NETX Crossroads May 2021

C NETX

ROSSROADS MAGAZINE

A MODERN-DAY

GREEN ACRES IN EAST TEXAS

By KATE STOW, page 6

... and more!

About the Cover

MAY 2021

These two rescue donkeys are living in luxury at the Antioch Ranch outside of Atlanta owned by Tony Buzbee.

Photo by Kate Stow

C

April N. Smith

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S D A O R S ROS

CONTENTS

NETX

MAGAZIN

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Fay J Winery

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Y A MODERN-DA

GREEN ACRES IN EAST TEXA

By KATE

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e6 STOW, pag

22

Sweet Home Texas Eatery

C

Charlie Mae Reeves

24

8 Oaks Farms

NETX

ROSSROADS Published and distributed by

MAGAZINE

Northeast Texas Publishing, LP in Bowie, Camp, Cass, Gregg, Morris, Titus and Upshur counties.

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CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Di Duncan Tim Emmons Jamie Jeans Allyson Pebsworth Jennifer Smith Kate Stow Toni Walker Heather Wilson PHOTOGRAPHERS Seth Buller Di Duncan Toni Walker GRAPHIC DESIGNER Joni Guess

Making delicious memories here!

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MAY 2021

3

Texarkana micro hospital makes macro difference during the pandemic By

JENNIFER SMITH

Putting patients at ease and keeping them informed is a top priority at Texarkana Emergency Center and Hospital.

I

t’s been a year since COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic, and Texarkana Emergency Center & Hospital has risen to the challenge every day since by offering exceptional care to their community when it mattered most.

At the first sign of COVID-19, Texarkana Emergency Center & Hospital immediately sprung into action and increased patient safety, caregiver protection, and the frequency of thorough cleaning and decontamination.

Cindy Young, Chief Executive Officer of Texarkana Emergency Center & Hospital, says she was ordering PPE and preparing her business for the outbreak “almost a month before” other hospitals in the area.

While many clinics in the area closed their doors out of fear and uncertainty, the staff at 4

MAY 2021

Texarkana Emergency Center & Hospital stood firm in their duty to the community and began ramping up services.

Dr. Matt Young, Chief Medical Officer of Texarkana Emergency Center & Hospital, prides their courageous staff for continuing to treat all emergencies, COVID-19

and non-COVID-19-related.

Patients were consistently seen in a matter of minutes, compared to larger hospitals, where wait times ranged for multiple hours. While the major hospitals quickly became overwhelmed, it was clear the vital role micro-hospitals were playing in alleviating the high

volume of patients in need.

Texarkana Emergency Center & Hospital opened its beds to all emergency cases, relieving traffic from larger hospital systems and seeing a vast increase in patient volumes per day. Many patients were seriously ill and in need of ICU care, as these areas were NETX CROSSROADS MAGAZINE

overrun at other hospitals. The staff managed these patients for days until ICU beds at those hospitals became available.

“Our facilities stood up and staffed up when others were told to stand down or couldn’t respond due to the uncertainty and the pandemic’s paralyzing effects. This is proof of the power of micro-hospitals and the need for our lifesaving care shown during this pandemic,”

said Dr. Young, CMO. “We were the pop-off valve of healthcare.

The ERs in our micro-hospitals tripled or even quadrupled our 24-hour census, which meant we were prepared. With that increase in volume, we increased all aspects, staff, supplies, medicine and most importantly, areas to treat all emergent patients; again, focusing on protecting both patients and caregivers.”

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Texas A&M University-Texarkana at NTCC | www.TAMUT.edu 2886 FM 1735 Chapel Hill Road | Mount Pleasant, TX 75455 • 903-434-8357 jennifer.perez@tamut.edu | kcoke@tamut.edu | dbates@tamut.edu

NETX CROSSROADS MAGAZINE

MAY 2021

5

A MODERN-DAY

GREEN ACRES IN EAST TEXAS

I

By

KATE STOW

n the Spring of 2020, residents in the small community of Antioch, located just South of Texarkana on Lake Wright Patman’s southern shore, curiously watched as a high electric fence was erected around the field just across FM 2791 from Antioch Cemetery where it crossed FM 96. Members of the Baptist church kept track of the progress, spending more time in the parking lot before and after services to speculate on what landowner Tony Buzbee was up to now.

Buzbee, who grew up in Cass County, has made quite the name for himself as a Houston attorney, representing injured clients against big corporations and oil companies. The man that the New York Times Magazine calls a “super lawyer” sits in an

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office on the 73rd floor of the Chase Tower – the tallest building in Texas.

He’s made the news many times, most recently for representing numerous women in a sexual harassment suit against NFL Quarterback DeShaun Watson and an unsuccessful mayoral campaign against incumbent Sylvester Turner in 2019. But between those two events, he was unusually quiet during 2020, spending most of it at Antioch Ranch, his 7,000 acre spread in Cass County, while his River Oaks Boulevard mansion is renovated for his fiancée, Frances Moody.

Moody, of the Galveston Moody Mansion family, shares a love of animals with Buzbee and together they co-chaired the Houston Celebrity Paws Fund raiser in 2019.

NETX CROSSROADS MAGAZINE

They own five pups between them but have fostered several.

