Best of Texoma Magazine 2019

A guide to all things Texoma: your 2019 favorites

BEST OF TEXOMA.COM

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BEST FINANCIAL ADVISOR/PLANNER

Honored to serve the greater Texoma community for 20 years and counting.

At Utter Wealth Management Group of Wells Fargo Advisors, we specialize in concierge level care to meet your long term wealth management needs.

Gail Utter, MBA, CPWA®, CRPC®, Managing Director – Investments; Nate Pike, AWMA®, Financial Advisor; Jason Blankenship, CFP®, AAMS®, Financial Consultant

Wells Fargo Advisors is a trade name used by Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC, Member SIPC. CAR# 0319-05294

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BEST OF TEXOMA

BEST ATTORNEY - CRIMINAL

BEST OF TEXOMA.COM

BEST ATTORNEY - FAMILY

BEST DIVORCE ATTORNEY

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BEST PODIATRIST

Serving Texoma Since 1984

Our mission is to provide quality, cost effective care utilizing minimally invasive techniques for the relief of pain and fast recovery.

North Texas Foot Care Dr. John S. Sciortino, DPM Board Certified in Foot & Ankle Surgery

903.893.9661

www.ntfootcare.com

BEST PODIATRIST

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BEST OF TEXOMA

BEST DRIVE-THRU BANKING

BEST LOAN OFFIER TONYA HUDGINS, FIRST UNITED BANK

BEST OF TEXOMA.COM

BEST PLACE FOR BANKING

BEST MORTGAGE COMPANY

5

BEST AUDIOLOGIST/ HEARING AID CENTER

6

BEST OF TEXOMA

BEST OF TEXOMA.COM

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Thank you for voting for us

BEST HEAT & AIR SERVICES

BEST ELECTRICAL SERVICES

LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED SINCE 1986 SENIOR OR MILITARY DISCOUNTS - Installation - Service and Repairs - Maintenance agreements - 24 Hour Service

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BEST OF TEXOMA

THANK YOU TEXOMA

FIRST PLACE Best Orthodontist 2019

Dr. Alyssa Carter, DDS, MS | Dr. Lisa Stokes, DDS, MS, PA Discover the STOKES ORTHODONTICS experience! Our practice is our passion and our patients are family!

State of the art facility offering Invisalign, lingual braces, clear braces, 3D technology for adults & children.

Now accepting new patients. No referral necessary.

The most experienced practice in our area and the first & most experienced SureSmile provider in the region.

2921 N. Heritage Pkwy. #200 Sherman

903-892-4535

204 Victory Bonham

903-583-5817

WWW.STOKESORTHODONTICS.COM BEST OF TEXOMA.COM

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Family Operated Since 1973

903-463-2266 • 700 W. Main St. • Denison, TX 75020

903-868-0042 • 524 W. Houston • Sherman, TX 75090

903-337-1641 • 5022 Texoma Parkway • Denison, TX 75020

Your One Stop Shop!

With three locations to serve you. Gold & Silver Broker 50 Large Showcases of Jewelry All Kinds of Sterling Silver Gun Dealer Archery Specialist Game Shop Electronic Stop

Computer Store School Instruments Can be Ordered Tools Tools Tools Car Audio Marine Audio Home Audio

If We Don’t Have it, We’ll Find it!

Layaway with no charge

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Email: fandipawnshop@cableone.net

Website: www.fandipawn.com BEST OF TEXOMA

020

BEST OF TEXOMA.COM

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YOUR FAVORITE RESTAURANTS,

DELIVERED

all on one app

Explore the most popular cuisines available for delivery in your neighborhood Download the Texoma Delivery app today!

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BEST OF TEXOMA

Our Specialities Providing Top-Notch Respiratory Care & Sleep Apnea Equipment

BEST MEDICAL SUPPLIES

We provide 24-Hour Customer Support Speak with a Respiratory Therapist or COPD Coach Today!

903-893-1301 Services We Offer: Oxygen Therapy Non-Invasive Ventilation (NIV) Positive Airway Pressure (PAP) Therapy CoughAssist 170

903-893-1301

1708 Baker Road, Sherman l www.breathoflifemedical.com

BEST OF TEXOMA.COM

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BEST OF TEXOMA

NATE RODRIGUEZ Senior Group Publisher

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elcome to the final installment of Best of Texoma 2019. While this magazine doesn’t represent all of the businesses in the Texoma region, it does represent the categories of businesses that our readers and the community felt were the most important. The businesses included in this magazine contribute to making our community the very best in North Texas and Southern Oklahoma.

Today’s magazine will be around for 12 months and will not only be distributed to our readers in their newspapers, but also at the Texas and Oklahoma welcome centers, in hotels rooms, and in visitor and tourist hot spots around our region.

These locations will be stocked regularly and these magazines will be complimentary.

Best of Texoma has become the guide to all things Texoma and showcases why our community is so great. The results in this magazine are the culmination of a four-month process that included soliciting the public for categories to add or eliminate, a nomination round where the community chose any business in those categories, a new runoff vote where the results of the top three winners were too close to call, and the final round where the community decided who was first place.

Small business owners are the heart and soul of our community and they too often go unappreciated. Our hope is we bring much needed recognition to the hard work that goes into not just having a small business but the BEST small business.

I am honored and humbled that our community entrusts my team at the Herald Democrat to bring these honors to life.

You may wonder why you should trust the Herald Demo-

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crat, the engine behind this magazine, or the Best of Texoma results. There is no more pure form of endorsement than “word of mouth” and that is what Best of Texoma is all about.

Neighbors telling neighbors who is the best in the community is what this is, in its simplest form.

The Herald Democrat prides itself in being the conduit that allows the community to be heard, which is why we have disclosed that we have no bearing on the results. The results are counted and audited by an independent third party that has no information on who purchased advertising from us and who has not. In today’s magazine there are over 525 business that are either first place or top three winners, and less than 25 percent of those purchased advertising from us. If you look at just the first place winners the percentage is just nine percent.

When I moved to Texoma more than three years ago, I made a point to visit as many local businesses as possible. I asked my neighbors and new friends where I should go when I was looking for options. As expected, the recommendations weren’t always the same. I tried as many as I could and used my own experience to choose who my personal favorites were.

I think my experience is true for most folks. While first place is the highest honor with Best of Texoma, be sure to check out all the winners to see whether our community got the results right.

I am very proud to be the publisher of the Herald Democrat, but I am more proud to be part of this amazing community.

Thank you for your support, Texoma.

BEST OF TEXOMA

FUTURE BROWN Lifestyles Editor

I

t seems like it was just last week that we were putting the final touches on the 2018 Best of Texoma magazine. Yet, it is 2019, and with a print date two months earlier than last year, this year’s publication has 232 pages and a completely different feel.

For the 17th installment of the Best of Texoma contest, there are 177 categories and we wanted to make sure the magazine has stories to represent all the regions the contest incorporates. We also wanted to again print a publication that people can use to help guide decision-making when choosing a restaurant, physician, nonprofit or business worthy of your hardearned money.

In the Eat & Drink category, we have highlighted all of the restaurants in the top three in Bryan County, Denison, Howe, Pottsboro, Sherman, Van Alstyne, Whitesboro, Whitewright and on Lake Texoma. In doing this, we wanted to show people that each of the cities in the region has something different to offer. In fact, no two restaurants from the same franchise were chosen, so there is a large variety.

Throughout the magazine, in addition to feature stories there are profiles that offer a closer look at doctors, companies and agents. Readers will find

BEST OF TEXOMA.COM

information about what makes each category unique, as well as useful information that can be continuously referred to when searching for additional information on necessary and every day services.

Those are just a few examples of how we made the decision to feature certain categories without limiting the impact of each category and division.

Lastly, we could not overlook the work of this year’s recipient of the Starr Community Award in shaping Texoma, just as the award’s namesake Lydia Starr McPherson did in the world of journalism.

As a representation of this market first, with this magazine, we wanted to continue to promote the values that Texoma Marketing and Media Group stands for: community and the availability of accurate and timely information.

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STORIES: Best of Restaurants: Denison..........22 Best of Restaurants: Whitewright....26 Best of Restaurants: Sherman.........28 Best of Restaurants: Whitesboro....32 Best of Restaurants: Pottsboro.......34 Best of Restaurants: Howe..............36

Best of Restaurants: Bryan Co........38 Best of Restaurants: Van Alstyne....40 Best of Restaurants: Lake Texoma 42 BBQ: Eating high on the hog...........44 Fine dining in Texoma......................47 Breakfast: Start your day right........49

LISTINGS: Best Asian Food....................................21 Best Bakery...........................................21 Best BBQ...............................................21 Best Breakfast.......................................21 Best Buffet.............................................21 Best Burgers..........................................24 Best Business Lunch............................24 Best Catfish...........................................24 Best Chef...............................................24 Best Chicken Fried Steak.....................24 Best Chicken Wings..............................25 Best Coffee Shop..................................25

Best Comfort Food...............................25 Best Early Bird Dining...........................25 Best Fine Dining....................................25 Best Food Truck....................................27 Best Ice Cream......................................27 Best Margarita.......................................27 Best Mexican Restaurant.....................27 Best Pizza..............................................27 Best Place to Get a Meal Under $10....31 Best Place to Grab a Beer....................31 Best Restaurant in Bryan County.........31 Best Restaurant in Denison..................31

Best Restaurant in Howe......................31 Best Restaurant in Pottsboro...............35 Best Restaurant in Sherman.................35 Best Restaurant in Van Alstyne............35 Best Restaurant in Whitesboro............35 Best Restaurant in Whitewright............35 Best Restaurant on Lake Texoma........39 Best Salsa..............................................39 Best Sandwiches..................................39 Best Steak.............................................39 Best Tacos.............................................39 Best Winery/Brewery/Distillery.............41

STORIES: Freestanding ER vs. Urgent Care...54 What are sleep services?...............59 Cosmetic services: At first blush...64 Physical therapy..............................70 Treating baby teeth.........................74

Pediatric home health.....................80 Hearing centers...............................86 Medical supplies.............................88 Orthodontists..................................90

LISTINGS: Best Audiologist/Hearing Aid Center........53 Best Bariatric and Weight Loss Services 53 Best Cardiologist.........................................53 Best Chiropractor........................................53 Best Cosmetic Services.............................53 Best Dental Services...................................57 Best Dermatologist.....................................57 Best ENT.......................................................57 Best Freestanding ER.................................57 Best Gastroenterologist..............................57 Best General Practitioner............................58 Best General Surgeon.................................58 Best Home Health.......................................58

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Best Hospice Service..................................58 Best Hospital................................................58 Best Medical Supplies................................59 Best Mental Health Services......................59 Best Nurse....................................................61 Best Nursing Home.....................................61 Best OB/GYN...............................................61 Best Ophthalmologist (Eye Surgeon)........61 Best Optometrist.........................................61 Best Orthodontist........................................67 Best Orthopedic Surgeon..........................67 Best Pain Management..............................67 Best Pediatric Dentist.................................67

Best Pediatric Home Health.......................67 Best Pediatrician.........................................71 Best Place for Physical Therapy................71 Best Place for Speech Therapy.................71 Best Plastic Surgeon...................................71 Best Podiatrist (Foot Doctor).....................71 Best Radiology Services............................76 Best Rehabilitation Care.............................76 Best Sleep Services....................................76 Best Urgent Care/Walk-in Clinic................76 Best Vein Care.............................................76 Best Wound Care........................................82

BEST OF TEXOMA

STORIES: Golfing Texoma.........................94 Hotels and accommodations 104 Discovering our history.............96 Local festivals.........................106 Live the life aquatic.................100 Resorts in Texoma..................108 Parks and playgrounds...........102

LISTINGS: Best Casino.................................................................................................................93 Best Charity Event......................................................................................................93 Best Golf Course.........................................................................................................93 Best Hotel....................................................................................................................93 Best Local Festival.....................................................................................................99 Best Marina at Lake Texoma......................................................................................99 Best Museum..............................................................................................................99 Best Park....................................................................................................................99 Best Resort.................................................................................................................99

110 STARR COMMUNITY AWARD

STORIES: Digging the dirt........................116 A bed without a quilt...............118 What is an antique?.................122 New vs. used vehicles.............126 Powersports and ATVs............132

Locally owned businesses......134 Boat sales and services..........136 Thrifty shopping......................140 The right floor for the job........142 Rock on! Landscaping............144

LISTINGS: Best Antique Store.............................117 Best Auto Dealership.........................117 Best Boat Sales.................................117 Best Boot Store/Western Wear.........117 Best Farm/Ranch Supplies...............117 Best Flooring Retailer........................121 Best Furniture Store..........................121 Best Gas Station................................121 Best Household Consignment..........121

BEST OF TEXOMA.COM

Best Jewelry Store.............................121 Best Landscape Rock & Gravel........125 Best Liquor Store...............................125 Best Locally Owned Business..........125 Best Mattress Retailer.......................125 Best Nursery/Garden Shop...............125 Best Outdoor Furniture and Accessories.........................131 Best Pawn Shop................................131

Best Place to Buy a Firearm.............131 Best Place to Buy a Pool or Spa.......131 Best Place to Buy an ATV..................131 Best Place to Buy Metal Buildings...138 Best Sewing/Quilting Shop...............138 Best Thrift Store.................................138 Best Used Car Dealership.................138 Best Women’s Clothing.....................138

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STORIES: Say it with flowers...........148 Pet care you can trust.....154 Childcare..........................158 Overgrown nails and fur..162 Keeping it running...........170

Crowning glory.................174 Surfing the tube...............177 Fenced in.........................182 Pet boarding....................184

LISTINGS: Best Attorney - Civil..............................149 Best Attorney - Criminal.......................149 Best Attorney - Family..........................149 Best Attorney - Real Estate..................149 Best Auto Body/Collision Repair.........149 Best Auto Dealer Service Department 152 Best Auto Repair and Service.............152 Best Barber Shop.................................152 Best Car Salesperson...........................152 Best Car Wash.......................................152 Best Criminal Defense Attorney...........153 Best Daycare.........................................153

Best Divorce Attorney...........................153 Best Electrical Services........................153 Best Fence Company............................153 Best Florist.............................................157 Best Foundation Repair........................157 Best Funeral Home...............................157 Best Hair Salon.....................................157 Best Heat & Air Services......................157 Best Home Painting Service................163 Best Interior Design..............................163 Best Locksmith.....................................163 Best Nail Salon......................................163

Best Pet Boarding.................................163 Best Pet Groomer..................................167 Best Photographer................................167 Best Plumbing Services.......................167 Best Remodeling Services...................167 Best Roofer............................................167 Best Security Company........................175 Best Storage Facility.............................175 Best Towing Service.............................175 Best TV Provider....................................175 Best Veterinarian...................................175

STORIES: Serving the community........................................................188 Pumping it up......................................................................192 The apartment advantage...................................................196 For art’s sake.......................................................................198 Senior living..........................................................................200 Local tech companies.........................................................202 Texoma venues....................................................................204

LISTINGS: Best Apartment Complex.......................................................189 Best Art Gallery........................................................................189 Best Assisted Living...............................................................189 Best Bank Teller.......................................................................189 Best College Professor...........................................................189 Best Elementary Teacher........................................................193 Best Firefighter/EMT...............................................................193 Best Health Club/Gym...........................................................193 Best Independent Senior Living...........................................193

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Best Law Enforcement Officer..............................................193 Best Local Artist......................................................................195 Best Non-profit Organization................................................195 Best Principal...........................................................................195 Best Secondary Teacher (Middle and High School)..........195 Best Tech Company................................................................195 Best Temp Agency...................................................................199 Best Wedding/Event Venue...................................................199

BEST OF TEXOMA

STORIES: Financing a home.............................................................................208 Insurance agents...............................................................................212 So you want to buy a home.............................................................214 CPA/Accountants.............................................................................218 Finding a lake home.........................................................................220 Home inspections.............................................................................222

LISTINGS: Best CPA/Accountant................................................................211 Best Credit Union.......................................................................211 Best Drive-Thru Banking............................................................211 Best Financial Advisor/Planner..................................................211 Best Home Builder.....................................................................211 Best Home Inspector.................................................................215 Best Insurance Agency..............................................................215 Best Insurance Agent.................................................................215 Best Loan Officer........................................................................215

BEST OF TEXOMA.COM

Best Mortgage Company...........................................................215 Best Place for Banking..............................................................216 Best Real Estate Agent..............................................................216 Best Real Estate Agent - Lake Texoma....................................216 Best Real Estate Company........................................................216 Best Real Estate Company - Lake Texoma..............................216 Best Tax Service.........................................................................218 Best Title Company....................................................................218

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Based strictly on the numbers,

it might be tempting to rename Best of Texoma to Best of Texoma Eats. With 37 individual categories, the Eat & Drink section was far and away the most popular with voters.

More than 25,000 votes were cast in the group’s top eight categories with Best Burgers drawing 3,820 total votes, and the winner taking 2,171 of those. Next on the list was Comfort Food at 3,439 total votes and Best Barbecue at 3,229, followed by Best Breakfast, 3,215, and Best Chicken Fried Steak, 3,019. The other categories in the top eight were Early Bird Dining, Ice Cream and Best Restaurant in Sherman.

Texomans like to eat and they know what they like. With more and more restaurants opening all over the Texoma region, the choices, both in types of cuisines and the options within those cuisines, will continue to grow.

That bodes for more spirited competition the next time around, and that is a good thing for area diners.

- Edward Southerland

Best Asian Food....................................21 Best Bakery...........................................21 Best BBQ...............................................21 Best Breakfast.......................................21 Best Buffet.............................................21 Best Burgers..........................................24 Best Business Lunch............................24 Best Catfish...........................................24 Best Chef...............................................24 Best Chicken Fried Steak.....................24 Best Chicken Wings..............................25 Best Coffee Shop..................................25

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Best Comfort Food...............................25 Best Early Bird Dining...........................25 Best Fine Dining....................................25 Best Food Truck....................................27 Best Ice Cream......................................27 Best Margarita.......................................27 Best Mexican Restaurant.....................27 Best Pizza..............................................27 Best Place to Get a Meal Under $10....31 Best Place to Grab a Beer....................31 Best Restaurant in Bryan County.........31 Best Restaurant in Denison..................31

Best Restaurant in Howe......................31 Best Restaurant in Pottsboro...............35 Best Restaurant in Sherman.................35 Best Restaurant in Van Alstyne............35 Best Restaurant in Whitesboro............35 Best Restaurant in Whitewright............35 Best Restaurant on Lake Texoma........39 Best Salsa..............................................39 Best Sandwiches..................................39 Best Steak.............................................39 Best Tacos.............................................39 Best Winery/Brewery/Distillery.............41

BEST OF TEXOMA

EAT & DRINK

BEST ASIAN FOOD

BEST BAKERY

BEST BBQ

BEST BREAKFAST

BEST BUFFET

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

Two Brothers Hibachi (903) 718-1392 1728 FM1417, Sherman

Mom’s Bakery (903) 893-7585 1703 N Woods St, Sherman

Cackle & Oink BBQ (903) 891-3200 3210 Texoma Pkwy, Sherman

Nick’s Family Restaurant (903) 463-3687 See page 43

Taste of China (903) 893-6980 See page 41

- WINNERS -

- WINNERS -

- WINNERS -

- WINNERS -

Pop’s Place (903) 337-1533 4531 Texoma Pkwy, Denison

King Buffet (903) 893-9988 See page 39

- WINNERS Crazy Thai (903) 771-0812 1707 Texoma Pkwy, Sherman Taste of China (903) 893-6980 See page 41

BEST OF TEXOMA.COM

The Frosted Shoppe (903) 328-9928 See page 25 Kathleen’s Kitchen (903) 892-0968 1913 N Travis St, Sherman

Rib Crib (903) 771-0141 3205 N Hwy 75, Sherman Bear’s Smokin’ BBQ (903) 815-9535 225 W Crawford St, Denison

IHOP (903) 893-8262 2617 N Hwy 75, Sherman

Golden Corral (903) 892-3366 900 East US-82, Sherman

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EAT & DRINK

BEST OF DENISON RESTAURANTS

RUSTICO

BY ED SOUTHERLAND

D

enison is the bright spot for restaurants in Grayson County, with several new and innovative operations already scheduled to open this year. Three tried and true favorites in Denison include North Rig Grill, Cotton Patch and Rustico, according to Texoma voters.

RUSTICO 506 W. Chestnut St. Denison, TX 903-337-1447 www.RusticoCuisineTX.com Previously nominated for BOT

COTTON PATCH 500 N. US Highway 75 Denison, TX 903-464-0097 www.CottonPatch.com Previously nominated for BOT

NORTH RIG GRILL

NORTH RIG GRILL COTTON PATCH CAFE

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414 N. US Highway 75 Denison, TX 903-464-9999 BEST OF TEXOMA

BEST OF TEXOMA.COM

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EAT & DRINK

BEST BURGERS

BEST BUSINESS LUNCH

BEST CATFISH

BEST CHEF

BEST CHICKEN FRIED STEAK

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

MG’s (903) 893-9011 1715 N Woods St, Sherman

City Limits (903) 893-9117 See page 27

Huck’s Catfish (903) 337-0033 See page 35

Chef TJ LaRosa Fulbelli’s (903) 892-8409 See page 51

Tracks (903) 870-2034 See page 24

- WINNERS -

- WINNERS -

- WINNERS -

- WINNERS - WINNERS -

City Limits (903) 893-9117 See page 27

Fulbelli’s (903) 892-8409 See page 51

Old Iron Post (903) 892-8211 101 N Travis St, Sherman

Old Iron Post (903) 892-8211 101 N Travis St, Sherman

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Catfish King (903) 868-2953 3301 S Sam Rayburn Fwy, Sherman

Chef Robert Aranson Sage Cafe (903) 357-5368

The Farmstead (580) 296-2201 See page 31

Chef Joanna Bryant Grayson College (903) 465-6030

City Limits (903) 893-9117 See page 27 Old Iron Post (903) 892-8211 101 N Travis St, Sherman

BEST OF TEXOMA

EAT & DRINK

BEST CHICKEN WINGS

BEST COFFEE SHOP

BEST COMFORT FOOD

BEST EARLY BIRD DINING

BEST FINE DINING

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

Buffalo Wild Wings (903) 892-4500 4066 N, US Hwy 75, Sherman

CJ’s Coffee Cafe (903) 327-8984 See page 37

City Limits (903) 893-9117 See page 27

Texas Roadhouse (903) 893-0290 2773 US-75, Sherman

The Library Grill (903) 893-5747 See page 24

- WINNERS -

- WINNERS -

- WINNERS -

- WINNERS -

Bean Me Up (903) 819-6730 115 S Travis St, Sherman

Pop’s Place (903) 337-1533 4531 Texoma Pkwy, Denison

Nick’s Family Restaurant (903) 463-3687 See page 43

Six Ninety One at Grayson College (903) 415-2605 6101 Grayson Dr, Denison

- WINNERS Old Iron Post (903) 892-8211 101 N Travis St, Sherman Wing Stop (903) 893-9466 4001 N Hwy 75, Sherman

Starbucks (903) 893-2626 Multiple locations

Cracker Barrel (903) 868-9437 3501 N Us Hwy 75, Sherman

Pizza & Italian Cuisine

IHOP (903) 464-9400 701 N Us Hwy 75, Denison

Fulbelli’s (903) 892-8409 See page 51

BEST BAKERY

Enjoy casual family dining featuring old-world Italian recipes.

Pizza / Pasta / Subs / Salad / Stromboli / Calzone Mon - Sat: 11:00 AM - 9:00 PM & Sun: 12:00 PM - 3:00 PM

THANK YOU

Custom Cakes • Decorated Sugar Cookies Brownies • Cake Pops

for Voting Us Top 3

BEST PIZZA

Italian Affair Pizza (903) 893-2171

104 N Woods St, Sherman, TX BEST OF TEXOMA.COM

(903) 328-9928 1226 South Austin Avenue Denison, Texas 75021 www.TheFrostedShoppe.com 25

EAT & DRINK

BEST OF WHITEWRIGHT RESTAURANTS

BY ED SOUTHERLAND

W

hitewright is known for its roses, but might just as well earn notice for its All-American places to eat. Whether you’re in the mood for burgers and sandwiches, barbecue or pizza, Whitewright has a restaurant their residents think is the best.

