Down Home East Texas Summer 2021

DOWN HOME east texas SUMMER 2021

WRITING THE TRENTHAM ANTHEM WHEN I RESCUED KIEFER SUTHERLAND (SORT OF) THE UPSWING: COMO-PICKTON LADY EAGLES SOFTBALL SUMMER SWEETS, EATS & FUN

2

DOWN HOME Summer 2021

DOWN HOME Summer 2021

3

ON THE COVER

DOWN HOME east texas SUMMER 2021

WRITING THE TRENTHAM ANTHEM WHEN I RESCUED KIEFER SUTHERLAND THE UPSWING: COMO-PICKTON LADY EAGLES SOFTBALL SUMMER SWEETS, EATS & FUN

Writing The Trentham Anthem

Thank you so much for picking up our latest edition of Down Home East Texas Magazine.

We are proud to bring this to you four times a year. The feedback we received on our first edition of 2021 was incredibly positive and again, we thank you.

Everyone was worried about 2021. Was it going to be worse than 2020? Is that even possible? I don’t think anything could have been worse for most people than 2020. It brings such a smile to my face to see people outside again, eating, shopping, playing in the park, everything we should be doing at this time of year. Please get vaccinated. For me, this is not a political statement, it’s a healthcare statement. Do it for your family, for those who love you. I drove to Texarkana twice to get my vaccinations and I’m glad I did. I haven’t grown a tail or a third nipple yet, so I feel comfortable with my decision.

Let’s make this upcoming summer the best we’ve ever had. Please enjoy reading this edition of DHET Magazine and stop by our new office at 200 Main Street, in downtown Sulphur Springs. We bought a beautiful building, and we’ve planted our roots here for decades to come.

Thanks!

BY ARIEL PHILLIPS

pg. 10

DOWN HOME east texas

4

DOWN HOME Summer 2021

Dave Shabaz Publisher

DOWN HOME Summer 2021

5

DOWN HOME east texas staff

Todd Kleiboer

Asst. Managing Editor

Mike Nordin

Advertising Sales

6

Tyler Lennon Sports Editor

Daylan Millard

Advertising Sales

Ariel Phillips

Kat Curling

Reporter

Graphic Designer

Carey Gable

Craig Johnson

Contributing Writer

DOWN HOME Summer 2021

Contributing Writer

TABLE OF CONTENTS

8 10

14

14

30

18 22 24 30 34 39 43

First Time Home Buyer?

Writing The Tranthem Anthem

The Upswing: Como-Pickton Softball

Getting My Stuff

When I Rescued Kiefer Sutherland (Sort of) Sipping On Summertime Sweets

Making Their Mark

Maximizine Family Meal Flavors With Cheese

Family-Friendly Ideas Just For Fun

Around Hopkins County

34 DOWN HOME Summer 2021

7

First-time homebuyer?

Follow these steps

Is homeownership a goal of yours? It does offer some benefits, in addition to meeting your basic need for shelter. The equity you build in your home can be a valuable financial asset, and you may get to deduct your interest payments on your taxes. But if you’re a first-time homebuyer, what steps should you take?

First, make sure the time is right for you in terms of your personal and financial situations. For example, are you fairly confident that your employment is stable and that your earnings won’t decline? Of course, external events can also play a role in your decision. A recent study by Morning Consult and Edward Jones found that 12% of respondents postponed purchasing a house during the COVID-19 pandemic.

But if you’re ready and eager for homeownership, consider the following moves: • Save for a down payment. The more money you put down for a home, the lower your monthly payments, although there’s also a point at which overly large down payments can be financially unwise. However, if you can make a down payment of more than 20% of the purchase price, you can generally avoid having to pay for private mortgage insurance on top of your monthly payments. Also, as a first-time homebuyer, you might qualify for down payment assistance from your local or state housing authority or a nonprofit group.

• Check your credit score. A higher credit score gives you a better chance for a lower interest rate. You can request a credit report from annualcreditreport.com, and you might be able to get a credit score for free from your bank. If you need to improve your score, you may want to delay your home purchase.

• Learn how much you qualify for – and how much you should spend. Once you think you’re ready to begin the home-purchasing process, you may want to contact a few lenders to determine the size of the mortgage for which you qualify. Be aware, though, that just because you can get a mortgage of a certain amount, does not necessarily mean that you should. You don’t want to become “house poor” – that is, you don’t want to spend so much on your house payments that you are cash strapped and can’t afford to save for other goals, such as college for your children or a comfortable retirement. You may want to establish a budget for how much you can readily afford to pay for your mortgage each month – and try sticking to it before you buy the house. If you have extra savings, put it toward your down payment.

• Prepare for unexpected costs. You can plan for your mortgage, utilities, taxes and insurance – but when you own a home, you’ll always encounter unexpected costs. You may need to get a new furnace, repair your roof or face any number of other maintenance issues. To help prepare for these costs, try to build an emergency fund containing three to six months’ worth of living expenses, with the money kept in a liquid, low-risk account. Without such a fund, you might be forced to dip into your long-term investments or take on added debt to pay for these unanticipated expenses.

Homeownership can be a rewarding experience – and the rewards will be even be greater when you’ve “done the numbers” and prepared yourself financially.

8

DOWN HOME Summer 2021

Craig S Johnson, CFP®, AAMS®

IRT-1848F-A

Financial Advisor

513 Oak Avenue Sulphur Springs, TX 75482 903-885-8747

edwardjones.com Member SIPC

WRITING THE TRENTHAM ANTHEM

By Ariel Phillips

10

DOWN HOME Winter 2021

Local artist turns dreams to reality A man of many talents, Cumby native Kade Trentham is a solo artist, music engineer and producer as well as the drummer for Pecos and the Rooftops. Trentham grew up listening to his dad play the guitar and learning to play the piano with his grandmother. At the age of seven, young Trentham knew that music was his passion and would be a part of his life forever.

