phillips, who won the 1966 Outland Trophy, was a two-time All-American and was previously inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1992. ! 7. More coaching changes. Andre Lo stepped down after a long, successful run as Pine Tree’s boys soccer coach, triggering a chain reaction of changes as Jose Rocha moved from Tatum to Pine Tree. Tatum then named Todd BonDurant, who had been the head soccer coach at Spring
Hill, as its new coach, and the Lady Panthers named Jimmy Dowell to take over that program. In volleyball, Dawn Stewart left after two seasons at Spring Hill to take over in Carthage after Leven Barker left Carthage to head up the Tatum program. In basketball, Alexann Yancey left Spring Hill, and Kyle Bobbitt was brought in to take over the Lady Panther program. In football, Terry Ward resigned at Harleton after four seasons, and Roger Adams retired after a successful career that included stops at Hallsville, New Diana and Union Grove. ! 8. Eckert leaves on top. After Kilgore College closed out the season with eight straight wins, including a 28-0 shutout of Pima, Arizona in the Heart of Texas Bowl in Waco, head coach J.J. Eckert resigned and took over the head coaching job at his alma mater — Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. Eckert was 67-49 at KC. ! 9. McCray moves up. Former Pine Tree volleyball standout Amber McCray, who carved out a 165-49 record and took Panola to back-to-back national tournaments, was named head volleyball coach at Louisiana Tech University. ! 10. Torrence rolls. Kilgore native Steve Torrence finished the calendar with a career-best 11 wins, including the Mello Yellow NHRA (National Hot Rod Association) championship. He became the first drive in history to sweep the sixrace NHRA Countdown to the Championship, going undefeated over a total of 24 two-car heats during that run. Follow Jack Stallard on Twitter: @lnjsports
LeBron From Page 1C that a lot of people’s ears are opening. A lot of people are understanding, a lot of people are recognizing. A lot of people still don’t get it, and a lot of people are still afraid to talk about the racism that goes on in America, especially for our people. ... But we have some ears, and we will continue to push the envelope and let everyone know that we are human as well. We don’t want to be just be used for our God-given abilities.” JaVale McGee, the Lakers’ veteran center, said he will wear “Respect Us” on his jersey in Orlando. “It’s a blessing to have this platform,” said McGee, whose asthma has him being particularly cautious during the pandemic. “We have way more of a voice
playing basketball … Our fans are basketball fans over anything. This is the biggest platform we can speak about social injustices. That’s the best time to talk about it.” James also said he didn’t consider not playing in the NBA’s restart, believing the league can be a positive force through its visibility and competition. He expressed no concerns for his health inside the bubble. “I believe the NBA and (Commissioner) Adam Silver, they took all precautionary measures to make sure that we as a league are as safe as we can be,” James said. “Obviously, in anything that you do, there can be things that can happen, so we will cross that line if it happens. But we’re doing everything to make sure everyone stays safe.”
AP Photo
The Palace of Auburn Hills undergoes a controlled demolition Saturday in Auburn Hills, Mich. Opened in 1988, the multi-use stadium was the former home of the Detroit Pistons as well as numerous events.
Pistons’ Palace of Auburn Hills torn down
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) — One of Michigan’s most beloved sports and entertainment venues was turned into rubble on Saturday with a series of controlled explosions. The shell and roof of the Palace of Auburn Hills, which was home to three championship Detroit Pistons teams and three Detroit Shock teams and played host to some of the world’s biggest musical acts during its nearly 30-year run, crumbled to the ground following a series explosive pops. The rest of the arena had already been removed. The Palace, which opened in 1988, held more than 22,000 people for
NBA games and up to 23,000 for concerts and other shows, according to nba.com. After the Pistons relocated in 2017 to downtown Detroit, the arena about 30 miles (48 kilometers) northwest of the city continued to host concerts and music events, the last in September 2017 by rocker Bob Seger. It also became the second suburban Detroit arena that found little real use after its main sports tenant took its games back to the city. The Detroit Lions played at the nearby Pontiac Silverdome from 1975-2001 before moving to Ford Field in Detroit. The Pistons also called the Silverdome home for a decade before The Palace opened.
The Silverdome was taken down with a partial implosion in 2017. William Hall, a project manager for Schostak Brothers & Co., told the Oakland Press of Pontiac that the Palace site should be cleared of debris by the end of the year. A new mixed-use development project is planned for the site. “There have been some companies we’ve already talked to about possible development of the property,” Hall said. “I would say we’ve had conversations with at least half-a-dozen people. “This property is very interesting and for a lot of businesses, its proximity is very attractive.”
YOU JUST NEED TO PURCHASE “ONE” SALE ITEM TO RECEIVE OUR BEST PRICE!
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FUTURES FILE
Lumber boosted by DIY demand BY WALT BREITINGER AND ALEX BREITINGER Special to the News-Journal
The huge rally in wood prices gained further momentum all week as quarantined homeowners ran to big box stores and lumberyards clamoring for supplies for framing fixup projects. Building supply stores have been designated as essential businesses, remaining open throughout the pandemic. Slower sawmill production, also COVID-related, contributed more fuel to the fire just as the demand accelerated. Longer term, record low mortgage rates build hopes that demand for new housing will be supported even if unemployment remains an issue. On Friday, lumber for July delivery touched $525 per thousand board feet, nearly double the price on April first.
prices to the highest level since early March. Dry weather has plagued a wide swath of America between Texas and California. Much of Texas is emerging into mid-summer short of subsoil moisture and fears of wildfires are even returning. Domestic cotton purchases could be hurt due to COVID-related decline in demand but our largest importers, China and Vietnam, may be passing their peak concern about the outbreak and resume buying at near-normal levels. Cotton for December delivery was worth 64.5 cents per pound midday Friday.
Gold zooms past $1,800
Gold prices exceeded $1,800 per ounce most of this week, reflecting concerns that government stimulus is not solving the economic damage from coronavirus and could eventually result in inflation such as occurred in the 1970s. Silver Drought gears gin-up cotton and copper, both boosted by Fears of deteriorating crop resumed industrial demand, conditions propelled cotton moved higher as well, with cop-
per reaching new highs for the year. Fears of the second wave of virus infections added to concerns that even greater and greater amounts of subsidies and government spending will eventually result in a debt that world economies, including our own, will be unable to repay without further diluting their money supply. More debt and money supply typically result in the value of paper money declining and metals increasing, or even exploding, in value. The U.S. Federal Reserve’s policy of keeping interest rates near zero creates even more demand for gold as the cost of holding the metal is low, and the alternative of investing in interest-bearing accounts or bonds is unattractive. Gold for immediate delivery traded midday Friday for $1,799 an ounce. — Walt and Alex Breitinger are commodity futures brokers with Paragon Investments in Silver Lake, Kansas. This is not a solicitation of any order to buy or sell any market.
LIVESTOCK REPORTS Emory Livestock
July 7: Emory ■ Steers less than 300 pounds: $1-$2 per pound ■ Steers 300 to 400 pounds: $1$1.65 per pound ■ Steers 400 to 500 pounds: $1$1.50 per pound ■ Steers 500 or more pounds: 80 cents-$1.45 per pound ■ Heifers less than 300 pounds: $1-$1.75 per pound ■ Heifers 300 to 400 pounds: $1$1.45 per pound ■ Heifers 400 to 500 pounds: 90 cents-$1.40 per pound ■ Heifers 500 or more pounds: 70 cents-$1.30 per pound ■ Packer cows: 35 cents-73 cents per pound ■ Packer bulls: 75 cents-95 cents per pound
■ Cow/calf pairs per head-top: $950-$1,250 ■ Cow/calf pairs per head-low/ middle: $500-$950 ■ Stocker cows: 55 cents-90 cents per pound ■ Calves per head: $50-$275 ■ Goats per head: $45-$250
Longview Livestock
July 9: Longview ■ Steers less than 300 pounds: $1-$1.95 per pound ■ Steers 300 to 400 pounds: $1$1.85 per pound ■ Steers 400 to 500 pounds: $1$1.53 per pound ■ Steers 500 to 600 pounds: $1$1.49 per pound ■ Steers 600 to 700 pounds: $1$1.42 per pound ■ Steers 700 to 800 pounds: $1-
$1.39 per pound ■ Heifers less than 300 pounds: $1-$1.75 per pound ■ Heifers 300 to 400 pounds: $1$1.65 per pound ■ Heifers 400 to 500 pounds: $1$1.45 per pound ■ Heifers 500 to 600 pounds: $1$1.40 per pound ■ Heifers 600 to 700 pounds: $1$1.31 per pound ■ Heifers 700 to 800 pounds: $1$1.21 per pound ■ Packer cows: 30 cents-70 cents per pound ■ Packer bulls: 84 cents-$1.04 per pound ■ Stocker cows per head: $440$1,250 ■ Cow/calf pairs per head: $800-$1,490 ■ Calves per head: $225 ■ Goats per head: $70-$225
BUSINESS NAMES Assumed names filed in Gregg County from June 20 to July 3: ■ Trang To doing business as Nails By Mary To ■ Earlene Moon doing business as Moonworships Son Ministries ■ Paulo Rafael Costa Da Cruz Ribeiro doing business as Guttertex ■ Sonya Rigano doing business as Billing Services Etc. ■ Aquila Miller doing business as Quilas Trends ■ Brandon Nash doing business as Brandon Antwain Nash
■ Vickie Collins doing business as Vicks Kool Picks ■ Tiara Bullock doing business as Unshelltter Cosmetics ■ Bryan Jamamillo doing business as Delias Boutique ■ Verenice Ordorica doing business as Edgars Big Taco Catering ■ Ramiro Ordorica doing business as Edgars Tacos No. 1 ■ Phanny Koem doing business as Donut Box ■ Curtis Dixon doing business as Dixon Road Side Assistance
■ Thomas Norris doing business as T&T Power Washing ■ Tamika Franklin doing business as Ms Tees Wellness Center ■ Tamika Franklin doing business as Ms Tees Court ■ Brent Hoodenpyle doing business as Texas Pines Trading Co. ■ Asriel Jones doing business as Drippy King ■ Jonathan Davis doing business as Lilyoungan ■ Sandra Pullen doing business as Soul Tribe Jewelry
turning it into $262,000 in cash and in-kind services . Pye has won numerous newspaper awards during his career, including awards for general excellence and news photography. Pye has worked with the Louisiana Press Association, serving as secretary/treasurer and president-elect,. He currently is serving on the Texas Press Association board of directors. He is the president of the Marshall Rotary Club and has belonged to numerous civic organizations, including the Lions Club, the Jaycees and var-
ious chambers of commerce, where he served in various roles, including president, in each organization. Pye and his wife, Ruby, have three children, Crystal Mathes, Karen Tubbs and Robert Pye, and four grandchildren. During this next chapter in life, Pye and his wife plan to spend more time spoiling the grandchildren and being part of the Marshall community. Retirement also will give Pye time for fishing, gardening and photography. “It has been my pleasure to serve the community,” Pye said.
