Issuu

C NETX

ROSSROADS

HERE’S YOUR SIGN! Interview with a Texas comedy icon By DAVE SHABAZ, page 4

MAGAZINE

EAST TEXAS PINEY WOODS

A wine lover’s dream By TONI WALKER, page 21

THE LOST TOWN OF

LEIGH, TEXAS A tent party hoedown on the plantation By KATE STOW, page 10

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About the Cover

NOVEMBER 2021

Six year-old Jaci Sullivan, of Atlanta, Texas, is wary of the Bigfoot statue in the Port Jefferson History and Nature Center. The Texas Bigfoot Research Center celebrated 20 years of holding the annual Bigfoot Conference in 2021.

S D A O R S S RO

NETX

CONTENTS

Photo by Kate Stow

E MAGAZIN

The heart of a Champion

EAST TEXAS PINEY WOeOloDveSr’s

HERE’S ! N YOURiewSwIG ith a

A win dream

Interv edy icon Texas com page 4 BAZ,

By TONI WA

By DAVE SHA

LKER, page

TOWN OF

XAS LEIGH, ThoEedown THE LOST

rty A tent pa antation on the pl W, page 10

By KATE STO

re! ... and mo

Vietnam to Cowhands Local Boy Scout honors family legacy

Rancher’s Tug-of-War

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MAGAZINE

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

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24 CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Tim Emmons Elizabeth Lanning Miranda Oglesby Heather Russell Dave Shabaz Joesph Spears Kate Stow Toni Walker PHOTOGRAPHERS Kate Stow Toni Walker GRAPHIC DESIGNER Joni Guess

Come celebrate Christmas at the Little Country Greenhouse with an old fashion flare! November 22 - December 17 NETX CROSSROADS MAGAZINE

NOVEMBER 2021

HERE’S YOUR SIGN!

Bill Engvall & Dave Shaba z

Interview with a Texas comedy icon By DAVE SHABAZ

n Friday, September 24, right before he performed at Choctaw Casino in Grant, Oklahoma, I had the honor of sitting down with world famous comedian Bill Engvall. Engvall has been performing for 42 years and will be retiring from touring this year, but he’s definitely not retiring from entertaining us. He has a new TV series entitled Blue Collar Auction, which premiered on September 10 on Peacock’s Circle TV, a country-themed music and lifestyle network.

The show features Bill as head auctioneer, engaging viewers in competition as various items are sold to the highest bidder. They will auction off collectors’ items, such as celebrity memorabilia and automobiles, to virtual buyers, and also focuses on the personal stories behind the items. Engvall also has his website, www.billengvall.com, his YouTube channel, where he has clips of his standup routines. He also has on his YouTube channel something he calls, Sunday Morning with Bill. They are 5-10 minute inspirational, funny, heartwarming messages. If that’s not enough, he has a weekly podcast that he has hosted since 2016 called, “My 2 Cents,” with PodcastOne. Add all of that in with his various acting roles and we will still be fortunate enough to see and enjoy plenty of Bill Engvall in 2022 and beyond. Here’s interview with Engvall: DS: “So I understand you are famil-

Bill Engvall 4

NOVEMBER 2021

iar with Sulphur Springs, having grown up in Texas.” Bill: “Yes, I was born in Galveston, and my wife is from Midland, Texas.” DS: “But I bet you don’t know about our famous mirrored bathrooms in our downtown square?” (I then showed him photos of them.) Bill: “Wow, glass bathrooms and gigantic chess sets.” DS: “And if you’re inside those bathrooms, you can see out, but no one can see in.” Bill: “That’s what they tell you,” (as he chuckles.) DS: “I was asked to ask you, if you come to Sulphur Springs, will you use one of those bathrooms?” Bill: “Of course I would!” (as he laughs.) DS: “I’ve been very impressed on how you’ve adapted to the modern way of connecting with

your fans and delivering your message and your comedy, the website, the YouTube Channel, the podcast, etc. And on your Sunday Morning with Bill videos, I saw that you encouraged people to embrace other cultures and I thought it was great and I wish more people with your voice would help spread that message. Bill: “It wasn’t all my doing to be honest. Celebrities are so concerned with losing any kind of fanbase that they often times don’t acknowledge what they should acknowledge. I understand their fear and let me say this, well, let me back up a bit. Up until a certain event in my life, I was what you’d call a moderate Christian, I’d go at Christmas or Easter and give money to the church, like the majority of people. But when I got hired to play a character called ‘Rev. Paul,’ on Tim Allen’s TV show, NETX CROSSROADS MAGAZINE

Last Man Standing, this character felt good and was a really fun character to play and I’ve played a lot of different characters. The more I played that character I started to want to know more, and I have a buddy who’s a retired Episcopalian priest and I called him up and asked him if he had any books on the Basics of Theology or Theology for Dummies, and he said yes. I started reading those books and started re-reading the Bible and I became fascinated because for a book that’s about love and getting along, it’s also been the impetus for some of the bloodiest wars and hate and stuff. So, I was lying in bed and my wife Gail was asleep and I was thinking about what I needed to do the next day and clear as I’m talking to you, I heard someone say, ‘now you’re doing what I want you to do.’ And I wasn’t scared, I did what you would think, I got up, walked

around the house, but I thought, why would someone break into my house just to tell me ‘now you’re doing what I want you to do?’ And I knew who it was, it was God and there came over me a peace that I had never felt or understood. The next day I enrolled in college and got my degree in Christian Studies. I’m actually going back in October and I’m going to get to walk in my graduation.” DS: “I like that your messages are not overly religious. Bill: “I don’t ever want to get preachy and I’m not telling anyone what they should do or that they are wrong or the way I think is right, but I do feel like I have the obligation to tell people a message and it was interesting because before that, I was just a comedian and I made people laugh. Now I understand why I’m on this planet. My role is to make people feel better. I’m not

