Miller Grove News December 8, 2017
by Brandon Darrow
Christmas and New Year are on the horizon but it seems as though 2017 has just begun. I can’t believe we are only a few weeks away from 2018. Looking back there have been many changes in our world and in our community throughout the year. Some good and some bad but most of the changes in MG are for the good…like getting a new elementary school, athletic teams going to state tournaments, and success at local FFA events.
It is with much regret that I report the passing of one of my favorite cousins, Johnny Ferguson. He was my cousin, my neighbor for my entire life, and my friend. After a short illness with lung cancer he passed away on Nov. 29, at his residence. He was born in Miller Grove to Clyde Curtis Ferguson and Lera Maude (Darrow) Ferguson, on Mar. 12, 1932. He graduated from MGHS in 1949 and served 2 years in the US Army during the Korean conflict. He married Mary Lynn McKeever on Sept. 22, 1962, in Union, Hopkins County, TX. He is survived by his wife; sisters, Mary Lou Akins, Ruby Long, and Bonnie Callan (and husband George). He was preceded in death by one brother, Jack Ferguson, and three sisters, Vallie McElvy, Dorothy Nell Milner, and an infant sister. Funeral services were held Saturday, Dec. 2, at Miller Grove United Methodist Church with interment following in Miller Grove Cemetery. Both, Rev. Howard Strickland and Rev. Paul Bailey, did a fantastic job officiating the services. Johnny’s niece, Anna Ferguson, and Monty Tipps each performed songs for the service. Carol Dunn had some special words to share about her uncle as well. I will truly miss him – he was always so positive and uplifting in regards to anything I attempted to do (especially my garden and things I would cook). We also enjoyed talking about old times. I enjoy local and family history so we shared many laughs and maybe even a little gossip as we would talk about the “good old days” and all the people in and around Miller Grove over the years.
The ladies of the church and community prepared a great lunch for the family before the services that day. You know, the day of the funeral is always a hard time but I was proud that I was able to see so many of my relatives and friends there that day. Some I had not seen in several months. There was standing room only during the funeral. That, in it’s self, says a lot about the person and their family. Johnny was well loved by all who knew him.
Another person that has passed with a Miller Grove connection is Mary Juanita (Preston) Griffin. She was born in Miller Grove on April 13, 1924, the daughter of Robert Q. Preston and Maud Edna (Jones) Preston. Juanita married Roby Griffin on Jan. 5, 1946, in Greenville. Burial will be in Shirley Cemetery on Saturday, Dec. 9. She was preceded in death by sisters, Murriel (Preston) Renshaw and Jennie Maud (Preston) Bishop; brothers, Raymond C. Preston, Johnnie Lee Preston, and Alton Ray Preston. She is survived by son, Larry Griffin; sister, Martha (Preston) Collins; several grand children, great-grandchildren, and other family members. I regret to say that I never knew Juanita very well but have seen her a few times and I know she and my grandmother, Lela Darrow, were good friends as she was with all of the Preston family. I’ve heard from more than one person how close the Prestons were as a family and that they were some of the happiest and most jolly people you would ever want to know. My condolences go out to all of Juanita’s family.
The recent basketball tournament were successful from what I have heard. The chili cook-off also did well for the first year. I believe there were 15 entries.
Basketball games have started for the season. If you are interested in going to some of the home games just drop by the high school office and pick up a basketball schedule or go online at www.mgisd.net and look on the web calendar for the dates the Hornets will be playing at home and away.
Christmas break starts the 20th for the school and continues until Jan. 3rd. But, before Christmas break the PTO will have their annual Jingle Bell Shop for students to purchase gifts for family and friends. The PTO knows that a majority of the students can’t go shopping on their own so they bring the shopping to them. They set up a store on campus so that students can pick out and purchase gifts for the holiday season and all of the proceeds go to the PTO which in turn helps the school. For more information you can talk to your child’s teacher or reach out to Stacie Wilbur, PTO President.
As you travel the highways and byways, don’t forget that all roads lead back home and back to Miller Grove. Please send me any newsworthy information. My email address is [email protected].