Pye From Page 8C working with people and organizations in the community where I have lived. It is my philosophy that a newspaper should help build up the community and cover the stories that had value to the community and readers.” The first weekly that Pye ran was the Bienville Democrat in Arcadia, Louisiana, and the first daily was the Maryville Daily Forum in Maryville, Missouri. As publisher of the Freeport Journal-Standard in Freeport, Illinois, the paper rebuilt the Lincoln-Douglas Debate Site, taking $40,000 in cash and
Cherika Johnson
True satisfaction in life comes when a person finds the intersection of their greatest strength and their greatest passion. For Cherika Johnson, that intersection involves serving her community while meeting the needs of children and low-income families. Mrs. Johnson serves on the board of directors for ArtsView Children’s Theatre, a program that inspires and encourages young actors to break out of their shells and excel in their craft through live stage productions. “Serving with ArtsView gives my spirit joy because this organization spotlights talented children and teens involved in arts,” she said. “Not all children are athletes and sometimes more focus is put toward athletic departments while arts are left out. Sports are great, but there is nothing like a great theatric production put on by our youth.” In addition to her work with ArtsView Children’s Theatre, Mrs. Johnson is a member of the scholarship committees for the Longview Independent School District (LISD) Foundation, Longview Area Association of Realtors, and the Phenomenal WAY, an organization she co-founded. Short for “Women Ascending Youth,” the Phenomenal WAY seeks to raise money for scholarships for African American high school seniors who need
P. O. Box 3188 | Longview, Texas 75606 | 903-237-5500 To view our volunteer profiles, please visit www.facebook.com/texasbankandtrust
BUILDING PERMITS Here’s a look at building permits issued by the city of Longview or applied for from July 2 to 8:
Permits issued
■ Wildts Wiring, northwest corner of Methvin and Green Streets, balloon install for One Hundred Acres of Heritage ■ Bryant Electric LLC, 212 Industrial Drive, commercial electrical permit ■ JG Buckland Electrical Services LLC, 2903 Inside Passage Trail, residential electrical permit ■ Official Electric LLC, 109 E. Twilight Drive, residential electrical permit ■ J. Goodeman, 2908 Crossroads Drive, residential electrical permit ■ TDP Electric, 1801 Yosemite Way, residential electrical permit ■ TDP Electric, 1803 Yosemite Way, residential electrical permit ■ TDP Electric, 1805 Yosemite Way, residential electrical permit ■ TDP Electric, 1807 Yosemite Way, residential electrical permit ■ Elite Electric Service, 3200 Danville Court, residential electrical permit ■ Ross Plumbing LLC, 1203 Mockingbird Lane, commercial gas permit ■ Baker Bros. Plumbing, 1303 Inwood Road, residential gas permit ■ J. Rowe Plumbing LLC, 3704 Champions Ridge Lane, residential gas permit ■ Bird Dog Plumbing, 900 Second St., residential gas permit ■ Bird Dog Plumbing, 709 Willowood St., residential gas permit ■ PRW Plumbing & Associates LLC, 2405 Clayton St., residential gas permit ■ Good Brothers Air Conditioning and Heating, 3544 N. Fourth St., commercial mechanical permit, $20,000 ■ ERA Climate Technologies, 205 Dellbrook Drive, residential mechanical permit, $7,900 ■ C. Woods Co., 301 Hughes St., residential mechanical permit, $7,660 ■ Pither Plumbing, 307 Alta St., residential plumbing permit ■ Bird Dog Plumbing, 900 Second St., residential plumbing permit ■ U Graves Plumbing, 900 Glenda Drive, residential plumbing permit ■ PRW Plumbing & Associates LLC, 2405 Clayton St., residential plumbing permit ■ Jose Rodriguez, 607 N. Eastman Road, addition of storage closet to carport, $400 ■ Longview Roofing LLC, 118 Southcastle St., tear off and reroof house, $6,075 ■ Home Depot USA Inc., 10 Bramlette Place, replacement of 1 window at house, $2,131 ■ East Texas Roofing Specialists, 109 E. Twilight Drive, tear off and reroof house, $7,500 ■ East Texas Roofing Specialists, 612 Noel Drive, tear off and reroof house, $8,500 ■ Kenneth Sapp, 1608 Centenary Drive, tear off and reroof house, $18,000 ■ Holloway Construction, 1118 Windsong Lane, replacement of 2 windows, front door, and siding at house, $75,000 ■ Manuel Esquivel, 603 Idylwood Drive, add brick to exterior of house, $1,200 ■ AVCO Roofing, 5202 Whitaker Circle, tear off and reroof house, $17,857 ■ AVCO Roofing, 515 Noel Drive, tear off and reroof house, $17,000 ■ AVCO Roofing, 1909 Lilly St., tear off and reroof house, $11,577 ■ AVCO Roofing, 3023 Keystone St., tear off and reroof house, $5,834 ■ AVCO Roofing, 5203 Ringo Circle, tear off and reroof house, $6,800 ■ AVCO Roofing, 116 Sherwood Drive, tear off and reroof house, $12,714 ■ Solutions Roofing LLC, 823 Butler Drive, tear off and reroof house, $2,500
assistance with their educational goals. “Our goal was to raise money for scholarships to reach those deserving students who sometimes fell through the cracks and didn’t win any local scholarships,” Mrs. Johnson said. “Some of the applications and required essays were truly touching. Some of the students overcame a lot of personal odds, or came from singleparent households, and yet through those obstacles, are at the top of their class.” Since its founding in 2018, Mrs. Johnson said the Phenomenal WAY members have donated more than $14,000 and awarded scholarships to 13 graduating seniors. “This lightens some of the financial burdens of college for the students and their parents,” Mrs. Johnson said. “In August, we will be sending $6,000 to the colleges and universities of the 2020 winners.” A Longview native, Mrs. Johnson is a graduate of Longview High School. She earned her associate’s degree from Kilgore College and her bachelor’s degree in business administration from LeTourneau University. She now works as the broker and owner of Johnson Realty in Longview. Mrs. Johnson was named as a 2016 Star over Longview by Longview Regional Medical Center and
■ JVD General Contractors, 1216 Ridgelea Ave., build 9 room house, $70,000 ■ JVD General Contractors, 1217 Ridgelea Ave., build 9 room house, $70,000 ■ Tucker & Associates, 3408 Celebration Way, residential sprinkler permit ■ Tucker & Associates, 2903 Inside Passage Trail, residential sprinkler permit ■ Tucker & Associates, 3333 Celebration Way, residential sprinkler permit ■ Tucker & Associates, 223 Longleaf Drive, residential sprinkler permit ■ Sprinkler Express, 1220 Mission Creek Drive, residential sprinkler permit ■ Sprinkler Express, 1218 Mission Creek Drive, residential sprinkler permit ■ Sprinkler Express, 1216 Mission Creek Drive, residential sprinkler permit ■ Sprinkler Express, 3905 Gable Crest Lane, residential sprinkler permit ■ Sprinkler Express, 3902 Gable Crest Lane, residential sprinkler permit ■ Sprinkler Express, 3908 Gable Crest Lane, residential sprinkler permit ■ Sprinkler Express, 3919 Gable Crest Lane, residential sprinkler permit ■ Sprinkler Express, 3925 Gable Crest Lane, residential sprinkler permit ■ Sprinkler Express, 3811 Killingsworth Circle, residential sprinkler permit
Applications filed
■ 213 Investments, 213 N. Fredonia St., commercial demolition permit ■ Eastex Tower LLC, 308 Fifth St., placement of a modular utility building for fiber optic, addition of a fence and a generator for Sparklight, $55,000 ■ Laxton Electric, 1605 HG Mosley Parkway, residential electric permit ■ Super Plumbers, 2131 Tryon Road, residential plumbing permit ■ Bannister Plumbing, 3209 Crenshaw St., residential plumbing permit ■ Richard Parker Plumbing, 112 Skyline Drive, residential plumbing permit ■ American Pool Service, 3200 Danville Court, installation of swimming pool at house, $53,000 ■ Cleornis Fitzpatrick, 2007 Stardust Drive, build storage shed at house, $600 ■ Ashley Lockhart, 502 Oak St., deck addition to house, $800 ■ Magness Construction & Remodel, 1225 Marigold Lane, build attached patio cover to house, $4,000 ■ Advanced Roofing Services Inc., 1309 Princeton Ave., tear off and reroof house, $7,500 ■ James Varner, 1109 Victoria Drive, build 10 room house, $230,000 ■ CBS Home Builders LLC, 2421 Clayton St., build 13 room house, $170,000 ■ Petty’s Irrigation & Landscape Ltd., 811 Alta St., residential sprinkler permit ■ Pither Plumbing, 307 Alta St., water/sewer new residential permit ■ H.R. Bowers Plumbing & Mechanical, 1109 Victoria Drive, water/sewer new residential permit ■ J. Rowe Plumbing LLC, 3811 Killingsworth Circle, water/sewer new residential permit ■ Jim Fisher & Associates, 56011 Palladio Lane, water/sewer new residential permit ■ Rita F. Barbosa, 2903 Inside Passage Trail, water/sewer new residential permit ■ Casey Beddingfield, 223 Longleaf Drive, water/sewer new residential permit ■ PRW Plumbing & Associates LLC, 2421 Clayton St., water/sewer new residential permit
as the 2019 Realtor of the Year by the Longview Area Association of Realtors. No matter where she serves, Mrs. Johnson believes the greatest gift any volunteer can give is their “time.” “I may not have a lot of time, but what time I do have, I want to spend it doing something to help be a blessing in the lives of others,” she said. “My focus areas of volunteering are geared toward programs aimed at empowering and uplifting youth and programs dealing with helping people overcome poverty. A win for me is if the program is focused on both children and poverty at the same time.” Mrs. Johnson and her husband, Rod, have been married for 20 years and are the parents of three sons. A lifetime resident of East Texas, Mrs. Johnson loves the small town feel with the nearby access to major cities. “I appreciate where we are located because we are not far to the east or west to the entertainment options of bigger cities whenever we need a quick getaway,” she said. “In a small town, you know the people you are volunteering with – and for – which makes the experience more rewarding.”