They have taken the concept of fostering pets to another level at the ranch.

What used to be a place to visit family on holidays has evolved into a sprawling ranch complete with spring-fed lakes, towering oak trees, cows, horses, goats, pigs, addax, oryx, chickens, donkeys, buffalo, exotic deer, wildebeests, camels, llamas, alpacas, zebras and even a couple of kangaroos. Several of the animals were bought at the Cass County livestock show in November, much to the delight of the local 4H and FFA students.

“I think I spent about $50,000 there,” Tony said, laughing.

“Frances wanted to save all of the animals.”

It’s important to note that

NETX CROSSROADS MAGAZINE

Frances is a vegetarian and a big lover of all animals. She puts hats on donkeys and bows on pigs. She hugs all the cows and kisses all the horses.

“This is definitely Frances’ influence. It just continues to grow. I don’t know where the end point is – it’s almost obsessive-compulsive,” he said of the ranch. “We already had some cows here – the longhorns - and we had some horses; and we have a couple of alligators.

Then we decided to rescue one horse, which turned into seven horses and eight donkeys. We get so much enjoyment from the donkeys.”

“So we had so much fun with the cows and the pigs and the goats, that I decided to buy the piece of property across the road and have a high fence put around it,” Tony explained. “I’ve

been saying for many years I ought to section off a portion of this to maybe put some big deer in it. But I really don’t care about hunting anymore; There’s really no sport to it here. If you’re having trouble getting a deer in Cass County you really ought to assess your hunting skills, because they’re all over the place.”

Tony and Frances, along with family friend Jared Stringer, did some research and found several species that might thrive on the land. What they ended up with can be described as a safari of rare and endangered animals. One of Tony’s favorites is the biggest Red Stag in the United States that Tony bought for $30,000 from a farm in Minnesota.

“We’ve been putting different animals out there, making sure they can coexist peacefully

and not require too much care.

I want to make sure we’re doing everything right. I don’t want

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7

to lose one of them. Not only are they incredibly expensive, they’re hard to find,” said Tony.

“You can pay a hunting ranch to go kill one, or you can pay to bring it over here and let it live forever. They charge you the same either way.”

Most of the exotic animals in Texas are located on hunting ranches, but there will be no hunting on Buzbee Ranch.

“We’ve got high electrical fencing and security cameras. I see people all the time stopping to take pictures of them, and that’s fine,” Tony said. “But nobody’s hunting them on my ranch - Anybody shoots anything on my ranch they’re going to have a major problem.”

While Frances considers all the animals to be rescues, there are many true rescues on Buzbee land. Even the barn cats are rescues; feral cats from the wild Houston alleys were brought to

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the ranch and a cat house was built inside the barn to acclimate them.

Future plans are being researched to bring children from Houston’s 3rd Ward to the ranch to see the animals. When Tony mentions that it’s Frances’ project, she gives him props, saying “I wouldn’t be able to do that if it weren’t for Tony.”

“This is a work in progress.

I’ll be around here more and will just be back and forth to Houston,” he said. “I even bought a smaller plane just to land at the Atlanta Airport so I wouldn’t have to land in Texarkana and drive.”

While Tony tends to business in Houston, his ranchhands take care of his growing menagerie that locals like to pull over and watch. And the parking lot at the little Antioch church is getting quite popular as of late.

NETX CROSSROADS MAGAZINE

NETX CROSSROADS MAGAZINE

MAY 2021

9

The heart of a dispatcher

By

H

eroes can be found in many areas of life. Many choose to be on the front lines, facing life’s most challenging tasks head-on. From our men and women in the military to those on the local police force, fire department, or EMS, they are the faces associated with heroism. There are others, though, that work behind the scenes to answer our needs. They are the voices who answer the ring on one’s worst day. The faceless heroes who calm and guide us when our worst fears or most extraordinary futures are born into reality. They are the 911 dispatchers.

Stacey Himes is one of those dispatchers. Stacey works for

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MAY 2021

JAMIE JEANS

LifeNet, Inc, which services several Northeast Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas areas. At the age of sixteen, Stacey suffered the devastating loss of her childhood best friend Regina Collins to a car accident. It was that loss that led her to decide on the career path of EMS. During her senior year, she received her EMT license and began volunteering with the Atlanta Fire Department. During her senior year, she suffered another tragic loss, that of her friend LeeAnn Smith to a car accident.

This loss spurred Stacey on in her selfless drive to help those in need.

It was a gift from Norma and Larry Smith, in the form of a scholarship in memory of their daughter Lee-

Ann, that helped Stacey achieve her goal of becoming a paramedic. Of her home town she says, “As far as me, Stacey the paramedic and now the system status controller, I have grown to be the person I am today because of some special people in Atlanta.”

Stacey is but one of many who answer the call of those experiencing the worst day of their life. When one calls 911, you may reach central dispatch depending on the area and asked if you need police, fire, or medical. For Cass County, when in need of medical assistance, you get LifeNet. The dispatchers are very wellequipped to help with any medical emergency presented to them.

NETX CROSSROADS MAGAZINE

They ask questions better to help the patient and better help the ambulance crew to decide if a helicopter needs to be launched or if doctors need to be on standby for the patient. In a medical emergency, dispatchers are the first line of defense in saving a life.