“Music has been part of my family forever. My dad plays guitar, my uncle plays the drums and my grandmother played the piano and taught me some stuff,” Trentham shared. “My dad always said, ‘Learn as many instruments as you can, so you can fill any place in the future.”

During high school, music was more of a hobby for Trentham, but after graduation, he started pursuing it as a career and playing in cover bands.

“I knew music was what I was most gifted in, and if you’re gifted in something, you should pursue it,” Trentham said. “It was rough at times, but I wouldn’t take it back. I grew a lot from it.”

Becoming a well known musician is more than being good at playing music. Trentham said that he puts the same amount of work into producing and marketing music that he puts into drumming, which is 110%. He spends a little time on Youtube when he can, watching videos on production and marketing strategies.

“It’s more than just playing music, it’s a business. I put all my poles in the pond so to speak,” Trentham said. “I spent time learning to produce as well as market my music. I couldn’t rely on anyone else. I played new shows, working non stop all day, using social media, learning new stuff. It takes time.”

Trentham was asked to go to Atlanta, Ga. in 2019 and produce for artist Alex Harris who is signed with Epic Records, a branch of Sony. In that time, Trentham worked with big time producers like WLPWR, pronounced as

DOWN HOME Summer 2021

11

of Sony. In that time, Trentham worked with big time producers like WLPWR, pronounced as willpower, and Lil Ronnie as well as big artists like Jack Harlow and Bobby V. During that time, Trentham’s work ethic really shone, and Harris’ manager was interested in signing Trentham as an artist with Epic Records.

After some consideration, Trentham turned down the offer, sharing that it wasn’t exactly what he was looking for and he missed his family. Lee moved back to Texas in September of 2019 and started working for Sherwin William’s Paints while figuring out what to do next.

“I hit a low point. I wasn’t sure of what to do or if a career in music was the right thing and if it would work out,” Trentham said. “The music industry is very saturated so sometimes it’s hard to make a break through.”

When a friend mentioned a local band from Lubbock was coming into the studio and needed some help, Trentham decided to meet with them. After helping Pecos and the Rooftops, Trentham went back to working at the paint store until he saw them post an ad for a drummer.

Trentham couldn’t believe his luck. “It felt like a sign or a coincidence. I sent them a message and said, ‘Hey, I’ll do it.’

The band responded by asking for a video of Trentham drumming, and after viewing the video they sent him a message saying he was in. Trentham traveled to Lubbock to rehearse with the band to determine if he was a good fit, and to see if the money he’d make traveling with them would be enough to quit his job.

All of the members are from Northeast Texas. The lead singer and one guitar player are from Paris, Texas, and the lead guitarist and bassist are from Garland.

Trentham shared that life on the road with the band is interesting. As a new member of the band, he hadn’t spent much time with them before so getting to know each other took some time.

12

DOWN HOME Summer 2021

“It’s like being in a relationship. We argue sometimes and always being around each other can create some tense moments, but we just have to work through them. Being on the road, there’s really no way to really get away from each other,” Trentham said.

Trentham shared that he loves traveling and enjoys visiting other cities.

They haven’t made it all the way across the country yet, but Trentham says he hopes to one day, as part of the band or as a solo artist.

The first van the band traveled in was an old Ford van, and with seven guys it was hot and crowded. The air conditioner didn’t work that well either. As the band traveled to more gigs and had more money in the band account, they upgraded to a Mercedes Sprinter van with enough room for a TV so the band can play video games.

The band still stays in hotels, often paid for by the venues they play at.

Though he is playing as part of a band at the moment, Trentham still has plans to pursue a solo career under his alias KVDE. While playing with Pecos, Trentham still performs solo.

You can check out music from Kade Trentham as well as his band Pecos and the Rooftops on Spotify.

Follow them on social media for the latest news!

Instagram @itskvde @pecosandtherooftops

DOWN HOME Summer 2021

13

The Upswing After a miracle run to the state level over 20 years ago, Lady Eagles softball swings for the fences yet again

By Tyler Lennon

In 2020 the Como-Pickton Lady Eagles softball team had a lot to be excited about.

After their first winning season in over a decade the year before, the Lady Eagles got out to an amazing 16-4 start, where they were ranked No. 8 in the state. Unfortunately their season was cut short due to COVID-19, but the future was bright nonetheless.

Things haven’t always been this promising for the Como-Pickton softball program. School board member Jessica Pegues recalls a time in which there wasn’t a softball team at all.

“We always played baseball,” Pegues recalled.

Going into her freshman year in 1992, the school didn’t have a softball team. Pegues and her fellow teammates made it their mission to get a softball team started and were able to do so, and thanks to the help from the superintendent and a lot of community, they were able to get a petition signed to start their softball program.

“It was tough for the first couple of years,” Pegues said.

14

DOWN HOME Summer 2021

Due to the fact they had only played baseball up to this point, Pegues recalled the girls having to learn how to pitch. Things quickly turned around for the Lady Eagles as by her senior year, Pegues was the MVP of the district and helped lead Como-Pickton to a tie for first place in their district with Mineola. A number of her teammates also finished with All-District honors.

The momentum the original team had set for the softball program continued to build as they saw more and more success over the next few years. By the 1999 season Como-Pickton made it all the way to the State tournament, losing in the Semifinals to Coahoma.