Lady Cats at Edgewood
The Lady Cats’ basketball team is playing in an Edgewood tournament this thursday through Saturday. The Lady Cats are in a pool with Quitman and Kaufman and they play them both Thursday. The Lady Cats take on Kaufman at 1:20 p.m. Thursday in the Edgewood Junior High Gym. They play Quitman at 6:40 p.m. Thursday in the Edgewood High School Gym. The Lady Cats are the defending champion of the Edgewood tournament. There is a twelve team field this year. Other teams include Gilmer, Whitewright, Wills Point, Tenaha, Scurry-Rosser, Campbell, Pittsburg, Edgewood and Palestine Westwood. The Lady Cats come into the tournament with a 7-2 record ranked #12 in Class 5A according to the latest Texas Association of Basketball Coaches Poll.
“Celestial Christmas” at First Baptist Church in Mt. Vernon is a Must-See!
Fred and Jane Randles of the Music Ministry at Mt. Vernon’s First Baptist Church have a shared love for singing and the performance of music. For the Christmas season 2017, under their direction the choirs, Youth departments and Children’s Ensemble of the church will be joined by a 6-piece orchestra to present a musical spectacular, “Celestial Christmas”. There will be three nightly performances featuring a cast of over 200 in biblical scenes portraying the Good News of Jesus’ birth, and featuring flying actors portraying angels from on high. Violinist Natalie Randles Brown, 8th District Judge Eddie Northcutt and Miss Rylee Keys, a point guard for MVHS basketball team play the visiting angels, suspended 35 feet up in the ceiling of the sanctuary.
The combination of the music, lights, special effects and joyful message will be sure to remind you of the reason for the season. Cost is free to attend at 7pm on Friday December 8, Saturday December 9 and Sunday December 10. The church is located at 319 Kaufman Street just off the Mt. Vernon downtown square.
Below are some photos from dress rehearsal night.
Music Minister Fred Randles directs the choir during dress rehearsal
Natalie Randles Brown plays celestial music while flying
8th District Judge Eddie Northcutt portrays angel proclaiming the Good News of Jesus birth
Reilly Springs Jamboree Benefits Sr. Center With a Christmas Dance at 6pm December 9
If you like classic country music, come to the Jamboree/Christmas Dance on Saturday December 9, 2017 at the Sulphur Springs Senior Citizen Center at 150 MLK Drive. Music will begin at 6pm with Roger Reed and the Jamboree Band. Come to dance or just watch the dancers, and enjoy some punch and cookies, good old-fashioned fun and country music. Cost to attend is $10 person, but anyone may donate more if they wish because all proceeds go to the Senior Citizens Building Fund. Program Director Karon Weatherman hopes the construction of a new, larger multi-purpose facility can begin in 2018 to better serve the Senior Citizen population of Sulphur Springs and Hopkins County. Karon and Roger both invite everyone to enjoy Saturday’s fundraising event.
The Reilly Springs Jamboree is an opry-style country stage show which got started in 1956. Roger Reed directs the music for the historic Reilly Springs Jamboree each month at it’s original home location, the Reilly Springs Community Center which is an old schoolhouse. This “original Hopkins County music venue” is located at 109 CR 1439 near the southeastern edge of Hopkins County close to Yantis. In it’s infancy, Jamboree shows were broadcast on KSST Radio on Saturday nights. Today, shows are held on the historic stage each month on the third-Saturday night and feature a house band plus guest talent performing traditional county and gospel music. Making up the house band currently are Gary Jones who traveled with the Ray Price band for a number of years, and Don Woods Jr. from Wood County who is frequently in Nashville as a recording artist . Also appearing at the Christmas Dance will be Shanna Carter of the country/gospel group “Walk the Line”. Shanna’s parents met each other when they were teen performers on the Reilly Springs Jamboree during the 1950’s, then married and raised Shanna and her brother Terry in the music business. Enola Gay Mathews, Jamboree producer since 1996, will serve as emcee at the Christmas Dance.