Lone Star’s favorite burgers and shakes place, Dairy Queen, top-flight Texas barbecue at Triple R Barbecue and The Loft Pizza & Pub all offer American food at a convenient price.

THE LOFT PIZZA & PUB

THE LOFT PIZZA & PUB 104 W. Grand Ave. Whitewright, TX 903-364-5414 www.TheLoftPizza.com

DAIRY QUEEN 521 S US Highway 69 Whitewright, TX 903-364-2629 www.DairyQueen.com

TRIPLE R BARBECUE 504 US Highway 69 Whitewright, TX 903-364-9999 www.RRRBBQ.com 26

TRIPLE R BARBECUE

BEST OF TEXOMA

EAT & DRINK

BEST FOOD TRUCK

BEST ICE CREAM

BEST MARGARITA

BEST MEXICAN RESTAURANT

BEST PIZZA

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

Two Brothers Hibachi (903) 421-4063 1728 FM1417, Sherman

Braum’s (903) 891-4547 Multiple locations

City Limits (903) 893-9117 See page 27

La Mesa (903) 892-1644 See page 29

Craft Pies Pizza Co. (903) 508-9177 81750 N Ste 122, TX-289, Pottsboro

- WINNERS -

- WINNERS -

- WINNERS -

- WINNERS -

Tito’s Tacos (903) 771-9646 902 E Lamar St, Sherman

Cold Stone Creamery (903) 891-3832 4062 N, US Highway 75, Sherman

La Mesa (903) 892-1644 See page 29

Rustico (903) 337-1447 506 W Chestnut St, Denison

- WINNERS -

Bear’s Smokin’ BBQ (903) 815-9535 225 W Crawford St, Denison

Gelati’s Ice Cream Parlor (903) 744-9053 100 N Travis St, Sherman

Old Iron Post (903) 892-8211 101 N Travis St, Sherman

Camino Viejo (903) 357-5235 110 E Houston St, Sherman

Palio’s Pizza Cafe Multiple locations Italian Affair (903) 893-2171 See page 25

THANKS FOR VOTING US #1 Best Margarita #1 Best Restaurant in Sherman #1 Best Business Lunch #1 Best Comfort Food Top 3 Best Place to Grab a Beer Top 3 Best Salsa Top 3 Best Burgers Top 3 Best Chicken Fried Steak

BEST OF TEXOMA.COM

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EAT & DRINK

CITY LIMITS

BEST OF SHERMAN RESTAURANTS

BY ED SOUTHERLAND

S

herman is looking for places to eat, and the city council is offering special incentives to new dining establishments who want to set up shop in the city. When it comes to what diners like in Sherman, area residents opt for their tried and true and selected three restaurants with a proven history and strong fan base: City Limits, Texas Roadhouse and Fulbelli’s in Kelly Square.

CITY LIMITS 4521 Texoma Parkway Sherman, TX 903-893-9117

Hours of operation: 11 a.m.

- 10 p.m. on weeknights; 11 a.m. - midnight on weekends

www.Facebook.com/climits

Price: $5-19

City Limits has been in Sherman for 37 years, and on their American/Tex-Mex menu, the most popular items include made-toorder burgers, chicken fried steak and a new favorite, the spicy chicken lettuce wrap. Specialty items on the menu include chicken quesadillas with fresh grilled vegetables, enchiladas (not on the menu) and the Dennyrita, a specialty margarita served in a coffee cup with an extra kick of Grand Marnier.

“After opening two downtown locations in Tyler and McKinney that didn’t make it, the third time was the charm on Texoma Parkway in 1982,” owner Denny Callahan said. “With the luck of the location across from Midway Mall and a growing Texoma area, Sherman proved to be a success after all of these years.”

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BEST OF TEXOMA

Thank you for voting us Thank “The Best” since 2003!

MEXICAN RESTAURANT & CANTINA

RESTAURANT & CANTINA Serving Serving Texomaland Texomaland since since 1985 1985 2124 2124 Texoma Texoma Parkway Parkway •• Sherman Sherman

903-892-1644 exican Restaurant M t s e B BEST MEXICAN RESTAURANT

BEST SALSA

BEST MARGARITA

Best Fajitas

BEST OF TEXOMA.COM

Best Tacos

Best Salsa/Hot Sauce

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EAT & DRINK

TEXAS ROADHOUSE 2773 US Highway 75 Sherman, TX 75090 903-893-0290 www.TexasRoadhouse.com Price: $11-30

TEXAS ROADHOUSE

FULBELLI’S RESTAURANT 115 S. Travis Street Sherman, TX 903-892-8409 www.Fulbellis.com Hours of operation: 11 a.m.

- 9:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday; 4:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.

Saturday Price: $9-14 for lunch; $1840 for dinner

Fulbelli’s in Sherman has been in the business of upscale continental dining for seven years. The most popular items on the FULBELLI’S menu include crab cakes, blackened redfish and carrot cake. Some of their unique specialty items include pasture-fed beef from K Bar K Ranch, craft cocktails and an extensive wine list.

Owners TJ and Heather LaRosa said opening Fulbelli’s was great because they had the opportunity to present the restaurant in a truly unique venue.

“We have upscale dining without the drive, classic ambiance with modern cuisine,” the LaRosas said. “We have big city offerings in a small ‘mom and pop,’ local restaurant. Our legacy is in making all our guests feel comfortable and taking the intimidation out of upscale food and wine.”

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BEST OF TEXOMA

EAT & DRINK

BEST PLACE TO GET A MEAL UNDER $10

BEST PLACE TO GRAB A BEER

BEST RESTAURANT IN BRYAN COUNTY

BEST RESTAURANT IN DENISON

BEST RESTAURANT IN HOWE

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

Muddbones (903) 583-5385 See page 23

Cellarman’s (903) 813-0994 2130 Texoma Pkwy, Sherman

Roma’s Italian Restaurant (580) 931-9961 121 W. Main St, Durant

North Rig Grill (903) 464-9999 414 N US 75 See page 21

Gabriela’s Mexican Cocina (903) 532-6239 102 E. Haning St.

- WINNERS - WINNERS -

- WINNERS -

- WINNERS -

- WINNERS -

Bear’s Smokin’ BBQ (903) 815-9535 225 W Crawford St, Denison

City Limits (903) 893-9117 See page 27

Main Street Barbecue (580) 745-9120 42 W Main St, Durant

Cotton Patch (903) 464-0097 500 N US 75

Palio’s Pizza Cafe (903) 532-0390 303 W. Haning St.

Denison Food Truck Park 225 Crawford St., Denison, Texas

Old Iron Post (903) 892-8211 101 N Travis St, Sherman

The Farmstead (580) 296-2201 117 S Franklin St, Colbert See page 31

Rustico (903) 337-1447 506 W. Chestnut St.

Abby’s (903) 487-8860 110 E Haning St.

Tue- Friday 11am-9pm Sat 9a-9p Sun 9a-2p Closed Monday

BEST RESTAURANT IN BRYAN COUNTY

BEST OF TEXOMA.COM

117 S. FRANKLIN, COLBERT www.thefarmstead.biz

Thank You for Voting Us

BEST CATFISH

31

LOVEJOY’S ON MAIN

EAT & DRINK

BEST OF WHITESBORO RESTAURANTS

BY ED SOUTHERLAND

E

LOVEJOY’S ON MAIN

clectic would easily describe Whitesboro’s top three finalists in the Best Restaurant category. Voters selected Mexican restaurant La Hacienda Grill, Lovejoy’s on Main, a lunch place with an authentic 1950s soda fountain, and Texas’ own iconic burger emporium, Whataburger, as their favorites.

138 E. Main St. Whitesboro, TX 903-564-3685 Hours of operation: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday

LA HACIENDA 2500 US Highway 82 Whitesboro, TX 903-564-6948 WHATABURGER

WHATABURGER 1001 HWY 82 E Whitesboro, TX 903-564-3019 Hours of operation: 24/7 While Whataburger has been in business since 1950, the Whitesboro location opened its doors in 2014.

“It’s not a secret our burgers are what we’re known for, and our original 32

#1 Whataburger is our best-selling item,” Brand Development Coordinator Chelsea Peel said. “There are actually more than 36,864 different ways to build a Whataburger. There are also several fan favorites on Whataburger’s late night and breakfast menu.

Customers love our taquitos and Honey Butter Chicken Biscuit.”

Some of the specialty menu items include the patty melt, Monterey melt, sweet and spicy bacon burger and hon-

ey barbecue chicken strip sandwich.

“Simply put, Whataburger loves the community of Whitesboro — the people are kind, generous and loyal, and are the reason we do what we do,” Peel said of why the company decided to open the Whitesboro location. “Our customers have grown to feel like a part of our family and it’s our pleasure to serve them. It’s a privilege to be nominated for this award.”

BEST OF TEXOMA

BEST RESTAURANT IN VAN ALSTYNE

BEST OF TEXOMA.COM

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EAT & DRINK

BEST OF POTTSBORO RESTAURANTS

BY ED SOUTHERLAND

T

wo veterans on the local dining scene, Napoli’s Italian Restaurant and Patsy’s Cafe, joined newcomer Craft Pies Pizza Co. as the top restaurants in Pottsboro. The selections underscore local diners appreciation of the tried and true as well as the new and innovative.

CRAFT PIES PIZZA CO.

CRAFT PIES PIZZA CO. 81750 N. State Highway 289, Suite 122 Pottsboro, TX 903-508-9177 www.craftpiespizza.com

PATSY’S CAFE 80841 State Highway 289 Pottsboro, TX 903-786-7654 www.Facebook.com/PatsysCafe2

NAPOLI’S PIZZA AND RESTAURANT

NAPOLI’S PIZZA AND RESTAURANT 13015 N. State Highway 289 Pottsboro, TX 903-786-2383 www.NapolisRestaurantAndBar.com Hours of operation: 11 a.m. - 10 p.m.

Price: $8.95 34

Napoli’s has called Pottsboro home for eight years. The most popular menu items include chicken rollotini, lasagna and their seafood combo. One of the menu’s specialty items is the Shaunda special.

Owner Leonita Morina has owned the restaurant for the last two years and thinks people enjoy Napoli’s because of the food and friendly service customers always receive.

“Napoli’s is a family restaurant and we plan on passing it along (through) generations,” Morina said.

BEST OF TEXOMA

EAT & DRINK

BEST OF HOWE

RESTAURANTS

ABBY’S ABBY’S CAFE CAFE

BY ED SOUTHERLAND

M

exican, Italian and down-home country cooking took the honors for the top three finalists for Best Restaurant in Howe.

Gabriela’s Mexican Cocina, Palio’s Pizza Cafe and Abby’s Cafe earned their spots in the finals with good food and friendly service, and diners in Howe appreciate that.

ABBY’S CAFE 110 E. Haning St. Howe, TX 903-487-8860 www.Facebook.com/ AbbysRestaurantHoweTX

Hours of operation: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday Wednesday, Saturday; 11 a.m. - 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday Price: $6.89-13.99

GABRIELA’S MEXICAN COCINA 102 E. Haning St. Howe, TX 903-532-6239 Price: under $10

PALIO’S PIZZA CAFE

PALIO’S PIZZA CAFE

GABRIEL’AS MEXICAN COCINA

36

303 S. Haning St. Howe, TX 903-532-0390 www.PaliosPizzaCafe.com Price: Under $10 BEST OF TEXOMA

CJ's Coffee Bar on main BEST COFFEE SHOP

&

We Roast Our Own Beans Fresh Baked Breads Daily Fresh Baked Breads Daily

Breakfast & Brunch Lunch & Dinner Grab Lunch & Go Salads & Dinner Breakfast Grab&&Brunch Go Salads We Roast Our Own Beans Gourmet Toast Gourmet Toast

CJsCoffeeCafe.com

FAMILY & FAITH 514 W. Main 818 N. Travis We want our guests to feel like family when they come in for a cup Downtown near hwy 75 of coffee with us. Blessed with cups running Sherman over!

Denison LOCALLY, FAMILY OWNED & OPERATED

CJsCoffeeCafe.com 514 W. Main Downtown BEST OF TEXOMA.COM Denison

818 N. Travis near hwy 75 37 Sherman

EAT & DRINK

BEST OF BRYAN CO. RESTAURANTS

BY ED SOUTHERLAND

W

hile two restaurants in Durant, Main St. BBQ and Roma’s Italian Restaurant, made it to the top three finalists for Best Restaurant in Bryan County, voters also said OK to The Farmstead in Kemp, which offers an interesting menu of classic, country cooking in Colbert.

THE FARMSTEAD

THE FARMSTEAD 117 S. Franklin St. Colbert, OK 580-296-2201 Hours of operation: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Sunday; 11 a.m. - 9 p.m. Tuesday - Friday; 9 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Saturday Price: $7-21

MAIN STREET BARBECUE 42 W. Main Street Durant, OK 580-745-9120

For individuals looking for southern cuisine, the most popular items on The Farmstead’s menu include catfish, boneless black angus ribeye and scratch-made pies. Unique menu items for the restaurant include avocado BLTs, spinach quinoa salad, gluten-free burgers and daily specials.

“We decided to open a restaurant in Colbert because the need and opportunity was there,” owner Trena Wines said. “We wanted to support and provide something positive for our community.”

The Wines believe people enjoy their restaurant because of its friendly service, homestyle food, healthier options and cozy atmosphere.

Owners Thomas and Leigh Ann Montgomery have been in business in Durant for 10 years now and the most popular items on their barbecue menu include fried green beans, ribs and catfish. The restaurant also serves breakfast from 6-10 a.m. “[People like] great barbecue made right and being treated like family,” Montgomery said. “[We want our legacy to be] serving great, high-quality food with warm, welcoming service and giving back to the community.”

38

MAIN STREET BARBECUE

www.MainStreetBBQ.org Hours of operation: 6 a.m. - 9 p.m. daily Price: $6-18

ROMA’S ITALIAN RESTAURANT

ROMA’S ITALIAN RESTAURANT 121 W Main St Durant, OK 580-931-9961 www.RomaDurant.com Hours of operation: 11

a.m. - 9:30 p.m. Tuesday Thursday, Sunday; 11 a.m.

- 10 p.m. Friday - Saturday; Closed Monday Price: $7.95-16.95 BEST OF TEXOMA

EAT & DRINK

BEST RESTAURANT ON LAKE TEXOMA

BEST SALSA

BEST SANDWICHES

BEST STEAK

BEST TACOS

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

The Island Bar & Grill (903) 786-7654 120 Texoma Harbor Dr.

La Mesa (903) 892-1644 See page 29

Kathleen’s Kitchen (903) 892-0968 1913 N Travis St, Sherman

Texas Roadhouse (903) 893-0290 2773 US-75, Sherman See page 40

Tito’s Tacos (903) 771-6946 902 E Lamar St, Sherman

- WINNERS -

- WINNERS -

- WINNERS -

- WINNERS - WINNERS -

Mo’s Grill at Highport Marina (903) 786-7000 120 Texoma Harbor Dr.

Bear’s Smokin’ BBQ (903) 815-9535 225 W Crawford St, Denison

Camino Viejo (903) 357-5235 110 E Houston St, Sherman City Limits (903) 893-9117 See page 27

Pelican’s Landing (903) 523-4500 500 Harbour View Rd. Gordonville

Vitina’s Deli & Boiler Room (903) 337-1460 404 W Lamar St, Sherman

Fulbelli’s (903) 892-8409 See page 51

Taco Casa (903) 813-8901 1821 Texoma Pkwy, Sherman

The Library Grill (903) 893-5747 See page 24

Old Iron Post (903) 892-8211 101 N Travis St, Sherman

Thank You For Voting Us Top Three

BEST BUFFET!

KING BUFFET

BEST BUFFET

Chinese Cuisine • Mongolian Grill • Sushi

ALL

AT

AN E C U O Y

!

T E F F ER BU

2916 N. US Hwy 75 Sherman, Tx 75090 Tel: 903-893-9988

Business Hours: Mon. - Thurs. 11:00am - 9:30pm Fri. - Sat. 11:00am - 10:00pm Sunday 11:00am - 9:00pm

Dine-In or Take-Out

SUPOVER 2S0!0 ITEM

Senior Lunch Buffet 2:00 - 4:00 Mon. - Fri. BEST OF TEXOMA.COM

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EAT & DRINK

RESTAURANTS

BY ED SOUTHERLAND

Y

ou might not think of Van Alstyne as a center for cosmopolitan dining, but perhaps it is time to think again. When voters selected the community’s top restaurants, dining with an ethnic touch carried the vote all around. Two Mexican cocinas, La Cima and El Patio Escondido, joined one of the city’s newest establishments, Jafar’s Mediterranean Grill, as favorite destinations for dining out.

JAFAR’S MEDITERRANEAN GRILL

JAFAR’S MEDITERRANEAN GRILL 240 E. Marshall St. Van Alstyne, TX 903-712-3463 www.JafarsMediterraneanGrill.com

Hours of operation: 11 a.m.

- 2:30 p.m., 4:30 - 8:30 p.m.

Monday through Saturday Price: $6-14

Thank you for voting us Best Steakhouse Best Early Bird Dining Best Restaurant in Sherman

BEST STEAK

BEST EARLY BIRD DINING

BEST RESTAURANT IN SHERMAN

40

BEST OF TEXOMA

CRYSTAL L. / YELP

BEST OF VAN ALSTYNE

EAT & DRINK El Patio owner William Pacheco has been in the restaurant business for 45 years, and said the reason El Patio came to Van Alstyne was all about timing.

“We needed a location and one was available (here),” Pacheco said about the restaurant, whose most popular items include cheese enchiladas, carne guisada and the brisket taco dinner.

EL PATIO ESCONDIDO 495 W. Van Alstyne Parkway Van Alstyne, TX 903-482-5588

MADISON O. / YELP

www.ElPatioEscondido. com

Hours of operation: 11 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. Monday; 11 a.m. - 9 p.m. Tuesday - Thursday, Saturday; 11 a.m. - 10 p.m. Friday

BEST WINERY/ BREWERY/DISTILLERY

“On top of the food, our customers enjoy that we are an extension (of) their family,” Pacheco said. “They have seen us grow and we have seen them grow. The ambiance that we create in our business is that of our own home.

So when we say ‘mi casa es su casa,’ we mean it.”

Price: $2.95-13.95

Jafar’s Mediterranean Grill has a Mediterranean/Greek menu, and its most popular items include gyros, hummus and chicken kabobs. The establishment has been open since 2017, and owner Jafar Abdallah said he wanted to go into business in Van Alstyne because of the city’s small town vibe. “[People like] the freshness and authentic taste of the Mediterranean dishes, prepared to order in an open kitchen style,” he said. “I want to open up several locations in North Dallas.”

- FIRST PLACE -

LA CIMA MEXICAN GRILL & CANTINA 21 Farm to Market Road 3356 Van Alstyne, TX 903-712-3663 www.Facebook.com/LaCimaCantina

903 Brewers (214) 243-8090 1718 S Elm St, Sherman - WINNERS Cellarman’s (903) 813-0994 xxx Iron Root Republic Distillery (903) 337-0495 xxx

Thank You Texoma!

BEST ASIAN FOOD

Sherman’s Finest Chinese Restaurant

TASTE OF CHINA

BEST BUFFET

RESTAURANT

VISIT US FOR THE

LARGEST & BEST BUFFET IN TEXOMA! (Over 50 Items Available!)

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK!

Lunch: Mon-Fri 11am-4pm Senior Lunch: Mon-Fri 2pm-4pm Dinner Buffet Mon-Fri w/Peel & Shrimp Senior Dinner Special Mon-Thurs 4pm-5:30pm Saturday & Sunday PEEL & EAT SHRIMP All Day, All You Can Eat 4801 Texoma Pkwy, Sherman (across from Midway Mall) 903-893-6980 BEST OF TEXOMA.COM

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EAT & DRINK

BEST OF LAKE TEXOMA RESTAURANTS

BY ED SOUTHERLAND

MO’S BAR & GRILL

ISLAND BAR AND GRILL

MO’S BAR AND GRILL

AT HIGHPORT MARINA

AT HIGHPORT MARINA

903-786-7654 120 Texoma Harbor Dr. Pottsboro, TX www.Facebook.com/ TexomaIsland BarAndGrill Years in business: 2

903-786-7654 120 Texoma Harbor Dr. Pottsboro, TX www.Facebook.com/ HighportMarinaLake Texoma

ISLAND BAR & GRILL

PELICAN’S LANDING WATERFRONT RESTAURANT AT CEDAR MILLS 903-523-4500 500 Harbour View Rd. Gordonville, TX www.Pelicans-Landing.com Hours of operation: 5-9 p.m.

Tuesday & Wednesday; 11 a.m. - 10 p.m. Thursday & Friday; 8 a.m. - 10 p.m. Saturday; 8 a.m. - 9 p.m. Sunday Years in business: 35 Price Range: $4-30

42

While some of the most popular menu items include catfish, prime rib and smoked sirloin, the menu at Pelican’s Landing includes The Sloppy Pelican, smoked quail, Jamaican burger, pimento burger, lamb chops and jalapeno pork chop. Owner Molly Worstell said the lake was what brought her into the area and customers have come to love the atmosphere, view and food at Pelican’s Landing.

Hours of operation: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. Friday Sunday Years in business: 3 years as Mo’s, 12 years as Angela’s Cafe in Denison Price Range: $8-17

After losing her business in Melissa to a fire, owner Angela Boedecker made her way to Grayson County.

She opened up her business in Denison, and after 12 years decided to move to High Port Marina.

Boedecker said some of the most popular menu items at Mo’s include the half pound burgers, stuffed avocados and chicken and waffles. Some unique items include Eggs Benedict, custom omelettes and shrimp and grits. She wants customers to know Mo’s staff always goes above and beyond for their customers, and don’t cut corners concerning food quality.

PELICAN’S LANDING

BEST OF TEXOMA BEST OF TEXOMA

Family Family Style Style Breakfast Breakfast && Lunch Lunch Cafe Cafe Daily Daily Lunch Lunch Specials Specials 903-463-3687 903-463-3687 210 210 S.S. Austin Austin Denison, Denison, TX TX

Best Best Breakfast Breakfast

Best Best Early Early Bird Dining Bird Dining

Opening Spring 2019 Opening Spring 2019

2700 Eisenhower Pkwy, Denison TX 2700 Eisenhower Pkwy, Denison TX

BEST OF TEXOMA.COM

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EAT & DRINK

bbq tips for the perfect pulled pork

HIGH ON THE HOG

BY ED SOUTHERLAND

The web abounds with recipes for pulled pork.

Every food blogger worth his wooden spoon has chimed in with ideas, and almost all of them will produce a tasty product.

In addition to the traditional long, slow smoke, there are recipes for pulled pork in a slow cooker, Instant Pot, oven roasted and braised, but are they the real thing? All will produce a tender cut of juicy pork, but the essential element that can only be derived from sublime smoke is going to be missing.

Aaron Vogel, prize-winning pit master from Cackle & Oink BBQ in Sherman, offers his sug-

44

gestions for the best home-cooked pulled pork worth eating.

PREPARATION Vogel recommends cooking bone-in pork shoulder or Boston butt.

“First, you need a good injection and a dry rub and a wet rub,” he said. “The injection will keep the inside moist, and dry rub and wet rub will help build the bark. A good bark will crystallize the sugar and will help hold in the moisture.”

For the brine, Vogel recommends a simple

BEST OF TEXOMA

EAT & DRINK

“IF WE SEASON IT ON TUESDAY, WE DON’T COOK IT UNTIL THURSDAY OR FRIDAY NIGHT... WHEN IT’S DONE, YOU COULD SLIP THAT BONE RIGHT OUT IF YOU WANTED TO.” solution of salt, sugar and water.

Apple juice or pineapple juice can replace the water, if desired. The dry rub goes on first, and Vogel said to be liberal with it.

“You can’t use too much,” he said.

Then apply the wet rub.

“Some people use mustard, some use some sort of dressing or a slurry, but basically you’re making a paste,” he said. “While you’re cooking it, spritz it occasionally.”

After applying the rubs, Vogel lets the concoction sit in the refrigerator for at least two days.