a doctor, but in my Sunday Morn- back from Dubai and we went to ings with Bill, I just want to help the Grand Mosque. It’s a Muslim get your week started with some place and I was talking to the inspiration.” fella there for over 45 minutes. DS: “I like that you keep them I feel the problem the Muslims 5-10 minutes in length.” have is they’ve been lumped in Bill: “My buddy told me to with the bad element of Muslims. do that. He learned in Seminary They were the friendliest and school to keep them short and nicest people when I was there. keep it about God. I think what’s What’s interesting and I don’t happened in religion and why want to turn this into a religious there’s such a gap and I blame itNow is conversation, a great time” to purchase your dream h refinance yourplease home loan! on ministers. I became a minister DS:or“No, I love this, and I think what happened is continue…” some of them stopped preaching Bill: “but when you read the about God and started preaching Quran and the Old Testament as if they were God. They have and the Torah, it’s all the Old their own agendas.” Testament. The New Testament DS: “And many parishioners came along later.” believe everything they say.” DS: “All of these religions are a who great youranddream Bill:Now “Wellis yes, elsetime are to purchase based in peace love andhome peoor refinance your home loan!the words to you going to trust, you want to ple have interpreted trust your clergy. All of a sudfit their hate filled agendas.” den my vision opened up and I Bill: “Yes. I have a friend and realized that we need to be more he asks how I balance all of this open and more tolerant of othinfo and I say, this is my reders. In fact, my wife and I just got neck, blue collar theory about

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NOVEMBER 2021

religion, it’s like a wagon wheel and the hub is God and all the spokes that come off of it are, Christianity, Muslim, Judaism, whatever, we’re all going for the same thing, and we all feel that our way is the only way to get there and that’s not the way it is. My honest belief is when it comes time for us to leave this planet and we get to where we are going, we’re going to say, ‘oh, I didn’t see this coming,’ (as he chuckles). And like I say on Sunday mornings, this is just what I think, I’m not telling you what you should think and I’m just laying it out there for you. On Sunday mornings, I’ll have from 6,000 to 10,000 people tuning in to that thing and they say ‘thank you’ for doing this. I also think it makes me more human and I think that’s part of the problem in the entertainment world. That’s why Blue Collar got so big because all of us came off as very approachable, we weren’t these high and mighty celebrities, just four guys on the road and we had the perfect storm.” DS: “My Dad would say that it probably humbles you, not that you need humbling, but that’s what my Dad would say we all need at times.” Bill: “Oh yeah, totally, even driving in here tonight, I never forget that these people had a lot of different ways to spend their money and my job is to give them a product where they can say, ‘that was great.’ DS: “Tell me about your retirement.” Bill: “It was a hard decision to come to, but I always said, two things, one, I want to go out on my terms and I wanted to go out while I was still good. I didn’t want to be that act you go see and think, ‘they just walked through that,’ because that’s not fair to the fans. One of my favorite comics was George 6

NOVEMBER 2021

Carlin and I saw him a couple years before he died, and he had just become a grouchy old man and I didn’t want that to happen to me.” DS: “Speaking of Carlin and Richard Pryor and comics from the past, I debated on whether to ask you this, but what do you think about comics today having to apologize for their past jokes?” Bill: “Well that’s another issue that helped my decision to retire from touring. As clean as my show is, I still get people who will come up and say, ‘why’d you say that?’ The world has changed, and I don’t think it’s going to go back and we’re just going to have to adjust, and I’d rather not spend my energy defending what I have to say.” DS: “If you were a young comic just coming up now, would you do everything the same way?” Bill: “That’s a great question. I think I’d have to do it different. In fact, I joke about if I had to start over today, I don’t think I’d make it. When I started in comedy in the early 80’s, comedy was peaking, and even open mic nights were sold out and people just came in to laugh. You never had that feeling of can I say this or that. I can’t do any political jokes. I could write the best political joke and I’ve already alienated 50% of the audience. When you have to start explaining stuff, well, I’m just out. I did a movie called The Neighbor, where I played a bad guy, a guy who murdered people and people would say to me, ‘why did you do that movie?’ I’m like, it’s just a movie, it’s not life, I’m not out doing that for real, it’s just a job. I told my wife, the biggest problem with all of this is social media. There’s no accountability anymore. Someone could go on Twitter and say Bill Engvall’s album sucks, but they wouldn’t walk up to me on the street and say that. I could go

on Facebook right now and write something so far out there and people would believe it.” DS: “I try to tell people to stop getting their news from Facebook.” Bill: “Remember when people got their news from the newspaper and not Facebook? And I also don’t want to be held responsible for somebody making a decision because of something they heard me say and took it the wrong way.” DS: “So, I’m learning about Friday Night Football here in Texas.” Bill: “Like I said, my wife is from Midland. Football and God. If you want to rob a house, do it on Friday night, everyone’s at the football game.” (he laughs) DS: “How’d you get from Galveston to where you’ve ended up?” Bill: “My Dad was in public health. He was a doctor and worked for the government, so we got moved every couple of years. I was born in Galveston then moved to Baltimore, then back to Texas and then to Arizona, which I believe was the beginnings of my path to a career in comedy. To make friends in all of these new schools, I became the funny guy. I wasn’t a jock, even though I did try baseball, but to make friends quickly, I became the funny guy. I think that was the basics of me becoming a comedian. My Dad had Bob Newhart albums that we would listen to, but the thought of becoming a comedian and making a living at it, that was like ‘no way.’ DS: “Back in the mid-80’s I told my Dad that I wanted to be a standup and he literally said, ‘what are you, some kind of a comedian?’ He told me to get a real job and get married.” Bill: “I have to give my Dad credit, he never once did that