As a training officer with LifeNet, Stacey advises that the training is meticulous but very much needed. Those who pass both a critical test, which tests all aspects of being a first responder dispatcher and a Harrison assessment, which looks at a person’s personality to see if it is a right fit for the job, must then go through an emergency medical dispatcher program. This program trains future dispatchers on how to utilize and read the cards that dispatchers use during calls. These cards are vital to dispatchers as they give them

NETX CROSSROADS MAGAZINE

information on a plethora of medical emergencies and the steps they need to give to callers based on answers to questions asked. Finally, within a year of being hired, dispatchers must have their EMT certification paid for by the company.

When Stacey chose to switch careers from being a paramedic to being a systems status controller in 2000, she had no clue it would lead her to become the 2021 Star of Life for LifeNet, Inc. in Texarkana, Texas. All she has ever known was helping those in need. Whether it be a patient on the street from her years as a paramedic, comforting a scared caller until an ambulance arrives, or training the next generations of dispatchers, Stacey certainly deserves the Star of Life. She truly has a servant’s heart and the heart of a dispatcher.

MAY 2021

11

East Texan living her dream and climbing the charts

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any people dream of a career in music, but most never have the opportunity to live that dream.

One East Texas native is not only living her dream of being a country music artist, but is steadily climbing the Texas Music Charts.

April N. Smith is known by many in the East Texas area.

But her name is becoming more widely known throughout the Texas Music scene as her hit song “One Two Step Away” steadily rises up the Texas Internet Radio Charts.

Smith began performing at a young age, singing her first song at the age of six at First Baptist Church in Daingerfield. Her first public performance with a band came just six years later, when she performed at the Gladewater

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MAY 2021

By

TONI WALKER

By

TONI WALKER

Saturday Night Opry. Performing, according to Smith, is a way to connect with emotions, to release from the weight of everyday life.

“Performing is more than just getting to be in the spotlight,” Smith says. “It’s where all of my emotion that I usually have to keep together finally gets to be released in a way that connects with other’s emotions. It’s a release of sorts from all the struggles, pain, frustration, happiness and sadness that we get bogged down in from day to day.”

Smith recently released her first album, entitled “Enough.”

According to Smith, “Enough” is a seven-song, self-penned compilation of her life.

“It (“Enough”) is raw, real and unashamed. Some songs will

have you tapping your toes while others will have you wiping tears,” Smith says. “I honestly couldn’t have written this album at any earlier point in my life because I didn’t have the life experience necessary to draw from these emotions. It’s me.... perfectly imperfect and succeeding against the odds. I’m so proud of this album.”

Smith recognizes that music can be speak to the listener as much as the artist, and can be helpful and healing. The reactions her songs receive when she performs them live are as far-reaching as the songs and their meanings.

“I think it (how I feel about their reaction) depends on the song. When I sing 4 Shots and it gets a reaction, it makes me

smile that it lifted their mood and made them happy,” Smith says. “However, when I sing Enough and I look out and there are tears rolling down someone’s face and they come up later and say ‘That’s my life,’ well, you can imagine that there is a much different feeling. It’s almost like a comfort to know that they felt that too and I’m not alone.”

Smith has had her fair share of harsh criticism. Her harshest critique came from her nowmanager, Randy Cline, who said she wasn’t ready for a career in music. But that criticism became the fuel to the fire that blazing her career up the Texas Music Charts.

“The first time I met my current manager, he told me that I was not physically ready for the NETX CROSSROADS MAGAZINE

music business,” Smith said. “I was quite overweight at the time. I was devastated, but it did cause me to have more drive and determination to make it work. It had nothing to do with my talent and everything to do with my physical appearance.

Although I was initially crushed, I used that to fuel the fire to get myself in physical, emotional and vocal shape.”

Her harshest criticism, along with the best advice she was given, has helped to shape Smith into the artist she is becoming. It also helps that Smith, a self-proclaimed “hard-head,” uses being told she can’t do something to her advantage.

“I think we all know that I’m extremely hard headed,” Smith says.

“Telling me that I can’t do something is like fueling the fire. However, my comment would be that there is room for us all to succeed. My dream may look different from yours, but the world needs more cheerleaders and I can help them find where to buy the uniform.”

And Smith has no problem cheering on other up-and-coming artists.

When asked what she would say to that young, aspiring artist, her answer was simple.

“Keep at it,” Smith says. “If it sets your soul on fire, don’t let anything get in the way of pursuing it. Give it all you got.”

Smith describes her music as blend of Patsy Cline, Martina McBride, and Reba McEntire, and she has been known to cover each of those artists. But her original offerings are where she is making her name on the Texas Internet charts.

One of the singles off her debut album, “One Two Step Away,” is currently number seven on the Texas Internet Music Chart. To have a single moving up the charts has been a dream for Smith for some time.

“Watching my dreams become reality is crazy!!! Honestly, I’ve worked so hard and sacrificed so much that it truly means more than anything,” Smith says.

If you are looking for good, “get you in the feels” music, give April N. Smith a listen. Her album “Enough” can be found on most digital platforms.

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April N. Smith performs one of her newest hits recently at her album release concert. Smith’s album “Enough” can be heard on Texas internet radio and most digital platforms.