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ENERGY REPORT EAST TEXAS DRILLING REPORT FOR JUNE 28-JULY 4 Developmental
County; ......................... Operator; ...............................................Lease/Well; .........................................Field; .......................................................... Survey; ..................... Type; ................Depth; ...................................Location Cass; ........................................Rose City Resources, LLC; ...................................Mirage 1; ................................................................Hidden Rock (Cotton Valley Lime); .........................Murphree, W/771; ............ Oil; ..........................11,900; ............................... 1.6 Miles N Avinger Harrison; ................................Rockcliff Energy Operating LLC; .......................Sandy HV Unit B 2H; ..........................................Carthage (Haynesville Shale); ..................................Harper, H/11; ..................... Gas; ........................13,000; ...............3.5 Miles NW Elysian Fields Harrison; ................................Tanos Exploration II, LLC; ....................................Bosh-Thanos (ALLOC) 3H; ................................Carthage (Haynesville Shale); ..................................Borden, TH/124; ............... Gas; ........................11,380; ............... 8.3 Miles NW Elysian Fields Harrison; ................................Comstock Oil & Gas, LLC; .....................................Abercrombie Vincent ‘H’ 3H; .........................Carthage (Haynesville Shale); ..................................Bedford, R/69; ................. Gas; ........................11,055; ...............................2 Miles SW Waskom Harrison; ................................Comstock Oil & Gas, LLC; .....................................Abercrombie Vincent ‘H’ 4H; .........................Carthage (Haynesville Shale); ..................................Bedford, R/69; ................. Gas; ........................11,055; ...............................2 Miles SW Waskom Harrison; ................................Comstock Oil & Gas, LLC; .....................................Abercrombie Vincent ‘H’ 2H; ..........................Carthage (Haynesville Shale); ..................................Bedford, R/69; ................. Gas; ........................11,055; ...............................2 Miles SW Waskom Panola; ....................................Rockcliff Energy Operating LLC; .......................Keller-Lagrone HV Unit F 6H; .........................Carthage (Haynesville Shale); ..................................Thompson, S/673; .......... Gas; ........................13,000; .............................3.5 Miles S DeBerry Panola; ....................................Rockcliff Energy Operating LLC; .......................Keller-Lagrone HV Unit F 8H; .........................Carthage (Haynesville Shale); ..................................Thompson, S/673; .......... Gas; ........................13,000; .............................3.5 Miles S DeBerry San Augustine; .....................XTO Energy Inc.; .....................................................BSI Chanticleers DU B1; ....................................Carthage (Haynesville Shale); ..................................Redmond, Z/36; .............. Gas; ........................20,000; ............. 12.2 Miles W San Augustine San Augustine; .....................XTO Energy Inc.; .....................................................BSI Chanticleers DU H1; ....................................Carthage (Haynesville Shale); ..................................Redmond, A/36; .............. Gas; ........................20,000; ............. 12.2 Miles W San Augustine
Completions
County; ...................... Operator; ................................................ Lease/Well; .............................Field; ................................................... Depth; ......................Choke Size; ............... Flow Rate (24 Hrs.); ...........................Location Harrison; ............................ Rockcliff Energy Operating LLC; .........................Hightower HV Unit A 1H; .................Carthage (Haynesville Shale); .........................11,105; ..................................2.375; ..................................24097 Mcf; .............................4 Miles NE Elysian Fields Harrison; ............................ Rockcliff Energy Operating LLC; .........................Hightower HV Unit B 2H; ................Carthage (Haynesville Shale); ........................11,034; .................................2.375; ..................................23901 Mcf; ..............................4 Miles NE Elysian Fields Harrison; ............................. Rockcliff Energy Operating LLC; .......................Hightower HV Unit C 3H; ................Carthage (Haynesville Shale); ........................10,978; ................................2.375; ..................................21361 Mcf; ...............................4 Miles NE Elysian Fields Harrison; ............................Rockcliff Energy Operating LLC; .........................Hightower HV Unit D 4H; ................Carthage (Haynesville Shale); ........................10,904; ................................2.375; ..................................21364 Mcf; ..............................4 Miles NE Elysian Fields Marion; ................................Rose City Resources, LLC; .....................................Watson Heirs 1; ..................................Whelan (Cotton Valley); .....................................11,200; .................................1; ...........................................284 Mcf; .......................................4.95 Miles N Harleton Panola; ................................Rockcliff Energy Operating LLC; .........................Reeves-Curtis HV Unit 1H; ..............Carthage (Haynesville Shale); ........................11,367; .................................2.5; ......................................17361 Mcf; .......................................10.5 Miles N Joaquin Panola; ................................Sabine Oil & Gas Corp.; ..........................................Toledo Bend Gas Unit 1H; ................Carthage (Haynesville Shale); ........................11,071; ..................................1.25; .....................................19496 Mcf; .......................................19 Miles NE Marshall Panola; ................................Rockcliff Energy Operating LLC; .........................Pope Jean West HV Unit A 1H; ......Carthage (Haynesville Shale); ........................11,391; ..................................2.375; ..................................19696 Mcf; ...........................................5 Miles N DeBerry Panola; ................................Rockcliff Energy Operating LLC; .........................Pope Jean West HV Unit B 2H; .....Carthage (Haynesville Shale); ........................11,486; .................................2.375; ..................................18433 Mcf; ...........................................5 Miles N DeBerry Rusk; ..................................... Amplify Energy Operating LLC; .........................Clower 12; ............................................Oak Hill (Travis Peak); ........................................10,810; ................................1.25; .....................................46 Mcf; ...................................... 3.3 Miles SE Henderson Rusk; .................................... Sabine Oil & Gas Corp.; ..........................................Viper #2 8; ..........................................Oak Hill (Pettit); ...................................................10,950; ................................1.25; .....................................552 Mcf; ....................................4.2 Miles SE Henderson San Augustine; ................. XTO Energy, Inc.; ......................................................BSI Chanticleers DU B1; ...................Carthage (Haynesville Shale); ........................14.496; ................................2.375; ..................................18417 Mcf; .......................... 12.2 Miles W San Augustine Smith; .................................. Breitburn Operating L.P.; .......................................Lintner 17; ............................................Overton (Travis Peak); .......................................11,705; .................................64/64; .................................83 Bbls/86 Mcf; ................................3.5 Miles NE Troup Smith; .................................. Breitburn Operating L.P.; .......................................Wilson, David G. 1H; ...........................Overton (Cotton Valley Sand); ........................11,572; .................................2; ..........................................2100 Mcf; ................................................3 Miles NE Troup Wood; ................................... Valence Operating Co.; ..........................................McDowell Gas Unit 2; .......................Como (Rodessa Hill, LO.); ..................................13,254; ................................0/64; ...................................1.7 Bbls; .............................................. 2.2 Miles NE Yantis — The drilling report was produced with data from the Texas Railroad Commission, from June 28 to July 4. The following counties were searched: Anderson, Angelina, Camp, Cass, Cherokee, Dallas, Ellis, Franklin, Freestone, Gregg, Harrison, Henderson, Houston, Kaufman, Leon, Limestone, Marion, Nacogdoches, Navarro, Panola, Rains, Robertson, Rusk, San Augustine, Shelby, Smith, Upshur, Van Zandt and Wood. For information about the drilling report, email business@tylerpaper. com, call the newsroom at 903-596-6397 or the RRC at 877-228-5740.
Retailers From Page 8C have taken different approaches, but they all have one thing in common: They leave business owners and employees to change peoples’ behavior at a time when tempers are already running high,” said Lindsay Wiley, director of the Health Law and Policy Program at American University’s Washington College of Law. “Retail workers — who are already at great risk because they’re being exposed to people all day — have now also been put in the position of asking people to mask up.” As the pandemic intensifies, more states and cities are mandating face coverings in public to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which originally downplayed the importance of masks, now calls them “a critical preventive measure” and says they should be worn in public. Economists, meanwhile, say nationwide mask requirements could prevent a return to widespread shutdowns and further economic turmoil. But there are no federal rules mandating masks, and retail workers say what little enforcement or oversight there is often falls to them. Some workers say they have been told they cannot refuse service to maskless customers, even if local laws require it. Others feel they’ve been put in the awkward and sometimes dangerous position of confronting shoppers who refuse to wear the coverings. In recent weeks, retail workers have been punched in the face, suffered broken
limbs and, in the case of a security guard at a Family Dollar store in Michigan, killed while trying to enforce mask requirements. At least 20 states and Washington, D.C., now mandate face coverings in some capacity. The surge of coronavirus cases in recent weeks has led to a new round of mask requirements, with states like Texas, Kansas and Oregon mandating them, and others like Washington state warning retailers and restaurants that they could lose their business licenses for serving customers without masks. “People see it as this big political message when it’s really just about public health,” said Shilo Barrett, 26, a shift supervisor at a Starbucks in Los Angeles, where about 10% of shoppers come in without masks despite local and state mandates. “It’s already unfair that we have to work right now because we have bills to pay, and now you’re going to put us in a compromising situation because you don’t want to wear a mask for five minutes? That’s not cool.” Barrett said customers often become angry or belligerent when she tells them they need to wear a mask inside the store. Some tell her COVID-19 is overblown, or roll their eyes and storm out. In other parts of the country, Starbucks workers say they have been told by managers to stop posting signs about mask requirements and avoid approaching customers who aren’t wearing mandated face coverings. Anthony Pasqualone, who works at a Starbucks in
Bergen County, New Jersey, said customers typically ignore him when he tells them masks are required. A few days ago, he says, a shopper started screaming about the company’s mask requirement and, when informed that the bathrooms were closed because of the pandemic, proceeded to unzip his pants and urinate in front of the store. “We have signs outside that say you need a mask, but it seems like a lot of [people] just don’t care,” he said. Starbucks declined to discuss the issue, noting that its position is outlined on its website. Customers are asked to wear masks where required by local authorities, it said, and employees “have the right and responsibility to refuse service to customers who are not wearing facial coverings where mandated by law.”
Confusion
The lack of federal guidance has added to the confusion, retailers and legal experts say. Major chains and service workers are trying to navigate a patchwork of rules with few enforcement mechanisms in place. Some, like Target, are placing security guards at the door in areas where masks are legally required. Others, like the Home Depot and Kroger, have posted signs at entrances. Only a handful of national retailers, including Costco and Apple, have blanket policies requiring masks at all of their stores. “The challenge is that we’re trying to change peoples’ behaviors and habits
very rapidly,” said Wiley, the law professor. “If you think about seat belts or smoking at bars and restaurants, it took years — decades, even — to change people’s thinking.” Industry groups have been vocal about the challenges and risks of navigating new mask requirements. The Retail Industry Leaders Association, which represents companies like Walmart, Target and Best Buy, this week called on the nation’s governors to issue “concise statewide orders” requiring masks in public. Front-line workers, it said, have been faced with mounting hostility and violence from customers who view masks as a violation of their civil liberties. “Wearing a mask is about respecting others and preventing the spread of a deadly disease,” Brian Dodge, the group’s president wrote in a letter to the National Governors Association. “This should no longer be up for debate.” It isn’t clear exactly how many front-line workers have been caught in the fray, but recent incidents that have bubbled up on social media show just how fraught the situation has become for stores employees and others who confront shoppers without masks. A video on Twitter this week showed a man at a Florida Costco threatening a customer who asked him to adhere to the company’s mask requirements. “I feel threatened,” he shouted, along with a string of expletives. The man’s employer later tweeted that he had been fired. It was just the latest in a string of such inci-
dents — including at Trader Joe’s and Starbucks — to go viral in recent weeks. “Unfortunately it’s up to employees to ask customers to wear their masks properly, which becomes exhausting, especially when you have to do it all day long,” said Julia, a Whole Foods Market employee in California who asked to be identified only by her first name because she fears retribution. “Sometimes you’ll ask and they will pull it up and then just pull it down again.” A spokeswoman for Whole Foods did not immediately respond for comment.