to me, in fact, I remember I had come back home to spend the weekend with him very early in my career and he said, ‘I’ve always wanted to do what you’re doing.’ I said, ‘but you’re a doctor.’ And he was the kind of doctor you wanted, he was funny and he knew his stuff. And when he said that, it validated what I was doing.” DS: “How old were you when you had that conversation with your Dad?” Bill: “Probably in my early 20’s.” DS: “That must have really made you feel good.” Bill: “It did and the sad thing is that he only got to see me early on and never saw me at this level. But I know he’s proud of me and proud that I got my degree and found what my niche in life is.” DS: “Did you find going back to college easier or harder than the first time.” Bill: “Actually it was easier. I’ll tell you a funny story. My first semester of college, the first time, I think I had like a .076 GPA and this year, I graduated from Grand Canyon University with a 3.97 GPA. The joke I’m going to do tonight is that I found it’s easy to get good grades when you’re not drunk and horny all the time. My wife and I were getting ready to go out and I said, ‘hold on, I have a paper due in a few weeks and I want to get this part done.’ She said, ‘who are you?’ as they both laughed. I also did try to pay my Dad back because I felt like I wasted his money. This was my Dad and this is why I loved him so much, he said, ‘you learned what you needed to learn. You learned how to live with people, and how to deal with people, even though you didn’t do it academically. But when I got my degree, I held it up to the heavens and said, ‘look at this Dad.’ What a great feeling.” NETX CROSSROADS MAGAZINE

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NOVEMBER 2021

From Ashes to Beauty Expectant Heart Pregnancy Center assists community through personal experiences Story & photos by

TONI WALKER

xpecting a child can be a wonderful time, yet it can also bring about many questions, especially if the pregnancy was unexpected. Expectant Heart Pregnancy Centers, with locations in Daingerfield, Mount Pleasant, and Longview, are designed to assist those who are expecting, especially under less than pleasant terms. Expectant Heart was founded in 2012 in Longview by community leaders and women who, according to current CEO Shanell Newton, were called into ministry. Newton herself joined Expectant Heart in 2014, after having been the victim of several traumatic life experiences. “I experienced trauma, including molestation, rape, abortion, and domestic violence,” Newton said. “When I joined Expectant Heart, God made it clear that He would turn my ashes ( from those 8

NOVEMBER 2021

experiences) into beauty for others.” It was through listening to that calling that Newton joined Expectant Heart and set out to assist anyone she could. Earlier in 2021, Newton

and others at Expectant Heart opened facilities in Daingerfield, and opened expanded facilities in Mount Pleasant. According to Daingerfield Site Director Marissa Holt, it is the goal of Expectant Heart

to assist anyone who is either expecting or the parent of a child 36 months of age or younger. Expectant mothers can receive pregnancy testing, ultrasound, and counseling to aid in making NETX CROSSROADS MAGAZINE

the most important decisions regarding their pregnancy. All staff members at Expectant Heart have been through their own experiences with pregnancy, and are there to offer encouragement and counseling to their clients, who according to both Newton and Holt, are more of family. “Personally, I can relate to anyone,” Holt said. “I had an abortion at 18, and gave a child up for adoption 15 years ago.

NETX CROSSROADS MAGAZINE

Had I had somebody to talk to, at least I would have been more confident in my decision (to give my baby up for adoption) and would have had more support. I don’t want others to feel that pain.” And it is not only expectant mothers who can find assistance at Expectant Heart. They also offer parenting classes for anyone with children under 36 months, including adoptive and foster parents. All programs

are geared towards becoming successful parents. Part of that includes taking away the concern of provided for their newborn or child. To that end, parents can also receive needed baby items, including diapers, formula, toiletries and more, but not simply as a hand out. According to Holt, parents receive points for the classes they complete, which can then be used in the Expectant Heart store to purchase these items.

Expectant Heart also offers support to fathers, including classes and counseling for them as well. As an incentive, both parents can receive points for use in the “store,” giving them the potential to receive twice as much than if just one parent attended. Other services offered by Expectant Heart includes doula services and community referrals. Expectant Heart is not like many other pregnancy centers. There is no income or age requirements, as the group looks to ensure that no family is left behind. The only residency requirement is that they live in Texas. This means that whether or not they live in a county that has an Expectant Heart location, they can still receive services. Expectant Heart is also accepting donations of diapers, formula, baby items, toiletries, and monetary assistance for both local locations. To see how you can help in those areas, or if you or someone you know is need of assistance, you can call 903-434-3300 to be connected with either the Daingerfield or Mount Pleasant locations. NOVEMBER 2021

The picturesque Caddo Lake is just up the bayou from Leigh.

The lost town of

Leigh,Texas A tent party hoedown on the plantation

Lead Singer Wade Tyson named his band after his ancestor, Confederate Captain Joe Tyson.

Just down the road in Uncertain, a steamboat gives guided tours.

Friends of the Hagler’s have formed a group named Whiskey Tea and also performed at the party.

The old mercantile building is all that is left of Leigh, Texas. NOVEMBER 2021

Story & photos by KATE STOW

t’s the time of year most people in Northeast Texas spend time on the water. While there are many lakes in our corner of the state, there is no other like Caddo, which sits right on top of the Texas-Louisiana border. Hailed as the only natural lake in Texas, over 20,000 acres of land was designated the Caddo Lake Ramsar Wetlands in 1993. Thanks, in part, to local musician Don Henley and The Caddo Lake Institute founded by him, the area was the 13th of 26 United States sites to be designated since the Ramsar Convention to Protect Wetlands of International Importance was established. A portion of that land is now deemed the Caddo Lake National Wildlife Refuge, between the small towns of Karnack and Uncertain, where Longhorn Army Ammunition Plant was established in 1942. Lyndon Baines Johnson was a young Congressman at the time and persuaded the Army to build the plant in the isolated rural area adjacent to his wife Lady Bird’s hometown of Karnack, where her childhood home is still a tourist draw. Longhorn started off producing trinitrotoluene (TNT) and spent 55 years manufacturing a variety of munitions and incendiary devices. Comprised of 451 buildings at its peak, the plant was contracted out to Thiokol Corporation for rehabilitation to