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TEXARKANA

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2017 Texas Blvd, Texarkana, TX 75501 (903) 767-8440

MAY 2021

13

“The name of the Lord is a strong tower” Witness Park offers serenity and reflection in the heart of Pittsburg Story & photos by

DI DUNCAN

Souls in need of peace and reconnection to the spirit need look no further than downtown Pittsburg. Nestled between Jefferson, Lafayette, and Fulton Streets lies a little piece of heaven.

Witness Park and Prayer Tower were dedicated to the community in 1991 by former business giant Lonnie “Bo” Pilgrim. Locals say that he was a born-again Christian and that he built this breathtaking monument so that all may become closer to the Lord.

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NETX CROSSROADS MAGAZINE

A life-size bronze sculpture of Jesus Christ washing Peter’s feet invites all into the space and serves as a powerful reminder of the love and generosity of the Lord.

The grounds of the park are shaded and serene, featuring flowering trees and a reflection pool with fountains lined down the center to represent the living water. Each plant and flower bed is perfectly manicured, providing a sense of true tranquility. The real showstopper at this park, however, is the prayer tower.

Standing 75 feet tall, the prayer tower is a sanctuary for the weary. Atop the tower is a large clock with grand Paccard bells chiming and playing hymns each hour.

The tower contains a small chapel with no locks on the doors so that it can be enjoyed day or night. Inside,

there are two long pews and a kneeling bench so that visitors may be comfortable when coming to worship. In front of the kneeling bench sits a large bible. On a podium near one set of doors sits a signature book where visitors have written their names, prayers, well wishes for others, and confessions.

The walls of the chapel are a stunning homage to Jesus Christ. Massive stained glass windows depict the life of Jesus on each wall. The first window depicts the virgin birth, the second shows Jesus as the good shepherd, the third displays the crucifixion, and the last is an astonishing illustration of the resurrection.

Witness Park and Prayer Tower is sure to stir the holy spirit in all who observe its beauty.

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Since 1983 we have been serving Atlanta and its surrounding areas with a strong attention to detail and a higher level of customer service. We can customize just about anything! We offer embroidery, engraving, vinyl designs, create custom logos, DTG printing, digital and photo transfers. Our screenprint machine can print 150 to 200 shirts per hour! We offer wholesale pricing for orders of 12 or more to anyone. We recently added a new addition to our team and he has begun creating online campaigns linked to our website for local fundraisers. Atlanta Athletics and More is very dedicated to the Atlanta area and we love showing our appreciation with our fundraisers. We work for large organizations and individuals alike.

We can meet your needs for game day, birthdays, family reunions, and company picnics just to name a few. We have never met a job too big or too small. Please come visit!!

Atlanta Athletics and More

112 N East St • Atlanta, Texas • 903-796-9342 • M-F 10-5 www.atlantaathleticsandmore.com • atlantaathleticsandmore@gmail.com https://www.facebook.com/AtlantaAthleticsandMORE

Cobblestone is a small-town boutique with an uptown style!

We have beautiful home decor, bridal registry & gifts for all occasions. We also have a great line of stylish women’s clothing, jewelry & candles. Our services include home design, free gift wrap, & custom gift baskets that can be delivered locally or shipped anywhere in the U.S. Some of our most notable product lines are Kendra Scott, Capri Blue, Mud Pie, Thymes & Rowe Casa Organics.

Call us, contact us online, on Facebook or visit our store in Atlanta, Texas.

120 E Hiram Street • 903-796-1740 www.cobblestonecollections.com

Owned by sisters Judy Pitts & Lori Cullins

Atlanta Floral

I have been in the floral business for eight years now, this business is actually what introduced me to my amazing husband of seven years. Scott Carter is the manager of Hanner Funeral Service, so being married into the funeral business, I knew that with prayer & patience my dream would surely become a blessing at hand & I can not give enough praise to the Most High.

Here at Atlanta Floral & Gifts, we are very dedicated & take pride in the hard work we put forth into serving the needs of our customers. We specialize in all holidays, birthdays, funerals, & even “just because” gifts.

We also do tuxedo fittings for special occasions such as weddings & proms. Our goal daily is to be a blessing to someone, so come on down to Atlanta Floral & Gift at 113 East Main Street in Atlanta, Texas & check us out - your presence is always a blessing to us.

atlantadowntowmerchants.com

For two years Grandma’s Attic on William Street in Atlanta grew until it was bursting at the seams. To remedy the problem, owners Ted and Penny Brabham bought a larger building at 118 East Main Street from the city and moved everything across the street.

With the move came a new name –

Camelot Manor Antiques and Decorative Arts

The store offers high-end pieces from all over the country and Europe, as well as vintage collectibles, Pyrex dishes, toys, fishing lures, carnival glass, sterling silver, Godiva chocolates, candles and Waldorf crystal.

Kellie Cox proudly serves the insurance needs of the greater Atlanta – Cass County area.

As a licensed Farmers agent, she can help with all of your auto, home, business and life insurance needs. “I am grateful to be a part of the revitalized Downtown Atlanta.”

Kellie Cox, Amber Welborn & Sharon Clark

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MAY 2021

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rayharpjewelers.com

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Your hometown jewelry store.

We offer custom design and jewelry/watch repair. Family owned and run for 3 generations.