“If we season it on Tuesday, we don’t cook it until Thursday or Friday night,” he explained.

SMOKE Does the wood that provides the

BEST OF TEXOMA.COM

smoke make a difference? Vogel thinks so.

“I recommend using your favorite fruit wood and favorite hard wood,” he said. “With pork butts we use a little bit of apple and a little bit of pecan. You need the hard wood because with the larger cuts, the fruit woods don’t always reach the smokiness you’re looking for. Hickory, pecan, or oak will give you that smokier taste, if that’s what you want.”

COOKING The operable phrase is “low and slow.” Cackle & Oink’s shoulder goes on the smoker for at least 16 hours at no higher than 225° F. At a higher temperature, the outside will be done before the inside is ready. Overall time on the smoker will depend on the size of the cut.

“Don’t take it off until that blade bone jiggles,” he said. “Boston butt will go from very floppy at its raw stage to really stiff when it’s cooking. Once the internal fat starts breaking down it will get jiggly again, sort of like when it was raw, but the difference is the blade bone.

When it’s done, you could slip that bone right out if you wanted to.”

RESTING Once the Boston butt is cooked through, it comes off the smoker, it is wrapped in aluminum foil and allowed to rest for at least two hours to give the meat time to reabsorb the juices. After resting, remove the blade bone and pull the pork in to shreds using a pair of forks.

45

EAT & DRINK

NOW THAT YOU’VE GOT THE KNOW-HOW to cook the best BBQ just shy of Cackle & Oink, here’s more tips to get yours just right.

STORING Leftovers are not a problem in the restaurant business, and the pulled pork that is not sold that day is used for flavoring in side dishes and beans.

“If we have a whole butt, one that we never broke down, we put it in the refrigerator and reheat it, wrapped, for two hours at 215° F,” Vogel said.

For the home cook, Vogel recommends putting up the leftover pulled pork in a vacuum seal bag or at least in a Ziploc bag with as much of the air removed as possible. When needed, it can be reheated in a pot of boiling water.

SAUCE Pork, no matter how you cook it, has less inherent flavor than beef. That is why sauce is so important with pulled pork, and the possibilities are endless. Traditional tomato-based sauces work well, and can be on the sweet side or the spicy side. If you like it hot, an extra shot of hot sauce or Tabasco can kick things up.

Many variations of the North Carolina vinegar based sauce find favor with many pork advocates.

Tart and peppery, the right vinegar sauce can really bring out the flavor of the meat. The Carolina coasts serve a mustard based sauce that their fans swear by.

Edward Southerland is a feature writer for Best of Texoma. For more information, visit BestofTexoma. com or www.facebook.com/BestOfTexoma.

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“IF YOU’RE LOOKING, IT AIN’T COOKING” The proper technique for cooking barbecue can be summed up in a simple phrase: “low and slow.” Patience is paramount. Refute the urge to open the cooker for the first couple of hours. After that, every hour or so feel free to brush the meat with your choice of sauce and check the temperature.

PROPER AIR CIRCULATION IS KEY Meat shouldn’t touch anything while it’s cooking, aside from the surface it’s sitting on. Avoid touching other meat(s) and the sides of the cooker. You don’t want the meat smushed up against the edges, either. To allow proper airflow, it needs to have space around it.

ALUMINUM FOIL = EASY CLEAN-UP Some people like cooking, most people like eating, but nobody likes cleaning up after the fact. To expedite the process, line the inside bottom of your cooker with a few sheets of aluminum foil to give a quicker, easier clean-up once the barbecuing is done.

BEST OF TEXOMA

EAT & DRINK

THE ART OF TABLECLOTH DINING fine dining in texoma

BY ED SOUTHERLAND

What is fine dining? Perhaps it is easier to say what it is not, rather than what it is. It is not casual eateries, cafés, family-style restaurants, or fast food establishments. But of course, it is more than that.

Rusty Weatherly, director of Hospitality Management and the Culinary Arts program at Grayson College, says at the college it’s called “tablecloth dining.”

“It’s a seated meal with multiple courses in a more sophisticated or formal atmosphere,” he explained. “An important part of the experience is the level of service. Servers should be trained in the art of fine dining service; they should understand when to place dishes and when to remove them, and the non-verbal communication they get from diners.”

SIX NINETY ONE AT GRAYSON COLLEGE

MARY KARAM / FOR THE HERALD DEMOCRAT

BEST OF TEXOMA.COM

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DO:

DON’T:

PLACE YOUR NAPKIN ON YOUR LAP FIRST, IF YOUR WAITER HAS NOT DONE SO. START FROM THE OUTSIDE IN WITH THE TABLE CUTLERY. PLACE YOUR POINTER FINGER ABOVE THE KNIFE AND FORK. PASS FOOD TO THE RIGHT (OR IN ONE DIRECTION).

TEAR YOUR BREAD ROLL INTO BITE-SIZE PIECES THEN ADD BUTTER.

START BEFORE THE HOST. PLACE KNIFE BLADES OUTWARD – IT’S A SIGN OF HOSTILITY. SEASON YOUR FOOD WITHOUT TASTING IT FIRST. HOLD WINE GLASSES FROM THE BOWL UNLESS IT IS RED.

EAT WITH YOUR MOUTH CLOSED.

FULBELLI’S

IF YOU ARE NOT AN EXPERT, ASK FOR ASSISTANCE WHEN SELECTING A WINE. USE MANNERS: SAY “THANK YOU,” “PLEASE,” AND “EXCUSE ME.”

As an example, Weatherly pointed out that when diners finish with a course and place their knife and fork, with tines up, at the four o’clock position on the plate, it signals to the server that they are finished and the server can now remove the plate. The idea is to signal the server non-verbally, so that service does not disrupt the table’s conversation.

Simply as it sounds at first, the filling of a water glass offers a clue as to the level of service.

“At our restaurant, servers are taught to take the glass from the table and fill it on a beverage tray instead of just filling it on the table,” Weatherly said.

At the college’s restaurant, Six Ninety-One, the silver, glassware and plates are polished to a high gleam, the linens are crisp and the music subdued and in the background, so as not to overpower conversations.

Fine dining deserves dressing for the part. While formal dress codes are less common than they once were, patrons

are expected to wear what is now termed “business casual.” Weatherly said most of his patrons understand that and dress appropriately.

Fine dining is as much about the experience as it is the food. Relax and enjoy the meal, the conversation and the companionship.

To try some fine dining, visit Best of Texoma winners The Library, Fulbelli’s and Six Ninety One at Grayson College.

“AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE EXPERIENCE IS THE LEVEL OF SERVICE. SERVERS SHOULD BE TRAINED IN THE ART OF FINE DINING.” 48

BEST OF TEXOMA

ANNE MARIE SHUMATE / LASTING IMAGES PHOTOGRAPHY

PLACE UTENSILS IN AN INVERTED “V,” IF TAKING A BREAK FROM EATING, AND LINE THEM UP TOGETHER IN THE CENTER WHEN FINISHED.

PLACE YOUR PHONE ON THE TABLE. IT SHOULD BE TURNED OFF AND KEPT IN YOUR POCKET. REACH ACROSS GUESTS AT THE TABLE; ASK TO BE PASSED ITEMS ON THE TABLE INSTEAD.

EAT & DRINK

WHAT A breakfast in texomaland WAY TO START THE DAY

BY ED SOUTHERLAND

A

merican breakfast habits have undergone a revolution in the last several decades. People used to eat breakfast at home before going to work or school, and big breakfasts were necessary to fuel long days of physical labor. But as we became more sedentary and more rushed for time, people started to look for lighter fare that could be consumed in a hurry and on the go (enter the fast food breakfast sandwich).

But the big breakfast is still with us, and many restaurants both locally and nationally offer breakfast items all day long. Nick’s Family Restaurant in Denison is one of those places.

“We’ve been here 14 years and our specialty is breakfast,” said Laurie Smith, one of the waitresses at Nick’s.

NICK’S FAMILY RESTAURANT

CHRIS JENNINGS / HERALD DEMOCRAT

BEST OF TEXOMA.COM

49

EDWARD SOUTHERLAND / BEST OF TEXOMA

“We serve breakfast all day; we also have lunch and dinner, but we serve more breakfast than anything else.”

According to Smith, breakfast accounts for about 80 to 90 percent of the restaurant’s business.

The specials, two eggs with ham, bacon, or sausage are the best sellers, said Smith, but Nick’s short order specialists in the kitchen stand ready to expand your breakfast experi-

ence in a variety of ways. Omelets, oatmeal and grits are available as are pork chops, corn-beef hash, strip and rib-eye steaks, and of course, being in Texas, chicken fried steak with more of Nick’s homemade cream gravy. For the all-in-one dinner, there are several skillet dishes, and if you have a breakfast sweet tooth, you can order waffles, flapjacks or French toast.

“We use a cinnamon swirl bread that we get from Tulsa,” said Smith.

“If you’re really hungry, we’ve got a Lumberjack special: it’s got two eggs, ham, bacon and sausage — all three — hash browns and cinnamon strips.”

Paul Bunyon would be right proud to sit down to a breakfast like that.

“WE’VE BEEN HERE 14 YEARS AND OUR SPECIALTY IS BREAKFAST.” 50

BEST OF TEXOMA

BEST BUSINESS LUNCH

BEST OF TEXOMA.COM

BEST STEAK

BEST FINE DINING

51

Best Audiologist/Hearing Aid Center........53 Best Bariatric and Weight Loss Services 53 Best Cardiologist.........................................53 Best Chiropractor........................................53 Best Cosmetic Services.............................53 Best Dental Services...................................57 Best Dermatologist.....................................57

Best ENT.......................................................57 Best Freestanding ER.................................57 Best Gastroenterologist..............................57 Best General Practitioner............................58 Best General Surgeon.................................58 Best Home Health.......................................58 Best Hospice Service..................................58

Best Hospital................................................58 Best Medical Supplies................................59 Best Mental Health Services......................59 Best Nurse....................................................61 Best Nursing Home.....................................61 Best OB/GYN...............................................61 Best Ophthalmologist (Eye Surgeon)........61

Best Optometrist.........................................61 Best Orthodontist........................................67 Best Orthopedic Surgeon..........................67 Best Pain Management..............................67 Best Pediatric Dentist.................................67 Best Pediatric Home Health.......................67

Best Pediatrician.........................................71 Best Place for Physical Therapy................71 Best Place for Speech Therapy.................71 Best Plastic Surgeon...................................71 Best Podiatrist (Foot Doctor).....................71 Best Radiology Services............................76

Best Rehabilitation Care.............................76 Best Sleep Services....................................76 Best Urgent Care/Walk-in Clinic................76 Best Vein Care.............................................76 Best Wound Care........................................82

52

BEST OF TEXOMA

MEDICAL

BEST AUDIOLOGIST/ HEARING AID CENTER

BEST BARIATRIC AND WEIGHT LOSS SERVICES

BEST CARDIOLOGIST

BEST CHIROPRACTOR

BEST COSMETIC SERVICES

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

HearCare (903) 206-2442 See page 6

Dr. Aaron Cernero (903) 462-4247 Cernero Surgery & Aesthetics

Dr. Winston Marshall (903) 416-6325 Texoma Medical Center

Knight Family Chiropractic (903) 892-3471 See page 73

Allure Laser & Medical Spa (903) 957-3409 240 E Evergreen St, Sherman

- WINNERS -

- WINNERS -

- WINNERS - WINNERS -

- WINNERS -

Carey Hearing Centers (903) 583-7900 1717 N Center St #300, Bonham

Dr. Cody Starnes (903) 957-0700 Wilson N. Jones Regional Medical Center

Dr. David Davis (903) 201-6000 NTC Cardiology

Atlas Chiropractic (903) 892-5670 1711 FM1417, Sherman

Lux Aesthetic Medical Services (844) 589-7233 See page 11

Dr. Amin Musani (903) 463-9900 206 S Austin Ave, Denison

Dr. Ikram Kureshi (903) 465-6400 Texoma Weight Loss

THANK YOU FOR VOTING US

Dr. Nikhil Joshi (903) 201-6000 NTC Cardiology

Wren Chiropractic Center (903) 893-7733 See page 59

Vaunda Hickman (972) 470-5012 See page 56

BEST PEDIATRIC DENTIST Our highly trained staff has a childfriendly approach to dental care.

Grow Up Smiling

We treat each patient as we would our own family!

Brian T. Harris, D.D.S

Certified, American Board of Pediatric Dentistry

Meredith Munal, D.D.S

Certified, American Board of Pediatric Dentistry

Caring for Infants, Children, Teens, and Persons with Special Care Needs

903-892-1200 l www.shermankidsdentists.com BEST OF TEXOMA.COM

53

MEDICAL

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE? FREESTANDING ERS VS. WALK-IN CLINICS

BY ED SOUTHERLAND The delivery of medical services is undergoing a change in the United States.

In the past, most people had a family doctor who saw to routine medical questions — the minor scrapes, bumps and bruises that are part of everyday life — and could attend to minor traumas that did not require special equipment or treatment. When more serious problems were evident or more difficult procedures were called for, you went to a full-fledged hospital, where specialists and trained emergency personnel could

54

address the problem.

There are essentially four levels of care in the modern medical landscape: the primary care physician, the urgent care facility, emergency care at a freestanding clinic or a hospital and hospital care.

Urgent care exists to provide medical services for non-emergency, non-life-threatening situations when the patient either has no primary care physician or can not get in to see that doctor in a timely fashion. Emergency

care is set up to deal with more serious matters where the question of hospitalization is still undecided. Augmenting hospital emergency rooms are independent, freestanding ERs. The Texoma medical landscape offers both sources of independent treatment with Select ER and Red River ER, both in Sherman, being singled out by Best of Texoma voters, and the Sherman Clinic, TMC Urgent Care and One Medical making the top three in the Urgent Care category.

BEST OF TEXOMA

MEDICAL

EMERGENCY ROOMS

URGENT CARE CENTERS

Emergency rooms (freestanding and hospital ERs) are meant for true medical emergencies. They can handle trauma, x-rays, surgical procedures and other life-threatening situations. Most hospitals have an emergency room that’s open 24/7. An emergency room can treat you for:

Urgent care centers (walk-in clinics) handle non-life-threatening situations and many are staffed with doctors and nurses who have access to x-rays and labs on site. Most urgent care centers are open late and on weekends and holidays. They also provide services such as physical exams, DOT certificates and drug testing. An urgent care center can treat you for:

SUDDEN NUMBNESS OR WEAKNESS DISORIENTATION OR DIFFICULTY SPEAKING SEIZURE OR LOSS OF CONSCIOUSNESS SHORTNESS OF BREATH OR SEVERE ASTHMA ATTACK HEAD INJURY/MAJOR TRAUMA BLURRY OR LOSS OF VISION SEVERE CUTS OR BURNS HEART ATTACK, CHEST PAIN OR CHEST PRESSURE UNCONTROLLED BLEEDING COUGHING OR VOMITING BLOOD SEVERE ALLERGIC REACTIONS CONCUSSION/CONFUSION BROKEN BONES AND DISLOCATED JOINTS SEVERE COLD OR FLU SYMPTOMS

EARACHES AND INFECTIONS MINOR CUTS, SPRAINS AND BURNS FEVER AND FLU SYMPTOMS COUGH, COLD AND SORE THROAT ANIMAL BITES MILD ASTHMA HEADACHES BACK AND JOINT PAIN PAINFUL URINATION RASHES WITHOUT FEVER MILD FLU-LIKE SYMPTOMS COUGH AND CONGESTION SYMPTOMS EYE REDNESS, DISCHARGE OR ITCHINESS

Your Feet Are In Good Hands!

Thank You for Voting Dr. Jackman Top 3 Podiatrist DENISON 101 North US 75 903-463-1000

DURANT 1400 Bryan Dr., #210 903-463-1000

ANNA 604 W. White St., Suite A 972-905-3919

• • • www.texomafootandankle.com • • • BEST OF TEXOMA.COM

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The Plastic & Hand Surgeons of

Regional Plastic Surgery Center Congratulate Dr. Chirag Mehta, Dr. Chase Derrick & Vaunda Hickman, RN, CANS voted into the TOP THREE Best of Texoma!

Chirag Mehta, MD

Chase Derrick, MD

Vaunda Hickman, RN, CANS

Regional Plastic Surgery Center is a six physician practice specializing in cosmetic, reconstructive and hand surgery with locations in Sherman, McKinney, Richardson, Las Colinas and Rockwall.

Dr. Chase Derrick is Board Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.

Dr. Chirag Mehta is Board Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and by the American Board of Surgery, and a Candidate Member of the American Society for Surgery of the Hand. Vaunda Hickman, RN, CANS, Certified Aesthetic Nurse Specialist, is certified by the Plastic Surgical Nursing Certification Board

(903)893-6311 Create-Beauty.com

(972)470-5012 RegionalSkinLaser.com

1111 E. Sara Swamy Dr. Sherman, TX 75090

Best Plastic Surgeon Best Cosmetic Services

Check Create-Beauty.com for cosmetic surgery specials and events! 56

BEST OF TEXOMA

MEDICAL

BEST DENTAL SERVICES

BEST DERMATOLOGIST

BEST ENT

BEST FREESTANDING ER

BEST GASTROENTEROLOGIST

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

Dr. Mark Smith DDS (903) 893-8030 2011 W Lamberth Rd, Sherman

Dr. Priya Zeikus (903) 463-2223 See page 82

Dr. Hunter Richmond (903) 416-6250 ENT Centers of NT

Red River ER (903) 357-5003 2022 N Hwy 75, Sherman

Dr. John Fletcher (903) 892-9179 Wilson N. Jones Regional Medical Center

- WINNERS -

- WINNERS -

- WINNERS -

Dr. Clint Moss (903) 892-2126 U.S. Dermatology Partners

Dr. Peter Selz (903) 416-6250 ENT Centers of NT

Select ER (903) 487-0857 4226 N Hwy 75, Sherman

Dr. Mark Koone (903) 892-2126 U.S. Dermatology Partners

Dr. McDonald Arnot (903) 416-6250 ENT Centers of NT

- WINNERS Dr. Robert Steele DDS (903) 463-1331 Reinert Family Dentistry Dahle Dental (903) 892-1052 See page 91

- WINNERS Dr. Tung Tran (903) 416-6255 See page 71 Dr. Richard Saltz (903) 416-6255 See page 71

Three Convenient Locations

TexomaCare Urgent Care For Your Minor Illnesses & Injuries that Can’t Wait • No appointments necessary • Extended hours • Physicians, Physician Assistants and Nurse Practitioners available • Medicare and most insurance plans accepted* *Insurance plans differ.

Check with your carrier to determine your benefits.

BEST URGENT CARE/ WALK-IN CLINIC

BEST OF TEXOMA.COM

Urgent Care-Denison 3126 FM 120, Denison, TX (Highway 75 and Morton St.) 903.416.7544 HOURS: M–F: 8 am – 7 pm Saturday: 9 am – 3 pm Sundays: 1 pm - 5 pm Urgent Care-Durant 1807 W. University Blvd., Durant, OK 580.920.2273 HOURS: M-F: 8 am – 6:30 pm Saturday: 9 am – 3 pm Sunday: 1 pm – 4:30 pm Urgent Care-Pottsboro 111 E. FM 120, Ste. 104, Pottsboro, TX 903.786.3911 HOURS: M-F: 8:30 am – 5:30 pm Saturday: 9 am – 1 pm

Visit: texomacare.com 57

MEDICAL

BEST GENERAL PRACTITIONER

BEST GENERAL SURGEON

BEST HOME HEALTH

BEST HOSPICE SERVICE

BEST HOSPITAL

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

Dr. Grant Craig (903) 957-0190 WNJ Wellcare

Dr. Rolando Oro (903) 463-1200 Texoma Medical Center

Angels of Care Pediatric Home Health (903) 532-1400 See page 65

Home Hospice of Grayson County (903) 868-9315 See page 67

Texoma Medical Center (903) 416-4000 See page 62

- WINNERS -

- WINNERS - WINNERS -

- WINNERS -

Dr. Kenton Schrank (903) 957-0700 Wilson N. Jones Regional Medical Center

TMC Home Health (903) 416-5500 See page 63

Hospice Plus (903) 893-3903 See page 77

Dr. Cody Starnes (903) 957-0700 Wilson N. Jones Regional Medical Center

Changing Seasons Home Health (903) 868-3648 See page 69

Heart to Heart Hospice (903) 892-6406 See page 83

Dr. Diego Restrepo (903) 416-6025 Texoma Medical Center Dr. Bradley Rue (903) 957-0060 Rue Internal Medicine

- WINNERS -

A Big Commitment to the Littlest Patients

Baylor Scott & White (903) 870-0999 3601 N Calais St, Sherman Wilson N Jones Regional Medical Center (903) 870-4611 500 N Highland Ave, Sherman

Congratulations to Dr. Brumit, Dr. Kalil & Dr. Lipscomb!

TexomaCare - Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine Our seven board-certified pediatricians and three certified nurse practitioners specialize in the care of children and young adults through every stage of development.

Monday – Friday: 8AM-5PM Saturday: 8AM-Noon (Sick Clinic)

Timothy Brumit, MD, FAAP

BEST PEDIATRICIAN

Bryan Kalil, MD, FAAP

BEST PEDIATRICIAN

Joseph A. Lipscomb, MD, FAAP

BEST PEDIATRICIAN

To schedule an appointment with TexomaCare - Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, please call 903.416.6200. texomacare.com For language assistance, disability accommodations and the non-discrimination notice, visit our website. 191857-1987 4/19

58

BEST OF TEXOMA

MEDICAL

REST EASY

BY ED SOUTHERLAND

The Sleep Lab at Texoma Medical Center helps patients diagnose and treat sleep disorders

T

he U.S. Centers for Disease Control estimates the number of adults in the U.S. who are chronically sleep deprived at about 40.6 million (or 30 percent), with another 20 million having sleep problems on an irregular basis. The CDC recognizes more than 70 disorders, with insomnia, sleep apnea, restless

leg syndrome and REM sleep behavior disorder among the most common.

Dealing with these problems has become a medical specialty resulting in the creation of sleep labs such as those at Texoma Medical Center, Wilson N. Jones Hospital and Carrus Rehabilitation Hospital.

BEST MEDICAL SUPPLIES

BEST MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

TMC Medical Supply and Scrubs (903) 416-5555 See page 63

TMC Behavioral Health Center (903) 416-3000 See page 63

- WINNERS -

- WINNERS Tri-Med Behavioral Health (903) 221-8015 1601 N Travis St, Sherman

Breath of Life Home Medical Equipment (903) 893-1301 See page 13 Elite Med Supply (903) 487-2009 803 Gallagher Dr, Sherman

Katrina Groves is the registered sleep technologist and credentialed sleep health analysis in charge of the sleep lab at TMC in Denison.

“A lot of people are sleep deprived and don’t realize how tired they are,” she said. “They get used to their routine and it becomes normal.”

WNJ Behavioral Health Services (903) 870-4611 500 N Highland Ave, Sherman

BEST CHIROPRACTOR

BEST OF TEXOMA.COM

59

MEDICAL

The starting point usually is the patient’s primary care physician, who writes an order for a sleep test, which can take place at the patient’s home or in the sleep lab’s monitored bedrooms. The bedroom is similar to what would be found in a quality hotel, with a big bed, television and comfortable chairs, but also has the equipment necessary to monitor the patient while sleeping. The monitoring is done from a separate room by one of the unit’s sleep technicians.

“If they are here for a diagnostic test to see if they have a sleep disorder, we will monitor their sleep all night and try not to disturb them,” Groves said. “If they do have a sleep disorder, they will come back to the lab and we will repeat the process, but we will apply different therapies to address the problem.”

The most commonly diagnosed sleep disorder is sleep apnea, which is an undetected obstruction to the patient’s airway which causes the patient to stop breathing during sleep. Symptoms include gasping for air during sleep, awakening with a dry mouth, morning headaches and excessive sleepiness during the day.

One the most common therapies for sleep apnea is the use of CPAP, or a continuous positive airway pressure machine. The patient wears a mask with a tube that is

“basically a pneumatic splint for your airway that keeps it open so you can breath normally,” Groves said.