DOWN HOME Summer 2021

The state of the Lady Eagles softball program didn’t stay that strong unfortunately. After making it all the way to the state tournament in less than a decade, Como-Pickton would soon have a decade between 2007 and 2017 in which the team would win just a combined 15 games.

In 2018, head coach Trevor Wallace’s first season as the head coach, the team went 12-24, almost matching their win total over the last 10 seasons. In 2019 the team did even better, going 19-13 with a 9-3 district record and even winning a playoff game.

2020 looked like it had the potential to be their best season yet, going 16-4 and winning their first three district games, climb-

15

ing all the way to No. 8 in the rankings before their season came to an end due to COVID-19.

“We were on track last year to reach our goal of winning district and making a deep run in the state playoffs. We were 16-4 last year and on a really good streak right when it came to an end,” Wallace said. “I had one senior, Jazzmine Tapely, who worked hard for three years for it all to just come to an end. Not being able to finish was not the hardest part, the hardest part was knowing all the seniors and senior parents who have waited so long for their kids senior year and then have it end so quickly. The girls were eager to finish what they started last year.”

The Lady Eagles have done just that this season in finishing what they started. Getting out to the best start in school history, as of this article Como-Pickton is 24-1-1 and ranked No. 7 in the state. Pegues, who once helped start the softball program and lead them to the first district title, is now watching as her daughter Hanna and her teammates shut out and shut down opponents.

“If they win state, it would be fantastic to see,” Pegues said.

Just a few years removed from going 1-22 the year before Wallace took over as head coach, the team has seen a very impressive turn around.

“Coaching these young ladies and the success they have had has meant more to me than anything I have ever been a part of. They have put their trust in this program and gave more than what was asked,” Wallace said. “The parents have put in their own time and effort to give these girls the best chance for success, the administrating of the school has been there every step of the way to provide everything the girls need and support them along the way, and the community has come out to support these girls as they play. If it wasn’t for everyone’s commitment and support, this wouldn’t be possible.”

16

DOWN HOME Summer 2021

Wallace believes the future is very bright for Como-Pickton, but not just for the softball program.

“I feel like every sport at Como-Pickton is headed in the right direction. Our Lady Eagles cross country team has made it to state three years in a row. Our volleyball team has won more games in the last two years than they have won in the last eight years combined before it.

Our Lady Eagles basketball team has won their first playoff game in over 10 years this year. Our Lady Eagle track team has had more girls qualify for regionals this year than ever before. Over the last two years our Lady Eagles junior high program has won at least one district championship in every sport; cross country, volleyball, basketball, softball and track,” Wallace said.

“Each program feeds off each other, we are all one big family who wants each other to win. As a coaching staff we believe these last four years is the start to a very successful program.”

For a program that was just started two short decades ago, the Lady Eagles have accomplished a lot. But perhaps Wallace is right. This may be just the beginning to a very successful program.

DOWN HOME Summer 2021

17

BY DAVE SHABAZ When things get the darkest, I’ve always turned to humor. It can be maddening to people in my life, but my history of making people laugh at funerals, hospitals, etc., is very well documented, and even though they might get mad at that moment, they always look back and laugh about it. In my life, this has been both a curse and a blessing. I’ve discovered not everyone appreciates humor in dark situations, but I still consider it my “superpower.”

I told you that, to tell you this. I recently flew back to California, where I grew up, to retrieve “my stuff,” which has been sitting in a storage unit in San Diego for three and a half years. The late-comedian George Carlin had a classic routine about “stuff.” If you haven’t heard it, find it and listen to it, it’s fantastic. In the last three years, I haven’t had the opportunity to go and get everything until recently.

One of my nephews in California had a connection with a company and got me an amazing deal on a truck rental, so off I flew to get “my stuff.” But like any amazing deal, there was a catch. In order to get a truck with unlimited miles, I had to fly to Phoenix, where my younger daughter, who is 26, lived until recently, and rent the truck from there and then drive to San Diego, accompanied by my daughter, spend 3 days in San Diego and then drive my daughter back to Phoenix and then drive to Sulphur Springs by myself. Needless to say, I still need a vacation from my vacation.

F F U T S Y M NG

GETTI

The dark humor started at the airport in Dallas. I was flying Southwest because, well, I got that kind of cash.

Now, the one thing I hate about the airport is the shoes and belt rule. Being a “full-figured” guy like I am, it’s just a pain in my, well, you know. I immediately started texting my two daughters in a group text. Kamiw is 29 and is an RN. She currently resides in Okinawa, Japan with her husband who is in the military. Nicole is 26 and works in the offices of a professional sports team. They both inherited my sense of humor, which comes in handy during stories like this. I texted them, “TSA should know by now that chubby terrorists tend to be suicide bombers, while skinny terrorists are the hijackers. Only skinny terrorists would fly on planes and go through this type of security.” They both sent back rolling eyes emojis. I walked over to the food court since I had a couple of hours until my flight was boarding, I figured I’d get something to eat. As I’ve documented before, I have the eating habits of a seven-year old boy, or at least that’s what I’m told by every single woman in my life. I prefer to consider myself, “low maintenance” when it comes to food.

18

DOWN HOME Summer 2021

In the airport food court, I found a place called Southwestern Grill. Being that I grew up in California, it looked harmless enough. I learned that day what “Southwestern” really means. About halfway through my rice and chicken plate, I realized that even though it appeared to resemble the Chipotle menu, it was a lot spicier than I expected. You see, I don’t do spicy and when I felt my stomach say, “hey Dave, get ready baby, you’ve made an enormous mistake,” I stopped eating and texted my daughters a photo of my food and this, “Hey girls, I’m eating at Southwestern Grill and it looked like Chipotle, but it wasn’t, so I’m now anticipating a serious case of explosive diarrhea, and if I’m accurate, it should hit right around mid-flight, yippee!!”