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June 11th, 2021

ASHLEY BRYANT BOUTIQUE

119 E Main St | Atlanta, Texas | 903-796-2451 What will you experience when you visit Merle Norman Cosmetic Studio and Ashley Bryant Boutique in Atlanta, Texas? A delightful shopping experience! Enjoy free steam facials and beauty makeovers and shop styles and selections from brands such as Brighton, Consuela, Susan Shaw, Multiples and many others. You will be glad you came. You are #1 to us, so visit soon, we can’t wait to see you!

Images Salon & Spa was established in October 2016. We are located in Downtown Atlanta in the historic Miles Drugstore building. We are a fun, family environment with over 100 years experience in the beauty industry. We specialize in trend cutting & color. We offer a complete menu of haircare, nails, pedicures, as well as massage & facials. We are a certified Dream Catchers extension Salon.

We, as a salon, are all doing our part to insure our guests have an amazing & safe experience.

Please call for an appointment at 903-796-0999.

Images Salon & Spa

122 N East Street | Atlanta, TX 75551 | 903-796-0999 | Imagesalon@aol.com

The Rabbit Hole at 204 East Hiram in Atlanta, Texas

is a unique little store with an assortment of booths consisting of antiques, vintage, resale, license plate art, gifts, DVDs, VHS tapes, car air fresheners, jellies, jams, comic books, vinyl pop figures, seasonal items, and much more. Please come in and visit for you will always be surprised at what you find there.

COME CHECK OUT

Terri’s Treasures is an infants’ and children’s boutique that sells clothing and gifts. We offer free gift wrapping and offer shower registries with free local delivery.

Rocking A Western Store & Boutique The one stop shop for men, women, and children. We carry the latest western wear and style. Our brands include, Wrangler, Cinch, Dale Brisby, Lazy J, Rock-N-Roll, Cruel Girl, The Twisted Filly, Sanuk, Twisted X , and Ariat footwear.

We are located at 120 E Main St. downtown Atlanta, TX. NETX CROSSROADS MAGAZINE

We also do in house embroidery ranging in price from $5-$20 per item and only a $2 fee for each item not from Terri’s Treasures!

101 E Hiram • Atlanta • 903.796.4996

25 YEARS IN BUSINESS

MAY 2021

17

CASS COUNTY CLOSE-UP

Emanuela Wilson from Atlanta, Texas

A

By

KATE STOW

s a child growing up down the street from the Vatican in Rome, Italy, young Emanuela Tarantino didn’t give much thought to the history of her neighborhood. At least not until a planned shopping center had to move locations due to the discovery of thousand year-old bones at the building site across the street from her home.

“You get used to it being a historical place,” she said. “If you love history you never lose the feeling of pride, knowing that generation after generation of your family lived there.”

Emanuela describes her childhood home in such a way that it could be set anywhere in the world. Her father was a police officer, as was his father and his before. Her mother was a baker and a homemaker. Her brother followed the patriarchal footsteps into law enforcement as generations of Tarantino’s before him did.

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Emanuela worked at McDonalds to help pay her way through University, where she received a degree in child psychology. She loved surfing the Internet and met her future husband on an International forum.

After several years of long-distance communication, Emanuela decided to visit the United States to meet Cornelius Wilson. The couple hit it off in person as well as they did online and made plans for a future together. The couple married and moved from Oregon to Atlanta, Texas.

“We came here after looking all over for property with two separate homes,” she explained. “One house for us, and another for my mother-in-law.”

The property they found was built in 1988 at the end of County Road 4132 off FM 2328. They purchased the 64-acre farm with two homes and a pond in 2017. Cornelius travels for his job with General

Electric, so where they live isn’t that important. His grown son, Dwight Wilson, helps Emanuela and Joyce around the farm when he is away on business.

Cornelius’s mother, Joyce Washington, owns Etouffee’s Catering in Atlanta. Both of the women set up booths at the occasional Local Maker’s Markets in downtown Atlanta. Joyce, originally from the Houston area, makes and sells her Creole cooking.

Emanuela has developed her own food brand she calls Frutti Della Terra – Italian for “fruits of the earth.” She makes breads, cookies, biscotti, jams, syrups, elderberry juice and spice blends using the methods taught to her by her mother and grandmother.

A row of KitchenAid stand mixers line a marble-top counter where her five-year old daughter, Arianna, sits playing on her tablet.

Glancing out the kitchen window, a backyard full of chickens, ducks, goats and guineas is visible.

To the left of the main house is a large pond with two gazebos on the long pier for entertaining.

Tucked behind the chicken pens

and garden are the goats and their faithful guardians, Jack the Anatolian Shepherd dog and a white llama named Jackal. In a larger pen are two miniature donkeys they adopted from someone who could no longer keep them.

Sitting at one of those gazebos on a chilly Spring afternoon, Emanuela talks of family, traditions and technology. It’s apparent that life in Cass County is a lot different from Italy.

Although she has a college degree, she cannot practice here until she takes the American classes first; she also hasn’t gotten her drivers license yet.

“Most people back home do not have dishwashers or clothes dryers. We wash dishes by hand and everyone dries their clothes on lines in the yard,” she said. “My husband had to teach me how to use those things when I moved here. My mother came for a visit and fell in love with my dishwasher, so she got one. It’s not the same fancy kind we can get here, though – it just has basic, simple knobs.”