produce solid propellant rocket motors. On September 9, 1988 Longhorn played a significant role in history when it was the site where the first U.S. missiles were destroyed as a part of the U.S. and Soviet INS (Intermediate-range Nuclear forces) treaty, the beginning of the end of the nuclear arms race between the world’s atomic age superpowers. In 1997, the Army declared the Longhorn facility to be “in excess of its needs” and the following year the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service requested that the site be transferred to them for the purpose of establishing a national wildlife refuge. In the ensuing years, portions of the Longhorn lands were declared an Environmental Protection Agency Superfund site and extensive remediation was undertaken to remove chemical wastes and other hazards while the Service began focusing on the management of the habitat for the conservation and protection of the migratory and resident waterfowl and neotropical migratory birds that utilized these important wetlands. In September of 2009, the Caddo Lake National Wildlife was opened to the public for wildlifedependent recreation. The Plant guardhouse was moved to the visitors’ complex where it was given a new life greeting refuge visitors and deepening their understanding of the importance and value NETX CROSSROADS MAGAZINE

of wetlands at Caddo Lake and throughout the world. The Big Cypress Bayou cuts through the land, where Karnack and Uncertain meet the old community of Leigh, Texas – once called Antioch – at the intersection of Farm roads 134 and 1999. Centuries ago, the site was the location of a large Indian village, and many artifacts have been found to support this. It was here in the early 1840s, John J. Webster built a plantation home, Mimosa Hall, which is still standing and privately owned. In 1901 Antioch was renamed Leigh, after the wife of John W. Furrh, who owned land on the railroad when the post office opened. Rev. James Patterson built a restaurant and a general store on land adjoining the railroad. In 1904 Leigh had one school with five White students and four schools with 297 Black students. By 1914 the community had a population of fifty, three general stores, two cotton gins, a drugstore, a

NETX CROSSROADS MAGAZINE

blacksmith shop, and telephone service. After attaining a peak population of 126 in the 1920s, Leigh declined to 100 in 1930, when it had a church, two schools, and three businesses. Today the town has been swallowed by Karnack. A couple of churches, an old cemetery, a dilapidated old brick store and a few homes are all that exist of Leigh, which isn’t far past the Big Cypress bridge on Highway 43, that countless Cass County daredevils have jumped from. The river banks are dotted with weekend cabins and vacation homes owned by people from all over East Texas. Webster’s Mimosa Hall and onehundred and fifty acres that went along with it was deeded to Douglas V. Blocker within a partition deed in 1932. Blocker continued to own the property until 1984 when he sold it to Michael Howard. While Ladybird’s home and Mimosa Hall are popular tourist attractions, this is the story of the third plantation in Leigh. Built

The Howard Home, owned by Rick and Julie Hagler, was built in 1942 in the forgotten town of Leigh, Texas, located between Karnack and Uncertain, Texas. by the Howard Family in 1942, it is now owned by Rick and Julie Hagler. Rick played bass for Percy Sledge from the 1990s until Sledge died in 2015. He currently plays bass for the Captain Joe Band, fronted by Wade Tyson of Atlanta, Texas, James Williams, also of

Atlanta, on drums, and Gary Paul Bertrand of Louisiana on guitar. The Hagler home, built in the Greek Revival tradition of Mimosa Hall, sits amid a sprawling cattle ranch. The property was the site of a June tent party, complete with food, music and plenty of perfect photo opportunities.

NOVEMBER 2021

The Heart of a

Champion Daniel Hardin wins back-to-back Grand Champion titles By TIM EMMONS

uccess can be measured in many different ways. Daniel Hardin has reaped benefits from his success in showing livestock. He has won several awards including ribbons, banners, plaques and belt buckles. Daniel was the divisional champion at Sabine in 2019 as part of a Jackpot Show, has won five belt buckles overall and his total earnings in two years is $14,250. He also achieved something that has ever happened in Cass County before – he won backto-back Grand Champion titles. Showing livestock provides kids a sense of community, teaches important values and expands their horizons. Youth livestock programs are committed to developing life skills, which portray increasing animal knowledge, family involvement and fair competition. Texas is unmatched in youth livestock project ownership and participation. 12

NOVEMBER 2021

Students engaging in this project gain invaluable life skills such as work ethic, responsibility and accountability. It can be grueling work but in the end the kids see the results of their hard work pay off. Many children begin showing livestock as part of their 4-H or FFA projects. For Daniel his passion for showing livestock came early in life. “I was very intrigued to show animals. I wanted to show animals since I was in sixth grade,” Daniel said. “I attended shows with my family when my sister showed rabbits but I wanted to show pigs and steers when my opportunity came.” During his freshman year at he showed rabbits but during his sophomore year Daniel moved one step closer to his desire to show pigs and steers when he showed a pig. With the pig he won Reserve Grand Champion, received a senior Showmanship Award and had the highest selling pig

Daniel Hardin won his second consec utive Grand Champion ti tle with his stee Hardin became th r Otis. e first person in Cass County to have back-toback Grand Cham pion titles.

in Cass County at $3,000. The next step was a steer but his parents, Adam and Sheri Wilburn, made a deal with him and he was up to the challenge. “He told us he wanted to show a steer starting his junior year of high school and we told him if he tears down the old barn close to our property and cleans it up we would let him show a steer and build him a show barn for it,” Adam said. “After a couple of weeks he came in and said he was finished with the task and we thought ‘we didn’t expect him to actually do it and now we have to find him a steer to raise.’” From the moment he was united with his steer Bernie he was determined to succeed in his desire. “In my junior year of high school we bought Bernie and within 14 or so months he weighed 1,235 pounds,” Daniel remarked. Bernie brought Daniel his first Grand Champion accolade

and although COVID-19 shortened the showing year Daniel still raked in plenty of awards including four of his five belt buckles. Raising Bernie with help from his dad Adam, who has plenty of livestock raising and showing experience and four belt buckles under his belt, was just the tip of the iceberg. “He did all the work himself on his next steer,” Adam said. “He took Otis from mama to halter all by himself.” Moving into his senior year Otis weighed the exact same amount as Bernie and brought Daniel his second Grand Champion accolade in two attempts. Both Bernie and Otis were named first in class. He also showed a steer named Cowboy who weighed 1,170 pounds and finished in the top 10 in Cass County which isn’t easy to do. We purchased Bernie and Cowboy from Sterling Livestock in Inola, Oklahoma and bought NETX CROSSROADS MAGAZINE