Why does the Seniors Center need a new location? The approximately 5,000 square-foot building has been outgrown. Just a few of the things that go on there regularly are exercise-for-health classes, 42 games and bingo, Driving School and self-help classes, line-dancing, yoga and Tai Chi, painting and arts/crafts classes and many other group interests. It is a meeting place for various Seniors organizations including the Ms. Hopkins County Senior Pageant. It’s kitchen houses the Meal-a-Day program which serves about 120 persons daily through delivered meals and walk-in dining. Meal-a-day operates Monday through Friday and is closed only three days per year on holidays, and all food preparation and delivery is done by a volunteer staff.
Currently, the Building Fund holds about $20,000 and the deed to a building site. If you can donate to this effort, please drop off a check during the Christmas Dance or during Meal-a-Day hours, or you can mail a check to Sr. Center Building Fund, 150 MLK Drive, Sulphur Springs, Texas 75482.
Karon Weatherman, Senior Center Director and Roger Reed, bandleader and co-producer of the Reilly Springs Jamboree
Mitchell Chapel Annual “Rescue the Perishing” Grocery Give Away is Saturday
This Saturday, December 9, 2017, Starting at 8:00 a.m. Mitchell Chapel COGIC will be having their Annual “Rescue The Perishing” Grocery Give Away. This is free to the community to help those in need this holiday season. There will be plenty of bags full of chicken, canned goods, cake mixes, flour and etc. So stop by Mitchell Chapel COGIC, 402 South Jackson Street, and come get you a bag for yourself, your family member or a friend.
They will start promptly at 8:00 a.m. until they run out so get there early… Need any additional information, please call Sis. Jackie Jackson at (903) 348-6132 or Sis. Carnell Hall-Alex At (469) 363-9545.
“We Are Here To Serve The Whole Man Spiritually And Physically”
Tira News December 8, 2017
by Jan Vaughn
The Tira City Council met at the Community Center for their regular quarterly meeting on Tuesday, December 5th.
The Community Christmas Party is this Saturday, December 9th, at 6:00 p.m. Brisket and tea will be provided. Residents are asked to bring a side dish and/or dessert to share and canned goods for the Tira Food Pantry. Santa will be stopping by to visit with the kids. Come enjoy a time of good food, fun, and fellowship.
Robert and Yvonne Weir’s daughter and son-in-law, Destri and Eben, and family spent last weekend with them. Yvonne reports, “We enjoyed the Weir Christmas Party at the Community Center on Saturday. We were blessed to have our whole family there.”
Yvonne adds, “We had the ‘My Heroes’ bowling party at the center on Sunday and the athletes had a wonderful meal prepared by volunteers. They enjoyed playing a game with their gift exchange.”
Chip, Tiffany, Jaidyn, and I went to Joe’s German Restaurant on Friday evening. We enjoyed the food and the oldies music, performed by C-Dale Cummings, and then we met Laiken, Rylan, and Brailon and their friends on the square to watch the Christmas parade. It was fun to see the kids’ faces light up as the beautiful lighted floats passed by.
Rylan, Brailon, and Slaiden Joslin spend Saturday night with us and went to church with us on Sunday. Tiffany and Jaidyn joined us for lunch.
Chip and I attended the Christmas party for First Baptist Church preschool workers and their guests at Arturo’s on Monday night. We enjoyed a wonderful meal and visiting.
I always need and appreciate input from my friends to help keep me informed of news in our community. If you have any news pertaining to Tira residents, past or present, please contact me, Jan Vaughn, at 903-945-2190 or 903-438-6688 or [email protected].
Chamber Connection December 7, 2017
Thank you to everyone who attended the Economic Outlook Conference on Wednesday, December 6th. Mr. Rich Froeschle spoke to an attentive crowd about the economic outlook for Hopkins County while incorporating workforce information. It was a wonderful presentation! If you were not able to make it, I hope you will make plans to attend in the future. We had a wonderful day!
Danna’s Southern Charm is hosting a Christmas Open House
Danna’s Southern Charm & The Florist is hosting a Christmas Open House on Saturday, December 9th from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. They are located at 438 Gilmer Street in Sulphur Springs. Have your children visit Santa and Mrs. Claus from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Rockstar & Co Photography will take pictures for a $20 donation to local charities. Come in and enjoy 50% off all Christmas décor, 30% off a single item, refreshments, and other sales.