As talk turned to the arts and culture of her homeland, the differences became much more apparent.

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From the Etruscans and the Greeks; to the Roman Empire and the rise of the Renaissance, all the way through the great revolutions of the 18th and 19th centuries, Italy has always been at the center of western history’s evolution. The United States is still just a baby by comparison.

Some of the greatest art ever created is located in Rome. The way Emanuela describes seeing Michelangelo’s paintings makes one long to see them in person.

“When you look at him [the

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painting] you expect him to speak – it’s so real, you can even see every little hair and vein on his arms,” she exclaims. “Photographs of the paintings don’t do justice.”

Italy is known for its laid-back attitude, and some of the best food and wine in the world. Emanuela brings all of that to our community. To enjoy a taste of Italy, look for the Frutti Della Terra Facebook page. She takes orders and delivers in town weekly, or you may drive out to the farm to pick up your order.

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Customers enjoy the wide variety of wines available at Fay J Winery. Their collection includes wines from California, Washington State, Texas, and more.

Fay J Winery creates a relaxing experience for its customers

Wine tastings every third Thursday at Fay J Winery offer customers an opportunity to sample the variety of wines they offer, along with other treats provided by the winery.

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Northeast Texas winery brings a unique aroma to wine business

By

F

Fay J Winery offers a quiet, relaxing environment for groups of all sizes to unwind and enjoy great wine, local artwork, and the company of friends.

HEATHER WILSON

or over five years, Fay J Winery has been providing their customers with quality wines for reasonable prices. Wellknown Texarkana businessman Fay J Durrant opened the winery in 2013 at its original location on Summerhill Road in Texarkana. However, more recently, the winery relocated to Texas Boulevard and is offering some slightly different and unique services to its patrons.

A couple of years ago, Fay J partnered with Melvin Fagan in a variation of a traditional package-store winery business. Wanting to offer something new and unique, Fay J Winery began producing custom wine labels for customers of all types. “We were already shipping wine all over the United States,” said Durrant.

“We have regular customers as far away as Montana and Connecticut. With our custom labels, we can customize our wine for anyone and for any occasion.”

Customers take advantage of this custom labeling for weddings, showers, gifts, and more.

Businesses create and print their own labels NETX CROSSROADS MAGAZINE

for customer appreciation events, grand openings, employee gifts and fundraisers.

Along with the custom labeling option, Melvin Fagan strives to give Fay J Winery customers a one-of-a-kind experience when visiting the winery. He has put much thought and effort into making the winery a calm, relaxing environment where patrons can relax, unwind, and enjoy soft music and local artwork. Tastings are by appointment only, but every third Thursday the winery hosts a public tasting from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Every first Friday, a local artist showcases their work, which remains on view for the entire month. The winery also has an event space available for parties and private functions.

“We want people to come for the ambience,” Fagan said. “We want you to come here and de-stress, have some great wine, and shake off the day. We have created a

place that you can take off from society. We don’t look for a particular type of customer – our winery is a place for any and all to come and enjoy themselves in a relaxing environment.”

The next big event planned at Fay J Winery is their Grand Opening, to be held on July 9th. This celebration will also double as a fundraiser for Rotary International. Tables are by reservation only, and it is asked that those interested RSVP with a deposit at least 30 days in advance. Prime rib will be on the menu, and with your paid table, you will receive a case of wine.

There is also a private auction and entertainment planned for the evening.

For more information on Fay J Winery’s grand opening, to book a tasting, or order wine, call Melvin Fagan at (903)276-5023. Fay J Winery is located at 2325 Texas Boulevard, Texarkana, Texas.

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Life is sweeter at

e m o H t e e Sw y r e t a E s Texa Story & photos by

DI DUNCAN

M

ount Vernon is a thriving historical town in Franklin County, with many of its homes and buildings constructed over 150 years ago and still occupied today. With such rich history, it’s no wonder that Julia and Matt Anders decided that this was the place to settle in and create the cutest little eatery in Northeast Texas.

Julia and Matt met after Matt finished college and the two were working at a restaurant. While working together, they fell in love, and eventually married and had a child together.

When their son was in the fourth grade, Julia’s mother had passed, and so Matt’s mother back in Indiana was their son’s only grandparent. The Anderses decided that they would move to Indiana to be closer.

“He actually conned me into moving,” said Julia, laughingly. “I went kicking and screaming.”

The pair started a business in Indiana

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in the home healthcare field. The business flourished, and, at one time, had over 100 caregivers employed.

After almost a decade in Indiana, their son was off to college back in Texas.

When he welcomed their grandson years later, Julia said it was her ticket home.

The Anderses sold their business and began looking for properties in Texas.

With her brother living in Mineola and her sister living in Winnsboro, they knew they wanted to move to that area.

When looking for real estate, the small town charm of Mount Vernon won them over.

Julia was so elated to be back in her home state that she knew exactly what to name their newest business venture: Sweet Home Texas.

