Hometown Focus Watchman kept its eyes on local news throughout 150 years

WORDS BY MEREDITH SHAMBURGER

For much of its history, the Watchman has remained dedicated to telling stories from Panola County. Here’s how the Watchman covered some of the biggest stories of the day:

SALK VACCINE PROGRAM UNDERWAY IN COUNTY, APRIL 21, 1955

Following a telephoned report of weather conditions Sunday at the Carthage field, L.E. Page, piloting the First National Bank's Beachcraft Bonanza, along with three companions made a historic flight Sunday afternoon to bring from the Municipal Airport in Austin, the first shipment of Salk Vaccine for Panola County children. Page, accompanied by C. B. Duke Jr., vicepresident of the First National Bank, Howell Duckworth, and Ralph Menafree of Tenaha were the four participants in this history making flight that brough the cherry-red life-saving vaccine to the county.

Dr. DuBose Daniel innoculated the first and second grade children in the Gary and Beckville White Schools, and the South Side Colored School children Wednesday, and the mass innoculation of the remaining 700 children whose parents signed the forms giving their permission for the innoculation, began this morning

STRAW VOTE FAILS TO SAVE OLD COUNTY COURTHOUSE, JULY 17, 1958

Walker's Motion to Rescind Court's Order Killed from Lack of Second

When Commissioner N.E. Walker's motion to rescind the order to tear down the old Panola County courthouse went begging for want of a second Monday morning at a public hearing before the commissioners court, the death knell for the historic old building was rung. Unless those who are seeking to save it can uncover some other legal measures to halt the auction before Friday, July 15, the old courthouse will go under the hammer.

GOVERNOR TO DEDICATE LAKE MURVAUL SATURDAY, MAY 29, 1958

The formal dedication of Panola County’s $1,000,000 Lake Murvaul is scheduled for Sunday, June 1 at 2:30 p.m. with Governor Price Daniel as the speaker. The Governor will arrive by plane Saturday morning and will speak at the Central Baptist

Church at 11a.m.

Governor Daniel will be introduced by Miss Margie E. Neal, former State Senator from the Fourth District, and close personal friend of the Governor.

Features of the program for the afternoon besides the address will be a concert by the Gary and Carthage High School Bands; the introduction of government officials of the Lake Board and representatives of the engineers and contractors as well as other visitors of prominence a water show sponsored by the Lake Murvaul Boat Club, featuring the Houston Water Ski Club. The program is given in another place.

CITY MOURNS WITH NATION, NOVEMBER 28, 1963

The City of Carthage and all Panola County were shocked at the assassination of the President last Friday non, and the wounding of Governor Connally. A Dallas resident, Lee Harvey Oswald, was arrested while hiding in a theater, after a Dallas

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Monday, the day of President Kennedy’s funeral, the banks, Federal and Loan Association, and some other business places were closed two hours during the service. The Post Office was closed for the day, and the Carthage schools and Panola College suspended classes for the day. The Carthage-Tenaha girls basketball game scheduled at Carthage was canceled.

Special services were reported Monday morning at First Baptist and First Methodist Churches and the Southside Baptist Church was open all day with a service held in the evening.

A requiem mass was celebrated at St. Williams Catholic Church Saturday morning and Rosary was said Friday and Monday.

If there were other church services, they were not reported to the Watchman.

People here are still trying to become accustomed to the unbelievable tragedy.

SIMPLE FUNERAL SERVICE HELD FOR FAMOUS SINGER, AUG. 6, 1964

Funeral services for Travis (Jim) Reeves, 39, internationally known singer and motion picture personality, were held at 3 p.m. Wednesday at the Central Baptist Church with Dr. V.L. McKee as the officiating minister.

Reeves was killed late Friday in a plane crash near his home in Nashville, Tenn.

In a funeral service held in Nashville Tuesday, attended by Eddy Arnold, Chet Atkins, Red Foley, Skeeter Davis and dozens of other country music stars, the Rev. Joe Hale paid tribute to the humility of the entertainer. He said of Reeves,

"He earned the right to be called a gentleman -- Gentleman Jim in the true sense of the word." The minister was referring to a nickname the velvet-voiced Reeves acquired because of his smooth singing style, which won him fame in the vast country music industry, and his high moral conduct. The minister told of a plaque in Reeves' office which reads "Be proud of yourself, but remember there is no indispensable man."

The body was flown to Shreveport from Nashville in a National Guard plane furnished by Gov. Clements of Tennessee. It was accompanied by some 40 relatives and friends.

Burial was in a 2-acre plot secured for the purpose located two and a half miles from Carthage on U.S. Highway 79 near the Liberty Chapel Church. A memorial marker will be placed there later. The site was selected by John C. Brown after L.E. Page had been contracted to secure the site.

1,200 LOCAL RESIDENTS GATHER FOR HIGH SCHOOL DEDICATION, SEPTEMBER 3, 1981

Carthage High School, among the most advanced new school facilities in East Texas, was dedicated Sunday.

The ceremonies brought to a close more than two years of endeavors toward construction of the $9 million plus facility by community, school board and faculty and staff members and began what promise to be many exciting years of education for the high school students of Carthage.

Gleaming glass, polished tile, expansive architectural features, colorful graphics, and the latest in educational equipment and furnishing met the eyes of more than 1,200 citizens who assembled Sunday for the dedication of the ultramodern Carthage High School and to hear an address from Commissioner of Education Raymon Bynum.