SisterBaby’s is hosting their annual Style Show
Sisterbaby’s is hosting their annual Style Show on Saturday, December 9th at the Venue at two nineteen located at 219 Main Street in Sulphur Springs. The show will be held at 6 p.m. Please make plans to come enjoy this wonderful and fun evening!
The Reilly Springs Jamboree is hosting a special dance
The Reilly Springs Jamboree is not having their regular third Saturday Jamboree. Instead, they are hosting a special Christmas Jamboree Dance on Saturday, December 9th, at the Sulphur Springs Senior Citizens Center located at 150 Martin Luther King Drive in Sulphur Springs. Admission is $10 per person or by donation. Make plans to go by, listen to some music, enjoy refreshments and be on your way OR stay for the entire evening and dance the night away to favorite country/western music performed by some of the best country musicians in the area, including recording artists Don Woods Jr. and Shanna Carter. What a wonderful way to enjoy some country music and support the fundraising efforts of the Senior Citizen Center at the same time!
Carter BloodCare is hosting a blood drive in Sulphur Springs
Carter BloodCare is hosting a blood drive in Sulphur Springs on Thursday, December 28th at Jay Hodge Chevrolet from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. They will move to Brookshires that afternoon from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. If you are interested in hosting a blood drive, please call Lanie Wright at 903-571-9667.
Hunt Regional is offering December Mobile Mammography Coach in Sulphur Springs
Hunt County Regional Hospital is offering the Tubby Adkisson Memorial Mobile Mammography Coach on December 8th at the Sulphur Springs Imaging Center, and on December 28th in the Spring Village Shopping Center in Sulphur Springs. All insurances accepted at Hunt Regional are also accepted for the Mobile Mammography Coach, including Medicare and Medicaid. They can also help with payment resources for uninsured/income-eligible women or those who choose to pay cash. For help with payment resources please call The Bridge Breast Network at (214) 821-3820 x 21. To schedule individual screening mammograms, please call (903) 408-5010. Appointments and pre-registration are requested.
Lezley Brown
President/CEO
Hopkins County Chamber of Commerce
300 Connally Street
Sulphur Springs, TX 75482
903-885-6515-office
903-885-6516-fax
www.sulphursprings-tx.com
Saltillo Lions, Lady Lions Pick Up Wins Tuesday
Both the Saltillo Lions and the Saltillo Lady Lions picked up varsity wins against CHESS Tuesday night. The Lions won 76-30. They built their lead outscoring CHESS in every quarter. Matthew Gurley led the Lions with 23 points. Lyle Bench and Walker McGill scored 12 points each. Trevor Moore had 9, Levi Hoover had 8 Chris Boekhorst has 7, Branson McGill and Michael Clover had 2 each and Ryan Prewitt had 1 point. The Lions improved their season record to 6-8. They face McLeod in a McLeod tournament Thursday at 1:30 p.m.
The Lady Lions defeated CHESS 51-41. CHESS actually led at halftime, 26-24 but then the Lady Lions outscored them 21-3 in a big third quarter to take a 45-29 lead. The Lady Lions held on in the fourth quarter to get the win. Madison Simmons had 24 points for Saltillo. Jocelyn Ochoa had 7 points. Jordan Sustaire and Maddie Smith had 6 points. Chandler Bain and Tori Mobley scored 5 points apiece. The Lady Lions are now 5-11 for the season.
UIL State Executive Committee Reverses District 16-5A Ruling
The State Executive Committee of the University Interscholastic League (UIL) has ruled in favor of the Sulphur Springs ISD in a case involving the eligibility of a student athlete. The decision reverses a decision of the District 16-5A Executive Committee that ruled the player ineligible for allegedly changing schools for athletic purposes.
Sulphur Springs School Superintendent Michael Lamb presented the appeal before UIL officials Wednesday morning (December 6). The hearing had been originally scheduled for November 8 but was postponed for a month due to back problems Lamb was having then that prevented him from attending. The player involved is now immediately eligible to play varsity sports.