Otis from Joey Howard in Daingerfield,” Adam said. “Both are great breeders and helped us out a lot in a big way. They are exceptional individuals.” He even did well in Jackpot showcases. “Jackpot shows (non-sell shows) had kids coming from big cities and he did very well up against them,” Adam said. “He hit it halfway through the season because of COVID and still finished in the top 10.” Daniel raised both steers in 14 months or so and spent countless hours taking care of them. He did all of that while holding down a job, going to school and has earned college credit which will help him in his quest to be a lineman after he completes the course at Texas State Technical College in Marshall. “He puts in just as much time as an athlete does year-round,” Adam remarked. “He works with Colt Williams doing fencing, attends school, earned 23 college hour credits and still found time to raise up show animals.”

He also displays plenty of toughness and resilience. “Training an animal that literally crush you to follow your commands is very tough work but you have to show them who is boss or they will continue to batter you when you attempt to lead them,” Daniel said. “I got hurt at work one day, received 16 stitches and was showing the very next day and back to work on the following Monday.” If that isn’t the epitome of tough I don’t know what is. Of course you have to be when you are working with animals that almost weigh a ton. Daniel’s steers were Charolaise breeds which are known to be temperamental. Going to shows was also a family affair in which he had plenty of support from his parents and siblings. “We would have days where we hit two to three shows in one day and drive several miles round-trip and get home early that next morning,” Daniel said. Exhibitors, like Daniel, spend an entire year or so preparing

Daniel is shown here with his mother Sheri and father Adam after winning a Grand Champion title. piglets, calves, kids, and lambs for the show ring. Getting up before school for chores like feeding, washing, and walking their animals is just a daily part of life. Developing a close relationship with show animals is key and makes it that much harder to say goodbye at the end of the season. When asked how he felt

about the process and successful outcomes of showing animals Daniel had this to say. “When it’s all over I look back and appreciate what I learned over that time and see the results from all of the hard work I put in. Showing isn’t easy. You have to be responsible in taking a wild animal and making it your best friend.” Spoken like a true champion.

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NOVEMBER 2021

Vietnam to Cowhands J

By ELIZABETH LANNING

erry Goodale

was sitting in the Main Plaza of Querettero, Querettero; a little town nestled in the mountainous region of the central plains of Mexico. The lady came walking into the plaza with her child wrapped comfortably on her back. She would take a few steps, then look around; take a few more steps and look around. She was obviously looking for someone. Jerry, camera in hand and always on the lookout for a good photo op, approached the woman. In a conversation that resembled 20 questions, he discovered that she was looking for her husband who had come into town with a mule loaded with maiz to sell three days ago. In spite of her silent nods and hardened looks, she allowed Jerry to take her picture. This picture has been included in the display Latina at the Northeast Texas Community College Art Exhibit during October. Jerry has been shooting pictures since his aunt bought him a Brownie camera with a 12-picture roll of film. He remembers saving coke bottles to turn them in for cash with which he would buy more film. When Jerry was 14, he worked at a store in Irving, Texas where he got his first line of credit to purchase a Polaroid camera. In 1969, Jerry Goodale was draft-

NOVEMBER 2021

ed into the U.S. Army. But he still took his camera with him through Jump School and beyond into Vietnam and Cambodia. He purchased a 35 mm camera at a pawn shop for $20, and found time to shoot photos in between his other duties as forward observer for the 199th Light Infantry Division, and later Squad Leader then Platoon

Sergeant in the 1st Air Cavalry. Unfortunately, almost all his photos from his time in the military were confiscated, probably for security reasons. After being released from the Army, he attended a photography school in Dallas on a GI bill and got a job working in a small dark room in a third basement; he soon discovered he didn’t care for the hermit-style life. So he tried selling ads, but didn’t make enough money to support himself and his wife. So Jerry found himself walking into a job agency, and saying, “I need a job, like now.” The agent replied there was a position that had just opened at KTRE-Television in Lufkin; they were looking for a cinematographer. They also wanted someone who

could talk into a mic and still keep himself together. Jerry grew up in a school in San Antonio where he was one of five kids out of 40 that could speak English. Consequently, he was often used as the MC from first grade until he moved to Dallas at the age of 13. Jerry fit the bill. He took the job in 1972, started as a news photographer at $110 per week, was given a car, and several very nice suits. Of course the car had KTRE on the side and was covered in antennae, but it was better than what he had before which consisted of two feet. “Within a week I was on the air,” Jerry commented. “In those days that [KTRE] is all you got down here.” He was known everywhere and he loved his job. He moved from news reporter/ morning show host to production NETX CROSSROADS MAGAZINE

to sales and eventually to management. Jerry has always loved to “develop the creative” and this love has propelled his desire for quality photography. Jerry has shot photos in Panama while working with Ships of Discovery. The archeologists were searching for one of Christopher Columbus’ ships-the Gallega, and Jerry was the film producer and cinematographer for the excursion. He had a delightful photo op in Uruguay at the event called Day of the Gaucho, where he was celebrated as an international guest. A traveler of all seven continents, he recently returned from a trip to The Grand Tetons. For some time, he was under contract with Peterbilt to shoot photos of their 18-wheel trucks on the road. When he would see an especially goodlooking truck, he would race ahead of it, prepare his camera, and shoot it as it came rushing by. He got shots of these trucks from the mountains to the desert in the course of his travels. Owner of Goodale Communications

in Longview, and then president and producer of Dark Horse Productions in Denton, he has also had major roles in the production of several film projects such as Bahia Mujeres Excavation, The Molasses Reef Wreck, The Search for the Gallega,The Nina Project, The Making of 1492 and Ships of Discovery. He has had articles published in Archaeology magazine including Voyage of the Nina; Ships of Discovery and the Tide of History, 1992, and conference of the Society of Historical Archaeology, Kingston, Jamaica, 1993. He also wrote Hunt or Hunt Test for National Hunting Retriever Association Magazine, 1994. More recently, he has enjoyed shooting photos from his back porch and the lake behind his home where he can enjoy the sunset in all its splendorous glory. An outdoorsman, he also relishes opportunities to hunt and fish, training and trialing Labrador Retrievers in his spare time. Jerry currently exhibits his work around the country including a permanent exhibit, Cowhands, at the Museum of the Big Bend at Sul Ross State University.