Kami replied, “haha, stop it.” Nicole replied, “was it good?” I texted back, “I’m pumping out comedy gold right now, so that must mean my plane is definitely going down. I can just see the paramedics searching the crash site saying, “it smells like they served Southwestern on this flight.” You’ll say to each other, remember how funny Daddy was the night his plane crashed? So, you both better save my texts, because they’ll be worth tens of dollars if I actually predict my own death.” Nicole replied, “tens of dollars, haha.”

So, I boarded the flight and immediately knew there were going to be problems other than Mt. St. Dave in my stomach. When I tried to fasten my seatbelt, it didn’t fit. Apparently, Southwest seatbelts didn’t come in “husky.” I heard the lady in front of me ask for an extension, so I called the male flight attendant over and said, “Excuse me, I need about three more inches, but hey, that’s the story of my life.” At that point, the young guy sitting one seat over from me, laughed so hard, he started choking. I love making people laugh unexpectedly like that. The flight attendant was different though, he didn’t give me any reaction, and again, I was dishing out comedy gold, so that hurt. He was in what my daughters would describe as a “pissy mood” the entire flight, so I changed my mind about asking him for an extra-large Depends. But the young guy next to me gave me a fist bump as soon as he stopped laughing.

The pilot’s voice then comes on, and I’m telling you, this is what he said, word for word, “we are having mechanical issues. The piece that allows us to fly through clouds is not working and they are working on it.”

I truly appreciate honesty, but we really didn’t need to know that. I immediately texted exactly what he said to both my daughters and Nicole replied, “does that mean you’re delayed? I texted back, “I’m not a meteorologist, but I’m pretty sure the sky between Dallas and Phoenix is mostly clouds, so yeah.” At this point, some of the people on the flight were moaning and groaning. I guess they would have preferred to just take our chances with the whole ‘cloud thingy’. Hey, we’re going to be flying over 500 mph, what’s the worst that could happen, right? Well, after ten minutes, they announced that we needed to get off this plane, that apparently ‘doesn’t do clouds’ and get on another plane that hopefully detected clouds. More displeasure from the passengers could be heard. We eventually got on the new plane and made it safely to Phoenix, and we were only about an hour and a half late. That flight taught me that we are so spoiled as a society, that the mere mention that our flight might be delayed made passengers moan and groan. I suppose we’d rather gamble with our lives than be late.

DOWN HOME Summer 2021

19

During the flight, I continued texting my girls random, funny thoughts and I normally write all my own material, but I had to text them something from comedian Ron White. I texted, “I bet we beat the ambulances to the crash site, by at least thirty minutes.” It seemed appropriate for the situation.

They both responded by telling me to “ha ha, stop it.”

Nothing exciting happened on the road trip from Phoenix to San Diego and back, but I know my late-Father was laughing hysterically. Why you may ask? My Dad and I took a lot of road trips together when I was young, and they were great, but I gave him such a hard time for making us stop so much. It felt like we stopped every 30 minutes so he could use the bathroom or have a smoke.

All he would say to me was, “one day you’ll learn, one day you’ll gain wisdom.” Well, thank you karma, that day arrived, and Nicole gave me hell. I don’t smoke, but it did feel like we had to stop a lot for restroom breaks. Hey, I’m almost 59 and that truck was bouncing a lot. But just like I was with my Dad, I couldn’t do anything right with Nicole.

Have you ever loved someone so much, but actually contemplated leaving them at a gas station in the middle of nowhere? I did. Hey, she’s 26 and Even if you live in Texas, don’t ever put Ranch dressing has credit cards, she’d survive. But this truly was on the Lebanese salad Tabbouleh. my karma. My Dad was right. I did discover after I returned home, that I did the entire trip with sciatica in my right hip, which now explains why I had to stop so often and why I was screaming in pain every time I climbed in and out of that big Penske truck. I’m still walking with what people in the South call, “a hitch in my giddy up.” I remember Nicole saying things like, “geez, ease up drama queen,” and “man, you’re old,” throughout the drive. She felt bad later when she found out I had sciatica, but I thought her comments were hilarious and they brought tears to my eyes. Well, I don’t know if those tears were pride because I have two really funny daughters, or just from the excruciating pain. When my girls and I get together, it’s like a Comedy Central Roast and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

If you couldn’t tell from my amazing physique, my family’s life revolves around food. My late-Mother was Lebanese and she was an amazing cook. I grew up with foods like baklava, dolma, kabobs and tons of rice and bread. I describe my childhood as “carbalicious” or “carbapalooza” I’m fortunate that both my sisters, who are older than me, mastered our Mom’s recipes and for a few glorious days, I ate like the prince I was growing up.

But the one thing that I couldn’t wait to eat was Tabbouleh, which is a Lebanese salad. It’s my favorite food, so much so, it would be my last meal on death row, that’s how much I love it. My good friend here in Texas joked that now that I’m officially a Texan, I’d have to eat my Tabbouleh with Ranch dressing, which explains the photo I took and sent to him. PS… never eat Tabbouleh with Ranch dressing. It doesn’t need anything, it’s already perfection. But as I ate like a man who just got off a deserted island, the looks on my sister’s faces said it all. It was 20

DOWN HOME Summer 2021

From left to right: Kami Shabaz and Nicole Shabaz obvious that nothing gave them more joy, than feeding their baby brother for three days straight.