If it is determined that physical problems are the root of a patient’s sleep disorder, the lab physician, specially trained in the discipline, can work with their primary care provider to find other solutions — mechanical, medical, or surgical — to solve the problem. But many times, the difficulties can be addressed by less complicated, simple changes in lifestyle and sleep habits. Groves calls this “sleep hygiene.”

“I try to practice sleep hygiene,” she said. “It’s really about good habits, going to bed at the same time each night, getting up at the same time, having a usual routine.

I try to turn the TV off about an hour or two before I go to bed, and sometimes I’ll play music at night. It’s important to make the room you sleep in as comfortable, quiet and peaceful as possible.”

Scientific studies have shown that sleep is not something you can neglect for days on end and then catch up with over a weekend. Regular, restful sleep is an important component of overall good health for everyone from children to seniors. For those with sleeping problems, chronic or irregular, it is good to know there are experts close at hand to help set those problems right.

TMC SLEEP LAB

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BEST OF TEXOMA

MEDICAL

BEST NURSE

BEST NURSING HOME

BEST OB/GYN

BEST OPHTHALMOLOGIST

BEST OPTOMETRIST

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

Tangee Fuller, TMC (903) 416-4000 See page 62

Homestead of Denison (903) 463-4663 1101 Reba McEntire Ln, Denison

Dr. Gary Grafa (903) 893-1116 Wilson N. Jones Regional Medical Center

Dr. Bill Plauche - RGB (903) 892-3282 See page 75

Dr. Jerry Gundersheimer - Eye Do Optical (903) 868-1135 See page 61

- WINNERS -

- WINNERS -

- WINNERS Anna Wilson, Pecan Tree Rehab & Healthcare (903) 416-4000 Devon Schnitker, Changing Seasons Home Care (903) 868-3648 See page 69

Focused Care (903) 893-6348 See page 80 Pecan Tree Rehab & Healthcare (940) 668-6263

From L to R: Wendy Thompson, Albert Yougas, Dr. Jerry Gundersheimer, Deana McCoy, Misty Pickle.

- WINNERS - WINNERS -

Dr. Ashley Brumm (903) 893-1116 NT Center for Women’s Health Dr. Todd Culter (903) 416-2229 Texoma Medical Center

Dr. Clint Long (903) 892-2020 Long Vision Dr. Andrew Bossen RGB (903) 892-3282 See page 75

Dr. B Drobny OD (903) 868-2020 Patterson Optical Dr. Jon Anders (903) 868-1712 Anders Optical

Locally owned and serving the vision care needs of Texoma since 1986!

Front, l to r: Dr. Jerry Gundersheimer, Misty Pickle Rear, l to r: Albert Yougas, Laura Hyepock, Deana McCoy

What our patients are saying about Dr. Gundersheimer and Eye-do Optical: • “Dr. Gundersheimer did not just do an eye exam. He explained everything and what we are going to do to correct the problems. He cares about his patients and their eyesight.”- P.T. • “For 25 years he has been serving my family and helping us with all of our eye needs. We love you Dr. G!”-R.G. • “I’ve had many eye examinations and many pairs of glasses, and this is the best experience I’ve ever had.”- C.G.

BEST OPTOMETRIST

Thank you Texoma for your votes for Best Optometrist!

FAMILY EYECARE ∞ DESIGNER EYEWEAR ∞ CONTACT LENSES GLAUCOMA DETECTION & TREATMENT ∞ DIABETIC EYE EXAMS CATARACT EVALUATION ∞ LASIK EVALUATION AND CO MANAGEMENT TREATMENT OF RED EYES ∞ FOREIGN BODY REMOVAL LIKE US ON FACEBOOK

www.eye-do-texoma.com

600 E. TAYLOR, SUITE 210, SHERMAN TX | 903.868.1135 BEST OF TEXOMA.COM

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62

BEST OF TEXOMA

BEST OF TEXOMA.COM

63

MEDICAL

at second

BY ED SOUTHERLAND

blush S

ince the earliest of times, people have sought to change or improve their looks with paint and powder. Today, science, medicine and technology are adding new possibilities to these ancient arts. Even the titles and qualifications of practitioners of these new services have changed.

“I’m a cosmetic esthetics nurse injector. I’m a registered nurse and a certified esthetic nurse specialist licensed through the Board of Plastic Surgeons,” explained Vaunda Hickman of Regional Skin & Laser Center. “I’m able to inject botox, facial fillers and perform esthetic procedures under a physician’s order.”

The term “esthetic” in the context of cosmetic procedures refers to treatments for the skin.

“For example, when you have a volume deficit in the face, we can inject a filler into that area to fill it back up. We do protein procedures where we draw blood, thin it down and take the protein and either inject it in the face or put it on the face with another procedure,” Hickman said.

Hickman also said she can use a wide range of lasers designed for treatment of specific situations, such as vaginal rejuvenation and non-surgical treatments for fat reduction.

“Once I’m treating a patient and they reach the point where they need to consider a surgical procedure, that’s when it’s an advantage to having your spa in-house with your plastic surgeon, because

BEST OF TEXOMA

Thank You Texoma for voting us First Place Best Home Health!

BEST HOME HEALTH

“Leave your child’s care in the hands of an Angel.”

About Us Angels of Care Pediatric Home Health is a nurse owned and operated home health agency with experienced and knowledgeable staff serving the medically fragile community.

Today we employ more than 2,000 passionate nurses, therapists, attendants, and specialists.

SERVING SINCE 2000 Our Values HEART

Our clients are the HEART of everything we do.

ADVOCACY

We will ADVOCATE for our clients, industry, providers & compliance.

LOVE

We LOVE our employees & will go above and beyond for them.

OUTREACH

We will have OUTREACH into the medically fragile community.

| WWW.ANGELSOFCARE.COM | 8001 US HWY 75 SHERMAN, TX 75090 855.45.ANGEL BEST OF TEXOMA.COM 65

MEDICAL

the surgeon is right there and can see you as well,” Hickman said.

Barbie Griffin is with Lux Aesthetic Medical Services. She, too, is a registered nurse with a certification as an esthetic nurse injector.

“Salon services cosmetologists can get a certification to become an esthetician with hundreds of hours of additional study, but they have to work under a physician and be supervised in that manner,” Griffin said. “Registered nurses work under the supervision of a physician or a nurse practitioner, but what we do is medical treatment.”

It sounds complicated, and it is.

“Cosmetic injectables are medications that are injected into tissues by a nurse, nurse practitioner or physician that replace lost volume and smooth out the skin. You quit making collagen in your early 30s, and that’s why your skin sags. It’s not gravity, it’s loss of volume under the skin,” Griffin said. “The option used to be a face lift, and sometimes that’s still the best option. But properly injected medications can help you create new collagen. Meanwhile, the injection creates new volume while waiting for the collagen to be produced. Used properly, these products can prevent you needing to get a surgical procedure like a face lift.”

Before any of these procedures are contemplated, a prospective patient should seek medical advice and make sure the positives and negatives of the procedures are fully understood.

66

BEST OF TEXOMA

MEDICAL

BEST ORTHODONTIST

BEST ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON

BEST PAIN MANAGEMENT

BEST PEDIATRIC DENTIST

BEST PEDIATRIC HOME HEALTH

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

Stokes Orthodontics (903) 892-4535 See page 9

Dr. Richard Jelsma (903) 868-8800 See page 76

Dr. Deborah Fisher (903) 957-0470 See page 79

Pediatric Dental Specialists (903) 892-1200 See page 53

Angels of Care Pediatric Home Health (903) 532-1400 See page 65

- WINNERS -

- WINNERS -

- WINNERS - WINNERS -

- WINNERS -

Courtright Orthodontics (903) 463-6013 Denison, Durant

Dr. Stephen Sandoval (903) 870-7936 Orthopedic & Sports Medicine

Dr. Sameer Syed (972) 370-5771 See page 85

Pediatric Dentistry of Sherman (903) 892-2246 See page 81

Children’s Home Healthcare (903) 482-9020 293 W E Van Alstyne Pkwy, Van Alstyne

Dr. Jim Caskey (903) 893-6341 210 E Lamberth Rd, Sherman

Dr. Charles Toulson (972) 838-1635 Alpha Orthopedics

Dr. Muhamad-Emad Amhan (903) 813-8270 Ahman Pain Management

Peppermint Dental (903) 870-4867 859 E Northcreek Dr, Sherman

THANK YOU TEXOMA for voting us 1ST PLACE Best Hospice Service!

BEST HOSPICE SERVICE

505 West Center Street, Sherman www.HomeHospice.org 903-868-9315 BEST OF TEXOMA.COM

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ONE MEDICAL IMMEDIATE & URGENT CARE 903 COTTONWOOD

HOURS

WE ARE OPEN MONDAY-FRIDAY 8:00am-6:00pm SATURDAY 9:00am-4:00pm SUNDAY 1:00pm-6:00pm

WE SEE PATIENTS OF ALL AGES! PROVIDING

QUALITY MEDICAL CARE

IN A CARING SETTING FOR OVER

25 YEARS!

BEST URGENT CARE/ WALK-IN CLINIC

SHERMAN, TX 75090

903-868-9565

WE CONTINUE TO PROVIDE A WIDE RANGE OF MEDICAL SERVICES, INCLUDING:

• PHYSICALS OF ALL TYPES, INCLUDING DOT PHYSICALS • X-RAYS (ANY TYPE) • WORKMANS COMP INITIAL VISIT & FOLLOW UP CARE • EKG’S • MULTIPLE ONSITE LAB TESTS, INCLUDING DRUG SCREENS • FLU SHOTS • TREATMENT OF FLU & UPPER RESPIRATORY PROBLEMS • BROKEN BONES • IV FLUID REPLACEMENT/ TREATMENTS • LACERATION REPAIR • MANY OTHER MINOR SURGICAL PROCEDURES • TREATMENT OF CHRONIC MEDICAL CONDITIONS SUCH AS DIABETES & HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE • PEDIATRICS OF ANY AGE • WE ALSO TREAT MEDICARE PATIENTS

THERE ARE ADDITIONAL SERVICES WE PROVIDE NOT LISTED HERE. NO APPOINTMENTS EVER NEEDED! IF YOU PREFER AN APPOINTMENT, CALL THE NUMBER ABOVE AND SPEAK WITH OUR OFFICE MANAGER.

COMING SOON!!!

We are happy to announce the formation of a New & Exciting Company, which will provide specialized medical services to meet the needs of the local community!

STAT IV CARE will provide patients with the ability to receive IV solutions & treatments, for a range of conditions, in the comfort of your own home, your office, or anywhere else that is convenient for you!

This mobile medical service, will be available to you by making a simple phone call! Then we will be on our way, coming to you, with rapid care & treatments to get you feeling better immediately. This completely new & innovative medical service allows us to cater specifically to your needs, & to focus on you, the VIP (Very Important Patient)!

Look for our advertising & new website, which will give you all the information you need about all of our services, in the coming month.

We fully expect to be ready to start delivery of services in May of 2019!

STAT IV CARE

WHERE PATIENT CARE COMES TO YOU! 68

BEST OF TEXOMA

BEST NURSE DEVON SCHNITKER, CHANGING SEASONS HOME CARE

BEST HOME HEALTH

BEST OF TEXOMA.COM

69

MEDICAL

BY ED SOUTHERLAND

HEALING BODIES, HELPING RECOVERY T E X O M A’ S P H Y S I C A L T H E R A P Y C E N T E R S

TMC OUTPATIENT THERAPY SERVICES

4616 US Hwy 75, Suite 200 Denison, TX 903-416-4241 No. of years in industry: 35 Awards, certificates, affiliations: Strengthening & conditioning, lymphedema, hand therapy, sportsmetrics ACL programs, selective functional movement assessment, concussion management, work conditioning, sports therapy, vestibular therapy, kinesio taping, aquatic therapy, specialized massage therapy, dry needling, LSVT for Parkinson’s and Autism specialist

TMC Outpatient Therapy Services Director Mari Anne Wetzold said TMC wants to ensure that individuals who are recovering from medical or surgical procedures, illness or injury who do not need intensive rehabilitation in the hospital can get physical, occupational and speech therapy at TMC’s Outpatient Therapy Services. TMC Outpatient Therapy Services has many therapists who are specialized/certified in various realms of care and treatment.

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One of the most common complaints TMC hears is that an individual’s ability to perform everyday activities is being impaired by pain or physical limitations.

“Our staff is very caring, attentive and hands on with all of their patients, but also lighthearted and fun,” Wetzold said.

“We have many repeat patients who have been coming for 30 plus years.”

BESTOF OFTEXOMA TEXOMA BEST

MEDICAL

BEST PEDIATRICIAN

BEST PLACE FOR PHYSICAL THERAPY

BEST PLACE FOR SPEECH THERAPY

BEST PLASTIC SURGEON

BEST PODIATRIST

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

TMC Outpatient Therapy (903) 416-4241 See page 63

TMC Outpatient Therapy (903) 416-4241 See page 63

Dr. John Papaila (903) 893-4244 Texoma Valley Surgery Center

Dr. John Sciortino (903) 893-9661 See page 4

- WINNERS -

- WINNERS -

Dr. Joseph Lipscomb (903) 416-4000 See page 58 - WINNERS Dr. Bryan Kalil (903) 416-6200 See page 58 Dr. Tim Brumit (903) 416-6200 See page 58

- WINNERS - WINNERS -

Wilson N Jones Regional Medical Center (903) 870-4611 500 N. Highland Sherman Peak Physical Therapy (903) 892-4800 204 Medical Drive, Sherman

Angels of Care Pediatric Home Health (903) 532-1400 See page 65 The Rehabilitation Center (903) 893-7457 1216 Hillcrest Dr, Sherman

Our Board-Certified Physicians Our Board-Certified Physicians Focus on Quality and Focus on Quality and Compassionate Patient Care.

Compassionate Patient Care.

Establishing an Individualized Establishing Individualized Relationship an with Our Patients Relationship with Patients .

Is Important to UsOur Is Important to Us. We offer advanced diagnostic We offer and advanced diagnostic services treatment options for services andand treatment conditions diseasesoptions relatedfor to conditions andsystem. diseases related to the digestive the digestive system.

To schedule an appointment with one of our physicians, pleasewith call To schedule an appointment 903.416.6255. one of our physicians, please call 903.416.6255.

Dr. Chase Derrick (972) 470-5000 See page 56

Dr. Craig Cranford (903) 465-2190 Texoma Orthopedic & Spine

Dr. Chirag Mehta (9030 893-6311 See page 56

Dr. Matthew Jackman (903) 463-1000 See page 65

Congratulations to Congratulations to Dr. Saltz & Dr. Tran!

Dr. Saltz & Dr. Tran!

Richard K. Saltz, MD, FACP Richard K. Saltz, MD, FACP

FPO FPO

BEST GASTROENTEROLOGIST

Thomas Tran, MD Thomas Tran, MD

FPO FPO

BEST GASTROENTEROLOGIST

texomacare.com For language assistance, disability accommodations and the non-discrimination notice, visit our website. 191858-1985 4/19

texomacare.com

For language assistance, disability accommodations and the non-discrimination notice, visit our website. 191858-1985 4/19

BEST OF TEXOMA.COM

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MEDICAL

WILSON N. JONES 500 N. Highland Ave. Sherman, TX 903-870-4403 Awards, certificates, affiliations: Certifications in Integrative Dry Needling, Trigger Point Dry Needling, Kinesio taping and neurodevelopmental therapy; Associated with the American Physical Therapy Association

“The biggest misconception is that all therapy is painful,” said WNJ Physical Therapist Heidi Howard. “In fact, pa-

tients often seek us out to reduce pain and improve function. While therapy can be uncomfortable, especially when rehabbing from an orthopedic injury or surgery, our goal is to always minimize discomfort while achieving maximal results.”

Some of the most common complaints people have when visiting WNJ are associated with pain, reduced function and balance difficulties. The hospital treats individuals of all ages, from youth sports

injuries to arthritic joint conditions. It also monitors outcomes and has a track record of exceeding patient expectations and goals.

“We treat our patients with respect, kindness and professionalism,” Howard said. “Your goals for therapy mirror our goals for your recovery. Your input is integral in developing the plan of care. We offer one-on-one care; every patient is treated by a licensed physical therapist at every visit.”

PEAK PHYSICAL THERAPY 204 Medical Drive, Suite 160 Sherman, TX 903-892-4800 No. of years in industry: 24

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BEST OF TEXOMA

CHRIS

No. of years in industry: 30

BEST OF TEXOMA.COM

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BY ED SOUTHERLAND

TREATING BABY TEETH PEDIATRIC DENTISTS HELP LITTLE ONES KEEP CAVITIES AWAY

E

ven though baby teeth have a relatively short lifespan, their care and maintenance sets the stage for the adult teeth that will soon follow. For parents looking for pediatric dentists to help make sure their children’s teeth grow to be bright and healthy, Texoma’s pediatric dentists are there, and know just how important tooth care can be.

Through their years serving the Texoma area, local dentists are working to make sure children’s teeth stay healthy from the first break from the gums to adulthood.

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BEST OF TEXOMA

BEST OF TEXOMA.COM

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BEST RADIOLOGY SERVICES

BEST REHABILITATION CARE

BEST SLEEP SERVICES

BETS URGENT CARE/ WALK-IN CLINIC

BEST VEIN CARE

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

TMC Advanced Medical Imaging (903) 416-3730 See page 63

Reba McEntire Center for Rehabilitation (903) 416-1040 See page 63

TMC Sleep Lab (903) 416-4240 See page 63

TMC Urgent Care Denison, Pottsboro, Durant See page 57

Vein Center of North Texas (903) 893-0123 1701 N, US-75 Ste 100, Sherman

- WINNERS -

- WINNERS -

- WINNERS Wilson N Jones Regional Medical Center (903) 870-4611 500 N Highland Ave, Sherman Baylor Scott & White (903) 870-1033 3601 N Calais St, Sherman

Pecan Tree Healthcare and Rehab (940) 668-6263 Carrus (903) 870-2600 1810 W US Hwy 82, Sherman

- WINNERS Carrus (903) 870-2600 1810 W US Hwy 82, Sherman Wilson N Jones Regional Medical Center (903) 870-5583 500 N Highland Ave, Sherman

- WINNERS One Medical (903) 868-9565 See page 68

Texoma Medical Center (903) 416-4000 See page 63

Sherman Medical (903) 868-8900 2500 N Travis St, Sherman

for voting us FIRST PLACE Best Orthopedic Surgeon

Specializing in Sports Medicine and Arthroscopic Surgery • Double Board Certified in Orthopedic Surgery and Sport medicine • Summa cum laude graduate of Dartmouth College and Columbia Medical School • Fellowship trained in minimally invasive orthopedic surgery and Sports Medicine • Special focus on shoulder and knee injuries • Team physician for many local schools in the Texoma area • Dr. Jelsma sees every patient himself, and explains both nonsurgical and surgical options • Winner of Best of Texoma 2018 for Orthopedic surgery

We accept new patients and self-referrals. We accept most insurance plans and give discounts for cash for our self-paying patients.

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BEST OF TEXOMA

BEST HOSPICE SERVICE

HOSPICE IS NOT A PLACE

It is a plan of care, patients receive hospice care wherever they call home

With a focus on clinical excellence, we offer compassion and dignity to our patients and their families when facing a life-limiting illness. Our interdisciplinary care team strives to go above and beyond by exceeding state and national quality measures and providing veteran centric care for our Nation’s heroes through the We Honor Veterans Program.

We are here 365 days/24hours/7days when life matters most.

100 W Lamberth Rd, Ste C | Sherman, TX 75092

903.893.3903

BEST OF TEXOMA.COM

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PEPPERMINT DENTISTRY 859 E. Northcreek Drive Sherman, TX 903-870-4867 No. of years in industry: 8 Awards and certificates: Texas Board Certified The owners of Peppermint Dentistry chose to do family dentistry because they wanted to work with people of all ages.

“We choose to treat patients of all ages, allowing their entire family to be a part of ours,” Peppermint Dentistry said.

“Although we do not specialize solely in pediatric care, as a general dental office we care for patients as young as six months to 95 years old. We love them all.”

While there is something for everyone, Peppermint Dental has tooth care tips for parents of

PEDIATRIC DENTAL SPECIALISTS 2921 N. Heritage Parkway, Suite 100 Sherman, TX 903-892-1200 No. of years in industry: 21 Awards and certificates: Texas Super Dentist 2000-present, TDA’s outstanding senior dental student award, Baylor College Dentistry Odontological Honor Society, American Board of Pediatric Dentistry, American Dental Association 78

children.

“We encourage parents to brush their child’s teeth twice a day and incorporate flossing at least once a day,” the office said. “Preventing decay will provide a better dental experience for your child

so maintaining a six-month check up is crucial. Decay in baby teeth needs to be treated, too. Decay growth can lead to decay in the child’s permanent tooth or become abscessed due to the extent of bacteria.”

PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY OF SHERMAN 2803 Loy Lake Sherman, TX 903-892-2246 No. of years in industry: 14 Awards and certificates: Texas Board Certified, member of American Board of Pediatric Dentistry, professor for residency program for pediatric dentistry at Baylor School of Dentistry Dentist Robert Williamson of Pediatric Dentistry said he witnessed pediatric dentistry being performed while doing mission work in his youth, and from then on knew it was the field he

wanted to pursue.

“Baby teeth are important to hold space for the adult teeth coming in,” he said. “When it comes to tooth decay, it is not as much the amount of sugar kids consume but the frequency.

Brushing twice a day is very important to maintain oral health.”

Williamson believes that parents like bringing their children to his office because the staff is friendly and welcoming, and they offer a kid-friendly atmosphere, helping children to become more comfortable going to the dentist.

BEST OF TEXOMA

THANK YOU TEXOMA for voting me Best Pain Management Deborah Fisher, MD, PA is board certified in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, and is a member of the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.

Her approach focuses on treating app and relieving the source of patient’s pain, properly managing pain medications, returning patients to the most functional and productive lifestyle possible, and providing cost effective care.

Deborah Fisher, MD, PA 220 E Evergreen St., Sherman, TX 75090

www.integrated-pain.com

BEST OF TEXOMA.COM

(903)957-0470

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Focused Post Acute Care Partners Focused Post Acute Care Partners Your Community Partner in Short Term Your Community Partner in ShortLong Term Rehab Long Term Care Rehab and TermandCare

Focused Post Acute Care Partners

our Community Partner in Short Term Rehab and Long Term Care BEST NURSING HOME

Focused Care is bringing patient-centered care to the

Sherman Community Focused Care is bringing Newpati ownership - New leadership - Newto mission ent-centered care the Visit us Sherman in person or online at www.fpacp.com Community

New ownership New leadership New mission Where every day begins with the expectation of excellence Focused Care is bringing patient-centered care to the 817 W. Center Street Sherman, TX 75090 Sherman Community 903-893-6348

Visit us in person or online at www.fpacp.com

New ownership - New leadership - New mission Visit us in person or online at www.fpacp.com

Where every day begins with expectation Where every daythe begins with the of excellence expectation of excellence 817 W. Center Street Sherman, TX 75090 903-893-6348 817 W. Center Street Sherman, TX 75090 903-893-6348

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special A

CALLING

Angels of Care provides pediatric home health care to Texoma and beyond

H

ome health care is big business— very big business. Home health services reached $97 billion in 2017 with Medicare and Medicaid picking up 76 percent of that cost, according to U.S. government statistics.

Grayson County has 34 companies offering home health services, but a few companies stand apart from the rest, not so much for what they offer but for whom they specialize in serving.

Angels of Care Pediatric Home Health and Children’s Home Healthcare are pediatric home health services for patients aged 21 and younger.

Started in Sherman in 1999 by pediatric

BEST OF TEXOMA

Make a Splash With Your Smile!

BEST PEDIATRIC DENTIST

BEST OF TEXOMA.COM

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BEST WOUND CARE

home health nurse Bonnie West, Angels of Care has grown into one of the largest children’s home health care businesses in Texas, with 15 locations in the state and a new location in Colorado.

“While there is significant need for pediatric home health care, relative to the overall home health business, we are a niche industry,” registered nurse Ashlyn Estes said. “It’s very specialized.