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Local Boy Scout Honors Family Legacy

NOVEMBER 2021

By JOESPH SPEARS

ames Butler is hoping to help out the community with his eagle scout project in the next few months and would like the area’s support. James is a member of Troop 40 out of Maud, Texas and for his project he has decided to build a flag retirement pit for the New Boston American Legion Doyle Williams Post #488. One other reason James chose the American Legion was because of his grandfather Doyle Williams, who gave Post #488 its name. It is to his grandfather that James dedicates the retirement pit. Once a flag has been worn beyond repair, the proper way to dispose of the flag is to have a retirement ceremony where the flag is burned. The American Legion website says the following on the disposal of U.S. flags, “A set of rules of civilian flag courtesy popularly known as the Flag Code was first formulated by the National Flag Conference meeting in Washington, June 14-15, 1923.We are of the opinion that The American Legion’s Ceremony for Disposal of Unserviceable Flags is a dignified tribute to the U.S. flag and to its symbolism. We therefore conclude that this ceremony is both legal and proper, and that it is an effective instrument for promoting enhanced

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respect for the U.S. flag,”The pit that James is planning will be a part of this ceremony and ensure that the flag’s retirement remains a dignified one. After his project is done, James plans to help another Boy Scout and friend receive his Camping Merit Badge this winter. At Winter Camp the boys will camp outdoors for 4 days to prove they are capable before earning the merit badge. He also is a member of the high school Tunnel Crew, and a group of car enthusiasts called 903 Exclusives. The Boy Scouts of America teaches more than life skills, it also teaches character which James can attest to. “This program has taught me so much, good leadership properties, ability to help others, and a solid work ethic are just a few things that I’ve learned with the Scouts,” said James. This will be a little different

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than the usual way that a project would work in Boy Scouts, as James will be overseeing a team of Boy Scouts to prove his leadership skills, and his ability to manage a project and meet goals. There will be materials that James will need to complete the project, and he hopes that the community will help him reach his goal. He hopes to have the project completed by the first Monday in December. He would greatly appreciate the help, and the list of things he will need is as follows: • Pavers • Fire Pit Bricks • Landscape Timbers • Flagpoles • Gravel If you could help in any way, please contact American Legion Doyle Williams Post #488 at alpost488@aol.com or 903-628-3456.

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Oh, what fun!

Mount Pleasant celebrates Boots and Bells: An Olde West Christmas By MIRANDA OGLESBY

Mount Pleasant becomes a winter wonderland after Halloween festivities begin, starting with the city’s kickoff event, the Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony that was held Nov. 5. Throughout the holiday season: Live entertainment will be hosted weekly on the square from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Memphis Soul, Nov. 6 Texas Gypsies, Nov. 13 Jake Head, Nov. 20 Vinyl Stripes, Nov. 27 Family Dance Party, Dec. 11 Hayden McBride, Dec. 18 Carriage rides will be available during festivities. Visit www.mpcity.net to reserve a ride. Nov. 12-13 | Deck the Halls Bazaar Mount Pleasant-Titus County Chamber of Commerce annually hosts the Deck the Halls event, a shopping extravaganza where local boutiques and businesses offer an array of Christmas decor and gifts. Nov. 13 | Open House A Christmas open house, hosted by Main Street Merchants, will be held from noon to 5 p.m. Nov. 13; the perfect time to shop ‘til ya drop. Dec. 4 | Rotary Club Christmas Parade This highly anticipated annual parade brings Mount Pleasant residents together downtown while floats adorned with Christmas decorations galore light up the streets. 18

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NOVEMBER 2021

EAST TEXAS PINEY WOODS A wine lover ’s dream By TONI WALKER

NOVEMBER 2021

There are over 400 wineries in the state Texas, stretching all across the state. Texas ranks as the fifth-largest wine producing state in the nation. That puts Texas behind California, New York, Washington, and Oregon respectively. Wine connoisseurs needn’t travel throughout the state to find a fine glass of wine, however. With 20 wineries in the Northeast Texas Piney Woods area alone, those looking for a fine wine may find the answer is right outside their backdoor. Starting in the northeast corner, wine enthu-

siasts can take a path from Atlanta and Naples, then down through Jefferson to Nacogdoches. They can then head west to Palestine before turning north towards Athens, Canton, and Sulphur Springs. Pittsburg closes out the circle through the area, but wineries can be found at all points inside that circumference, as well. Below is a partial listing of East Texas Piney Woods Wineries, featuring highlights of wineries between Interstates 30 and 20. A full listing of all twenty Piney Woods Wineries can be found at www.pineywoodswinetrail.com.