Fast forward to me arriving in Sulphur Springs with a truck full of stuff that I really don’t need anymore. In the last three years, I’ve become a minimalist. I never realized how much junk I had. I kept telling my daughter, with a smirk on my face and my arms opened wide, “one day, you and your sister will inherit all of this,” ala Fred Sanford looking out at his junk yard, talking to his son Lamont on Sanford and Son. Nicole was not amused, but I was, and that’s all that matters. So now, I’m slowly going through box after box, bin after bin and deciding whether I really need that Kool and the Gang cassette tape or those platform shoes I used to wear with my Angel Flight pants in the late 70’s. FYI, I threw away the cassette tapes, but kept the shoes. Hey, those are going to be great for Halloween and they make me almost four inches taller and like I said earlier, I need all the inches I can get.

DOWN HOME Summer 2021

21

When I Rescued Kiefer Sutherland (Kind Of)

BY CAREY GABLE

I have watched as a grown man reattached a cardboard Optimus Prime headpiece. I have stood in awe as twenty-five women of various ages cackled in Harley Quinn costumes. I have been insulted by unknown comic book artists for mistaking them as unknown comic book artists. I have, briefly, played the hero to Kiefer Sutherland and been awarded mightily for my bravery. I have spent enormous amounts of money on autographs of people that I do not know. I have attended a comic convention!

It all started at an all-night diner, drinking coffee. I wish I could say this was uncommon for me, but it was not. I found myself surrounded with people much younger. The conversation was entertaining, even if I was only half-way engaged. That was how I found myself introduced to the concept of a “comic con!” Maybe it was the late night, maybe it was the desire to end the conversation, maybe I was just manic, but in that moment of coffee induced haziness, I found myself saying words I never thought I would say, “Yeah, that sounds like a blast! I need to go this year!” I, metaphorically, face 22

DOWN HOME Summer 2021

palmed.

A few weeks later and I found myself dressed in a Flash t-shirt and Chuck Taylor Converses as I drove to the Kay Bailey Hutchinson Convention Center in Dallas. I was nervous, anxious and full of something resembling dread. I was out of my element and I knew it. I kept thinking, “How does one go to comic con?” and “what even is a comic con” and “how do you act?” I was at a loss for the unspoken expectations.

I arrived in the late morning, thinking I would have missed the hustle and bustle of the first few hours. I was wrong. Instead, I was immediately greeted with a throng of Spider-Mans blocking the section of parking lot that I desired to enter. Chuckling to myself, I just waited as every version of the web-slinger passed in front of me. Once they were all safely away, I parked and began a slow trudge towards the looming convention center.

My trudge was broken shortly, however, as a coven of Harley Quinns sped in front of me. Each with their own interpretation of the famous cackle and rue grin. They half sauntered as I lingered further behind them in order to distance myself from the disturbance they were creating.

This lingering paid dividends when I reached the ticket counter just as the last of the Quinns was dispersing into the gaping maw of vendors that made up the Comic Con. I stood in slack-jawed awe at the DOWN HOME Summer 2021

23

Keifer Sutherland, best known for his starring role as Jack Bauer in the Fox drama series 24.

24

scope, size, and sheer volume of the event. I had lived my entire life in ignorance of the thousands of people that attended these conventions.

I entered through a large arch, standing on either side were Transformers! Optimus Prime stood guard on one side as Star Scream faced him. They appeared as if they were about to do battle! That was when, for no apparent reason, Optimus lost him head, literally. His headpiece fell off!

This revelation revealed two items of note: one was that the person inside the costume was still a very young man and the other was that this was not intended as part of the convention. This was entirely done spontaneously by two individuals just having a bit of fun. Honestly, that made me enjoy it! I did not want the corporate stage show, instead this was just people playing make-believe and that had an aura of innocence about it that I found charming.

I handed him back the headpiece to his costume so the battle could continue.

I kept moving into the vendors. There were so, so, so many vendors! I found an entire store dedicated to Godzilla. Picking up a few replica retro posters for my son made my day. Kong, Mothra, Destoroyah, Rodan, King Ghidorah, all of the old monsters were highly represented. Comic booths littered the aisles.

For a guy that read comics as a kid in the early 80’s, it was a nostalgia trip.

I quickly found myself sorting through stacks of Iron Man, Batman, The X-Men and, oddly, Vampirella. I basked in the glory of old VHS tapes of the original Underdog and Super Chicken television programs. The near life-sized cutout of Penelope Pitstop was affordably priced but, alas, it did not match my home décor.

There was a section of the venue dedicated to true crime and investigative journals/authors had booths peddling their latest wares. On this particular day, the Mafia investigators were out in force. I found myself chatting with a couple of the authors and before I knew it, I had purchased a tome of a book that I did not intend to read. Although, I did pay extra to have it autographed.

That was followed by a two columned row of comic artists and writers. This was the section I had most looked forward to visiting. The regular customers also sparsely populated this section. I attempted

DOWN HOME Summer 2021

to strike up conversations but was repeatedly rebuffed. My mundane questions about the weather must have not lended itself to fantasy.

Then giant robots stormed me from out of nowhere!

Yes, robots attacked me! (I wish I was using hyperbole here but I am not.) Remote control robots that were six feet tall were walking in and out of the crowd, when, suddenly, in my unawareness, I was nudged by the cold shoulder of steel. This hydraulic monstrosity continued to push against me until I was shoved against one of the artist’s tables. The artist, whose name I did not know, was none too pleased and began to yell at me for bumping his merchandise. Being pressed still, with a surging crowd looming in my direction, I attempted to explain my predicament but to no avail. Stuck between a robot and angry artist is no place for a gentle soul!