Enforcement
Some shoppers say spotty enforcement makes them feel unsafe. Aileen McNally was surprised to encounter unmasked customers during a recent trip to the hardware store in Ulster County, N.Y., where she lives. Masks have been mandatory in the state since mid-April, when Gov. Andrew Cuomo, D, signed an executive order requiring them in public spaces. McNally, 55, said she confronted the two shoppers, who shouted expletives at her and told her to mind her own business. Nearby employees, she said, didn’t step in and the store manager told her “he can’t make any customers wear masks.” “Home Depot’s lack of responsibility to help mitigate the spread of the coronavirus is very troubling,” she said, adding that she doesn’t plan to shop at the chain anymore. “They’re basically telling their masked customers, ‘We don’t care about you. ‘ “
Margaret Smith, a spokeswoman for the Home Depot, said the company has posted signs and makes frequent announcements over the loud speaker asking customers to wear masks in stores where local mandates require them. But, she said, the company is not asking “stores to police local mandates, because it can be dangerous to put our associates in that position.” Back in Alabama, the dollar store where Kae Palmer works began requiring employees to wear masks in mid-June, though she says workers often remove them in stockrooms, break areas and management offices. Just about everybody — supervisors, employees, shoppers — complains about having to wear them, she said, and there is very little enforcement of the rules. “It gives the impression that corporate doesn’t actually care about employees and is doing the bare minimum to protect themselves from being sued,” said Palmer, 22, who brings her own masks to work because the store provides only one disposable mask per week. “As one of only three employees that wore a mask before they were mandatory, the actions tell me that management don’t take the situation seriously.” She is careful, she said, not to call out shoppers without masks. Even then, it’s not always possible to avoid confrontation: Some customers, she said, give her a hard time for wearing a mask. “I don’t really want someone to pick a fight with me over a mask,” she said.
RCB From Page 8C duce,” Cathy Page said. “We make custom baskets for our customers, and I love just offering advice to customers who come to walk around. We have women that come meet here to shop regularly, and we have some customers that come here just to decompress and walk around. We just really developed a sense of community here over the past three years, and we’ve had a lot of support from loyal customers. We love our customers.” The Pages also added a greenhouse and built a barn for the sod. They also created one house, the “Merry Christmas Texas” house, and a house just for succulents. “We have the best succulents,” Cathy Page said. “We also have a sign that hangs over one of our houses, and it’s the sign that used to be at the old store out on Loop 281 and Interstate 20 with the dinosaur holding the sign that said ‘Merry Christmas Texas.’ That sign is a part of East
Texas history, so when I had the chance to buy it, I did, and we hung it over one of our houses so people can come and take photos with it.” In addition to the large selection of succulents, the nursery offers a wide and unique variety of house plants. “If there’s one thing that really sets us apart from other nurseries, I would say it’s our house plants,” Brenna Page said. “We have customers that drive two to three hours to come shop our house plants.” After shopping for house plants, succulents, trees, shrubbery and tropical plants, customers can then look inside the store for fresh produce and gifts. “The fresh produce we have right now is okra, potatoes, tomatoes, squash, cucumber, peaches, bell peppers and we have shelled peas and beans,” Cathy Page said. The store also features gifts and products made in the United States by other small business owners,
Bridget Ortigo/Marshall News Messenger Photo
RCB Gardens in Longview offers a greenhouse full of succulents. including handmade macrame products, custom art canvases, luggage tags and signs. “It took time to form this place into the vision we had for it, and now it’s a place for gardeners and shoppers to come and truly enjoy the shopping experience,” Brenna Page said. Most recently, RCB Gardens produced the landscaping work at Hallsville City Park, and before that,
the nursery provided the work at Hallsville City Hall’s flower beds. The nursery is open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. To find out more about RCB Gardens, follow the nursery on Instagram @ RCBGardens, on FaceBridget Ortigo/Marshall News Messenger Photo book at facebook.com/rcbgardens/ or on its website RCB Gardens owners Robert Page helps load up plants for a at rcbgardens.com/ .
customer.
Business
news-journal.com
PAGE 8C / SUNDAY, JULY 12, 2020 BUSINESS BEAT
Culture war traps retailers
Master Travel moves from downtown
Workers fight battle getting customers to wear face coverings
khedler@news-journal.com
BY ABHA BHATTARAI
BY KEN HEDLER
O
wner LouAnne Rainey has moved Master Travel to 1121 Judson Road, 142, in the Judson Plaza, after being downtown at 106 E. Tyler St. for 19 years. “We needed a smaller location,” she said. “We did not need all that room. We needed better parking.” Rainey, who bought the travel agency in October 2001, said being on one level makes it more convenient for her older customers. She said the Tyler Street building had housed a travel agency for at least 20 years before she bought it. Rainey said she has seen a lot of changes in the travel agency since opening less than a month after 9/11. “We have had some challenges before, but we always came through,” she said. Over the past several months, her agency has helped clients to rebook travel plans that the COVID-19 pandemic has sidelined, including cruises, and obtain refunds. Rainey said she books rental cars, cruises, airfare and hotel accommodations. “We can book everything,” she said. “We can book experiences and tours.” She said her agency handles a lot of work via email and over the phone while adding, “We have a conference room available if we need to meet with larger numbers of people.” Office hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays or after hours by appointment. Master Travel has scheduled a ribbon-cutting ceremony with the Longview Chamber of Commerce for 11:30 a.m. July 21. For information, visit Master Travel at www.mastertvl.com or on Facebook.
The Washington Post
It’s been nearly a week since the city of Mobile, Alabama, began requiring masks in public. But inside the discount store where Kae Palmer works, not much has changed. Most shoppers still come in without face coverings. Workers are quick to remove masks when they’re not on the sales floor. Palmer, who brings her own masks from home, worries
about her health but doesn’t feel like there’s much she can do about it. Corporate guidance, she says, has been, “Just serve the customer and don’t talk about their lack of a mask.” Like millions of other retail and service workers, she has been pulled into the front lines of a growing culture war between those who are willing to wear masks and those who aren’t. Mixed messaging and politicization have turned a public health safeguard into lightning-rod issue. As a result, workers have been berated, even assaulted, by aggressive anti-maskers. “State and local governments See RETAILERS, Page 7C
Andrew Spear/The Washington Post File Photo
Emma Asch wipes the counter after a transaction on May 15 at the American Eagle/Aerie store at Easton Town Center in Columbus, Ohio.
A-Jack’s Grill & Lounge opening
Jackie “Angel” Anthony said she plans to open A-Jack’s Grill & Lounge at the former People’s Choice Jazz and Blues Club at 1119 W. Cotton St., next to Anita’s Food & Fuel, by Monday. “My whole family cooks,” Anthony said. She said his sister, Belinda Johnson, owns a food truck and her mother, Brenda Johnson, owns a catering business. Anthony said she came up with the name for the establishment by combining her nickname and the name of her late father, Jack. She said she will serve chicken wings, hamburgers, pork chops, catfish, shrimp baskets, French fries, potato salad and mozzarella sticks. Patrons may bring their own liquor. A-Jack’s also has pool tables, a jukebox, arcade games and satellite television, Anthony said. She said she has plans for pool tournaments and trail rides and to rent the lounge for parties. Restaurant hours will be 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, with the lounge open 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. Thursday through Saturday. The grill will be open during lounge hours.
Coffee & T’s opens
Tiphani and Paul Connolly opened Coffee & T’s Monday at 716 Glencrest Lane, Suite D. Coffee & T’s serves frappes, ice cream floats and other products and carries T-shirts. The Connollys started Coffee & T’s in September 2018 as a food truck that they took to Downtown Live and other community events in the Longview area. Hours are 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays and 8 a.m. to noon Saturday. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, indoor seating capacity is limited to eight people. For information, visit Coffee & T’s on Facebook.
Companies moving
East Texas Electric and East Texas Cooling Systems are making plans to move out of rental space at 310 E. H.G. Mosley Parkway and into a building under construction next door at 408 E. H.G. Mosley. “We’ve just outgrown the existing building,” said Clay Thomas, who owns both companies. He said he will own the new building, which will have about 6,750 square feet. Thomas hired Cox Builders Inc. of Longview to build the new headquarters. The building has a permit value of $630,000, according to the Longview Development Services Department. He said he bought East Texas Electric four years ago and started East Texas Cooling Systems two years ago. The two companies service electrical and cooling systems and handle new construction, Thomas said. — Business Beat appears Sunday. If you have items for the column, email to newsroom@news-journal. com; mail to Business Section, Longview News-Journal, P.O. Box 1792, Longview, TX 75606; or call (903) 237- 7744.
Bridget Ortigo/Marshall News Messenger Photo
RCB Gardens nursery in Longview is family owned and sells everything from house plants, produce, handmade gifts and more.