Julia and Matt thrifted much of the furniture for their cafe, and Julia put her stamp on it. Suddenly, the empty building was filled with hand-painted tables, antiquities, and colorful decor. The

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Anderses enlisted an artist to create vibrant murals on the exterior of the 140-year-old building to showcase their menu items, as well as a lovely bluebonnet scene with monarch butterflies covering the back inside wall, painted especially for Julia.

Though the location turned out beautifully, starting up the eatery was a challenge for Matt and Julia. Their doors opened in early 2020, just before the pandemic hit. At the time, their home in Indiana hadn’t sold yet, so they were paying two mortgages while starting a business during an economic downturn.

“Once we sold our business, we didn’t have our income… you couldn’t go to a bank and say, ‘Hey, give us a loan. We don’t have any income coming in…’ That’s not the way it works,” Julia said.

Every bit of the costs to start

up the restaurant, from the building to everything inside it was paid in cash from the sale of their healthcare business.

“A pandemic hits, and you think, ‘Now what?’ But we’ve managed to make it,” she said.

“We were able to stay in business during the pandemic.”

Sweet Home Texas is now bustling with business. Their menu features breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Julia says that the German pancakes are a musttry. Other tasty items include juicy burgers and patty melts, fresh salads, flavorful soups, and delicious sandwiches. The eatery also offers snowballs with 25+ flavors, all from New Orleans, and scratch-made desserts in jars for anyone on the go with a sweet tooth.

Matt and Julia have poured their hearts into the Mount Vernon community and the hidden gem that is Sweet Home Texas.

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Charlie Mae Reeves Hughes Springs graduate becoming an angel to pups in need

M

Charlie and Trixie

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Story & photos by

any young adults are spending time in the classroom, furthering their education or training for their preferred professions.

Charlie Mae Reeves, though, is not your typical 20-something. She is spending her time (and money) starting a rescue shelter for abandoned dogs of all types.

“This is something I have always wanted to do,” Reeves said, regarding starting the rescue. “I have prayed a lot about it, and it just never worked out until now.”

Reeves, a 2018 graduate of Hughes Springs High School, had her first “unofficial” rescue in December of last year, when an Akita came into the vet’s office where she worked as a Vet Tech. Reeves brought the Akita, which she affectionately named ‘Kita’ home until she could be rehabbed and re-homed. And, as Reeves will admit, the rescue has taken off since. When looking at naming her rescue, Reeves needed to look no further than a co-worker at the vet, who gave her the moniker “Charlie’s Angels Rescue.”

Reeves understands that certain dogs are deemed “high risk” or “unadoptable,” including pit bulls, akitas, and those with health issues. Reeves believes, however, that all dogs deserve a chance and the opportunity to have a healthy, happy shot at a loving home.

It is for this reason that Reeves will only rescue dogs that have been abandoned or about to be put done.

TONI WALKER “I have people ask me to take their dogs that they do not want anymore. That is not what I am here for,” Reeves said. “I will take the ones that are hurt, sick, or that are about to be put down because they were abandoned. I strive to help those that nobody else will.”

And helping those who others push aside is exactly what Reeves is doing. One evening several weeks ago, Reeves was contacted by someone who had a dog dumped on her property. The Doberman mix had a broken leg, but the Cass County Sheriff ’s Department had shared Reeves information with the caller, and Reeves met her at the vet’s office.

“Trixie (the dog) was just such a happy dog, even with her back leg snapped and just hanging,” recalls Reeves. In the days following, Reeves had Trixie’s leg amputated when others would have simply put her down. Reeves has also made numerous trips to vets as Trixie continued to have trouble from the procedure.

However, Trixie is now on the road to a complete recover, sans her back left leg, with the assistance of Reeves and her family.

Trixie is just one of 10 dogs that are currently under Reeves’ care. She has everything from dogs like Trixie and dogs who suffer from skin infections, all the way to dogs who suffer from simply being their particular breed. Just recently, Reeves took in three pit bull pups who were abandoned in Ore City.

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They were brought to the vet in Daingerfield, who called Reeves as a last resort.

“They called me from the vet’s office and asked if I could take the pups in,” Reeves recalls. “I didn’t really have the room, but they were about to put them down, and I just couldn’t let that happen. They were going to put them down simply because of their breed.”

Reeves believes that dogs, like people, are not inherently bad, and that they all deserve a chance.

“Someone has to have a heart for these dogs,” Reeves said.

As previously stated, Charlies’ Angels Rescue currently houses 10 dogs, some of which are ready to be adopted out, including three pit bull mixes and others. Others, like Trixie, are being nursed back to health before they will be ready to be adopted. Reeves admits that taking care of the dogs with a variety of ailments and medications is a difficult task, but it is one she takes on gladly. She goes back to a key Bible verse, which has also become a motto of sorts for her rescue.

That verse is Philippians 4:13-“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

“That verse gives me the inspiration for this rescue,” Reeves said. It is that inspiration that is leading Reeves to build more kennels where she can rescue more dogs, as well.

If you are interested in learning more about the rescue, you can visit the Facebook page, Charlie’s Angels Rescue. The rescue does have several needs currently, including monetary assistance and assistance in the form of fosters for those dogs who are waiting to be rehomed. Currently, Reeves is taking care of all expenses for the animals she is caring for out of her own pocket. If you would like to help Reeves by making a donation or by fostering any of the dogs currently housed a Charlie’s Angels Rescue, feel free to contact Reeves through the Facebook page.