After what seemed like hours, but was actually mere minutes; I finally dislodged from the robot and pried myself free from the table.

The artist was still very agitated and I took my tongue-lashing in good spirits, mainly because I recognized the sheer absurdity of it all.

Then I met Kiefer Sutherland! The star of Lost Boys, 24, Young Guns and Designated Survivor, was one of the celebrities signing autographs. He had a very long line. I could just barely see him seated at the front of the table. I desperately wanted to meet Kiefer and I had no idea why! I had not been particularly fond of his work and the prospect before the convention did not excite me. However, in that moment, I had become a Kiefer super fan!

It took all of my remaining strength to refrain from plopping down the cash to stand in line to meet the legendary actor. Instead, holding myself in with main force, I turned on my heels and strolled out of the convention. It had been over three hours and my arms were full of posters, books I did not intend to read, and an autograph from some nameless comic artist that yelled at me for half an hour. It was time to go home.

The journey back to the car was much less eventful than the entrance. I simply followed the 70-year-old Batman as he lead me right back in my direction.

That was when I heard the yelling. It was not angry yelling or drunk yelling, but it was rude, obnoxious yelling. There, in front of me, twenty feet away was a large man. He also adorned a Flash t-shirt and converse. He was standing at a rail and yelling toward people that were milling about a loading facility. As I got closer, I obtained a better understanding of the situation.

“Hey, YOU! Down there! How do I get in?

Will you let me in your way?” the large man yelled. The people milling at the bottom were straining to ignore the commotion.

DOWN HOME Summer 2021

25

“Hey! YOU! Look at me! Let me come in!” the yelling was growing louder.

Finally, I was able to see just at whom this person was yelling. It was KIEFER SUTHERLAND! This guy was yelling, screaming at the star of Flatliners! I could not abide this behavior.

“Hey there, buddy,” I said in my friendliest tone. “The entrance is just around that corner up ahead. They have to check your bags before they allow you in. Only takes a second.” I was being encouraging.

“Oh… Thanks,” he replied. Then he continued, “HEY, YOU! Can I bum a cigarette?” He had averted his attention back to the star of A Cowboy Way. ce I interrupted the verbal deluge, “Hey man, you realize that’s Kiefer Sutherland and the celebrities taking a break? Pretty sure they aren’t letting you bum a smoke.” He let out a half grunt, turned and departed the scene in an exaggerated huff.

I looked down upon the crowd that had gathered from all the noise. That was when the legendary Kiefer Sutherland, just for a single moment (real or imagined), made eye contact. Slowly, he raised his hand into a wave, and then shifted his fingers into thumbs up. My soul exploded! Pride oozed from me! I had a momentary purpose and world peace was achieved! The thumb of Kiefer had spoken! That was far superior to any autograph! I drove home content and joyous in a crazy world of make believe.

26

DOWN HOME Summer 2021

903-885-2453 DOWN HOME Summer 2021

27

28

DOWN HOME Summer 2021

When it’s summertime and you crave something cold and fruity, try using your favorite frozen fruit for a refreshing drink.

For example, strawberries with frozen pink lemonade concentrate combine to make a spritzer recipe worth sharing. This fizzy Strawberry Spritzer can delight your taste buds and keep you quenched while enjoying the summer sun.

Find more drink recipes at Culinary.net.

Strawberry Spritzer Recipe adapted from Taste of Home 1 package (10 ounces) frozen sliced strawberries, sweetened and thawed 2 liters lemon-lime soda, chilled 1 can (12 ounces) frozen pink lemon ade concentrate, thawed In blender, process strawberries until blended thoroughly.

Pour strawberries into large pitcher; stir in soda and pink lemonade.

Serve immediately.

Substitution: Ginger ale may be used in place of soda.

SIPPING ON SUMMERTIME SWEETS DOWN HOME Summer 2021

29

Making Their Mark

2 local areas steeped in history to be recognized in July

By Todd Kleiboer

As birds chirp in the nearby woods whose leaves whisper in the cool spring breeze, Vivian Dennis-Monzingo scrapes away lichen from a monument’s engraving to discern a year of death.

“Looks about a 1919,” she says, picking at the obscured last number. “I can’t tell if it’s a six, eight or a nine.”

More of the stubborn lichen peels off for the outline of a six to become clear, and Dennis-Monzingo does the math between the birth year and death.

“They were about 40 years old,” she says. “Which, at that time, was old.”

Though she would probably like to remove the lichen from much of the older gravestones, it’s not her responsibility as president of the Old Saltillo Cemetery Association. It’s on family members to maintain the monuments, though the cemetery does a good job of mowing the grass and tamping down fire ant hills.

Not far from the cemetery and easily overlooked now, stand the remnants of Old Jefferson Road, a major thoroughfare in the 1800s that connected Hopkins County and much of the early state of Texas to major trade routes.

In recognition of their importance to local history, the cemetery and Old Jefferson Road will have state historical markers installed July 18 in a formal ceremony overseen by county historian and Sulphur Springs mayor John Sellers.

The process of earning those markers has been in the works for over two years, Dennis-Monzingo said, when it was started by her late husband Montie who was buried in the Old Saltillo Cemetery.

THE PAST

According to writing of the late historian Christine Dennis Skelley, the first burial at the cemetery occurred in 1870 though it is unmarked. The first marked burials happened in 1873, and the most recent person was interred in January. By the 1950s, there were roughly 400 graves.