There are other agencies in the area who offer pediatric services, but none of them are based here as we are.”

Estes, who is also the vice president for home health operations for Angels of Care, said about 180 people work out of the corporate office off Highway 75 South near Howe and manage more that 2,000 employees — nurses, therapists, attendants, non-skilled care givers and other office employees statewide.

- FIRST PLACE TMC Center for Wound Healing and Hyperbaric Medicine (903) 416-3650 See page 62 - WINNERS Pecan Tree Rehab & Healthcare (940) 668-6263 Wilson N Jones Regional Medical Center (903) 870-4611 500 N Highland Ave, Sherman

Priya Zeikus, M.D.

Shehnaz Sarmast, M.D.

Board Certified Dermatologist/ Mohs Surgeon

Board Certified Dermatologist

BEST DERMATOLOGIST

Specializes in the care of General & Cosmetic Dermatology and Mohs Surgery Accepts almost ALL insurance plans including Texas Medicaid 5012 S US Hwy 75 Ste 200 Denison, TX 75020 (Located in the Texoma Medical Plaza) Phone 903-463-2223 Fax 903-463-2224 • www.denisondermatology.com 82

BEST OF TEXOMA

DIGNITY Heart to Heart Hospice is honored to be voted as a Best of Texoma recipient. We strive to provide unparalled service and personalized attention to all our patients and families.

SERVING THE TEXOMA AREA If you have any questions about hospice care, call us today or visit us at htohh.com

Heart to Heart Hospice | Texoma Area

903.892.6406 BEST OF TEXOMA.COM

BEST HOSPICE SERVICE 83

MEDICAL

“Pediatric home heath is a little different than other forms of home health,” Estes said. “Our nurses often stay with their patients, almost like in a hospital. It’s all based on their medical necessities, what the doctor orders and what insurance approves, but the nurse could actually be in the home for 12 hours straight providing one-on-one care for all of the patient’s needs. Some cases require a nurse 24 hours a day.”

Pediatric home health can be a lifelong medical need or only a temporary need. The range of medical problems that can trigger extensive, full-time care is broad.

“It could be anything from nutritional needs such as a need for feeding

pumps where gastric tubes prevent normal eating or swallowing, or being on a ventilator, where they can’t breathe on their own but are stable and don’t need to be in the hospital,” Estes said.

While pediatric home health providers see many of the same problems day after day, in reality, each child is unique and the plan for care, often developed with multiple physicians, must be unique as well.

“You could have two kids with exactly the same diagnosis, (but) with different needs,” Estes said.

Naturally, the first beneficiary of pediatric home health care is the child, then the parents and family unit as a whole, but after talking to nurses such

as Estes, it’s clear that the rewards for the caregivers are substantial as well, as exemplified in the company’s motto, “HALO.” “It stands for ‘heart, advocacy, love, outreach,’” Estes said. “The heart is for our clients; they are the heart of everything we do. We are advocates for the industry because there are so many people who don’t know how it works. Love is for our clients but also for our employees. We can’t take care of thousands of children if we don’t take care of our employees. And as for outreach, we are very involved in the community, particularly here in Sherman because it’s our home. We want to be a part of things and give back to the community.”

heartadvocacyloveoutreach

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BEST OF TEXOMA

Dr. Sameer, Syed MD, MPH Back Pain Relief Neck Pain Relief Knee Pain Relief Shoulder Pain Relief Hip Pain Relief

Headache/Migrain Pain Relief Foot Pain Relief Management Sciatica Variety of Other Pain Management Services offered

140 W Lamberth Road, Ste. C Sherman, TX 75092 (972) 370-5771 l contact@paintreatmentinstitute.com BEST OF TEXOMA.COM

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MEDICAL

BETTER HEARING IN THE MODERN AGE how hearing loss benefits from today’s technology

BY ED SOUTHERLAND

Of human’s primary senses, hearing seems to be the one people notice less or refuse to accept when its loss comes on gradually. World Health Organization figures put hearing loss at more than 5 percent of the planet’s population or more than 360 million people. While the majority of those with auditory problems live in low- and middle-income countries where health concerns contribute significantly to the problem, in the U.S. the primary cause is genetic predisposition.

Hearing loss can also be the result of disease or trauma, but more often than not, it is simply aging. One out of three people aged 65-75 has some level of hearing problems, and after 75, the ratio increases to one in two. Despite years of research, experts still do not know why this loss occurs, but the ear and auditory system is a finely tuned, delicately balanced mechanism that may simply start to wear out in some people.

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Outside factors include occupations such as carpenters, construction and factory workers, farmers and military personnel, where subjects are exposed to dangerously loud noise levels over extended periods of time. Certain types of medications can also play a part in hearing loss.

Often when a person’s hearing declines, he or she simply compensates, perhaps unknowingly, for the loss-- turning up the volume on the TV or radio or asking people to repeat themselves, for example. There seems to be a reluctance by many to admit they do not hear well. In time, as the loss becomes more profound, it can affect a person’s work and personal relationships and potentially become a danger.

People have tried to cope with hearing loss with mechanical, and later electronic, means since the 17th Century when the hearing trumpet was first used, but the first real advances came with the invention of the telephone by Alexander Graham Bell in 1876. The interests that led to Bell’s invention were motivated by the fact that his mother and wife were both deaf.

The development of transistors in 1948 led to the next leap forward in auditory innovation, and improvements followed over the next 20 years. Then came the world of digital electronics and the microprocessor in the 1970s, and hearing aids took another step

toward being smaller, lighter, more responsive and less obtrusive.

So where is society now?

“Ninety percent of the people we see cannot be helped by medical procedures, so they turn to hearing devices,” said Dr. Amin Musani, a doctor of audiology with the Hearing and Balance Clinic in Denison. “We are now at a point where the newest devices are bluetooth compatible with iPhone and iPad technology, and some Android technology.”

Bluetooth is a wireless technology standard for exchanging data over short distances from fixed and mobile devices, invented by Dutch electrical engineer Jaap Haartsen in 1994.

“Bluetooth allows you to stream phone calls, music, television — whatever you’re watching on that device — directly into the hearing aid,” Musani said. “The advantage is that it’s based on your hearing test, so it makes the sound very crisp and clear compared to various other flat response devices you can get on the market.”

Musani said most devices offer a free mobile app that lets the device be adjusted.

“The hearing device can be programmed remotely, so we can make the changes here and it shows up on the device and installs them on the hearing aid,” Musani said. “You can control the

volume, adjust the wind noise settings and noise reduction, change the bass, middle and treble settings and even find your hearing aid if it has been misplaced.”

Bluetooth itself continues to improve and Musani said newer versions can connect a person’s hearing aids and phone, even if it is in another room.

In that scenario, the patient could still receive and talk on the phone as if it were in his hand.

Although hearing loss is often the result of factors a patient cannot avoid, there are some general tips to prevent hearing problems.

“Generally, if noise is such that you have to shout to be heard, it is too loud and you should be using some sort of hearing protections,” Musani said. “It can be ear plugs, ear muffs or a combination, depending on the situation.

I tell my patients, if you are mowing the lawn, on a tractor, around gunfire, if you are going to loud concerts, you should be wearing ear protection. Otherwise, over time, it can become much worse.”

Musani also suggested people get their hearing checked on a regular basis, either annually or every couple of years depending on your situation.

Whatever the timeline, a little prevention is better than the sound of silence.

DID YOU KNOW? THE NEWEST HEARING AID DEVICES ARE BLUETOOTH COMPATIBLE WITH IPHONE AND ANDROID TECHNOLOGY, ALLOWING USERS TO STREAM PHONE CALLS, TV, ETC. DIRECTLY INTO THE DEVICE.

BEST OF TEXOMA.COM

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FROM SANITARY TO STYLISH

scrubs are more than medical wear

BY ED SOUTHERLAND

Did you know that motorized wheelchairs now come in colors that look like something in a Hot Wheels commercial? How about Aztec Gold, Black Cherry, Electric Blue, Green Apple, Hot Sparkle Pink or Sunrise Orange?

Such are the marketing innovations in the otherwise seemingly mundane world of medical supplies.

The purveyors of the specialized equipment some need to live more comfortably and have more productive, independent lives outside the immediate care of the medical community can deliver just about anything a patient needs to keep on keeping on, and these days they offer even more to the public.

Maybe it is the proliferation of television shows about doctors or perhaps you are not a doctor or nurse but want to dress like one. One of hottest trends in fashion over the past few years has been scrubs.

Scrubs began as sanitary clothing worn in operating rooms and other medical situations where cleanliness and sterility were paramount. They were simple, two-piece garments, light weight and easy to care for, and

TMC MEDICAL SUPPLIES & SCRUBS

EDWARD SOUTHERLAND / BEST OF TEXOMA

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BEST OF TEXOMA

MEDICAL

generally cheap enough to be disposable if necessary.

Hospital attire, nurses’ uniforms, doctors’ coats and the uniforms of attendants and other personnel were traditionally white, the color universally associated with cleanliness. But all of that white, along with high-contrast lighting in operating rooms, led to eye strain for doctors and nurses. In the 1950s and 1960s, most surgical venues changed to softer colors, often light green, and soon that change appeared in the clothing surgical teams wore as well.

By the 1970s, the modern version of scrubs had become the general uniform for nurses and other medical personnel everywhere, and the older, starched white look long associated with caregivers was relegated to history.

When the public discovered the

utility of scrubs as leisure wear, the availability of the garments and options in colors and patterns took off. If you want a holiday theme with Santa and his reindeer, you can get them. Because the garments are easy and inexpensive to produce, sellers can meet new demands with relative ease.

Scrubs are available from uniform suppliers, regular retail stores, on the internet, and of course from medical supply stores. In Grayson County, TMC Medical Supply & Scrubs, with locations in downtown Denison and at Texoma Medical Center Plaza, is a popular place for scrub shoppers.

“We have anything from a cane to wheelchairs and lift chairs,” said Victoria Dierkens, who works at the downtown location. “We sell scooters, oxygen equipment, braces, hospital beds and just about anything else in

medical related equipment.”

Add to that sleep therapy equipment, nebulizers, mobility aids, diabetic testing and supplies, orthopedic supports, blood pressure monitors, bath safety and daily living aids, and you have a general idea of the what the store can provide.

And of course, it has scrubs.

“When you go to a doctor’s office, you will see nurses wearing scrubs,” Dierkens said. “They help patients know who they are, like a uniform. Our main store at TMC carries the largest selection and at this store, we mainly carry scrubs that have been discontinued from the main store inventory.”

The discontinued line means that customers can save up to half the cost of a new set of scrubs, so you can afford to look like a doctor or nurse (even if you don’t play one on TV).

DID YOU KNOW? WHILE HOSPITAL ATTIRE WAS TRADITIONALLY WHITE, EYE STRAIN FROM OPERATION ROOM LIGHTING CAUSED MOST SURGICAL VENUES TO CHANGE THE COLOR OF PERSONNEL UNIFORMS TO LIGHT GREEN.

BEST OF TEXOMA.COM

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A WINNING SMILE

BY ED SOUTHERLAND

orthodontic work helps create better smiles at any age

For most people, the words “orthodontist” or “braces” conjures images of a teenager with a mouth full of metal, and the prospect of nice straight teeth and a winning smile for a lifetime.

But times are changing, and while youngsters are still the primary beneficiaries of modern techniques of orthodontia, more and more adults of all ages are considering the potential benefits for themselves, and are looking to resolve dental problems they have experienced since childhood. But to properly evaluate one’s orthodontic choices, there are different considerations that come with age.

For those with bite problems, there often is not enough room in the mouth to create space for teeth to move back without extractions. For those with malocclusion, or improper bite, teeth might be worn down, which can make overbite problems worse. Past extractions can present difficulties as well.

Dentist Allysa Emory-Carter of Stokes Orthodontic in Sherman and Bonham said there are other differences between child and adult patients.

“Actually, 30 percent of our patients are adults,” she said. “The most obvious reason for an adult to see an orthodontist is cosmetic, and the most common cosmetic problem is improperly aligned or

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BEST OF TEXOMA

DID YOU KNOW? 30% OF STOKES ORTHODONTIC PATIENTS ARE ADULTS. MANY PATIENTS HAVE BEEN REFERRED BY THEIR DENTIST FOR CROWNS, IMPLANTS AND BITE CONCERNS, OR SIMPLY WANT TO IMPROVE THEIR SMILE. crowded lower teeth. It may be that they had braces before but now have had a little bit of movement. Other patients have never had braces, but they do have cosmetic concerns or bite concerns. And then some come in with cosmetic questions and learn about other significant problems that can be corrected.”

Emory-Carter also said she sees patients who have been referred by their general dentist and need crowns or implants, and the practitioner believes some orthodontic work will make those changes far more successful.

“If the patient has a better bite, the

other work they have done will be more effective and more stable,” Emory-Carter said.

The image of kids and shiny metal braces is a common one, but Emory-Carter said the world of orthodontics is a far cry from what it was in years past.

“Of course there are still metal braces, but they are much smaller and petite than they were 20 or 30 years ago,” she said. “They also make braces now that do not stain and are made of much better and stronger materials. There are aligners, which are frames that snap on to tooth-colored buttons on your teeth.

They look like trays, and over time you

MEDICAL change the trays as they realign the teeth.”

Emory-Carter said the newest style of braces fit on the inside of your teeth and are almost invisible.

What about age? It is best to start young while the teeth and bones are still growing, but in modern orthodontics, age is not a barrier.

“The other day, I saw a patient who was four years old and one who was 91,” Emory-Carter said. “The four-yearold was in for a check-up, but, at that age, really didn’t need anything done yet.”

Like check-ups for children, Emory-Carter said check-ups for adults can sometimes reveal problems or potential problems that would benefit greatly from early detection and treatment. To this end, most orthodontists, including Emory-Carter, offer free or reduced cost evaluations that can give an adult patient the information needed to make an informed decision as to further care.

Bottom line: It is likely never too late to improve your smile.

We know that finding a dentist that you can TRUST can be difficult and thank you for expressing your CONFIDENCE by voting for Dahle Dental.

Best Dental Services

903-892-1052 BEST OF TEXOMA.COM

We offer a shame free environment while providing HOPE to those who are in our care. We accomplish this by offering a loyalty membership plan for those without dental insurance and payment plans to help with the unexpected costs of dental care.

420 N. Rusk St., Sherman, TX 75090

www.dahledental.com 91

Best Casino.................................................................................................................93 Best Charity Event......................................................................................................93 Best Golf Course.........................................................................................................93 Best Hotel....................................................................................................................93 Best Local Festival.....................................................................................................99 Best Marina at Lake Texoma......................................................................................99 Best Museum..............................................................................................................99 Best Park....................................................................................................................99 Best Resort.................................................................................................................99

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BEST OF TEXOMA

BEST CASINO

BEST CHARITY EVENT

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

Choctaw (580) 920-0160 See page 97

Bras for a Cause (903) 487-2528 Women Rock, Inc.

- WINNERS -

- WINNERS -

WinStar (800) 622-6317 777 Casino Ave, Thackerville, OK

Charity Ball (903) 821-7583 Sherman Service League

BEST MARINA AT LAKE TEXOMA

Chocolate Indulgence (903) 813-5400 CASA

903-786-7000

BEST GOLF COURSE

BEST HOTEL

DENISON

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

Tanglewood (903) 786-4638 290 Tanglewood Cir, Pottsboro

Hilton Garden Inn (903) 463-3331 See page 230 - WINNERS -

- WINNERS Denison Golf and Country Club (903) 465-4488 4770 FM 84, Denison Stone Creek (903) 870-7980 2200 Club House Drive, Sherman

BEST OF TEXOMA.COM

Hampton Inn Denison (903) 464-9010 See page 93 Hampton Inn Sherman (903) 893-9333 2904 Michelle Dr, Sherman

BEST HOTEL

Thank You Texoma!

3415 Ansley Road, Denison, Texas, 75020 Phone: 903-464-9010 FAX: 903-464-9035

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ENTERTAINMENT

G

THE RUB OF THE

R

N E E

TEXOMA’S FAVORITE GOLF COURSES

BY ED

G

olf came to Texas early in the last century. Houston had a course in 1906 and the Houston Country Club formed in 1908, while the Dallas Country Club had a course in 1912. Sherman’s Woodlawn Country Club opened a course in 1916, and in Denison, the Rod and Gun Club added a nine-hole course to their property in 1922. These first nine became the back nine when the course expanded to 18 holes in 1978.

Diane Nixon is the administrative assistant at Denison Golf & Country Club, and describes the course and the club as a “family atmosphere” facility.

“We offer everything to our customers: swimming pool, tennis courts, pickle ball courts, horseshoes and, of course, the golf course. We also have an open bar and grill. When you walk in, most people will know your name.”

The 18-hole golf course plays 6,134 yards from the long tees around two lakes, and the back nine tees with all manners of wildlife. The club came under new ownership a few years ago, and since have embarked on continual improvements to the course and club facilities.

Stone Creek is the newest of the trio, opened in 2007.

“We like to think of Stone Creek as the ‘Cadillac of golf

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D

courses’ in Grayson County,” said General Manager Aaron Reynolds. “It’s a daily fee course that offers memberships as well, so it’s just a matter of how much someone wants to play and what matches their goals.”

Reynolds likens the 7,400 yard course (from the black tees) to one set in the Central Texas hill country.

“When you get out on this golf course you really disappear, plus the amount of wildlife is really astounding,” Reynolds said. “There’s not a lot of water on the golf course; it’s a pretty straightforward layout, and we’ve transitioned our greens from bent grass to a hybrid Bermuda so they are always in fantastic shape. It’s a beautiful layout.”

One of principal attractions of the Tanglewood Resort in Pottsboro is its golf course. The 7,000-yard course was designed by Arnold Palmer and Ralph Plummer. The fairways are Bermuda grass and the greens are Diamond Zoysia. Tanglewood was the first facility in the country to install this eco-friendly Zoysia grass hybrid. Created by a team at Texas A&M, the grass thrives in the dry heat of Texas summers and provides golfers a great putting surface year-round.

The Tanglewood course is open for membership and daily fee players, who can also take advantage of the resort’s 19th Hole Grill and Bar.

BEST OF TEXOMA

ENTERTAINMENT

“GOLF IS GOOD FOR THE SOUL. YOU GET SO MAD AT YOURSELF YOU FORGET TO HATE YOUR ENEMIES.” — WILL ROGERS

BEST BOAT SALES

BEST OF TEXOMA.COM

BEST MARINA AT LAKE TEXOMA

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ENTERTAINMENT

DISCOVERING OUR

BY ED SOUTHERLAND

HISTORY

AT TEXOMA’S MUSEUMS

W

DINO DAYS AT THE SHERMAN MUSEUM

DREW SMITH / HERALD DEMOCRAT

hile Texoma does not immediately leap to mind as a mini-mecca for museum goers, the response from area residents about the number of museums and the range of history and science they cover shows the rich history of the area.

The Sherman Museum, Sherman Jazz Museum and Harber Wildlife Museum are just three of the museums with artifacts that have been viewed by thousands throughout Texas and Oklahoma.

THE SHERMAN MUSEUM

Housed in the 1914 Carnegie Library building, the museum highlights the story of the region and offers regular and special exhibits exploring life in Grayson County and

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the Red River valley.

“We have exhibits from pre-history to current times,” said Museum Director Betsy Deiterman.

This includes fossils of dinosaurs that used to inhabit the area and shark’s teeth from when this part of Texas was an inland sea. Moving forward there are exhibits of Civil War memorabilia, the Grayson County courthouse and a set up of a general store filled with period merchandise.

FUTURE BROWN / HERALD DEMOCRAT

301 S. Walnut Street Sherman, TX 903-893-7623 www.TheShermanMuseum.org

BEST OF TEXOMA

Must be at least 18 years of age and a Choctaw Rewards Club Member. Membership is free.

Management reserves all rights. Gambling problem? Call 800.522.4700. choctawcasinos.com

BEST CASINO

BEST OF TEXOMA.COM

BEST RESORT

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ENTERTAINMENT

HARBER WILDLIFE MUSEUM

“This museum may be the greatest, most complete collection of big game animals anywhere in the world,” Museum Education Director Keith McBrayer said. “Along with many animal species, we also have an extensive collection of African artifacts on display.”

The museum represents a lifetime of world travel, hunting and collecting by Sherman residents Dorothy and Lacy Harber.

“They wanted people who hadn’t been able to travel like they did to come and see things,” McBrayer said.

The museum offers special tours and programs throughout the year.

Since it opened in 2011, more than 70,000 students have visited the exhibits on special school tours.

CHRIS JENNINGS/HERALD DEMOCRAT

4703 Texoma Parkway Sherman, TX 903-771-1134 www.HarberWildlifeMuseum.com

201 E. Lamar Street Sherman, TX 903-893-5673 www.ShermanJazzMuseum.com The 1925 Mason Lodge Temple, built in 1924, is now home to the Sherman Jazz Museum. The collection of recordings, memorabilia, art, and artifacts — particularly as related to legendary jazz trumpet players — explores one of America’s greatest musical contributions.

Started by the purchase of the estate of legendary trumpeter 98

Maynard Ferguson by Bill Collins, Jr., the museum now has exhibits dedicated to Ella Fitzgerald, the Dance Band era and Big Band as well as a performance space highlighting the greatest trumpet players of jazz.

The exhibits are augmented by special live music performances.

“We had a Dixieland band in for Mardi Gras, and recently hosted the North Texas University One O’Clock

Lab Band for a concert and clinic, and will be having other similar events during the coming year,” said museum founder Bill Collins III. BEST OF TEXOMA

CHRIS JENNINGS/HERALD DEMOCRAT

SHERMAN JAZZ MUSEUM

ENTERTAINMENT

BEST LOCAL FESTIVAL

BEST MARINA AT LAKE TEXOMA

BEST MUSEUM

BEST PARK

BEST RESORT

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

Denison Fall Festival (903) 465-1551 Downtown

Grandpappy Point Marina and Resort (903) 465-6330 See page 95

Harber Wildlife Museum (903) 771-1134 4703 Texoma Pkwy, Sherman

THF Park 3801 US-75, Denison See page 99

Choctaw Casino & Resort (580) 920-0160 See page 97

- WINNERS -

- WINNERS -

- WINNERS Sherman Arts Fest (903) 892-7230 Sherman Municipal Grounds Whitesboro Peanut Festival (903) 564-3331 Downtown

BEST OF TEXOMA.COM

- WINNERS - WINNERS -

Cedar Mills Marina (903) 523-4222 See page 101

The Sherman Museum (903) 893-7623 301 S Walnut St, Sherman

Waterloo 1000 Waterloo Lake Dr, Denison See page 99

Highport Marina (903) 786-7000 See page 93

Sherman Jazz Museum (903) 893-5673 See page 103

Fairview 1121 W. Taylor St, Sherman

Cedar Mills Resort (903) 523-4222 See page 101 Tanglewood Resort (800) 833-6569 290 Tanglewood Cir, Pottsboro

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ENTERTAINMENT

BY ED SOUTHERLAND

Live the life aquatic S

ince the building of the Denison Dam in 1944, one of the biggest attractions of the local landscape is Lake Texoma. With 89,000 acre-feet of surface area, the lake is a mecca for tourists, vacationers, boaters and fishermen from all over the country. Set up to service, entertain and house these visitors are a number of outstanding marinas.

C

edar Mills Marina & Resort, located on the Texas side of the lake, is well known for being the home of world-renowned blue water yacht builder, Valiant Yachts.

While boats are no longer built there, Cedar Mills has maintained its reputation as the top marina for sailboats on the lake.

“We have more than 600 boat slips and a full service marina for sail and power boats,” said Carly Meacham, the marina’s marketing director. “We have vacation homes, cabin and cottage rentals and an air strip for fly-in visitors, which is somewhat unusual.”

The marina’s boutique and full service restaurant, Pelican Landing, is open year-round, as is their RV Park. During the summer months the resort regularly presents music and other activities for the marina’s guests. The beach and playground attract both kids and adults

LAKE TEXOMA

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BEST OF TEXOMA

ENTERTAINMENT

alike who are looking for summer fun.

