SPRING 2023
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE CARTHAGE CONVENTION/VISITORS BUREAU
CHAMBER CARTHAGE CONVENTION/VISITORS
EVEN THOUGH Carthage is considered a small town, we have many options to offer our residents as well as those who just come to visit a while. The College View All Ages All Abilities Park on Bird Drive is one of our newest attractions we love to brag about. Since it’s opening in 2021, the park is always full of families enjoying the various play stations and equipment. Included in the park grounds are a covered pavilion with picnic tables, an 800-foot walking trail with various fitness equipment along the way, plus many fun and interactive play stations for all ages.
In October 2022, the Texas Municipal League awarded Carthage with its Municipal Excellence Award for the development of the all abilities park. The Park is the only one of its kind within 60 miles and serves as the sole National Demonstration Site for a park of its kind in East Texas.
STEPHEN K. WILLIAMS City Manager
ALL SIX FLAGS OF TEXAS have flown over the rolling piney woods that we call home. Our county is unique in that historically the only International Boundary Marker within the continental United States sits in southeast Panola County near the Flatwoods community, which happens to be the birthplace of country giant, Jim Reeves. Jim’s final resting place sits just a few miles east of Carthage on Highway 79 at the Jim Reeves Memorial. Fellow country crooner Tex Ritter was born across the county near present day Lake Murvaul—the place to be during the long days of summer where families and friends gather to make memories.
While in Carthage, visit the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame to see exhibits on these local singers’ lives and other Texas musical greats. Be sure to visit the 1891 Old Jail, which is home to the Panola County Historical and Genealogical Society and
the Leila B. LaGrone Family History Center. While sightseeing, take heed and appreciate the turn of the century architecture around our historical downtown square and residential architecture along N. St. Mary Street, the statues to the first female state senator Margie Neal and Dr. Mildred Jefferson around the square, and the bigger than life statue of the Spirit of Panola at the corner of West Panola and Bird Drive on the Panola County Campus.
Once again, welcome to Panola County.
RODGER G. MCLANE Panola County Judge
JR. LIVESTOCK SHOW
March 1st-3rd
panola.agrilife.org/events
KUTTING KORNER BEAUTY
SALON RIBBON CUTTING
March 1st | 10AM
103 N. Adams
TEEN CITIZENS POLICE
ACADEMY CERTIFICATE CEREMONY
March 1st | 6 P.M.
Panola College
SENIORS MEETING
March 2nd | 10 A.M.
300 W. Panola
PANOLA COUNTY CLEANUP DAY
March 4th
300 W. Panola
KARAOKE
March 4th | 8 P.M.
1520 S East Loop
CLASSIC CAFE CATERING CO.
LLC RIBBON CUTTING
March 7th | 10 A.M.
That Spot Food Truck Park HWY 79 S.
ROTARY CLUB OF CARTHAGE
RIBBON CUTTING
March 9th | 10 A.M.
New slide at Davis Park
KARAOKE
March 11th & 18th | 8 P.M.
1520 S East Loop
COMMUNITY GARAGE SALE
March 25th
300 W. Panola
KARAOKE
March 25th | 8 P.M.
1520 S East Loop
PANOLA COLLEGE
PURSE BINGO
March 31st
5:00 P.M. - 10:30 P.M.
Carthage Civic Center, 1702 S. Adams
April
TUNES & TAILS
April 1st
Esquire Theatre, Downtown Carthage
www.thecountrymusichayride.com
COMMUNITY EASTER
EGG HUNT
April 7th | 10:15 AM
Winkler Place 513 N Adams, Carthage
SPRING REMEMBRANCE
HEARTSWAY HOSPICE
April 10th | 6:30 P.M.
Footprints In The Sand Monument, 1320 Dixie Lake Rd.
STOCK SHOW SUPPORTS OF PANOLA COUNTY INC.
RIBBON CUTTING
April 13th | 10 A.M.
300 W. Panola
STEEL MAGNOLIAS
April 13th-16th
Esquire Players, Esquire Theatre
www.thecountrymusichayride.com
SENIORS
April
PINEY WOODS QUILT FESTIVAL
April
April
1702 S. Adams
KID’S
April
PANOLA
April
PCCA
May
For event details visit us on Facebook or the web!