“Marked graves and unmarked but identified graves, currently total almost 1,100, with total burials probably around 1,400 including its share of murder victims and suicides,” Skelley wrote.

The most common family name is Arthur, not surprising given John Arthur was the first settler of Saltillo, then Twin Groceries, but a close second is Agee. These fam30

DOWN HOME Summer 2021

ilies, along with the Reddings, Flemings, Hackelmans, Tittles, Griffiths, Bennetts, Willefords, Thomas’, Arnolds and Whitworths, were early settlers of Saltillo.

A Memorial Day for the cemetery was originally held on Thursday in 1900s, day for families to tend to the graves of loved ones or ancestors. It was a day of removing weeds and cleaning headstones, and afterward, there was a picnic with a small soda stand nearby. When the day was changed to Sunday, the stand was closed.

“With the Cemetery Association and perpetual care, family members may not have to hoe the cemetery, but most continue to attend Memorial Day, bringing flowers to decorate the graves of their families and remembering those that have gone before,” Skelley wrote.

Old Jefferson Road is in a way tied to the Old Saltillo Cemetery as some of its travelers were buried there. Jefferson Road linked the county and the surrounding area to Jefferson, Texas, a once-vital port that connected to the Red River and thus New Orleans.

The Saltillo area was an excellent camping ground for travelers, according to historian Thomas J. Minter, due to its good grazing and abundance of water. Some team drivers would leave grain for a return trip. The road brought some of the first Saltillo families as well.

Two stores were eventually set up in Saltillo on Old Jefferson Road, earning it the name “Twin Groceries.”

One store was owned by John Arthur, the other by G. B. Hackelman. Arthur eventually chose to rename the community to its current name, after the town from which Santa Ana started with his soldiers to conquer Texas.

THE PRESENT

Though the monuments may weather the elements and remain standing, the same cannot be said for their lettering. In an effort to better preserve its history, the nine-member cemetery association has placed 28 new plates detailing the person, their years of birth and death, and their epitaph at the foot of the original monuments.

DOWN HOME Summer 2021

31

A few recipients of the newer plates were from the Griffith family, and a couple of descendants of the original settlers thanked Dennis-Monzingo and the association.

“Stuff like this, when you come and see it, it just brings tears to your eyes,” said Dave Griffith, who came down from Oregon with his wife Shirley.

The placement of these plates along with regular upkeep is made possible through donations from community or family members like the Griffiths, and the association board makes decisions on how to spend it.

“Every Sunday in July we have an annual meeting, and we tell the people what we’ve done,” Dennis Monzingo said. “So far, we haven’t had been reprimanded for anything.”

In the back center of the cemetery rests a memorial for both veterans and known unmarked graves. The list of veterans stretches back to the Civil War and goes until the war in Iraq. Skelley researched obituaries and

32

DOWN HOME Summer 2021

oral histories from locals to learn about people whose graves were forgotten. The memorial was erected in 2008 after the death of the Old Saltillo Church’s pastor “Reverend Woodrow Kirby was our minister here,” Dennis-Monzingo said. “When he died, they had no children. He had a will, and we got a third of 10%.”

That came out to be around $60,000, a huge amount for the cemetery association. The memorial was built in memory of Kirby using what he left the cemetery, and new black powder-coated fencing was installed along the west side to replace the old chainlink fence.

With what funds currently they have on hand, the cemetery hires maintenance workers for the regular upkeep of the grass and others. According to Dennis-Monzingo and backed up by Skelley’s writing, board members used to perform the maintenance themselves to conserve funds. That has since changed, fortunately; however, the love and care the association has shown for the cemetery has not.

“It’s our loved ones out here,” Dennis-Monzingo said.

“We have to take care of them.”

To donate to the Old Saltillo Cemetery Association, checks can be made out to the association and mailed to P.O. Box 123, Saltillo, TX 75478.

DOWN HOME Summer 2021

33

Maximize Family Meal Flavors with Cheese While there are many ways to enhance the taste and texture of your family’s favorite dishes, perhaps one of the simplest and most impactful is the addition of cheese. From fish and seafood to veggie-inspired recipes, the dairy delight provides a versatile, flavorful ingredient.

One wholesome option is cheese made with 100% sustainably sourced Real California Milk from dairy farm families, which helps bring out the full flavor of dishes like California Queso Fresco Fish Tacos. Quality, authentic dairy can be part of flavor-driven experiences with your loved ones whether you enjoy the tacos during a “fish Friday” event or simply as an opportunity to share a meal as a family. You can also use queso fresco to elevate the flavor of dishes like chilaquiles, or turn to other varieties like Oaxaca for a capirotada or asadero for quiche.

If a vegetarian-friendly meal suits your style, cheese can also enhance plant-forward dishes like Vegetarian Stuffed Peppers. These red bell peppers are cooked and seeded before being stuffed with onions, mushrooms, cheese and seasonings. Once they’re baked to an ooey-gooey doneness, they’re served with white rice for a filling yet healthful meal.

34

DOWN HOME Summer 2021

Vegetarian Stuffed Peppers Prep time: 25 minutes Cook time: about 1 hour Servings: 4

to handle, about 10 minutes.

4 1/2 1

red bell peppers cup, plus 1 tablespoon, vegetable oil, divided cup white onion (about 1 medium), 1/4inch diced 4 cups cremini or brown mushrooms (about 1 pound), 1/4-inch diced 1 teaspoon garlic salt 1 teaspoon black pepper 1 cup Real California Oaxaca cheese, shredded cooked white rice, for serving

In large skillet over medium heat, warm remaining oil.