‘Shopping ExpEriEncE’
Family-owned RCB Gardens in Longview offers plants, produce, handmade products and more BY BRIDGET ORTIGO
bortigo@marshallnewsmessenger.com
W
ith summer in full bloom, a Longview nursery situated on the Harrison/ Gregg county line is offering its customers a blend of unique plants along with locally grown, fresh produce. RCB Gardens owners Robert and Cathy Page run the family business with the help of their daughter, Brenna Page, and a handful of full-and part-time staff. “RCB actually stands for the initials in our first names — Robert, Cathy, Brenna — and it also stands for ‘Real, Cool, Botanicals,” Cathy Page said. “My husband and I both spent years in the oilfield business, but I’ve always loved plants and gardening, and my mother and grandmother were gardeners.” In early 2017, the nursery’s former owner, John Hutto, approached Cathy Page and asked if she would want to take over his nursery on U.S. 80. Cathy’s mother, Pat, already had taken over Hutto’s Bell Pepper Cafe next door to the nursery a few years before. “I had never ran a nursery
Bridget Ortigo/Marshall News Messenger Photo
RCB Gardens owners are, from left, Brenna Page, Cathy Page and Robert Page. before, but I loved gardening, so we decided to go for it,” Cathy Page said. “We took over in the peak season, that April of 2017, and John stayed on to teach me how to drive a trac-
“We still sell a lot of sod, tor, operate a forklift and other but we’ve added house plants, jobs.” Since then, the Pages have gifts, unique tropical plants worked to make RCB Gar- and right now we have prodens unlike any other nursery shopping experience. See RCB, Page 7C
Marshall News Messenger Publisher Jerry Pye to retire FROM STAFF REPORTS
MARSHALL — After a career that has spanned more than 50 years, with 49 of those years in the newspaper business, Marshall News Messenger publisher Jerry Pye has announced his retirement at the end of the summer. Pye has served as publisher of the News Messenger for the past 6 1/2 years. “I have enjoyed my time as publisher in Marshall and look forward to continuing to be part of the Marshall community,” Pye said. “It is my
hope that we have accomplished something good for the Marshall and Harrison County comm u n i t y. T h e News Messenger has a Jerry Pye strong staff that cares about the people of the community, and it shows in their writing and photography. The paper has won numerous awards over the six years, which is a credit to the staff.”
Pye is also the publisher of the Panola Watchman and the Kilgore News Herald under the M. Roberts Media banner. M. Roberts Media President Stephen McHaney has asked Pye to stay on through the transition period. Pye has been publisher of newspapers in Texas, Louisiana, Missouri, Illinois, Nevada and Wyoming. He started his career as a sophomore in high school throwing papers for the Ruston Daily Leader in Ruston, Louisiana. This job lasted throughout college at Louisi-
ana Tech University. He started his full-time newspaper career as the circulation manager at the Daily Leader and later moved through the ranks, working in all departments before rising to regional publisher. “Most of my career has been spent troubleshooting, turning newspapers around for the communities that I have served,” Pye said. “It has been a fun career, but it is time to step away and enjoy life. “I have always enjoyed See PYE, Page 6C
LifestyLe
news-journal.com
SECTION D/ SUNDAY,JULY 12, 2020
Les Hassell/News-Journal File Photo
Bootmaker Jarrett Van Curen attaches a heel counter to a pair of custom boots he is working on July 3 at his shop in Pittsburg. Van Curen hand-shapes the thick leather piece to provide heel stability for the wearer. Below left, examples of some of Van Curen’s work are shown.
AS UNIQUE J AS YOU ARE Bootmaker crafts footwear to fit individual needs
Van Curen Leather
BY LES HASSELL
News-Journal Photo
arrett Van Curen begins most of his days at 3 a.m., working in the small shop connected to the garage next to his Pittsburg home. He spends the next three hours sitting at a vintage Landis leather stitcher — put into service decades before he was even born — or at one of the other machines circling his shop, perfecting his craft, before putting his tools away and getting ready to spend the rest of the day teaching Ag Mechanics to students at Big Sandy High School. When Van Curen was their age and a student at Pittsburg High School, he thought it would be a good idea to join a friend working at a local western wear store. “I was looking for a job and I didn’t want to sweat,” laughs Van Curen. Besides air conditioning, the store also had a boot repair shop. When there were no customers shopping for clothing, the young Van Curen was tasked with helping with the repairs. “I started out cleaning and breaking them down to get them ready for new soles,” Van Curen said. “I gradually worked my way up to sole stitching and other repairs.”
Les Hassell/News-Journal File Photo
Above and below, bootmaker Jarrett Van Curen uses a vintage Singer sewing machine to stitch a custom pattern into a pair of custom boots he is working on July 3 at his shop in Pittsburg. After high school, Van Curen continued working with leather while attending college at North Texas Community College and later at Texas A&M ComSee BOOT, Page 5D
Les Hassell/News-Journal File Photo
Jarrett Van Curen describes on June 30 how he measures his customer’s feet and uses detailed notes to make custom forms, or lasts, that are used to stretch the boot’s leather during construction for a perfect fit. The owner of Van Curen Leather has begun to be recognized by boot wearers with difficult fits across the nation for his custom-fitted, handmade boots.
Your Health Can’t Wait We know you are concerned about your health. We are, too. That’s why we are taking extraordinary measures to make our care environments safe for every patient. Whether you have a chronic health condition that requires ongoing medical care with a physician or you are experiencing sudden symptoms of a serious, life-threatening condition, like heart attack or stroke, please don’t delay your healthcare. Your life may depend on fast action. We’re here and ready to help you – now.
Learn how we’re keeping patients safe. Visit LongviewRegional.com/covid-19.
In an emergency, call 911.
Farm & Garden PAGE 2D / SUNDAY, JULY 12, 2020
news-journal.com
Special to the News-Journal
Left, sap on peach tree likely caused by peach tree borers. Right, the ooze seen on oak tree is probably coming from decaying tissue within the trunk.
Peach tree borers are major threat to trees
NEIL SPERRY
D
ear Neil: My peach tree is 2 years old. I’m seeing globs of sap on its trunk. What should I do? Answer: It appears that it’s being attacked by peach tree borers. They are a major threat to homeowner peach trees, and they’re not easily prevented with products available at the consumer level. Most university websites recommend treating with sevin or permethrin sprays (applied specifically to the trunks to minimize risk to bees) in mid-August, repeated in early September. I encourage you to read up on the pest using key search words “university peach tree borers.” Dear Neil: My Esperanza has brown spots. Any idea why? Answer: It looks like some type of foliar burn, either from water on the leaves when the sun was quite bright or from a reaction to an accumulation of fertilizer or insecticide on the leaves. The thing I note that’s most important is that there is a lot of new growth that is unaffected. If this were a current problem that is still threatening the plant you’d see it on the new leaves as well, but that’s not the case. I see no reason to try to treat it. Dear Neil: I keep having hundreds of mushrooms come up where I had two trees removed and ground out. Is there anything I can do other than wait them out? Answer: You could apply a fungicide since they’re fungi. Even dusting sulfur will work, but try a small amount first to be sure it doesn’t burn the turf or other nearby plants. Or, let them run their course. As the old tree roots eventually rot the mushrooms will fade away. They are surviving on the decaying organic matter. You could also just break them off as they appear using a rake or hoe dragged across them. Dear Neil: I am having repeated infestations of spider mites on my angel trumpet plants. I’ve used
the insecticide our local independent nursery has recommended. I’ve cut the plant back to eliminate the worst of the outbreak. I’ve checked adjacent plants of other types and they’re all clean. I’m at wit’s end. Can you suggest anything? I’ve had the plant for years and have never had this problem. Answer: I’m going to back up with my answer. To help everyone else, start by confirming that you have spider mites. Thump one of the damaged leaves over a sheet of white paper. Look for almost microscopic, rusty-red specks to start moving briskly on the paper. If you see them, those are the mites. They’ll be on the backs of the leaves. Many general-purpose insecticides do list spider mites on their labels and will do a reasonable job of controlling them, but you have to remember that we no longer have any specific miticides at consumer level. For that reason, control will be less than perfect. One other way to eliminate them, if your plant’s leaves are large enough, would be to take a bucket of warm soapy water and two soft sponges. Squeeze each sponge until it drips moderately. Hold one sponge in each hand and pull each leaf between the sponges. Dip and wring the sponges again before you move on to the next leaf. Dear Neil: My parents planted a red oak tree when they moved into their home 30 years ago. Now water sometimes comes out of a knot in the lower part of the trunk, right in the middle of the dark area in my photo. What should we do? Answer: The ooze you’re seeing is probably coming from decaying tissue within the trunk. I do see a knot where a small branch might have broken off and not healed properly, but it also looks like there is a crotch in the trunk just above all of this. It’s possible the decay originated up there. They really need to have a certified arborist look at their tree. This is not good. It could point to a very weak trunk that could split in a windstorm. Good luck with it! — Have a question for Neil? Mail it to him in care of this newspaper or e-mail him at mailbag@ sperrygardens.com. Neil regrets that he cannot reply to questions individually.
For information on: Births, Engagements, Weddings or Anniversaries please call
903.232.7239
from 9 am to 5pm or email to: announcements@news-journal.com
Lee Reich/AP File Photo
This undated photo shows Zahara Yellow zinnias in New Paltz, N.Y. Zinnias are one of many members of the daisy family, many of which can brighten up a garden with their sunny faces.
Daisies bring sunny touch to the garden BY LEE REICH
family. But that family also includes many other plants not commonly called ive a child a box of daisies. Lettuce and zinnias, crayons and a piece for example. of paper, and ask The daisy family has two for a flower, and subdivisions, one of which you very likely will get a is exemplified by the child’s picture of a daisy. flower drawing, sunflowDaisies also hold attracers, coneflowers and other tion for poets. Geoffrey daisies with “eyes.” For Chaucer, English poet of examples of the other subthe 14th century, wrote “... division, look closely at a of all the floures in the dandelion or chicory flower; mede, Thanne love I most in these flowers, all the thise floures white and florets are ray florets, each rede, Swiche as men callen with a single, large, strapdayses in our toune.” like petal. There is no eye to Daisies are my favorite, these flowers. too. For me, a daisy is the The original “daisy” of essence of “flowerness.” poetry and literature is the What makes a flower a English daisy, Bellis perendaisy? The child’s daisy nis. These squat, cheerful is a circle surrounded by flowers, with yellow discs strap-like petals, their bases surrounded by petals in attached to the circle. To shades from deep-rose to the botanist and gardener, white, originated in the the meaning of “daisy” is grassy fields of England. not so simple. The botanist Now they are widespread explains that the daisy is a in America, too. Cultivated composite flower made up forms have been bred to of many small, individual have so many rows of petals florets. Those florets that that their yellow eyes often make up the eye of the are hidden. These plants daisy have inconspicuous self-sow readily to give petals. seedlings that revert to the A different type of floret, “wild” form with a single the so-called ray florets, row of petals, in which case skirt the daisy’s eye, and they sometimes are consideach has one large, outered weeds as they invade ward-pointing petal. The lawns and gardens. petals you actually see on a So many flowers with daisy flower are those from “daisy” in their names the ray florets. Nowadays, we gardeners What is a daisy? use the word “daisy” to Botanically, all daisies are represent many different in the Compositae, or daisy, flowers in the daisy family. Associated Press
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In the chrysanthemum genus, for example, there’s the ox-eye daisy (C. leucanthemum), its white petals encircling a clear yellow disc. It’s a familiar roadside plant. This plant, like the English daisy, was a native of Europe, but has firmly established itself in America (many consider it a weed). Other perennial chrysanthemum daisies include the Nippon daisy (C. nipponicum), also with white petals, and the painted daisy (C. coccineum), whose red, pink or white flowers begin their show in early summer. The high, or giant daisy (C. uliginosum) is aptly named, because its white flowers tower 4 to 7 feet above the ground. The crown, or garland daisy (C. coronarium) is an annual species, with yellow or white flowers atop 3-foot stalks. The Erigeron genus and the aster genus also have some “daisies;” the former sometimes are called fleabanes, for their alleged ability to drive away fleas, and the latter sometimes are called Michaelmas daisies. Whereas the fleabanes generally bloom in spring and early summer, the asters bloom from late summer into fall. Two representatives of Erigeron that are good garden daisies are the orange daisy (E. aurantiacus) and the seaside, or double-orange daisy (E.