After having much of its infrastructure inundated by record floods that caused much destruction on Lake Texoma in 2015, Highport Marina has reclaimed its place as one of the lake’s top marinas. When asked about their recovery, Administrative Manager Debbie Rome is quick to tout the marina’s advantages for visitors.

“We have it all,” she said, “sandy beach islands, hiking, fishing, dockominiums, boat slips, full marine services, two restaurants — anything you could want or need to enjoy your time on the lake.”

Also working out of Highport are some of the lake’s top fishing guides

BEST RESORT

and charter and cruise boat services, as well as a water taxi service. The charter services offer a variety of lake tours, along with special sunset and dinner cruises.

Tyler Walston is the brand manager for Grandpappy Point, the westernmost marina on the lake, and has a good idea of why people feel at home there.

“We have a great staff and lake community here,” he said. “It’s a strong, family-oriented community that just enjoys the lake. We’ve got everything you could ask for in a getaway experience — boat slips, a fleet of boats, kayaks and pontoon boats to rent, cabin rentals and The Point restaurant.

We want to provide the best experience possible across all areas of interest.”

BEST MARINA AT LAKE TEXOMA

BEST BOAT SALES

Thank you for choosing us as your home away from home! We look forward to seeing you at the lake!

www.cedarmills.com BEST OF TEXOMA.COM

500 Harbour View Rd Gordonville, TX 76245

903-523-4222 101

ENTERTAINMENT

PARKS

AND PLAY

GROUNDS:

THE SOUL OF TEXOMA

BY ED SOUTHERLAND

A CITY’S PARKS AND PLAYGROUNDS

FAIRVIEW PARK

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BEST OF TEXOMA

JERRIE WHITELEY / HERALD DEMOCRAT

THF PARK

say a lot about the way citizens view their quality of life, and Texoma is fortunate to have some outstanding public parks and recreational spaces in all of its communities.

Sherman acquired Fairview Park in 1962 and has expanded its facilities over the years. Today, Fairview is the most utilized park in the Sherman Parks and Rec system. Veteran’s Field is home to the Sherman Bearcat baseball team, and three softball fields stay busy with leagues, tournaments, and practices. Sherman’s youth soccer programs play many of their matches at Fairview, and tennis players have four courts available for use.

Come summer, the Splash Swimming Pool is Sherman’s favorite water hold, offering swimming lessons, lap swims and special events. With two 2-story water slides, a drop slide, diving board and splash pad for younger kids, Splash offers water fun for everyone.

The park also has four pavilions for picnics and family gatherings, extensive playgrounds, 2.5 miles of walking trails, and a recently opened dog park.

Over in Denison, Waterloo Lake Regional Park traces its history to the natural springs, which bubbled to the surface at the base of large sandstone bluffs. The springs provided water for early pioneers to the area

DREW SMITH / HERALD DEMOCRAT

WATERLOO LAKE DOG PARK

and was an important water stop for the Butterfield Overland Mail stagecoaches after they crossed the Red River at Colbert’s Ferry. In the late 1800s, the water was diverted to the newly built Waterloo Lake, which provided water for the city of Denison until 1908. The name probably comes from the community named Waterloo, which predated the founding of Denison in 1872.

Today, the 52 acre lake is the center of a 148 acre recreational complex that includes a walking track, Culpepper Softball Complex, playgrounds, nature trails, fishing pond, picnic and pavilion facilities and the Waterloo Dog Park. The park is home to Waterloo Pool, a 25-yard enclosed swimming pool that offers swimming lessons, senior aqua fitness programs and lap swims, as well as recreational open swimming for all.

One of the newest parks to join the region is Texoma Health Foundation Park, or THF Park. Built at the rapidly growing Gateway Village development near Texoma Medical Center, the park was built with a seed grant of $8 million from THF on 65 acres of land donated by the Johnson family, owner of Covenant Development, Inc., and opened in August 2018.

THF Park offers multipurpose sports fields, baseball and softball diamonds, walking and biking trails, a playground and splash pad, sand volleyball courts, exercise stations, a concession stand and public restrooms.

BEST OF TEXOMA.COM

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ENTERTAINMENT

AT YOUR SERVICE

BY ED SOUTHERLAND

Hotels in Texoma have made it a point to make customer service the reason people return. Hampton Inn in Sherman and Denison and the Hilton Garden Inn in Denison have all made a mark on their guests.

From the offices to the amenities on site, hotels are top picks for area residents and visiting guests.

“Even though we are primarily a transient hotel right on U.S. (Highway) 75, we get guests from all over the world.

It’s a treat to be able to socialize with them,” said Jonathan Jeffcoat, front office manager at the Hampton Inn & Suites in Sherman. “I’m a social person and this is a good job for meeting people.”

Regina Rhodes is the general manager of the Hilton Garden Inn in Denison, and has been an innkeeper for 18 years.

“The technologies of the hotel business are changing,” she said. “We are still in the amenities business, but how things are done has changed. We’ve gone to these huge TVs and now people use their cellphones rather than the phone they have

hospitality at your texoma home away from home

HAMPTON INN & SUITES, SHERMAN

DREW SMITH / HERALD DEMOCRAT

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BEST OF TEXOMA

CHRIS JENNINGS FOR THE HERALD DEMOCRAT

KATHRYN JENNINGS FOR THE HERALD DEMOCRAT

ENTERTAINMENT

HILTON GARDEN INN, DENISON

TEXOMA EVENT CENTER AT THE HILTON GARDEN INN HOSTS A PLETHORA OF COMMUNITY EVENTS, INCLUDING THE BEST OF TEXOMA GALA. >>>

in their room. The internet is very important, and you have to have Wi-Fi. Many years ago, if you wanted to connect to the outside world, it was plug-in, dial-in, and you had to pay for it. That is usually not the case anymore.”

In the category of strange guests, Rhodes asked for some time to think that one over, but was quick to expound on why she loved the business.

“In this business, you either love

it or hate it, and you usually know right away. I started in the business as a third job when I was in college,” she said. “I did an internship, and afterwards, they asked if I would like to come back and be the front office manager. I could think of nothing else I wanted to do. I love the people and the team members, and it is something different everyday. There is nothing more satisfying than helping someone grow in their career and their life.”

Meanwhile, back to the strange

things and guests question.

“We had a gentleman who wanted everything in his room blacked out,” she said. “He wanted everything in the room covered with black paper — the walls, the windows, the carpet, the doors.”

Rhodes would not say why the guest wanted things that way — what happens in her hotel, stays in her hotel.

“WE GET GUESTS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD. IT’S A TREAT TO SOCIALIZE WITH THEM.” BEST OF TEXOMA.COM

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ENTERTAINMENT

FEELING FESTIVE

BY FUTURE BROWN

Festival season in Texoma generally begins in late August or early September and lasts into October. Three of the largest in Texoma celebrate the season as well as the history of the area.

Celebrating peanuts for more than 50 years, the city of Whitesboro and area residents have been gathering to remember one of the main staple crops the area used to produce.

“This event really shows that we are a community that comes together,” 15-year event chairman Dee Lee said in 2018. “It is a one-day festival that is just huge. It’s all about the booths and the entertainment. There is a lot of camaraderie and a lot of downhome spirit.”

Though peanuts are no longer harvested in Whitesboro, the festival promotes the farming heritage of the area. The event often

SHERMAN CELTIC FESTIVAL

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BEST OF TEXOMA

HERALD DEMOCRAT

SHERMAN ARTS FESTIVAL

ENTERTAINMENT

HERALD DEMOCRAT

SHERMAN ARTS FESTIVAL

“YOU WANT TO BRING PEOPLE IN TO SEE WHAT MAKES YOUR CITY DIFFERENT.”

CHRIS JENNINGS / HERALD DEMOCRAT

festival season offers fabulous family fun brings about 15,000 to downtown Whitesboro.

The Sherman Arts Fest, now in its 36th year, also brings in thousands of people and more than 100 artists.

“I think every city’s dream is to become an art and culture center or at least have a district dedicated to it,” explained Sherman’s Tourism and Main Street Manager Sarah McRae said in 2018. “It’s the heart of the city and you want to bring people in to see what makes your city different.”

With more than 30 fall festivals held, Denison takes part in seasonal fun by giving more than 200 vendors the space and opportunity to visit downtown at the fair.

“I really think that Denison is the best,” said Shelly Kisel, events director for the Denison Chamber of Commerce. “We want people to know that you do not have to go into big cities to be a part of big festivals.

This is a hometown event.”

Kisel said that the event attracts

BEST OF TEXOMA.COM

people from Oklahoma, Arkansas and surrounding states as visitors and vendors, and is a popular time for homecomings and other family events.

“Last year we hit 25,000,” she said. “This year, if the weather is good, we hope to see more.”

DENISON FALL FESTIVAL

So what does the fest plan to do to keep them coming?

“I would love to have a group of acoustic guitar street musicians with people just kicking back and having a good time,” Kisel said. “I’d just like to see more entertainment each year.”

ENTERTAINMENT

PLAY AWHILE, STAY AWHILE

BY ED SOUTHERLAND

I

n Texoma, the idea of a resort is less defined and generally less expansive than in more traditional resort areas. Getaways built around golf are fairly common, as are places for water sports on the numerous lakes in the region, but the idea of a self-contained complex of activities, dining and entertainment is relatively new and largely centered around the gambling casinos in Oklahoma.

In Texoma, the Choctaw Resort and Casino in Durant, which grew from a bingo operation started in 1987, has become the largest and most diverse resort in the region. Expansion came in 2006 with the South Casino, featuring more than 4,000 slot machines and a 776 room hotel. Almost immediately the operation expanded again, this time in 2010 with the building of a larger North Casino, topped by a second hotel dubbed the Grand Tower.

Since then the resort concept has grown considerably with the addition of The Oasis, with multiple swimming pools, water slides, Jacuzzis, cabanas and even drive-in movies in the summer. The Wellness Center

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BEST OF TEXOMA

COURTESY PHOTO

CHOCTAW CASINO & RESORT - DURANT

ENTERTAINMENT

DREW SMITH / HERALD DEMOCRAT

COURTESY PHOTOS

CHOCTAW CASINO & RESORT - DURANT

resorts in texoma are a growing business offers a gymnasium, batting cages and indoor walking track.

The District, a video arcade, bowling alley and movie theater, opened in 2015 to add family-oriented entertainment to the mix. The resort sports concert venues as well as agreements with area golf courses to fill the needs of visitors who long for the links.

“A resort has a hotel and other amenities,” Choctaw Nation Public Relations Manager Kristina Humenesky said. “For example, Durant has a number of different food options with buffets and all sorts of food choices. You can get Asian; we have a steak house, and Mexican cuisine, as well as burgers and fast food choices. We also have a pool and a spa.”

Choctaw has two other casino resorts in Oklahoma: in Grant, across the Red River from Paris, and Pocola, not far from the Arkansas border and the city of Fort Smith.

Choctaw Nation also has casino-only operations in McAlester, Broken Bow, Idabell and Stringtown.

The resorts are not package deals

BEST OF TEXOMA.COM

with all of the amenities included in one price, so they do not mirror the idea of traditional venues like in other parts of the country, but they do offer visitors a wide range of things to do and see during their stay.

Humenesky said the resort continues to expand its offerings, especially in Durant.

“We recently added more food ven-

ues, expanded the pool and the retail areas,” she said. “We’re expanding again in Durant. We will be breaking ground this spring to add another tower, pools and retail shops.”

The bottom line is, whatever you think should be available across the Red River for a getaway may just be there next week. It is very possible something new has been added.

TANGLEWOOD RESORT AND CONFERENCE CENTRE

109

STARR COMMUNITY AWARD

FORWARD: In 2017, the Herald Democrat and Best of Texoma inaugurated the first Starr Community Award to honor Lydia Starr McPherson, the founder and first publisher of the Sherman Democrat.

McPherson was a remarkable woman, indeed. A pioneer newspaper woman in the Indian Territory, she founded the Caddo International News, becoming the first female newspaper editor in the territory. In 1877, she moved to Whitesboro, where she started the Whitesboro Democrat and became the first woman to found and publish a newspaper in Texas.

She moved the paper to Sherman in 1879, where it became the Daily Democrat. McPherson was one of the first three women to join the Texas State Press Association, and from 1886 through 1890 served as Sherman’s postmaster. Her influence reached beyond Texas, and she frequently wrote articles for popular magazines at the time, such as Cosmopolitan and Youth’s Companion.

This year’s selection for the Starr Community Award is Vanya Griffith-Mayes of Sherman.

She is the manager of Certainty Home Loans.

VANYA GRIFFITH-MAYES

BY ED SOUTHERLAND

110

BEST OF TEXOMA

“

STARR COMMUNITY AWARD

SHE GOES OUT OF HER WAY TO HELP PEOPLE... SHE DOES EVERYTHING IN HER POWER TO FIND A PROGRAM THAT CAN GET BUYER(S) INTO A HOME.”

“We do a lot of ‘hero’ loans, which means people who get turned down at other places come to us,” said Justine Reeves, business development and marketing director for Certainty Home Loans in Sherman. “We either help them repair their credit, or find a program to get them into a home without any money down.”

“One of the things I love most about Vanya that sets her ahead of anybody else in the business is that she’s willing to work with people,” Reeves said. “We do a lot of first-time home buyers, and those are not always easy loans. She goes out of her way to help people other offices wouldn’t even want to mess with. She does everything in her power to find a program that can get that buyer into a home.”

2019 STARR COMMUNITY AWARD RECIPIENT BEST OF TEXOMA.COM

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Vanya Griffith-Mayes grew up in Denison. Her father, Marvin, was a regional manager with the Gibson’s Discount Store chain, and her mother, Sharon, watched over a house full of children.

“She grew up working at Gibson’s in the summer, and in high school she was a tennis player,” said Brett Mayes, Vanya’s husband of 10 years.

“We were classmates in elementary school, but never went out together in high school. We didn’t reconnect until ten years ago. Enough time had passed and enough things had happened that it was a good time for us to connect,” he said. “It’s been an amazing 10 years. We’ve got two adopted daughters with amazing stories of how they got here.”

But wait, that’s getting ahead of the story.

After high school, Griffith-Mayes enrolled at North Texas University and got a job with a property management company in Denton. She liked the job better than she liked going to school, and soon took a

112

break from the books to pursue her new career opportunity.

“Not too long after that, she got into the mortgage industry,” said Mayes. “It was something she fell in love with and gravitated towards.

Buying a home is probably the most important financial decision a family can make, and she treats it like that.

She loves being in a position to facilitate those decisions and those dreams.”

After a short stint with a mortgage company in Dallas, Griffith-Mayes returned to Denison, and after nearly 24 years is still working vigorously to help others achieve that long held American dream of owning a home.

He said his wife trained a lot of the people in the business in Texoma, and has multi-generational clients, having done home loans for parents and then for their children. __________ Certainty Home Loans was founded in 2000 as W.R. Starkey Mortgage

LLP and took its current name in 2017. The Plano-based company has offices in 15 states and the District of Columbia and has financed home purchases for more than 180,000 customers.

Despite being in one of the company’s smaller markets, the acuity that Griffith-Mayes brings to her business dealings is evidenced by the numbers. She is regularly among the top 10 loan officers in the company and occassionally one of the top three.

“She is one of the top producers in our company. It’s huge, because the people in bigger offices like Dallas are dealing with many more expensive homes,” said Reeves. “They do less units than we do — we may close 30 loans to their five.”

This speaks directly to Griffith-Mayes’ willingness to go all out for first time buyers and those with more modest needs and expectations.

“Her goal is to get people a home; that’s the number one thing that sets her apart,” said Reeves. “She strives to get you in a home no matter your

BEST OF TEXOMA

STARR COMMUNITY AWARD

“SHE’S GIVEN ME A LOT OF PERSPECTIVE ABOUT HOW TO REACT AND TREAT OTHER PEOPLE. SHE IS ALWAYS PUTTING FAMILY AND FRIENDS FIRST.” economic position, no matter your social position.”

That attitude toward her business is mirrored in her interactions with the people around her and her community.

“She’s extremely organized, motivated, never meets a stranger, friendly. If you’re in a crowd of people you’ll always know she’s there,” Reeves said. “She’s giving and loyal to her people. She gives back to the community in so many ways, with various groups, charities and organization like that.” __________ The same principals Griffith-Mayes applies to her business dealings also apply, or perhaps more properly, derive from the attitudes she adheres to in her personal life. Her husband, Brett Mayes, CEO of a company that develops computer software for the pharmaceutical industry, saw those qualities almost immediately when the pair reconnected years ago.

“It was on Facebook 11 years ago.

She sent me a message, and we chatted back and forth for a little while and then decided to meet at a football game in Denison,” Mayes recalled. “When I first saw her, I knew that we’d get married. I was certain of it, and we were married one year to the day after that.”

The Griffith-Mayes family lives on a ranch alongside the Red River with their two daughters, and there is an unusual story there.

“Willow and Zoe are the best things that ever happened to us,” said Mayes.

“We’re so blessed that we connected, because I never thought I would have

BEST OF TEXOMA.COM

kids. Both girls are adopted, and both came to us in similar ways. They weren’t part of an adoption process, it was sort of a ‘God arrangement.’ Zoe, she’s 13 now, came shortly before I entered the picture.

Vanya got her when she was six-monthsold. Child Protective Services was going to take custody of her and somebody at CPS thought of Vanya and asked if she wanted a baby, and Zoe filled her life with love.”

“Willow was kind of the same situation,” Mayes continued. “We got a call two days after she was born, asking if we wanted a baby, and we said sure. We picked her up the next day; it was the most amazing thing. We’d still like a couple of boys. We have the means, we have the love, we have the family; if it’s God’s will, we wouldn’t turn them down.”

Giving seems to be inherent in Griffith-Mayes’ make up, something her husband sees on a daily basis.

“During the holidays, she and the others at the office make cookies for the women’s shelter and even go sing to them,” he said. “There are couple of other places around town where they do that. She’s very active

doing things for her friends; she’s very giving; she thinks of other people before she thinks of herself.”

Griffith-Mayes is a strong supporter of many of Texoma charities and nonprofit community organizations such as CASA and the local Alzheimers Association.

“She’s a people person,” said Mayes.

“I’m an only child, and it amazes me to see how she treats everybody like they are family. She loves what she does and she cares about people; she’s taught me a lot.”

Mayes sees the selection of his wife for the Starr Community Award as a testament to what she has done for her community and the way she conducts her business. Griffith-Mayes positively impacts the people she deals with, and in the end, one way or the other, it is all about family, whether it be hers or someone else’s.

“She’s given me a lot of perspective about how to react and treat other people,” Mayes said. “She is always putting family and friends first. It is amazing to see how giving she is; she never says no.”

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Best Antique Store.............................117 Best Auto Dealership.........................117 Best Boat Sales.................................117 Best Boot Store/Western Wear.........117 Best Farm/Ranch Supplies...............117 Best Flooring Retailer........................121 Best Furniture Store..........................121 Best Gas Station................................121 Best Household Consignment..........121

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Best Jewelry Store.............................121 Best Landscape Rock & Gravel........125 Best Liquor Store...............................125 Best Locally Owned Business..........125 Best Mattress Retailer.......................125 Best Nursery/Garden Shop...............125 Best Outdoor Furniture and Accessories.........................131 Best Pawn Shop................................131

Best Place to Buy a Firearm.............131 Best Place to Buy a Pool or Spa.......131 Best Place to Buy an ATV..................131 Best Place to Buy Metal Buildings...138 Best Sewing/Quilting Shop...............138 Best Thrift Store.................................138 Best Used Car Dealership.................138 Best Women’s Clothing.....................138

BEST OF TEXOMA

THANK YOU TEXOMA FOR VOTING US FIRST PLACE “BEST OF TEXOMA”

BEST AUTO DEALERSHIP

BEST CAR SALESPERSON “BIG MIKE” NELSON

BEST USED CAR DEALERSHIP

Thanks to the incredible support of our community, it is our privilege to be voted as Best of Texoma FIRST PLACE in these 3 categories. We couldn’t achieve this honor without the amazing customers that we have come to know as friends and family. Now that we are able to offer not only Honda, Nissan and Toyota but also Chevrolet and Cadillac, our customer base is expanding even more rapidly. We’re now pleased to announce that we have the largest collision center facility in the Texoma area to serve all of your repair needs. Thank you again for your continued support.

BEST OF TEXOMA.COM

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SHOPPING & COMMERCE

digging the

dirt

BY ED SOUTHERLAND

T

exoma is for gardeners, and thousands — from the Master Gardener to the novice — that hope to develop their own green thumb are dedicated dirt diggers. But success with greenery is more than luck; a large part of the equation is knowing what to plant and when to plant it, and the experts who run the area’s garden shops and nurseries are the ones to ask.

Brandi Cassady, who works at Rustic Gardens in Denison, is one of those experts, so we asked her what we should be planting as spring comes to town.

“A lot of people are planting lavender, phlox, begonias and petunias,” she said, “then we have vegetables such as tomatoes, peppers and many of the herbs. People come in this time of year to start their vegetable gardens.”

Cassady said many of her customers like to plant hanging baskets in the spring, which can be moved around to add or

reduce exposure to the summer sun and thus increase the growing season.

“Because we don’t freeze here, you can plant 12 months out of the year; it’s just going to take a little more care on your behalf,” explained Linda Taube of Twin Oaks Nursery. “As a general rule, after the winter people are excited to get outside and plant when the weather is nice, and that’s when they do a lot of their landscaping.”

Taube said the fall is the time for color, with seasonal flowers such as mums, pansies and violas.

“Mid-summer, if your spring color needs a boost, you can plant lantana and other hot-loving plants like moss rose. A lot of people plant crepe myrtle, because that’s when it’s blooming, and they can run anywhere from two- or three feet tall all the way to 20 feet tall.”

And as for those vegetables...

“to plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow.”

— audrey hepburn “July is a good time for a second tomato crop, and fall is the time for beans and beets,” said Taube. Twin Oaks also offers a vegetable planting guide on their website.

Another excellent source for both plants and planting advice is Wilson’s Farm in Pottsboro. They have been providing growing things, bedding plants, trees and shrubs to Texoma gardeners since 1975, and their long-time experience with the ins and outs of gardening in the area make them a valuable resource for both what to grow and how to grow it. And don’t forget the resources of the Grayson County Master Gardeners program offered through the county’s AgriLife Extension Service.

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BEST OF TEXOMA

SHOPPING & COMMERCE

BEST ANTIQUE STORE

BEST AUTO DEALERSHIP

BEST BOAT SALES

BEST BOOT STORE/ WESTERN WEAR

BEST FARM/RANCH SUPPLIES

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

Main Street Mall (903) 463-1230 500 W Main St, Denison

Classic of Texoma (903) 463-9800 See page 115

Grandpappy Point (903) 465-6330 See page 95

Risk (903) 892-2238 102 S Crockett St, Sherman

Tractor Supply (903) 868-1116 3201 N 75 Hwy, Sherman

- WINNERS -

- WINNERS -

- WINNERS -

- WINNERS -

- WINNERS -

Vintage Mercantile (903) 423-1772 306 W Main St, Denison

Parkway Buick GMC (903) 274-4116 See page 128

Cedar Mills Marina (903) 523-4222 See page 107

Boot Barn (903) 892-4100 3201 N, US-75, Sherman

Dennards (903) 870-1802 Sherman, Whitesboro

A Touch of Class (903) 891-9379 See page 120

Bob Utter Ford (800) 259-3560 See page 139

MarineMax at Highport (903) 929-6000 See page 93

Dennards (903) 870-1802 Sherman, Whitesboro

Orscheln (903) 421-0138 2725 N Hwy 75, Sherman

Find a luxury lifestyle in Grayson County

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SHOPPING & COMMERCE

F R OM F L O U R S A C K S T O S E W N WO R K S O F A RT: THE QUILT AS YLUM TAL KS SH OP

BY ED SOUTHERLAND

118

Q

uilts, which in early America were a matter of necessity, have become in more recent times a medium for artistic expression that attracts a myriad of serious quilters all over the world.

“Years ago, everything was cut by hand and sewn by hand. Today, fabric is cut with rotary cutters and the sewing is done by machine,” said Charity Banks.