“I want to give every dog that comes to me a chance,” Reeves said.

“That is what I am here for. I’m here to give them a second chance that they deserve.”

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MAY 2021

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Northeast Texas farm utilizes advanced technology and community-supported agriculture to bring farm fresh food to Texas tables

Photos by SETH BULLER

P

icture arriving to a local farm and receiving a warm welcome by the family owners who offer you a seat to enjoy a nice cup of coffee or fresh bread before inviting you to view their vibrant greenhouse full of organic vegetables while the grassfed cows graze in the background and chickens run around freely; this is the situation locals can enjoy when visiting 8 Oaks Farm in Northeast Texas.

The 80-acre farm, originally purchased by Becky and Johnny Buller approximately five years ago as a place to spend their retirement days after years of working on the road in construction management, has been in the family for several generations. Seth Buller, son, spoke of his great-grandparents growing crops on the same land he is now utilizing.

Aiming to provide their customers with “a high quality

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ALLYSON PEBSWORTH

local alternative source for beef, vegetables and mushrooms,” 8 Oaks Farm works diligently to offer an eating experience that customers will remember with “products that would be typical of small farming in the past while incorporating the technology of the present.”

Planted in the outskirts of New Boston, Texas, 8 Oaks Farm, although a fairly new establishment, has already gained quite a following due to their unique plant growing process. Using a hydroponic greenhouse, which in simple terms means, growing your crops with water rather than using soil, the farm uses advanced farming technology to enhance the quality of their goods. This process produces cleaner plants which lowers the risk of contaminants that are normally present in soil, while using a fraction of the water found in typical gardening.

After the initial set up fees, hydro-

ponic greenhouses are considered a cost-effective method to grow high quality produce with maximum efficiency.

The water is tested daily to maintain the correct pH and electrical conductivity levels, and minerals, phosphorus and other nutrients are added to the water to ensure healthy plants are grown. Inside water cooling systems keep the air throughout the greenhouse at the optimal temperature for the plants. Currently, the farm produces their lettuce varieties, kale, arugula, tomatoes and more using this method which Seth claims to be unique to the local area.

While several varieties of their plants are grown using this technique, in ground plants, such as potatoes and carrots, will be grown in plots outside the greenhouse.

In the building next to their immaculate greenhouse is where

they grow their microgreens and mushrooms. Basil, broccoli, mustard, reddish and more are grown using a variety of methods including hydroponic, hemp and soil depending on the plant. From seed to harvest, depending on the plant, microgreens can be harvested in one to three weeks. Putting a variety of microgreens in a clamshell container, the mixes are, “quite flavorful,” according to Becky, who puts the mixtures on everything from salads to smoothies.

Mushrooms are grown in hanging bags with sterilized straw starting as spores and after weeks of inoculating mushroom clusters begin to form before being harvested for consumption. Golden and Gray Oyster mushrooms are the farm’s go to for their tasty and nutritious nature.

Their naturally raised Beefmaster and Beefmaster cross bed cattle are not injected with any NETX CROSSROADS MAGAZINE

hormones or antibiotics, and other than the occasional supplemental feeding in the winter, are allowed to “just be cows.”

Once butchered, their beef is processed by local processors in inspected facilities and dry aged for 14 days before the specialized cuts are vacuum sealed and frozen for customer consumption.

Consumers can purchase meat by the piece or even purchase a half or whole cow depending on their needs.

Seth described the need for local farmers by insisting that industrial farming, whether animal or produce, can be detrimental to the environment. “It’s not a sustainable way to farm,” explaining his beliefs on why people are becoming more conscious about where their food comes from and what is being put into their bodies.

Many throughout the local area have been taking advantage of their farm box operation which offers an easier way to get farm fresh ingredients to community

NETX CROSSROADS MAGAZINE

members. What Seth explained to be a CSA, or communitysupported agriculture, is a system that connects the consumer directly to the farm by allowing the consumer to “subscribe” or directly purchase from the farm’s harvest. Although he believes that programs such as these might not be as well known in the South, it is a growing concept that he is proud to be spearheading in the

local community.

Customers can receive a variety of microgreens, kale, lettuce, mushrooms, farm-fresh eggs, grass-fed beef, and even homemade bread made in home by Becky herself; bag variety varies with what is available at the farm at time of bag delivery.

These bags ($30) are delivered in New Boston, Texarkana, and Mount Pleasant by Seth to customers weekly, on Fridays.

“We wanted to get food into the hands of people here, especially those who need it,” Seth explained when speaking of their farm bags and keeping their costs low. The numbers of customers are growing each week and the Bullers are excited to continue supplying the farm fresh ingredients to all who are interested.

Along with the farm bags, 8 Oaks Farm has a local restaurant clientele that uses their produce in their dishes, keeping the farm to table process alive and well in the local community. Future plans include potentially bee keeping, ground plot farming, and maintaining “high quality products that we can do well,” Becky stated.

Information about obtaining a farm bag or visiting the farm can be found at the 8 Oaks Farm website, www.8oaksfarm.com, or on their Facebook page. Customers can email Becky at eightoaksfarm@gmail.com to get on the list for upcoming farm bags or new happenings at the farm.

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