glaucus). The list goes on, including the perennial globe daisy (Globularia trichosantha), a low-growing native of Asia producing a globular, blue flower; the Swan River daisy (Brachycome iberidifolia), a graceful little annual with blue, rose or white flowers; and the blue daisy (Agatheae coelestris), a plant best suited for greenhouse-growing, with sky-blue petals surrounding a yellow eye. Next spring, I will plant a sweep of pastel landscape with African daisies (Arctotis grandis), whose petals, white skyward over lavender undersides, surround steel-blue centers. In contrast, individual attention is demanded from each flower of Transvaal daisies (Gerbera jamesonii), which blossom in shades of salmon, pink and apricot in clay pots on my terrace. A green thumb isn’t required to enjoy daisies. Most are hardy plants, free from pests, and able to tolerate poor, dry soils. If daisies have captured your fancy, sow seeds of perennial forms now. Sow seeds of annual daisies next spring. Daisies are adaptable plants that can bring their sunny disposition to the formal garden, cottage garden, meadow or abandoned lot. After all, the name daisy comes from a reference to the sun, “day’s eye.”
Flowering crape myrtles signal summertime
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ike watermelons and homemade ice cream, the blooming of the crape myrtle signals summertime in East Texas. Across the South, the crape myrtle is there to add its colorful beauty and Southern charm to the long, hot summer. Few plants can offer so much for so long and demand so little. Though native to the Far East, crape myrtles have been a Southern tradition since colonial days. Deserted homesteads and overgrown cemeteries on back-country roads are marked for our generation by large specimens of this flowering tree. The crape myrtle is possibly the most popular small flowering tree for landscape use in our area. Its ease of propagation, long flowering period, freedom from most insect and disease problems and ability to grow under
myrtle date back to the mid-1700s. The plant first became known to English gardens and then made its way to our country about 1800. Older varieties are generally red, pink, lavender or white. The watermelon red color is known by most every gardener. SHANIQUA Today, however, there are DAVIS many new varieties that enhance landscape plantnearly every soil condition ings. Plant breeders have make it a near “ideal” plant. developed many new colors The crape myrtle has — brilliant red, pale pink, often been called the flowbright pink, vivid purple ering tree of 100 days, as it and even bicolors like one bears its colorful blossoms named “peppermint stick.” for a period of some three Resistance to powdery milmonths. dew is also being inbred into During the hot, dry days the newer, better introducof summer when most tions. plants no longer can be Gardeners will now expected to add significant find crape myrtles in sizes color to the landscape, the suitable to every landscape crape myrtle stands alone requirement from small with its abundance of color- trees to miniature weeping ful blossoms. forms with trailing branchEarly records on the cape es that just barely stretch
to 12 inches. Some of these new miniature types are ideal for hanging baskets and containers. The needs of the crape myrtle are few indeed. The crape myrtle needs a sunny location to flower well. Because it flowers on new growth, pruning in late winter prior to new growth will insure more blooms. Water it generously and deeply. Fertilize it once or twice a year with a balanced fertilizer. Prune off old flowers if you want to encourage new flowering shoots for late summer. And finally, watch out for the occasional powdery mildew problem. If you do not have crape myrtle enhancing you landscape, stop by your local nursery while the plants are in flower and pick out several in containers for immediate planting. — Shaniqua Davis is the Extension agent for agriculture and natural resources for Gregg County. Email: Shaniqua.Davis@ag.tamu.edu.
news-journal.com
Longview News-Journal, Sunday, July 12, 2020
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Woman suspicious of man’s fear to host DEAR ABBY: I am 43, and my boyfriend is 40. He is always at my house, but I can never go to his place to sit around and relax. When I get upset about it and want to talk to him about it, he tells me that’s not the case at all. I’m welcome anytime. But when I suggest it, I am always turned down. I’m trying hard to be optimistic, but I have so many negative thoughts about this. What should I do? — KEPT OUT IN ALABAMA DEAR KEPT OUT: It appears your boyfriend is Hannah Bush & Logan Wallis more comfortable at your place than hosting you at Bush - Wallis Mark and Traci Wallis of Longview are pleased to his. Why that would be is announce the engagement of their son, Logan Wallis, to anybody’s guess. Maybe he Hannah Bush, daughter of Cyndi and Patrick Bush of is lazy and doesn’t want to straighten up for a guest. San Antonio. Logan graduated from Spring Hill High School, Maybe he’s unwilling to Longview, Texas, class of 2011. He graduated from Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas in December of 2015 with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance and Honors from the Mays Business School. Logan is currently employed at Bank of America in Dallas, Texas as a Corporate Credit Analyst. He is the grandson of Mary Ruth and Walter Wallis of Longview, and Peggy and Marvin Snodgrass of Tyler. Hannah graduated from Ronald Reagan High School in San Antonio, Texas, class of 2011. She graduated from Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas in May of 2015 with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Supply Chain Management from the Mays Business School. Hannah is a Management Consultant at Accenture. She is the granddaughter of Richard and Lolita Kasik of San Antonio. The couple plans to wed November 21, 2020, at San Antonio Botanical Gardens.
DEAR ABBY
JEANNE PHILLIPS provide food or a beverage you prefer. Are you sure he lives alone and there isn’t another hen sitting in his nest? You haven’t said how long you have been together as a couple, but it does seem like he is taking advantage. It also seems he is pretty slick about
MILITARY NEWS
schedule an appointment, call (903) 663-2650. Drug addiction help: The Longview-Greggton Alcoholics Anonymous meets daily at 8 p.m., with additional meetings at 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 10 a.m. Sundays at 4614 W. Loop 281. Social distancing is used while at the outdoor garden meeting area; weather permitting. For information, call (903) 236-9101.
the whole thing. How do I navigate these dinners without offending anyone’s cooking? — QUICKLY SATISFIED DEAR SATISFIED: If possible, what you should do is serve yourself the portions you are comfortable eating rather than waste the food. If that is not possible, quietly point out to your hosts that although you love what they prepare, you are in the habit of eating small portions throughout the day and would appreciate it if they didn’t overwhelm you. It’s a reasonable request, and it shouldn’t offend anyone. — Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.
Another storage option
HEALTH DIGEST
Blood donors needed: The Carter BloodCare Donor Center, 3080 N. Eastman Road, Suite 112, in Longview, has been remodeled to better serve donors’ social distancing needs. Hours of operation are Monday through Wednesday and Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Thursday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; and Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Making an appointment is the best way to reduce wait time. Donors can fill out questionnaire online the day of donation at carterbloodcare.org/ quickscreen to assure quick service. For information or to
denying reality when it comes to hospitality. Unless he can explain to you WHY you can’t come over, your negative thoughts about this may be warranted. DEAR ABBY: I’m a male in my early 20s who has a very small appetite. I eat small portions regularly throughout the day. During holidays and other occasions, I eat at the parents’ of my friends a lot, or at my grandparents’ or other family members’ homes. They think I should have the typical “growing boy” appetite and consume large amounts of food at each meal. When I don’t clean my plate (or even half), they ask me what’s wrong or if I didn’t like it. Usually, I enjoyed it very much but just couldn’t finish
Special to the News-Journal
SIGONELLA, Italy – Petty Officer 2nd Class M’kennan Bales, right, a native of White Oak, is playing a critical role in the U.S. Navy’s efforts to maintain a healthy and ready fighting force in the face of the coronavirus pandemic. As a hospital corpsman working at Navy Medical Readiness and Training Command Sigonella in Sigonella, Italy, Bales’ skills are vital to maintaining the health of the sailors in the Sigonella area, and by extension, the readiness of the Navy’s operational ships and submarines on which they serve.
Dear Heloise: My sister’s house burned to the ground and she lost everything. She said she wished she had time to get her photo albums out as there were so many memories in them. This made me think. I realized I have several boxes with photo albums and memorabilia on shelves in closets throughout the house. If I had to leave the house suddenly, I probably wouldn’t be able to gather them all and carry the heavy boxes out in time to save them. So, I went to a garage sale and bought two rolling suitcases, very inexpensively. I now store our photos and other irreplaceable items in the suitcases, which
HINTS FROM HELOISE
HELOISE can easily be rolled out of the house in an emergency. They’re lined up in a closet close to the front door. — Sarah in Kentucky — Send a great hint to: Heloise, P.O. Box 7950000, San Antonio, TX 78279-5000; fax: 1-210-HELOISE; email Heloise@Heloise.com.
— To have information considered for publication, send it by 5 p.m. Wednesday to clerks@ news-journal.com or mail to P.O. Box 1792, Longview, TX 75606.
NEWSMAKERS
SWIM PRICE BREAK
40
%
Desiree Sanchez
Jillian Doss
Two women genealogical societies are honoring a high school student in the Longview High School Junior ROTC, Lobo Batallion. The awards are given to aspiring cadets for their superior performance of duty. Because of the coronavirus, there was not an awards ceremony honoring the many students in that program. Certificates and medals were mailed to the school to be distributed to the honorees. The Daughters of the American Revolution, D.A.R., recognized Cadet Lt. Col. Desiree Sanchez, who served as Cadet Battalion Commander.
The U.S. Daughters of 1812 Award was given to Cadet Command Sgt. Maj. Jillian Doss. Both of these young women contributed to the quality of the overall student battalion performance. Senior Army instructor Maj. Roland Beasley and his assistant, Sgt. 1st Class Jennifer Jackson, direct the outstanding Junior ROTC program. Many of their students serve in national military organizations. — To have information considered for publication, send it by 5 p.m. Wednesday to clerks@news-journal. com; fax to the attention of Newsmakers at (903) 757-3742; or mail to P.O. Box 1792, Longview, TX 75606
SELECT
OFF
SWIM
LADIES • JUNIORS KIDS • MEN’S
CHOOSE YOUR GIFT 7 PIECES WITH ANY $37.50 LANCÔME PURCHASE.
Gift worth up to $141.
Value will vary based on client’s selection of product. Offer good while supplies last. One gift per client, please. Selection varies by size and store. Previous markdowns may have been taken. Call 1-800-345-5273 to find a Dillard’s store near you.