“The mechanics of quilting have changed, but what hasn’t changed is the culture of quilting; it’s still something that you do with other people. There is a social aspect to it. People sharing their art, their fabrics, their ideas,” added Kristen Banks.

The Banks sisters own Lulu and Hazel’s Quilt Shop in Durant, named after the sisters’ dogs.

“When you make a quilt, you make something that is going to last for a long time,” said Kristen. “Quilts are special and important.”

“We do a lot of quilts that are made out of people’s clothing that have passed on, and that’s a really special thing, too,” Charity

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“ A B ED WIT HOUT A QUI LT I S LIKE A S KY W I TH OUT STARS. ” — ANONYMOUS

added.

The shop offers quilting classes, sells fabric and patterns and does “longarm” quilting, which uses a special sewing machine to do the actual stitching. The quilting community is growing rapidly as more people turn to the hobby for practical as well as artistic reasons.

This is an idea echoed by Karen Riley, owner of The Quilt Asylum in Van Alstyne.

“Quilting has always been popular, but you’re just starting to hear about it,” Riley said. “It was popular in the 1970s, started to pick up again in the 90s and is really growing now.”

Like other quilt shops, The Quilt Asylum provides fabric, notions (tools need for quilting), classes, patterns and other things needed for making quilts.

“Because they needed quilts to keep

warm, in America in the 1930s when flour millers figured out women were using empty flour sacks for clothes and quilts, they started printing pretty designs on the sacks to boost their flour sales,” Riley said. “Today you can buy a blanket, so it’s not about necessity, it’s more about the art.”

There is a significant business in creating quilt designs, and Riley said most of her customers look to these patterns for their ideas.

“By choosing different fabrics, you can change the look of a quilt,” she said, “so most people come in, see a pattern they like, and then assert their creativity in the fabrics they choose and make it their own.”

Quilts are truly international. Riley said she carries a lot of patterns from Australian designers.

“They are very popular; they just think outside the box,” she said.

While quilting has embraced much that is modern, it is still about a needle, a thread, fabric and an idea.

THANK YOU... for voting and for your loyalty and patronage over the past 22 years. You are the best of the best! Our thanks also to our community and the many organizations that work tirelessly to make Texoma so special.

Best Antique Store

BEST ANTIQUE STORE

118 W Lamar St. Sherman, Tx 75090 l 903.891.9379 l ATouchofClassAntiqueMall.com 120

BEST OF TEXOMA

SHOPPING & COMMERCE

BEST FLOORING RETAILER

BEST FURNITURE STORE

BEST GAS STATION

BEST HOUSEHOLD CONSIGNMENT

BEST JEWELRY STORE

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Robert’s Decorator Supply (903) 892-3508 See page 143

Knight Furniture (903) 893-9484 See page 7

Lone Star Food Store #50 (903) 892-1847 See page 125

Fan and Flame (903) 892-0224 5308 Texoma Pkwy, Sherman

McEwen Jewelers (903) 892-3214 1800 N Travis, Sherman

- WINNERS -

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- WINNERS - WINNERS -

- WINNERS Lowe’s (903) 892-8181 2801 N, US-75, Sherman

Signature Home Furnishings (903) 892-0403 See page 119

Gold Star Carpet One (903) 357-5134 2730 S Woodlawn Blvd, Denison

Ashley Furniture Homestore (903) 771-2720 See page 133

Sam’s Club (903) 209-7528 3333 N Hwy 75, Sherman QuikTrip (903) 771-0772 6120 N Hwy 75, Sherman

My Friend’s House (903) 465-2660 313 W Main St, Denison Main Street Mall (903) 463-1230 500 W Main St, Denison

CHOP STONE FLAGSTONE BUILDING STONE Sands, Gravels, Mulches, & Soils

Kay Jewelers (903) 870-4059 613 E Northcreek Dr, Sherman Jeweler’s Bench (903) 893-4671 2916 N. US Hwy 75, Sherman

BEST LANDSCAPE ROCK & GRAVEL

Wholesale & Retail For Home & Business Construction

5208 Texoma Pkwy, Sherman, TX BEST OF TEXOMA.COM

(903) 868-3515

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A TOUCH OF NOSTALGIA REBECCA JONES / GRAYSON MAGAZINE

BY ED SOUTHERLAND

W

hat make an object an antique? The dictionary says it is “a collectible object such as a piece of furniture or work of art that has a high value because of its considerable age,” but there are other factors that enter into a workable definition, with one of the most important being rarity. In recent times, the term “antique” has become almost interchangeable with “collectible.”

Steve Huddleston at Vintage Mercantile has been buying and selling antiques for 40 years.

“Most people think it needs to be at least 50 years old, but in my book I think 100 years is a better number,” Huddleston said. “Of course, a lot of people now are collecting stuff from the 1960s and 70s, so the definition is changing. A lot of younger people, who are collecting things their parents had, would call those items antiques as well.”

The word “antique” used to conjure the image of colonial era furniture, objet d’art from the distant past and other items of antiquity and usually rarity. But that idea is expanding to include things described as “vintage” and “collectible.” Star Wars memorabilia is not that old, and it is vintage only if it pre-dates your awareness of it, but is definitely in short supply and hence, collectible.

Main Street Mall in Denison is a collection of independent vendors under one roof. Owned by B.J. Davis, the store encompasses all of the new era definitions.

“The old rule was anything 50 years or older,” she said, “but it’s more now.

We have antiques but also have vintage items and collectibles. In fact, that’s our logo, ‘Main Street Mall, We Have It All — Antiques, Vintage & Collectibles.’”

Essentially, the idea is one of remembering and wanting to acquire memories of things’ past.

“People walk through the mall and it’s about nostalgia,” Davis said.

Most all of us are collectors of one sort or another, and an important part of the intrigue of collecting is the idea of the hunt; the idea of searching for rarity and finding it in unusual places is central to the experience.

Ivert and Jeanette Mayhugh own Touch of Class Antique Mall, and their ideas of antiques fall along more traditional lines.

“I’d say antiques were things more than 100 years old,” said Ivert. “Of course, antique items can be highly collectible, and likewise with vintage, so I see the collectibles as crossing all definitions.”

“Everyone has their own special interests,” said Jeanette. “Some people want furniture, others want books and some want collectibles (or) toys, so these days, antiques represent a wide range of things, which is what makes the experience so interesting.”

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Pool & Spa Chemicals FREE Water Testing 124

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BEST LIQUOR STORE

BEST LOCALLY OWNED BUSINESS

BEST MATTRESS RETAILER

BEST NURSERY/ GARDEN SHOP

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- FIRST PLACE -

Good Earth Soil and Materials (903) 893-3400 See page 127

Fossil Creek (903) 463-3100 2730 U.S. 75 Frontage Rd, Denison

Knight Furniture (903) 893-9484 See page 7

Knight Furniture (903) 893-9484 See page 7

Twin Oaks Nursery (903) 463-2205 See page 117

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Weger Sand and Gravel (903) 465-2445 309 E Crawford St, Denison

Driggs (903) 465-1083 7205 F M Rd 691 Denison

Fierce Motions in Dance (214) 551-9515 260 E Marshall St, Van Alstyne

Denver Mattress (903) 892-8016 2201 Hwy 75 North Suite DM, Sherman

Wilson’s Farm (214) 727-5737 See page 123

Downtown Escape Rooms (903) 815-1495 See page 135

Mattress Plus More (903) 463-3340 3515 W Fm Road 120, Denison

C & L Natural Stone (903) 868-3515 See page 121

BEST OF TEXOMA.COM

Knollwood (903) 892-0889 223 Knollwood Rd, Sherman

Rustic Gardens and Imports (903) 465-2645 1231 S Armstrong Ave, Denison

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u)

wh e

el s

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yo

BY ED SOUTHERLAND

F

Ne

w

(a

nd

ne

w

to

rom its earliest appearance on the road, Americans fell in love with the automobile. Since then, few things have put a light in the eye of consumers like the prospect of new wheels.

Today, with so much from which to choose, the biggest question in the minds of many prospective buyers is whether to go new or used. What is the best option for me and my situation? To find out, we decided to let a new car and a used car sales rep battle it out.

In the blue (new) corner, Kourtnee Ferguson, Internet sales consultant for Bob Utter Ford, and in the red (used) corner, used car sales manager for Classic of Texoma, Nate Casstevens.

ROUND 2: RELIABILITY ROUND 1: UP FRONT COSTS “New car prices are very competitive,” said Ferguson.

“They usually come with special incentives and rebates that aren’t available on a used model, and interest on new car loans are usually lower.”

But then prices on used cars are no longer the mystery they once were.

“We use NADA information and pass it along to our customers,” said Casstevens, “so they know they are getting a good price on the car.

Often, on low mileage recent models with many of the same accessories, those prices will be considerably less than on a new car. And when it comes to insurance, the used car will usually be less.”

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“CarFax lists everything that has ever happened to a specific car,” said Casstevens. “Accidents, recalls, problems, insurance claims and the like are all on the report according to the car’s VIN (number). There is no place to hide problems anymore. Our dealership provides every prospective buyer with a report, but if a seller is reluctant to produce one, get it yourself and find out why.”

“Our new cars have great warranties and the latest technology, so if problems arise, you will be covered,” Ferguson pointed out.

“Many used cars retain whatever coverage, if any, is left on the original warranty terms and often, dealers will extend this by three months or several thousand miles,” Casstevens countered.

“Aftermarket warranties can be purchased to cover unexpected problems, and many dealers offer certified used cars.”

ROUND 3: DEPRECIATION AND VALUE “Used cars are always a good option because of the depreciation difference,” said Casstevens.

“Cars are built so well these days that they will last a long time.

Sometimes you can get a nice, low mileage used car that will last as long as a new car would and for a significantly lower price.”

A good point, but Ferguson had a solid comeback.

“There’s nothing like that new car smell,” she said. “And there’s a feeling you get purchasing a new vehicle and driving off the lot with no miles on the vehicle.

You get to put the miles on it.”

And the winner is? Well, I guess that’s up to you.

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THANKS FOR VOTING FOR US!

BEST AUTO DEALERSHIP

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3314 TEXOMA PARKWAY • SHERMAN

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903-8

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892-1561 BEST OF TEXOMA.COM

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WWW.PARKWAYBUICKGMC.COM

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SHOPPING & COMMERCE

BEST OUTDOOR FURNITURE AND ACCESORIES

BEST PAWN SHOP

BEST PLACE TO BUY A FIREARM

BEST PLACE TO BUY A POOL OR SPA

BEST PLACE TO BUY AN ATV

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- FIRST PLACE -

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Lowe’s (903) 892-8181 2801 N, US-75, Sherman

Best Pawn (903) 892-2227 6400 Texoma Pkwy Sherman

Best Pawn (903) 892-2227 6400 Texoma Pkwy Sherman

Texoma Country Pools & Spa (903) 891-3483 See page 124

Sherman Powersports (903) 868-3030 1205 S Sam Rayburn Fwy, Sherman

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- WINNERS -

Cash America (903) 868-1827 2700 Texoma Pkwy, Sherman

Academy (903) 813-3860 3939 US-75, Sherman

All Pro Pools (903) 327-8830 4431 W Crawford St, Denison

Outdoor Powersports (903) 813-5464 3908 N Texoma Pkwy, Sherman

Past and Blast (903) 564-5444 139 E Main St, Whitesboro

Allison (903) 465-6073 112 Seymore Bradley Rd, Denison

- WINNERS Ashley Homestore (903) 771-2720 See page 133 Crabtree’s (903) 465-7226 1420 S Armstrong Ave, Denison

F&I Pawn (903) 463-2266 See page 10

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4

FUN ON

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I

f it has an engine, goes “vroom!” and gets from here to there in a hurry, it just may be part of a relatively new category of recreation known as powersports. Motorcycles, street and dirt bikes fit the definition, as do ATVs, side-by-sides (a larger capacity ATV) and personal watercraft (think jet skis).

J.T. Bishop is the sales manager for Jones Powersports of Durant, and he defines the genre as “on and off-road recreational vehicles.”

“Powersports are growing because they are becoming more well known,” Bishop said. “There are a lot of people going out on the weekend and riding with friends and family. It’s a way to get out of the house and have fun.”

Bishop said side-by-sides are his “bread and butter,” with customers ranging from farmers and stockmen who use the vehi-

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WHEELS

BY ED SOUTH

ERLAND

cles in their work to people who off-road the trails and mud parks just for fun.

Jason Williams, co-owner of Sherman Powersports, added to the definition of the popular off-road vehicles.

“An ATV is your more common ‘ride-on’ four-wheel vehicle. You sit on it and operate it with handlebar controls more like a motorcycle,” Williams said. “A side-by-side is more of a ‘ride-in’ utility vehicle. Generally it is two people riding side-by-side inside, rather than on, the vehicle.”

“Our most typical customers for ATVs are farmers and ranchers looking for a way to get around their property,” Williams continued. “They need to hook a trailer up to (the vehicle) to take feed to their animals or collect debris. With an ATV, they can go just about anywhere on their property. We also have customers who just like to go out in the woods and ride for fun. But by and large, farmers and

ranchers are our principal market.”

Donovan Clark, sales manager of Outdoor Power Sports, has a succinct explanation of why customers come to see him.

“We deal in fun,” he said.

The side-by-side is the most popular seller in his inventory, and Clark said people buy them to “play in the mud or work around the farm. It’s about a 50/50 split.”

While the general purposes for which these vehicles are used vary, the variations on how to achieve those goals are significant. In the growing field of powersport vehicles, you can do just about anything you want to do.

“There are different styles for utility work; there are turbos, muds and racing styles for other special applications,” Clark said. “It just depends on what you want to do.”

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KEEPING IT CLOSE TO HOME

BY ED SOUTHERLAND

Locally owned businesses are thriving in Texoma. With some businesses that are more than 100 years old and some that were founded just this year, many operations have chosen to call Texoma home.

Some things that have caught the attention of customers are a long record of community service and involvement, as well as innovation and the willingness to offer something new.

Longevity honors go to Knight Furniture, whose business opened on Kelly Square in Sherman (where it still stands), in 1912.

“We not only want to sell in the community, but it’s important for us to give back to it as well,” said Knight Vice President Joey Gunn. “It’s pretty awesome that you’ll see our logo or our team members at Little League games

KNIGHT

DOWNTOWN ESCAPE ROOMS OF SHERMAN

FIERCE MOTIONS IN DANCE

or the Chamber of Commerce or other events in the community. All of that shows that our commitment is a lot more than just selling furniture. We hope that is what people are thinking when they nominate us, and for certain, it encourages us to keep doing it.”

BEST OF TEXOMA.COM

Innovation describes Downtown Escape Rooms of Sherman, which Shary Henderson and her husband, Danny, opened two years ago.

“It’s about bringing family members, co-workers or any group of people to work together to solve riddles, work puzzles and figure out clues to escape

from a closed room. It’s all about team work, team building and communication. It’s just family fun,” Henderson said.

There are three escape rooms with three different storylines in the operation now, and a fourth room is under construction.

The Hendersons experienced the escape room concept in another city and liked the idea so much they brought it to Sherman in February 2017 and found a receptive audience eager for a mysterious experience.

Donna Kramer-Almon started dancing at the age of two in her native New Jersey, danced professionally and had her own studio there before relocating to Frisco and then Van Alstyne in 2014, when she started Fierce Motions in Dance.

Kramer-Almon teaches would-be dancers from age two through adult, offering ballet, tap, jazz, hip-hop and other dance disciplines.

“We love each other and create our own little family in the studio,” Kramer-Almon said. “I just love the children and want to pass on the love of dance to them.”

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SET B O AT I N G I N

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SAIL TEXOMALAND

BY ED SOUTHERLAND is big on boats. It’s T exoma not surprising, considering

the impact Lake Texoma has on life on both sides of the lake. Boats of all sizes, shapes and types abound on Texoma’s bounding main, so if you’re planning to take to the water, what should you consider before taking the plunge?

The first question is likely power or sail.

“Texoma is a good lake for sailors,” said Randy Worstell, yacht broker at Cedar Mills Marina, the lake’s most popular sailboat center. “The lake is large enough and deep enough that a sailor can go from point to point without constant tacking, and the shoreline has many coves and inlets for a sailor to heave to and spend some quiet time.”

Overriding all considerations is the question of budget.

Boats and their upkeep can be expensive, so understanding what you can afford is as important as knowing what you want to do on the water.

BEST OF TEXOMA.COM

Rick Lemon, sales manager at Grandpappy Point, puts budget and purpose as the most important considerations.

“Texoma has more power boaters than sail boaters.

Pontoon boats and ski boats have come on strong the last few years,” he said. “Pontoon boats, particularly the tritoons, perform really well.

(Tritoons) ride better and with a 250 horsepower engine can get up to 50 miles per hour,” Lemon said.

Another factor in choosing a boat is what to do with it when not in the water.

“Do you want to trailer it or keep it in the water?” asks Wally Wells, sales manager at Highport’s MarineMax. “If you want to trailer it, you have to have the storage facilities. If you don’t, consider a slip at a marina. If you’re into water sports, you don’t want the boat to sit in the water; you want it on a lift.”

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SHOPPING & COMMERCE

BEST PLACE TO BUY METAL BUILDINGS

BEST SEWING/ QUILTING SHOP

BEST THRIFT STORE

BEST USED CAR DEALERSHIP

BEST WOMEN’S CLOTHING

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

Mueller (903) 892-6222 110 W US Hwy 82, Sherman

JoAnn (903) 892-9107 4127 N Hwy 75, Sherman

Resale Barn (903) 786-2402 518 FM 120, Pottsboro

Classic of Texoma (903) 463-9800 See page 115

Glitzy Girlz (903) 893-3622 100 S Crockett St, Sherman

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Monitor (903) 893-6336 200 Elliott Rd, Sherman

Lulu and Hazel’s Quilt Shop (580) 931-9112 502 Bryan Dr, Durant

Crisis Center Thrift Store (903) 813-0022 1729 Texoma Pkwy, Sherman

Bob Utter Ford (800) 259-3560 See page 139

Belk (903) 893-7051 3606 Town Center Dr, Sherman

Quilt Asylum (972) 821-1508 See page 138

Goodwill (903) 893-3145 Multiple locations

Metal Warehouse (903) 465-6699 See page 131

SHOP ONLINE www.TheQuiltAsylum.com Books, Fabrics, Precuts & Bundles Notions, Kits & Gifts CHECK OUT OUR CLASS SCHEDULE ONLINE

166 E. Jefferson St. Van Alstyne, TX 75495 www.TheQuiltAsylum.com l (972) 821-1508 138

Parkway Buick GMC (903) 274-4116 See page 128

Sandi’s (903) 892-4240 115 S Travis St, Sherman

BEST SEWING/ QUILTING SHOP

Tuesday - Saturday 9:30 am - 5:30 pm Sunday & Monday Closed BEST OF TEXOMA

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BEST TOWING SERVICE

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BEST CAR SALESPERSON

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firearms drive sales at local pawn shop

AIMING TO PLEASE

BY ED SOUTHERLAND

When the pilgrims set out to bag a turkey for their first Thanksgiving, they picked up the appropriate tool and headed for the woods. That tool was a firearm, and Americans have been relying on guns of all manner ever since.

In a good position to satisfy that reliance is the Best Pawn Superstore in Sherman, whose sign outside the business proudly proclaims the largest selection of guns in Grayson County.

Best Pawn Manager Cliff Montgomery explained why his business carries so

many firearms.

“We just chase the growth, and the growth in our business has always been firearms and shooting accessories,” said Montgomery. “When there is demand for something, we try to meet that demand.”

About 40 percent of the weapons on display in the store are items that were pawned and not redeemed or bought outright from owners. The balance of the inventory consists of new items.

“I always tell people that the

quickest way to get money in a pawn shop is with guns or gold,” Montgomery said.

Best Pawn has a Federal Firearms License issued by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms that allows the business to take guns in, buy them and sell them.

“Everything we buy or sell is run through the Sherman Police Department so we know it is not stolen, and we have to verify that when someone wants to buy a gun from us, it is legal for that person to own it,”

EDWARD SOUTHERLAND / BEST OF TEXOMA

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BEST OF TEXOMA

EDWARD SOUTHERLAND / BEST OF TEXOMA

Montgomery said.

The citizens of Texoma like guns, buying them for hunting, sport shooting and self protection. Every year, there seems to see new rules governing who can buy what from whom.

BEST PAWN SUPERSTORE “To buy a gun of any type, you have to fill out a 4473 form that asks the weapon to a licensed dealer in the several questions such as your full buyer’s home state for delivery. name and address,” Montgomery said.

At Best Pawn, long guns of all types “We then submit that to the FBI for are lined up in racks behind the glass a background check to see if you can display cases filled with handguns. legally own a firearm. We can’t sell “Concealed carry and licensed to caryou a gun until the FBI approves the transaction.” ry guns are our best sellers, and there are probably 10 guns that come under Montgomery said it usually takes that definition,” Montgomery said. from five minutes to three days to get approval from the FBI, and less than To get the proper carrying license in five percent of would-be buyers are Texas requires the gun owner to take turned down. a gun safety class that lasts about one day and finishes with a written In addition to federal regulations, test and shooting test. Once the state each state has its own requirements for gun ownership. approves everything, the owner is licensed. That service is not something “Only Texas residents who are over 21 can buy a handgun from me,” Mont- Best Pawn offers, but Texoma has several instructors who teach the classes gomery said. “For a rifle or long gun, and administer the tests. you only have to be 18 but you don’t have to be a Texas resident.”

“There is a ‘Castle Doctrine’ in Texas that allows you to carry a hand gun An out of state customer can buy a pistol in Texas if he meets all the cri- legally in your car without a license,” teria, but Best Pawn will have to ship said Montgomery.

That said, the Texas “Castle Doctrine” or “defense of habitation” law as set out in Section 9.31 of the Texas Penal Code, is very specific as to what constitutes habitation and self defense. A gun owner should get an expert to explain the finer points of the law before deciding to take advantage of its provisions.

“I have people who work for me who know what they’re doing,” Montgomery said of the employees that work at Best Pawn. “I have people who understand what the customer wants and needs, not just what we want to sell.

We send people to school and training on a regular basis to help them better understand the product they’re selling.

We have the biggest selection of guns in Grayson County and the largest selection of ammo and accessories under one roof, and our prices are fair. We take care of our customers.”

That’s is aiming to please.

“THE GROWTH IN OUR BUSINESS HAS ALWAYS BEEN FIREARMS AND SHOOTING ACCESSORIES. WHEN THERE’S DEMAND FOR SOMETHING, WE TRY TO MEET THAT DEMAND.” BEST OF TEXOMA.COM

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UNDER FOOT

considerations for choosing home flooring

BY ED SOUTHERLAND

Most people never give a thought to what is underfoot when they walk around their home or apartment (unless they have to find a mop to clean up a spill). For years, the idea of wall-to-wall carpet was the ultimate in luxury living for many. But today, as new choices appear and old choices improve, what goes under foot is an important question for home owners.

Roberts Decorating Supply Co. owner Mike Goolsey answered that question.

“Hard surface has taken over the market because it’s easier to live on (and) easier to take care of,” he said.

“There are still people who like to have carpet in the bedroom for example; they like to get up in the morning to the feel of a warm, soft carpet under foot, and there are those who want hard surface everywhere. That’s the biggest thing people have to figure out. What do they want to live with?”

Once you decide what you want, you are faced with a myriad of choices. That is where other factors come into play.

“Wood floors can be used anywhere, but if moisture is a concern, such as in

142

a kitchen or a bathroom, wood might not be the best choice,” he said. “But if you prefer the look of wood, there are products that replicate the look and feel of wood but are moisture proof.”

Goolsey said tile is still a favorite for bathrooms and kitchens, although it comes with its own pluses and minuses. Grout, a necessity in any tile application, will get dirty over time and is hard to clean, and tile on the floor can be hard on your feet if you are standing, as you would at a kitchen counter, for long periods of time.

In days past, manufactured flooring such as sheet linoleum was the most popular covering in high moisture, high traffic areas, but since the arrival of polyvinyl chloride in the 1950s, linoleum has largely disappeared from the market, then came laminates. Now, vinyl plank is often the way to go.