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Della Terra Farm-Brashear Della Terra Farm is located in northeast Rains County, on 100-acres of rolling hills. Della Terra offers four specialty wines, each for less than $20 per bottle. (According to the website, Della Terra was to begin offering a fifth label, a Blueberry Blush, in the spring of 2020. It is unknown at press time if that offering is currently available.) Enoch’s Stomp Vineyard and Winery-Harleton Enoch’s Stomp was founded in 2004 by Altus

Koegelenberg and Jon Kral on 90 acres of beautiful rolling hills in Harleton. The property sports 12 acres of grape vines including the varieties, Black Spanish (a.k.a. Lenoir), Blanc DuBois, Norton (a.k.a. Cynthiana), Villard Blanc, Champanel, and Chambourcin. These varietals, as opposed to the more common vinifera grapes (i.e. Merlot, Chardonnay), are well suited for the East Texas terroir, where variable weather patterns, heat, humidity and disease create unique challenges. Since Enoch’s inception in 2006, they have accumulated over 150 awards from various international wine competitions. Los Pinos Winery-Pittsburg Los Pinos Winery is situated in Pittsburg; there is also a Los Pinos tasting room in Fredricksburg. In Pittsburg, wine enthusiasts can sample a large variety of wines made from grapes grown on-site while enjoying a meal. Visitors to the Pittsburg winery can also participate in wine tours and tasting, as well. In the Fredricksburg location, the same wines are available for tasting and purchase and visitors to either location can enjoy live entertainment on a regular basis. O’Farrell Country Vineyards-Atlanta O’Farrell Country Vineyards began in 2006 when Benny and his dad (Papa), planted vines for a U-Pick operation that opened in 2008. The winery opened in 2011. Step across the 100-year-old threshold into O’Farrell Country Vineyards barn, reborn as a tasting room, and you’ll find wines that tell stories of a place. Their aromas and flavors speak of native-variety grapes grown in sandy, red soils or about fruits like blueberries ripened under the late-spring sun. All eight muscadine and four fruit wines are made right here by three generations of family members working together. O’Farrell’s also grows 14 varieties of muscadine cultivars, and in late summer, will give you a chance to pick some for yourself. Red 55 Winery-Lindale Friends and family, wine and music have always been at the heart of Texas family traditions. In 2006, the Lambert family launched the signature wines of Miranda Lambert to celebrate those traditions with a collection inspired by Miranda’s multi-platinum, Grammy-winning music. It was named Red 55 Winery in honor of Miranda’s first truck, a candy-apple-red 1955 stepside. The family hopes their lovingly-crafted wines help you create some special memories and traditions of your own. There is also a tasting room for Red 55 Wines inside Lambert’s signature Store in Lindale, the Pink Pistol.

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Red Road Vineyard and Winery-Naples Red Road Vineyard & Winery, located in the rich Northeast region of Texas, is proudly producing high quality wines of the sweet, semi-

sweet, dry and port varieties. All of the Red Road Vineyard & Winery deep, full-bodied wines offer a pure clarity of flavor that will impress even the most selective of wine drinkers. Red Road’s variety of labels are produced at the 77-acre farm near Marietta. They are aged, stored and available at Red Road’s historic ice house location near the downtown square of Naples, as well as five other retail locations. Rowdy Creek Ranch-Gilmer Rowdy Creek Ranch has over 350 beautiful acres to explore with buena vistas and a seriously relaxed atmosphere where you can get away from it all to kick back near the rolling hills of Gilmer. Rowdy Creek offers seven varieties of wine, along with opportunities for retro “glamping” in vintage, refurbished camper trailers. Silver Lake Cellars Winery and Vineyard-Silver Lake Silver Lake Cellars have a vineyard that was planted in 2016 with the varietals - Zinfandel, Blanc du Bois, Tempranillo, Viognier, and Orange Muscat. While waiting for them to mature, we source our grapes from other fine Texas vineyards. They currently offer eight labels, although their Texas Tempranillo variety is currently sold out. Valle Della Pace-Garden Valley Valle della Pace offers winery tours and tasting, as well as wine club. Wine club members enjoy special benefits and treatment. Whenever they come into the tasting bar, they receive a complimentary tasting for two people, for up to 6 of Valle della Pace wines. In addition, club members are invited to special wine club only events, like special wine and cheese pairings or tank tastings. They will also receive the first pick of our newly introduced wines. Club members receive special “wine club only” wines like our limited edition Moscato or Cabernet Sauvignon, enjoy private, seated Ambassador Tastings with their friends, and have access to pre-released wines. White Fox Vineyards-Murchison Established in 2015 and situated on 330 acres in the heart of East Texas, White Fox Vineyards is a family-owned boutique winery that produces hand crafted, local wines as unique as our name, and the area in which the grapes are grown. Their wines are produced and bottled onsite and most are made from our estate-grown muscadines and grapes. White Fox offers wine tasting, a wine club, and special events. The facilities can also be used for weddings and other special events, as well. A full, comprehensive list of all area wineries and their websites and offerings can be found on the Piney Woods Wine Trail website, www.pineywoodswinetrail.com. NOVEMBER 2021

Tenille Co. brings fashion home By HEATHER RUSSELL

New Boston woman has seen her dreams come to fruition and is offering high-quality fashion in her hometown. Born and raised in New Boston, Rachel Strain is no stranger to the life of a small business owner. “I am actually a third generation business owner here in New Boston,” she explained. “My grandfather, Trevor Forrester, had the Bostonian Inn/Restaurant, my mother Glenda(Patterson) owned Woodstock Company downtown, and I had Rachel’s Cleaners before I opened this.” “This” is a new women’s clothing boutique called Tenille Co. located conveniently on McCoy Boulevard in New Boston, just south of the interstate. Bright

NOVEMBER 2021

and spacious, the boutique offers women’s clothing of all sizes and styles, shoes, hats, caps, and accessories. Tenille Co. is also an authorized Tyler Candle Co. dealer, and has an entire room dedicated to custom school spirit shirts. Rachel says Tenille Co. has always been something she has wanted to do. “I had a very small boutique inside of Rachel’s Cleaners, but nothing on this scale,” she said. “Since then, I have wanted to do something bigger, with more products and inventory, but I could never find the right place at the right time. When this space became available, I knew it was perfect.” After finding the perfect location, Rachel and her boyfriend

Joe Hart went to work remodeling and decorating, putting in many late nights while juggling activities and family time with their three children Tyler and Karli Strain and Presley Hart. “I definitely could not have done this without the help of my family – my mom and Joe worked so hard to make this a reality for me,” Rachel said.