US
news-journal.com
A page about the people who make life better US is a weekly roundup of outstanding volunteer and philanthropic activities in East Texas. To submit or suggest volunteers or donors for recognition in US, write to Features, c/o Longview News-Journal, P.O. Box 1792, Longview, TX 75606; email clerks@news-journal.com; fax to (903) 757-3742 or bring it to our offices, 320 E. Methvin St.
THE WISH LIST
Your chance to help
■ House of Hope, 3011 W. Marshall Ave., Longview, needs eggs, cooking oil, butter, whole chickens, brisket, 3-pound container of minced garlic in water, corn meal, white bread, creamed soups (chicken and mushroom). For information, call (903) 295-0904. ■ Longview pet rescue organizations have a crucial need for dog and cat food. Corporate and individual donations are currently reduced because of the COVID-19 pandemic. For information, email info@LongviewPetsRescue.org or visit LongviewPetsRescue.org . ■ House of Disciples, 210 S. Green St., needs bunk beds, men’s clothing, disposable razors, soap,
body wash, shampoo and shaving cream. Donations can be dropped off at House of Disciples or Gifts of Grace Resale Store, 2519 Judson Road. For information, call (903) 553-0952. ■ D.O.R.S. Youth Transition Center, 1125 Judson Road, Suite 153, Longview, needs disinfecting wipes and paper towels. For information, call (903) 803-0100. ■ Family Promise, 700 N. Edith St., Longview, needs toiletries, OdoBan and high-efficiency powdered laundry detergent. For information, call (903) 234-8343.
— To have information considered for publication, send it by 5 p.m. Wednesday to clerks@news-journal.com or mail to P.O. Box 1792, Longview, TX 75606.
COMMUNITY FUNDRAISERS ■ Summer of 100 Heroes: now through Aug. 31; Asbury House Child Enrichment Center has canceled its annual garage sale due to COVID-19. The garage sale provided much-needed funds throughout the year. The Summer of 100 Heroes is an adapted fundraising campaign to add 100 donors, also known as “Heroes,” to their Asbury Heroes Monthly Giving Club at $25 per month or more. This campaign will financially replace the traditional summer fundraiser. For donation information, visit asburyhouse.net or call Rachel, at (903) 212-2199. ■ Furr Ever Pets Rescue
Your chance to give
Fundraiser: continuing until group returns to Wet Pets N Critters; Furr Ever Pets Rescue is a nonprofit group of volunteers that provides veterinary and foster care for homeless dogs until they are adopted. Furr Ever Pets is seeking sponsors to help pay for vetting costs. Donations of any amount will benefit this rescue. For donation/information, visit furreverpetsrescue.org , facebook.com/ furreverpetsrescue or email info@ furreverpetsrescue.org . ■ — To have information considered for publication in this section, send it by 5 p.m. Wednesday to clerks@news-journal.com or mail to P.O. Box 1792, Longview, TX 75606.
Longview News-Journal, Sunday, July 12, 2020
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Man brings toys for kids isolated by virus BY PETER ORSI Associated Press
TRUCKEE, Calif. — When coronavirus lockdowns came to his California mountain town, businessman Craig Fierro realized there would be no children’s birthday parties — no friends playing games, eating cake and singing “Happy Birthday.” Something must be done, he thought, to ease the disappointment. He found that something in his store. At MotoSport Express Truckee, Fierro sells motorcycles, ATVs, snowmobiles and watercraft. But he also carries brightly colored toy replicas of the bikes, retailing for around $20. “Anytime the kids come in the shop, it always catches their eye,” said Fierro, 45. “And I thought, man, it would be neat just to hand out those as gifts to kids right now because they can’t get all their friends over ... and at least maybe to put a smile on a face, you know even for just 10 minutes.” In April he posted an
VOLUNTEERS WANTED ■ Partnership for Pets of East Texas seeks volunteers to help with cat adoption. They will be on call at the time of their choosing to meet customers interested in cats sheltered at Petco, 405 W. Loop 281, McCann Rd, Longview. For information, text Belinda, (903) 235-6101. ■ Longview pet rescue organizations have an immediate need for volunteers to foster dogs and cats due to an increase in strays and pet surrenders. Volunteers are trained and most expenses are covered. Fostering can last from a few weeks to a few months. For information, email info@LongviewPetsRescue.
Peter Orsi/AP File Photo
Vivian Filipic, 4, holds the hand of her father, Filip Filipic, as she receives a gift-wrapped toy motorcycle in June from Craig Fierro, a day before her fifth birthday, in Truckee, Calif. Fierro, who owns a motorcycle shop in the city, has brought dozens of toys to local kids during the coronavirus pandemic over the last two months to brighten their birthdays. invitation on a Facebook community page: Anyone with a kid with an upcoming birthday could send him the name, date and address, and he’d drop off a present. Fierro’s 9and 13-year-old daughters help wrap the bikes and accompany him on deliveries in his 1964 VW Beetle. Sometimes he’ll leave a toy on the porch; other times he meets the family, hand it off in per-
son, wish the kid happy birthday and stay a few minutes for a distanced chat. On a recent evening after work, Fierro and his elder daughter presented a blue-and-white replica of a Yamaha YZ450F dirt bike to Vivian Filipic, who was turning 5 the next day. Last year she had a huge party with about 30 kids. This year only five people would be helping her celebrate: her parents, brother
and grandparents. The family has been in stay-at-home mode since March; Vivian has been lonely without pre-school or friends around, just 9-monthold brother Luka, who is too young to play. She excitedly ripped the wrapping paper off, opened the box with a little help from dad, and set to vrooming it in circles on the asphalt driveway while the adults chewed the fat. “It was so special ...,” said Vivian’s mother, Kirsten Mickelson, “I think it’s great for the community.” To start, Fierro had about 10 of the toys in stock, and it quickly became clear that wasn’t going to be enough. When he called parts distributor Western Power Sports Inc. to order more and told them what he was doing, they matched his order. The give-away was supposed to run through May and be for children ages 5-10. But he’s ended up giving the toys to toddlers and even bigger kids, in their late teens.
People and organizations need your assistance
org or visit Longview PetsRescue. org . ■ Newgate Mission, 207 S. Mobberly Ave., Longview, needs volunteers for sack lunch preparation from 9 to 10 a.m. Mondays. For information, call Brenda, (903) 757-6146. ■ Martin House Children’s Advocacy Center is a nonprofit organization that provides a collaborative, multidisciplinary response to the investigation, prosecution and treatment of child abuse. Volunteers help restore hope to children who have been abused. For information, email karen@thmartinhousecac. org or call (903) 807-0189. ■ Texas Home Health
Hospice, 2904 N. Fourth St., Longview, needs volunteers to offer patient companionship, family support and office assistance. For information, email kristinabuckrell@txhha.com or call (903) 234-0943. ■ East Texas CASA is looking for volunteers to help children as they enter the foster care system. CASA volunteers are screened and trained, then appointed by judges to represent and advocate for the child in the child protection system. For information, email brooke@ easttexascasa.org or call (903) 753-8093. ■ Christus Good Shepherd Medical Center Longview Aux-
iliary is a nonprofit volunteer organization providing services and support to the medical center and the community. For volunteer opportunities, email alana.brown@christushealth.org or call (903) 315-2199. ■ Longview Citizens on Patrol seeks volunteers to increase cooperation between residents and the Longview Police Department. For information and volunteer opportunities, email msandars@msn.com or call (903) 570-1480.
— To have information considered for publication, send it by 5 p.m. Wednesday to clerks@news-journal.com or mail to P.O. Box 1792, Longview, TX 75606.
Boot From Page 1D merce — making belts, wallets and other tooled leather items in his spare time — paying for most of his college education with the proceeds of his hobby. At the young age of 29, Van Curen says he’s an oddity in the bootmaking field.“For the past 20 to 30 years there’s been one group of well-known bootmakers but, sadly, a lot of those guys are starting to retire or die. Unfortunately, most of the new people that want to get into it are older guys and after they’ve spent the time to become good at it, they’re one of those guys that are ready to retire,” explains Van Curen. “And, the young guys that get into it, they make boots for two or three years and then get out of it because they’re not making any money — they end up burning out before they gain enough experience in the craft to make it in the business.” Van Curen’s simple workshop is in stark contrast to the high-end materials like kangaroo, ostrich and silky buffalo demanded by his customers. His bespoke boots start at $1,700 with exotic materials like alligator or saltwater crocodile, pushing the total to near $10,000. After a detailed fitting of the customer that includes making lasts, or customer-specific forms used to stretch and shape the leather to exactly fit their individual feet, Van Curen said it takes at least 40 hours to construct a pair of boots. The time can easily double depending on the custom stitching or inlay work. “I’ve got a pair that I’m working on now that will have cactus inlays in the tops,” Van Curen said. “I’ll probably have close to 80 hours in that one pair of boots.” “Of course, I strive for perfection but there are things about every pair — that most people would never notice — that I see and I try to improve upon with each pair,” Van Curen said. It’s that attention to detail and the regard he gives each customer that brings his clients from both coasts and places in-between to be fitted for his footwear. “I’ve got people that fly in. I’ve had customers from New York. I’ve had customers from California. I’ve got local customers, people that drive 30 minutes to see me,” Van Curen said. Many people want to wear boots but have troublesome fits that have kept them from wearing them comfortably. Van Curen recounted how a customer wearing a size 14EE complained that he could only wear boots for a short period before his feet would begin hurting. After a detailed measuring of his feet, Van Curen solved the problem by making the man a pair of custom-fit boots in the man’s correct size; a shorter but much wider 10 1/2EEEE. A week later, the man ordered a second pair. “Everything I make is one of a kind, one pair of boots at a time, made for that specific customer, fitted to their feet,” Van Curen said. Van Curen said every bootmaker has tongue and stitch patterns, as unique as a fingerprint,
Les Hassell/News-Journal File Photo
Boot maker Jarrett Van Curen uses a vintage Singer sewing machine to stitch a custom pattern into a pair of custom boots he is working on July 3, at his shop in Pittsburg. Below right, Van Curen describes how he measures his customer’s feet.
Les Hassell/News-Journal File Photo
Van Curen Leather stamp work is shown. that they are known for. He’s spent several years tweaking and perfecting his signature stitch. Named with the help of fellow bootmaker Paul Krause, the Van Curen Ribcage stitch was recently described in a Texas Monthly article as “clean aesthetic and elegant stitching.” After six years as a bootmaker, Van Curen’s craftsmanship continues to impress customers. Currently, a pair of Van Curen’s boots have a waiting time of six to nine months.
Les Hassell/ News-Journal File Photo
Boot maker Jarrett Van Curen points to his personal fender stitch on a boot.