Add onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until starting to brown, 3-5 minutes. Add mushrooms, garlic salt and black pepper; cook, stirring occasionally, until mushrooms are browned and liquid is almost entirely evaporated, 7-10 minutes.

Rub charred skin from bell peppers. Slice off tops and remove seeds. Fill bell peppers with mushroom mixture, top with cheese and arrange in baking dish.

Replace bell pepper tops and bake until cheese melts, 8-10 minutes. Serve with cooked rice.

Preheat oven to 400 F. Rub bell peppers with 1 tablespoon oil then use grill, broiler or gas stovetop burner to cook peppers, turning occasionally, until well charred, 12-15 minutes.

Transfer to bowl, cover and set aside until cool enough

DOWN HOME Summer 2021

35

California Queso Fresco Fish Tacos Servings: 6 (12 tacos)

Avocado Radish Salsa: 2 medium avocados, chopped 1/3 cup finely chopped onion 3/4 cup diced radish 5 serrano chile peppers, seeded and finely chopped 3 tablespoons cilantro, finely chopped 1 clove garlic, finely chopped 1 lime, juice only salt, to taste pepper, to taste Tacos: 1 1/2 pounds swordfish, or other whitefish, steaks or fillets vegetable oil salt, to taste pepper, to taste 1 tablespoon lime juice 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

36

12 6 2 1

corn tortillas ounces Real California Queso Fresco cheese, crumbled medium ripe tomatoes, diced cup shredded cabbage

To make avocado radish salsa: In small bowl, combine avocados, onion, radish, chile peppers, cilantro, garlic and lime juice. Add salt and pepper, to taste. Set aside.

Heat grill to medium heat.

Rinse fish and pat dry with paper towels. Rub oil on both sides to coat; season with salt and pepper, to taste. Grill fish 6-9 minutes until cooked through; cool slightly. Remove skin and bones; cut fish into 1 1/2-inch strips.

DOWN HOME Summer 2021

DOWN HOME Summer 2021

37

Collision Repair • Paint & Body • Rhino Pro Spray On Bed Liner

Facebook: @4jsbodyshop www.4jsbodyshop.com Owner Justin Harrington jennifer@4jsbodyshop.com 4411 HWY 19 North Sulphur Springs, Tx 75482 903-951-3390

38

DOWN HOME Summer 2021

Family-Friendly Ideas for Summer Fun

Warm, sunny days are the perfect setting for making family memories, but they’re also ideal opportunities to encourage kids to get creative and let their imaginations soar.

These ideas for summertime activities encourage family interaction, and the more kids get to help plan and organize the details, the more engaged you can expect them to be.

Visit Your Local Park

Pack all the kids’ favorite snacks and beverages to keep cool and hydrated. Choose your spot under a big shady tree and spread out for an impromptu picnic. Be sure to bring along outdoor toys for a game of catch or lighten the load and create a nature scavenger hunt with different types of leaves, rocks and flowers for kids to discover. If they come across an unfamiliar plant or animal, snap a picture with your phone so you can do some research on it when you get home. Encourage the kids to draw or design a piece of art reflecting the things they saw.

Create Watercolor Paintings

Away from the school setting, kids sometimes have fewer opportunities to practice expressing their ideas and getting creative. Fun tools can make an artistic session more exciting, so look for unique methods like blending Zebra Pen Mildliner Brush Pens with water and a paint brush to create fun, pastel watercolor paintings with minimal mess. The pens are conveniently double-ended with a paint brush-like tip on one end and fine marker tip on the other so you can precisely draw a design then create softer swirls of color using water and a brush.

DOWN HOME Summer 2021

39

Water Sponge Challenge

Cool off with a fun and refreshing water fight with a few creative twists. First grab sponges, or water sponge balls, and a full bucket of water. The sponges are reusable so you can use them all summer long. Make it extra fun by organizing teams with kids against adults or everyone fending for themselves. Encourage kids to devise their own blockades and targets or adapt a classic game like baseball or dodgeball using water sponges in place of the usual balls. You could also do a sponge scavenger hunt to load up everyone’s buckets before the dousing begins.

Find the Animals

Visit your local Association of Zoos and Aquariums accredited zoo or aquarium and have your kids find as many animals as they can from the AZA SAFE: Saving Animals From Extinction species list. It’s a good opportunity to talk about the concept of extinction and why these animals are on the list. Follow up the visit with an activity that reinforces how everyone has a role in conservation and look for ways to help protect each family member’s favorite animal.

Make Oven S’mores

On a rainy night (or any night) make a s’more by putting it in the oven. They turn out just as melty and gooey as the campfire version but with easier prep and cleanup.

This is a tasty way to get those creative juices flowing. Experiment with different candies, such as peanut butter cups in place of chocolate bars. Or add different ingredients and have other family members guess the flavors.

Find more ideas for creative inspiration this summer at zebrapen.com/art-studio/creative-tips.

40

DOWN HOME Summer 2021

DOWN HOME Summer 2021

41

42

DOWN HOME Summer 2021

Around Hopkins County Hopkins County residents know how to have fun. Whether you attend the annual Fall Festival, holiday events or the rodeo, you’re bound to have a good time.

DOWN HOME Summer 2021

43

44

DOWN HOME Summer 2021

DOWN HOME Summer 2021

45

46

DOWN HOME Summer 2021

WORKING ROUND THE CLOCK QUALITY SERVICES YOU CAN COUNT ON US

48

DOWN HOME Winter 2021