But since opening day on October 1, Rachel has been able to enjoy how all the hard work has paid off. “The best part about this for me has been seeing so many of my repeat customers,” she said. “So many of the people that shopped with me at Rachel’s have come to Tenille Co. and I never even realized how much I missed that until I started seeing those familiar faces again. It’s great to be in my hometown, serving the people I have known my whole life. The people of New Boston have been great to me and I am proud to be here.” Tenille Co. is located at 405 N. McCoy Blvd in New Boston. Hours are Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. -2 p.m. You can also see more pictures and up-to-date inventory on their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/tenilleco. NETX NETX CROSSROADS CROSSROADSMAGAZINE MAGAZINE

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RANCHER’S TUG-OF-WAR Sometimes the cow doesn’t like to play, but usually she won’t argue too much

By ELIZABETH LANNING

o you enjoy playing games? So do I; I played a game recently that is very similar to Tug-of-War, with a few variations. This game is usually played at night around midnight, the later the better. And if it is quite cold, that is an added bonus. To play, you really ought to have a pair of gloves, as well as a long strap with a slip loop on each end and two loops in the middle to be used as handholds. Two people are best, but it can be played by one. The other one that really is necessary to play the game is the mother-to-be cow. (There will be another player at the end of the game, but we don’t need to worry about that now.) The first step is to watch the cow as the whole game must be played at her convenience. When she lies down and lets you walk up to her, you know it is time. Ideally, you should be able to see two little hooves and a nose in the back regions of the cow, and if Mama is having a hard time getting the rest to show itself, that is when you join the game as an interested player instead of merely an observer. To play: take the strap with the two slip loops and place each loop over a hoof making sure they are snug and won’t slip off. Next, sit down (usually it is in a cold, or even wet and muddy place which of course serves to make the game more interesting) and taking the two hand loops in a firm grip, pull with everything you’ve got. More than likely, it will take several pulls, and it isn’t unusual for this part of the game to last well into an hour in length. (The more human players you have, the faster it goes.) When you have pulled a little calf into the world, the game is completed, and you have won! In fact, it’s a double win because Mama has won as well. And you have a new calf lying on the ground, shaking it’s little wet head and longish ears, and blowing

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little bubbles out its nose. It always amazes me how a living creature that has never breathed oxygen before can get its little lungs going at just the precise moment when it is first introduced to air. Now, the above rules work only when everything goes fairly well. Once in a while, however, Mama just doesn’t feel like playing without some more experienced help. When this occurs, the game must be played on a moment-by-moment basis and initiative on the part of the human is a plus. For instance, if the cow is running around the field and won’t let you catch her, that is an added difficulty. And when you do catch her and get her into the trailer, if she gets so mad that she tries to run you down once you get her to the vet, then a few extra precautions must naturally be taken into consideration. For one thing, I would highly recommend that the door leading from the inside of the vet to the outside remains shut, and if the cow does get out, my only advice is: May Heaven Help You. Because when the cow does get outside the vet, she can be extremely difficult to catch again, and she is very likely to try to run you down every time you get close enough to grab the lead rope still attached to her halter. (If you do decide to play the game this way, it is wise to play it away from all main roads. Mama doesn’t know what semi-trucks are, nor does she understand that it is necessary to look both ways before crossing.) But once again, when that live, blowing, squirming little critter breathes his first breath, somehow all the struggles (like running as fast as you can in rubber boots to catch Mama) to win were worth it, and the three of you can go home safe, sound, healthy, and exhausted. (Disclaimer: Children do not try this at home. Recommended age: 13 and up.) NETX NETX CROSSROADS CROSSROADSMAGAZINE MAGAZINE

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NOVEMBER 2021

Texarkana College Adult Education and Literacy Program Providing education to those in need

exarkana College is willing and able to provide adult education classes to the greater East Texas area free of charge. For the past four years TC has offered GED, ESL, and basic skills for adults in the community at no cost to students. The grant funded program is backed by the Texas Workforce Commission, and it has monthly classes that are all instructor led. “Our year runs from July 1st to June 30th, and adult education is different from regular classes. Adult’s lives are busy so some are able to make every class and others have to find the time to make it here. Life can sometimes get in the way but this year we have provided services to over 200 people, and sometimes that number can get up to around 400 a year,” said Adult Education and Literacy Director Lisa Jones.

NOVEMBER 2021

JOESPH SPEARS

For students who need improvement based on their TSI test or adults who are below a 12th grade level the basic skills classes cover math, english, and computer skills. This class requires enrollment and an orientation prior, but is focused on helping those in the community meet the standards of advanced education. Before you start classes there is also identification paperwork alongside a basic assessment of knowledge. The Adult Education Program also has a dedicated Career Navigator, and her responsibility is to help students with workforce training, resume writing, job application, and applying to scholarships among other services. This isn’t the only helpful service that TC offers, the IET Program is relatively new and is focused on help-

ing those seeking jobs that require certification in the medical field. “The Texas Workforce Commision allocates certain funds to assist us in training students in certain medical skills, so we coordinate with our Community and Business and Education Program here on campus. They offer several different classes in Allied Health including Dental Assistant, Phlebotomy, Clinical/Medical Assistant, and CNA classes. There is a whole list of these classes and the IET Program agrees to pay half of the tuition of these as long as they meet certain criteria while taking them. This means just meeting with us twice a week to help them during the course,” Lisa told the Tribune. These classes range from 12-16 weeks and they are priced anywhere from $700 to $3,000. It is great for those in the commu-

nity looking for a career but could still use some help along the way. The Texas Education Agency sends funding to the Texas Workforce Education which in turn goes to TC’s Adult Education program for the purpose of helping pay for the testing required for students looking to enroll in classes or earn their GED. These tests could cost up to $150 in total, and many students need help to come up with that money. The grant that TC received this year allowed for 100 students to take their tests, and Lisa is hoping that the college will receive another grant at the end of this year. If you have any questions, or want to enroll in classes please contact the Adult Education and Literacy Program at Adult.ed@ texarkanacollege.edu or call 903823-3461. NETX CROSSROADS MAGAZINE

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