This story originally was published in The Panola Watchman
CARTHAGE — A Texas State Antiquities Landmark Medallion was officially unveiled at the Texas/U.S. international boundary marker in November 2021.
The international boundary marker was erected in 1841, when Texas was still a republic. The territory boundary was originally disputed by Spain and France in the 1700s, but
it wasn’t until the Republic of Texas was founded that a joint commission was created to finally settle the issue. While the marker has sustained damage over the years, it still stands today near the Texas-Louisiana state line on FM 31.
“It is the only boundary marker of its kind still standing as far as the actual marker itself, and back when
The International Boundary Marker delineated the border between the Republic of Texas and the United States. It is a county, state and national historical landmark.
Texas was a republic, the Republic of Texas when it was an independent country, we backed up on the United States as far as a boundary was concerned, and so on one side of it, it says ‘R.T.’ for the Republic of Texas, and on the other side it says ‘U.S.’ for United States,” said Kay Mauritzen, chairperson of the Panola County Historical Commission. “So that was the official boundary between two countries for about nine years there while Texas was a republic.”
Panola County Surveyor Don Austin and Panola County Judge David Anderson served as guest speakers
during the ceremony. There were representatives from Louisiana, including Louisiana state representative Larry Bagley, and a representative from the DeSoto Parish Historical and Genealogical Society. Both the honor guards from the sheriff’s departments in Panola County and DeSoto Parish will be present.
“So people are invited from both sides, Louisiana and Texas,” Mauritzen said. “Now it already has an historical marker on it, plus it has two or three other markers that have been placed on it to signify that it’s import-
- CONTINUED ON PAGE 10
ant. But now the state has wanted the antiquities marker put there also.”
The international boundary marker is located on the Louisiana-Texas border near the junction of Texas FM 31 and Louisiana 765, southeast of Deadwood.
To find the marker, go south from the Carthage Square on U.S. 59, travel three miles, turn left onto FM 2517 going east, travel 8.3 miles, turn right onto FM 31 South, travel 9.6 miles, and the marker will be on the left side of the road.
AUGUST 30, 1924 - JULY 31, 1964
BORN IN GALLOWY, James Travis Reeves played professional baseball for the St. Louis Cardinals’ minor league team until an injury forced him to abandon that career. He became a radio disc jockey and formed a country western band. Joining the Grand Ole Opry in 1955, he became a world famous singer. Known fondly as “Gentleman Jim,” Reeves was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1967, three years after he died in a plane crash.
LOCAL SCULPTOR Bob Harness had a vision that has turned into a reality — a 14 foot statue of Jesus depicting the words to the poem “Footprints in the Sand”. This statue can be found in a park on the southwest loop in Carthage, approximately 1/4 mile south of HWY 315 at 1320 Dixie Lake Road.
COLLEGE VIEW PARK
251 Jessie Drive, Carthage
• NEWEST PARK!
• All ages, all abilities
ANDERSON PARK
Cross Rd. & N. Shelby St., Carthage
• Covered gazebo with seating
• Well shaded
• Jumbo chess game
• Located at the Carthage square
• Shops, sweets and restaurants nearby
FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
201 S. Shelby St., Carthage
• Pavilion with seating & tables
• Playground area & equipment
• Walking trail
• Large grassy field area
• Fenced perimeter
• Toddler play area
• Basketball courts
• Volley ball net
DAVIS PARK
Sunset St. & Community Dr., Carthage
• Bathrooms
• Playground area & equipment
• Splash pad
• Well shaded with trees & open to play
• Covered & non-covered seating
• Community House available for rent
BASEBALL PLAYGROUND AREA
1 Ball Park Rd., Carthage
• Bathrooms at baseball complex
• Close proximity to walking trail
• Covered seating
HERSHELL BECK MUNICIPAL PARK
MLK Blvd., Carthage
• Playground area & equipment
• Large grassy field area
• Basketball Courts
• Baseball Fields
LAKE MURVAUL
638 FM 1234, Carthage
• Bathrooms
• Swimming & Water Access
• Playground equipment
• Marina & Restaurant
• Fishing/Camping/RV Park/Cabins for rent
Potlatch 2022 was celebrated Saturday, October 1st at the Carthage Civic Center.