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Longview News-Journal, Sunday, July 12, 2020
news-journal.com
PETS OF THE WEEK
Churro
Jumpin Jack Flash
Churro: 8-year-old Chihuahua; Jumpin Jack Flash: 1-yearmale. See Regard4Life.org or email old border collie mix; male. See regard4life.info@gmail.com . pfpEastTexas.org or text Eva, (903) 926-2695.
Bell
Bell: 8-year-old Chihuahua mix; female. See FurrEverPetsRescue. org or call/text Carolyn, (903) 917-7214.
Honey Bun
Honey Bun: 9-year-old Chihuahua; female. See FurrEverPetsRescue.org or text (only) Elaine, (903) 243-2758.
Animals featured in Pets of the Week are fully vetted and have been spayed or neutered. Contact the rescue group for specific information. See the weekend Datebook for information about adoption events.
Tori
Tori: 8-month-old Labrador mix; female. See longviewpetsrescue. org/AGDC.html or call/text Klancey (903) 235-0383.
JoJo
Popeye
Sammy
Oakley
Little Missy
Lola
Popeye: 4-year-old Terrier mix; Sammy: 20-month-old Labrador/ Lola: 20-month-old-old shepherd male. See Regard4Life.org or email Shar-Pei mix; male. See Regardmix; female. See Regard4Life.org or regard4life.info@gmail.com . 4Life.org or email regard4life.info@ email regard4life.info@gmail.com . gmail.com .
JoJo: 3-year-old Chihuahua mix; Oakley: 5-year-old miniature Little Missy: 10-year-old Chihuamale. See FurrEverPetsRescue.org pinscher; female. See FurrEverPets- hua; female. See FurrEverPetsResor call/text Carolyn, (903) 917-7214. Rescue.org or call (9 a.m.-8 p.m.)/ cue.org or call (9 a.m.-8 p.m.)/text text Ione Fried, (903) 918-3213. Ione Fried, (903) 918-3213.
Macho Man
Macho Man: 1-year-old terrier/Chihuahua mix; male. See FurrEverPetsRescue.org or call (9 a.m.-8 p.m.)/ text Ione Fried, (903) 918-3213.
AP File Photo
This May 25 computer screen capture shows an online training session with dog Trig and his owner, in New York, conducted by Kate LaSala via Zoom. Both trainers and owners are finding that online dog training is effective and convenient, and it’s a safe way to learn needed skills when in-person lessons are not possible.
Special to The Washington Post
Just as cats need to be able to scratch, dogs need to be able to chew, so it’s a good idea to invest in a scratching post or appropriate chew toys.
Before bringing home a new pet .... SPECIAL TO THE WASHINGTON POST
or put out of reach (aspca. org). Other potential pet hazards: Vertical blinds, In the past couple of curtains that pool on the months, pretty much everyfloor, tassels and long one I know has chosen to cords. foster or adopt a pet. Most If you are adopting/ were prompted by a gut purchasing a cat, install need for unconditional love high-quality metal screens and companionship. So, it’s on all windows. And keep no wonder that dog and cat in mind that cats are excelfostering and adoption levlent climbers, so pet-proofels are at an all-time high. ing for a cat means more Kelly DiCicco, manager of than just keeping the floor adoptions promotions at area safe; Move plants and the ASPCA Adoption Cenfragile objects to a protectter, says “there’s no doubt ed area. For kittens, DiCicthat the response from co says to block any small people across the country hideouts where the kitten willing to open their homes could escape or get stuck, to animals in need during including around and unthis challenging time has derneath appliances. been enormous and unBecause scratching is precedented.” a natural behavior for But as tempting as it Plan services ahead cats, DiCicco recommends may sound to have a furry friend to comfort you these Miller also suggests find- investing in a scratching post to prevent destruction days, there is much to ing a vet, groomer, pet sitof other objects. And just consider before you bring ter (you’ll need one someas cats need to be able to an animal into your home, day!) and trainer before not the least of which is bringing an animal home. scratch, dogs need to be the fact that animals will Interview them about their able to chew. Provide appropriate chew toys; Miller forever be dependent on methods, and determine suggests Kong dog toys you; unlike kids, who even- whether they are on the tually (you hope!) fend for same philosophical page as (kongcompany.com), which themselves, you will always you. For example, Miller is come in a variety of sizes and firmness, or Dog Tuff need to feed, discipline and a force-free trainer; she is toys (dogtuff.com). clean up after your pet. adamant about not using pain coercion in training, Ready to house train Too many unprepared but there are others, she says, who are not. If you are getting a puppy Pat Miller, a certified Other prep work to or dog who is not yet houseprofessional dog trainer do: Purchase supplies in trained, create a special and behavior consultant advance, and set everything area for the dog using baby and the director of Peaceup before the pet’s arrival. gates or a collapsible pen, able Paws Academies in DiCicco’s must-have list so any accidents don’t damFairplay, Maryland, says for cats: A collar, litter and age carpets. (You should she sees too many peolitter box (make sure you roll up and store decorative ple getting pets without have a spot to put them), rugs until your new dog is thinking through all that fully house-trained.) Miller it entails — a phenomenon food, toys and bowls. For prefers baby gates that not unique to the pandem- dogs: A leash, collar and harness, bed, food, toys, are pressure-mounted (no ic. “Happens all the time. bowls and crate. need to screw them into We are just seeing more DiCicco says you also door frames) and that are of it now because so many need to make that your easy-open walk-through. people who are sitting at home safe before and And she suggests using home with nothing to do a crate to help train your are deciding it’s a good time after you bring your pet home. Remove all items dog. “When properly used, to get a pet.” from the floor that could a crate is the easiest way to Miller says that before be eaten or chewed, and house-train and manage a you get a pet, you must keep electrical wires out puppy, because dogs come make sure everyone in of reach. Also, check that with a natural inhibition your home is on board. your house plants are safe. against soiling their own That doesn’t mean everyThe ASPCA has compiled a den.” For the house-trainone in the house needs to list of plants that are toxic ing process, Miller says be responsible for taking to animals that should be to use a smaller crate, so care of the pet, but there removed from your home the dog can’t soil one side needs to be some level of universal agreement around having the pet. “Animals do not need to come into an environment where there is conflict over their presence,” she says. She suggests setting clear guidelines and rules of what the pet is allowed to do — and not do — in advance. Questions to consider: Is the animal allowed on the furniture? Where will the animal sleep? Who is going to clean up, walk and feed the animal? Who is the primary trainer? What happens when everyone goes back to school and back to work? “The more you think through ahead of time, the less conflict and confusion there is for the animal.”
and lie comfortably on the other. Once a dog is fully house-trained, switch to a more spacious crate.
Space available
When you bring your pet home, DiCicco says to give them some space to get acquainted with the sights, sounds and scents of their new home while keeping an eye on them as they settle in. “And remember to take things at their pace and follow their lead.” Some cats are more sensitive than others, so they may settle in better if initially confined to one room, DiCicco says. Gradually give them more space to explore over time. This helps them adjust to their environment without feeling too overwhelmed. If you already have pets, provide the new pet with a quiet area away from the other animals while they get acclimated, potentially for their first few days or weeks, and take initial introductions very slowly. DiCicco suggests trying scent swapping — giving one animal something that smells like the other — before introducing them. This improves your chances of having a successful first introduction. Miller is not a fan of animal doors; she says it’s best that you control when your dog goes in and out. “It’s your responsibility to make sure that your dog gets out as often as he needs to, not only to go to the bathroom, but also to exercise.” She adds: “If your animal has an accident indoors, it’s your fault.” Lastly, Miller says to opt for a physical fence and not an invisible underground shock fence (which she thinks should be illegal). “Invisible dog fences don’t keep things out, so they don’t protect your dog from something coming in and getting them, and they contribute to unwanted aggressive behavior.”
Virtual training can be good for trainers, owners and dogs ASSOCIATED PRESS
Jennifer Stile was apprehensive when she found out that training classes for her puppy Josie would be moving online because of the pandemic. “Initially I said I’d wait till it’s over,” says Stile, who was taking a class at My Fantastic Friend in Ellicott City, Maryland. “But then I realized that it wasn’t going to be over fast enough, and I knew I needed to train my dog and I didn’t have the tools to do that without help.” So she took the plunge — and she’s glad she did. “I’d been trying to watch YouTube videos and do it on my own, but I wasn’t getting that instant feedback, knowing if I was doing it correctly,” she says. “Having that feedback from a trainer who was invested in me and my dog and getting to know my dog, it was much more successful than I thought.” In fact, many trainers are finding that holding classes and private sessions online via videoconference is more than a stopgap: There are advantages for them, for their clients and for dogs. One plus is that the setting is less distracting than that of the typical in-person group class that takes place in an unfamiliar environment with other dogs around. “People make progress more quickly, which I think is encouraging for them, and it’s more efficient,” says Kelly Lee of Dog Kind Training in Davis, California. “And many dogs who could never do an in-person class can come to these, because they’re still in their comfort zone.” Maura Knestout found that to be true for her terrier mix Mia. “An in-person group class wouldn’t have worked out for us, because she wouldn’t have been able to focus,” she says. “Doing the group class online, I was able to see the other dogs, and see how their handlers were working with them, but we were in our own space, so she could focus better.” It can be less distracting for the people, as well: They can focus on what is being taught without having to
worry about wrangling their dog in an overstimulating environment. For certain behavior issues, online training may be the best way, pandemic or not. Kate LaSala, who specializes in problems like pet fear and aggression, has been offering private sessions online for several years. “I have found that doing these types of cases remotely is often easier on the dog, because they don’t have a stranger coming into the house,” she says. “It’s less stressful for the dog, and less stressful for the people.” This makes learning easier, as Knestout discovered with Mia. “We were actually able to speed up the process because we didn’t have someone coming in our house and making her nervous,” she says. “Once we switched to online, she zoomed through the private lessons.” The ultimate goal of dog training, LaSala says, is to provide owners with the tools to work with their own dogs, not for the trainer to do it. And although each dog owner’s problems may feel unique, there’s usually no need for her to see the animal in action. “I know what food guarding looks like. I know what stranger danger looks like,” she says. “I don’t need to instigate the dog to see that behavior to help the person or to help the dog.” Technology also offers some benefits that would be harder to provide in person. It’s easy to share video to demonstrate a technique, and rewind or slow-mo to focus on details. It’s easy to record class, so some trainers share video to help you review what was covered. And looking at video of yourself working with your dog can let you see more clearly what your trainer is talking about when she gives you feedback. There are some downsides to online training for puppy classes, where practicing good dog-dog play and providing exposure to strange people and situations is a big part of the curriculum. But experts stress that doing puppy classes at the right age is critical, and online classes are still effective.