“The vinyl plank market has taken over the laminate business,” said Goolsey. “You could take a piece of vinyl plank and put it in your bathtub and it wouldn’t hurt it. We use a lot of vinyl plank, often in every room in a house. The clear finish on the

vinyl plank is the same kind of finish found on a hardwood floor, so it is extremely durable and pretty much moisture resistant.”

Whatever sort of floor you choose, to keep it looking its best you have to keep it clean. For most surfaces, essentially all that is needed is a broom and an occasional swipe with a damp mop. Goolsey was quick to point out that manufacturers include detailed instructions on what and what not to use to keep your flooring in top shape.

Even modern hardwood floors are engineered products. Not just a piece of wood cut from a tree and laid down as flooring, modern wood floors are carefully constructed of layers, much like plywood, to improve its durability and stability. The days of cupped and puckered floor boards are long past.

Bringing it down to brass tacks (or carpet tacks one supposes, in this case), Goolsey offered four areas of consideration in choosing flooring.

1. The type of area: “You wouldn’t want to put carpet in the laundry room.”

2. The type of wear: “In a

bedroom that is not going to have a lot of traffic, carpet is wonderful. In a den or family room, hard surface would be a better choice.”

3. Decorating aspects: “What kind of look do you want and what fits that design? You wouldn’t want a vinyl plank that looks like it belongs in a cabin in a formal space, for example.”

4. Budget and price: “What fits your budget, and how can you spread your budget over your choices to get the best for your money? If you are only going to use carpet in a few areas, perhaps you can go with a higher grade, more luxurious product, for example.”

Interestingly, the rise in the use of highly realistic wood vinyl planking and other hard surface materials has given rise to a renewed use of area rugs to add warmth and variety to decorating considerations. Goolsey said that any style, color or pattern of carpet can be cut to any size and bound into an area rug to fit the most meticulous needs.

And what about those magic carpets that fly? Sorry, you’ll have to look elsewhere for that version.

BEST OF TEXOMA

WE ARE HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE THE ADDITION OF OUR NEW INTERIOR DECORATOR HEATHER SHIELDS

BEST FLOORING RETAILER

W CALL NO FOR AN ITH APPT. W R HEATHE

BEST OF TEXOMA.COM

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SHOPPING & COMMERCE

ROCKIN’ AND ROLLIN’

BY ED SOUTHERLAND

F

red Flintstone never realized what a treasure trove he had in his Bedrock backyard.

Stone fascia for homes and finely crushed rock and ornamental boulders for landscaping are big business in Texoma, and Doyle Moore’s Good Earth Soil & Materials in Sherman is rockin’ the rock business.

“We buy stone from Oklahoma, Arkansas, New Mexico, Texas, Colorado and occasionally out of Utah and sell to contractors, landscape contractors and home builders,” Moore said. “A lot of what we buy is sandstone and limestone.”

The slabs of sandstone and limestone come on pallets already prepared for use. They are cut, shaped, sized and ready to be installed by a qualified mason.

Some of the limestone, particularly a variety called Leuders, an especially hard limestone that comes from quarries near Leuders, Texas, comes in two-inch slabs ready for installation as counter tops. Leuders stone was used as fascia material when the Fannin County Courthouse was remodeled in the 1960s.

Today, that fascia has been removed and the building is under renovation to return

GOOD EARTH SOIL & MATERIALS

EDWARD SOUTHERLAND / HERALD DEMOCRAT

144

BEST OF TEXOMA

SHOPPING & COMMERCE

DID YOU KNOW? LIMESTONE IN AGGREGATE FORM, MUCH OF WHICH COMES FROM THE STRINGTOWN QUARRIES IN OKLAHOMA, IS WIDELY USED AS BASE MATERIAL FOR CONSTRUCTION.

rock landscaping is trending in texoma it to the way it looked when built in 1888-89. This restoration will once again expose the original building material, limestone from a now-abandoned quarry in Gober.

Limestone in aggregate form, much of which comes from the Stringtown quarries in Oklahoma, is widely used as base material for construction.

“The base white limestone is used as a base under roads,” Moore explained.

“We sell a lot to Eisenhower State Park for use under their roads, and it’s also used in home construction for use under patios.”

Growing in popularity in the Texoma area is use of stone fascia for homes.

“I’ve got a bid right now for fascia for a 26,000-square-foot house,” Moore said.

“That’s huge.”

Moore pulled up a picture of the project on his phone, which reveals a turreted structure that looked a bit

BEST OF TEXOMA.COM

like an old castle built of multi-colored blocks of stone.

“The owner sent me the picture of the blend and wanted to know if I could match it,” he said. “Because I know where most of this material comes from, I could do it. The material comes from five different quarries.”

A number of older homes and buildings in Denison and Sherman used irregular shaped stones for an outer covering.

Popular in the 1930s and 40s, the look is making a comeback, and Moore said he had more of that material on his lot than in the past.

One corner of the yard has piles of large, round river rocks, mostly from Colorado. You can’t lay the river rock very high, Moore said.

“It can’t go over a couple of feet high because it would just fall over, but the square material doesn’t have that restriction,” he said.

And then there are those ornamental boulders seen scattered about in both home and commercial applications. No, they weren’t left there by a retreating ice-age glacier, they were set in place by a very big fork lift.

“Most of the boulders are a sandstone material, and the ones I get out of Oklahoma are a lot prettier than what you find further south in Texas,” Moore said.

“I’ve been buying from the same guy for 15 years. He picks them up off peoples’ farms (and) pays for them, and it helps the farmers get rid of the rocks so they can grow more grass. I’ll buy a truck load at a time. We sell a lot of them to homeowners to keep people from cutting corners.”

The largest boulder Moore said he has sold took two forklifts to move. Rock on.

145

Best Attorney - Civil..............................149 Best Attorney - Criminal.......................149 Best Attorney - Family..........................149 Best Attorney - Real Estate..................149 Best Auto Body/Collision Repair.........149 Best Auto Dealer Service Department 152

Best Auto Repair and Service.............152 Best Barber Shop.................................152 Best Car Salesperson...........................152 Best Car Wash.......................................152 Best Criminal Defense Attorney...........153 Best Daycare.........................................153

Best Divorce Attorney...........................153 Best Electrical Services........................153 Best Fence Company............................153 Best Florist.............................................157 Best Foundation Repair........................157 Best Funeral Home...............................157

Best Hair Salon.....................................157 Best Heat & Air Services......................157 Best Home Painting Service................163 Best Interior Design..............................163 Best Locksmith.....................................163 Best Nail Salon......................................163

Best Pet Boarding.................................163 Best Pet Groomer..................................167 Best Photographer................................167 Best Plumbing Services.......................167 Best Remodeling Services...................167 Best Roofer............................................167

Best Security Company........................175 Best Storage Facility.............................175 Best Towing Service.............................175 Best TV Provider....................................175 Best Veterinarian...................................175

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BEST OF TEXOMA

BEST OF TEXOMA.COM

147

SERVICES

BY ED SOUTHERLAND

SAY IT

WITH T

he internet and grocery stores are wilting local florists. The rise of 1-800 flower services, one click ordering from websites and floral services offered in many supermarkets are making it hard for local florists to survive.

“Grocery stores have hurt the small ‘mom and pop’ florists a lot,” said Nadine Brown of Wayside Florists in Sherman.

One factor in the expansion of flower services is that florists no

Flowers

longer grow their own plants in greenhouses. Today, just about every floral retailer gets their flowers from wholesalers who get them from national and international flower farms.

Big name national floral retailers also present a problem for the local florist the public usually does not think about.

“They are not really

florists; they are just call-in centers,” said Brown. “The caller does not know where they are, but they are usually not local. They think they are calling a flower shop, but they’re not.”

Call centers take the customer’s order, tack on a healthy fee and send the order to a local florist like Wayside who fulfills the order and delivers the

DID YOU KNOW? Roses share a relation with almonds, apples, raspberries, cherries, peaches, plums, nectarines and pears.

148

BEST OF TEXOMA

SERVICES

BEST ATTORNEY -CIVIL-

BEST ATTORNEY -CRIMINAL-

BEST ATTORNEY -FAMILY-

BEST ATTORNEY -REAL ESTATE-

BEST AUTO BODY/ COLLISION REPAIR

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

Brett Evans (903) 465-4303 933 W Main St, Denison

Britton Brooks (903) 819-0720 See page 3

Britton Brooks (903) 819-0720 See page 3

Ben Munson (903) 463-3750 123 S Travis St, Sherman

Sherman Collision Repair (903) 893-4971 See page 156

- WINNERS -

- WINNERS -

- WINNERS -

- WINNERS -

- WINNERS -

Bill Kennedy (903) 405-3282 121 S Austin Ave, Denison

James Morris (903) 868-1995 100 N Travis St # 503, Sherman

James Fry (903) 892-6602 306 N Travis St, Sherman

Princess “Penny” Brown (903) 463-3750 123 S Travis St, Sherman

Star Auto Body & Alignment (903) 893-2428 515 N Collins Fwy, Howe

Sheila Shea (903) 870-7771 See page 179

Brett Evans (903) 465-4303 933 W Main St, Denison

LeCrone Law Firm (903) 813-1900 See page 159

Bill Kennedy (903) 405-3282 121 S Austin Ave, Denison

THANKS FOR VOTING US

Parkway Buick GMC (903) 274-4116 See page 128

Best Fence Company Best Home Painting Service Best Remodeling Services

We thrive on the word-of-mouth reputation we receive from our community! Our word and our work is always backed by integrity. We will design, build, and/or repair all of your construction needs. We will work closely with you to meet and exceed all of your desires. If you can imagine it, we can build it!

We build fences, custom driveway gates and install operators. We build concrete slabs, decks, patios, patio covers, pergolas, porches, sheds. We also do electrical work, garage door operators, flooring, landscaping, home painting, plumbing, pressure washing, siding, exterior lighting, welding, window and door installation, video doorbells, and video camera surveillance systems. We are a one-stop construction shop!

903.821.8117

BEST OF TEXOMA.COM

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SERVICES

flowers.

“Customers don’t realize that part of their money is being pocketed by someone who doesn’t give full value for what they are ordering,” Brown said.

Tammie McCraw owns Hanna’s Florist.

“You can open up the Grayson County phone book and find 10 or 12 florists listed in there,” she said. “Most of them aren’t really florists; they’re order takers.

If the customer called us directly, they wouldn’t be charged as much.”

Another problem vexing local shops concerns their websites.

“When people type in ‘Hanna’s Florist’ it pulls that up, but when they click on it, it can link them to 1-800 order gatherers. I’m not sure how they do that. I’ve talked to the person who runs our website, and they say they can’t control it.”

McCraw said the best way for Texoma residents to assure full value for their flower dollar is to deal with a local flower shop directly by phone and avoid centralized order collectors who simple act as a middle man.

Nadine Brown agrees.

“Sometimes I have to decline an order because it is not worth it,” she said. “Hopefully, one of these days we can get back to where we were when people just called a local flower shop to provide them a service.”

Thank you for voting us afor TOP 3 Thank you nominating us as TOP 3 for Best Pet Boarding Texoma!

BEST PET BEST PET

A1 A1

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GROOMER

BOARDING

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GROOMING GROOMING && BOARDING BOARDING

Where we treat your pet as part of our family!

Boarding

Nail Trimming

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And More!!

1878 HARRELL RD. HOWE, TX 75459 | 903-532-5371

150

BEST OF TEXOMA

BEST ROOFER

ï‚·

BEST OF TEXOMA.COM

151

SERVICES

BEST DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT

BEST AUTO REPAIR AND SERVICE

BEST BARBERSHOP

BEST CAR SALESPERSON

BEST CAR WASH

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

Parkway Buick GMC (903) 274-4116 See page 128

B&B Automotive & Wrecker (903) 463-6259 See page 164

Bro’s House of Fades (903) 818-1588 113 N Travis St, Sherman

Mike Nelson Classic of Texoma (888) 457-5726

The Wash Factory (940) 222-3086 See page 170

- WINNERS -

- WINNERS -

- WINNERS -

Gents VII (903) 818-8876 See page 175

Jonah Peters Bob Utter Ford 888-718-8171

Lone Star #50 (903) 870-2083 See page 125

Fellas Men’s Hair (580) 434-5375 222 W Houston St, Sherman

Kevin Hayes Parkway Buick GMC (903) 274-4113

Whistle Stop (903) 893-7338 3605 Texoma Pkwy, Sherman

- WINNERS - WINNERS Blake Utter Ford (866) 219-0209 See page 139 Bob Utter Ford (800) 259-3560 See page 139

Bob Utter Ford (800) 259-3560 See page 139 Parkway Buick GMC (903) 274-4116 See page 128

AWARDS ARE FUN... BUT DESIGN IS EVEN MORE FUN! VOTED BEST INTERIOR DESIGN

BEST INTERIOR DESIGN John and Carol Davis

152

702 North Travis, Sherman | 903.893.1233 | www.interiorhomestore.com

BEST OF TEXOMA

SERVICES

BEST CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY

BEST DAYCARE

BEST DIVORCE ATTORNEY

BEST ELECTRICAL SERVICES

BEST FENCE COMPANY

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

Bob Jarvis (903) 892-8500 123 W Houston St, Sherman

Kiddie Kampus (903) 463-3661 See page 155

Britton Brooks (903) 813-1900 See page 3

Webb’s Electric (903) 821-5965 See page 8

- WINNERS -

- WINNERS -

- WINNERS -

- WINNERS -

Reliable Roofing & Fencing (903) 818-3082 1721 W McGee St, Sherman

John Hunter Smith (903) 893-8177 707 W Washington St, Sherman

Pre School for Little Zebras (903) 816-2432 1211 Blanton Drive Sherman

James Fry (903) 892-6602 306 N Travis St, Sherman

Reynolds Electric (903) 892-1154 See page 178

Sheila Shea (903) 870-7771 See page 179

Top Notch Electrician (972) 379-8646 See page 161

Bill Kennedy (903) 405-3282 121 S Austin Ave, Denison

BEST OF TEXOMA.COM

Liberty Christian Child Care (903) 892-8269 364 Liberty Hill Cir, Sherman

- WINNERS Ace Quality Fencing (580) 920-5184 507 N. Bryant Sherman King Cole Enterprise (903) 821-8117 See page 149

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SERVICES

PET CARE YOU CAN TRUST

BY ED SOUTHERLAND

T

exoma has built a solid reputation as a center for medical service in North Texas, but health care is not just for people. With the area’s long history with ranching and farming, it’s also home to outstanding veterinarian services. Serving agricultural interests as well as domestic pets, someone is there when you need help for your animals.

TEXOMA VETERINARY HOSPITAL 5005 N. FM 1417 Sherman, TX 903-300-1547

No. of years in business: 35 No. of animals seen a year: 14,331

LANGE VETERINARY HOSPITAL 2103 W Houston St. Sherman, TX 903-893-5561 Lange Veterinary Hospital is a full-service animal hospital and welcomes both emergency treatment cases as well as pet patients in need of routine medical, surgical and dental care. Licensed Texas veterinarian Grayson Riddels has years of experience treating serious conditions and offering regular pet wellness care.

154

BEST OF TEXOMA

Celebrating 43 40 years years of of Childcare Childcare Celebrating

Thank You!

I am very humbled to be voted

“Best Childcare Center” “First Place Best Daycare”

ten for12nine consecutive I like would likemyto for consecutive years. years.

I would to thank thank my community, family & friends, my community, family, & friends, my directors; Ms. directors; Ms. JoAnn Martin & Ms. Holly Stephanie Orrick & Ms. Holly Harbin, my dedicatHarbin, my dedicated and devoted staff, our ed and devoted staff, our precious childrenand their precious children and their loving parents. It loving my pleasure andto an be honor to be is my parents. pleasureIt isand an honor partners partners with you in the best interest of our with you in the best interest of our children. children.

I am so blessed!

Thank you!

I am so blessed.

Thank You!

BEST DAYCARE

Barbara Lance, P.A.C. - Owner/Director

Kiddie Kampus Especially Designed With Your Child in Mind.

BEST OF TEXOMA.COM

155

SERVICES

BRYAN COUNTY ANIMAL HOSPITAL 2315 S 9th Ave Durant, OK 580-924-5630 One of the most common complaints Texoma Veterinary Hospital staff hear when owners bring in their pets is that the pet is having gastrointentinal issues.

“We are an AAHA certified practice with knowledgeable and friendly staff, our veterinarians practice high quality medicine and treat your pet like their own. Our hospital provides internal medicine work-ups, preventative care, reproductive services, soft and orthopedic surgery, dental services, laser surgery as well as therapeutic laser treatments. Pets are our passion, and keeping them healthy is our number one priority.”

THANK YOU TEXOMA FOR VOTING US

1ST PLACE AUTO BODY/ COLLISION REPAIR BEST AUTO BODY/ COLLISION REPAIR NOW OFFERING AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR! LET OUR ASE CERTIFIED MASTER TECHNICIANS SERVE YOUR MECHANICAL NEEDS!

156

BEST OF TEXOMA

SERVICES

BEST FLORIST

BEST FOUNDATION REPAIR

BEST FUNERAL HOME

BEST HAIR SALON

BEST HEAT & AIR SERVICES

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

Judy’s Flower Shop (903) 465-2036 430 W Woodard St, Denison

Perdue Foundation Repair (903) 893-7113 See page 153

Waldo Funeral Home (903) 893-1101 See page 173

Tangles (903) 821-2933 324 N Travis St, Sherman

Markl & Sons (903) 893-3060 119 E Brockett St, Sherman

- WINNERS -

- WINNERS -

- WINNERS -

- WINNERS -

- WINNERS -

Hannah’s Florist (903) 893-8171 225 S Travis St, Sherman

J&S Foundation Repair (903) 870-1101

Dannel (903) 893-1171 302 S Walnut St, Sherman

Maxim Salon and Spa (903) 624-6765 See page 167

Webb’s Electric (903) 821-5965 See page 8

Hernandez Foundation Repair (903) 421-2005

Fisher (903) 624-9200 604 W Main St, Denison

Beauty Bar (214) 537-2412 See page 160

Robert’s Heating and Air (903) 647-0816 See page 162

Wayside Florist (903) 892-6043 1608 Texoma Pkwy, Sherman

BEST PHOTOGRAPHER

BEST OF TEXOMA.COM

157

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BY ED SOUTHERLAND

W

ith the growing emphasis on early childhood development, the importance of quality day care for Texoma’s children cannot be overstated. Fortunately, in Texoma communities these needs are met by a growing number of excellent day care facilities and providers. Three of the favorite daycares in the area include Pre-School for Little Zebras, Liberty Christian Child Care and Kiddi Kampus.

PRE-SCHOOL FOR LITTLE ZEBRAS 1211 Blanton Drive Sherman, TX 903-816-2432 www.pre-schoolforlittlezebras.weebly.com No. of children currently under care: 15 Years in Texoma: 3 Health safety rating: A

158

PUTTING

peace ofIN CHILDCARE mind

D

aycare owner Chiniqua Hill believes that parents like bringing their children to Pre-School for Little Zebras because they know their children will have an amazing learning experience and will be prepared for kindergarten after graduating from the facility.

Hill believes children enjoy the daycare because the atmosphere is fun, there are loving teachers and the facility is a place where “little zebras” can feel safe while having a good time learning.

When it comes to peace of mind for parents, Hill said it’s important parents know their chosen daycare facility is safe, that their children are being well cared for, and (some)where they can learn to the best of their ability.

BEST OF TEXOMA

Attitude, hard work and determination ...

Your team for success.

BEST ATTORNEY - CIVIL

General Law Practice:  Business Transactions  Business Formations  Mediation

Areas of Litigation:  Business  Civil  Insurance  Personal Injury  Criminal Wall Stree Plaza, 123 N. Crockett Street, Ste. 200 Sherman, TX 75090

BEST OF TEXOMA.COM

159

SERVICES

LIBERTY CHRISTIAN CHILD CARE 364 Liberty Hill Circle Sherman, TX 903-892-8269 www.facebook.com/364libertychildcare No. of children currently under care: 81 Years in Texoma: 29 Health safety rating: A

O

ne of the keys for Liberty Christian Child Care is to help form lifelong learning experiences that will give children a happy life.

“We offer a safe, Christian environment full of love and care. When children learn to make good choices (and) put others first, to respect others and to be thankful, they will do well as students and as adults. Our parents tell us all the time how thankful they are that their children are here, which leads them to tell others about our center.”

The facility believes peace of mind for parents is extremely important.

“We do out best to create a family atmosphere that is warm and welcoming. Each teacher gets to know their students and parents on a personal level, which leads to better individualized care.”

Thank you for voting us

TOP THREE Best Hair Salon!

BEST HAIR SALON

From left to right: Amber Bates, Jordan Moore, Nicole Corson, Angela Holbrook, Carla Mulvaney, Johannah Bailey, Tonya Theobald, Linsey McCullough.

Bottom: Michaela Batchelor, Hanna Martin, Cheyanne Wicker, Natasha Briggs.

Not pictured: Brittani Anderson, Cassie Llerenas, Kandi Emerson, Mychah Blackshear, Maci Legg.

BEAUTY BAR

225 North Travis Street • Sherman 214-537-2412 160

BEST OF TEXOMA

BEST ELECTRICAL SERVICE

Whether you own a commercial building or residential home in Grayson County or the surrounding area, Top Notch Electrician is always ready to help with any electrical issue or need you may have. Since day one it has been our mission to provide our customers with top notch, reliable service that is delivered with an unmatched work ethic from our expertly trained team of licensed electricians. Common services we offer include: • Electric panel repair • Home electrical repair • Circuit breaker installation • Fuse box installation

KIDDIE KAMPUS 117 N. Lillis Ln. Denison, TX 903-465-4080 www.facebook.com/pages/Kiddie-Kampus/207115686091392

Please don’t hesitate to contact us with any electrical need you run into, our team is always ready to help!

250 Spain Rd, Van Alstyne, TX 75495 (972) 379-8646 topnotchelectrician.com

for voting us FIRST PLACE

BEST VETERINARIAN

2103 West Houston Street Sherman, TX 75092 l (903) 893-5561 BEST OF TEXOMA.COM

161

SERVICES

GROOMERS MAKE SURE PETS GET THE

perfect cut

BY ED SOUTHERLAND

While owners can brush and groom their pets at home daily, it is good to take pets to the groomer for a professional bath, brush out, nail trimming, ear cleaning and hair cuts as needed.

The top groomers in Texoma have more than 10 years of experience making sure Fido’s nails are trimmed and he looks his best in every season.

ROBERT’S HEATING & AIR TIMELY AND AFFORDABLE A/C SERVICE, INSTALLATION AND REPAIR

• OVER 18 YEARS EXPERIENCE SERVING GRAYSON, COLLIN AND FANNIN COUNTIES • SAME DAY SERVICE IN MOST CASES • FREE ESTIMATES ON ALL NEW EQUIPMENT INSTALLS

Best Heat & Air Services

162

BEST OF TEXOMA

SERVICES

BEST HOME PAINTING SERVICES

BEST INTERIOR DESIGN

BEST LOCKSMITH

BEST NAIL SALON

BEST PET BOARDING

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

Scotty Wright Painting (903) 624-3258 See page 181

Interior Home Store (903) 893-1233 See page 152

Midway Lock and Key (903) 465-5397 5010 S Hwy 91, Denison

Ivy’s Lash and Nail Bar (903) 771-2296 1711 N Heritage Pkwy, Sherman

Tailwaggers (903) 482-0477 166 Hynds Ranch Rd, Van Alstyne

- WINNERS -

- WINNERS -

- WINNERS - WINNERS -

JR’s Lone Star Painting (903) 436-4220 See page 166 King Cole Enterprise (903) 821-8117 See page 149

Iris Design Consulting (580) 565-0669 Angie Wilson (903) 892-3508

Lock Doc (903) 868-0099 1602 Texoma Pkwy, Sherman

Maxim Salon and Spa (903) 328-6832 See page 167 Luxor (903) 816-9818 3411 FM 120, Denison

- WINNERS The Kennels on Farmington (903) 712-3775 9898 Farmington Rd, Van Alstyne A1 Dog Grooming and Boarding Kennels (903) 532-5371 See page 150

BEST PLUMBING SERVICE

Get it done right, the first time!

Aden Edwards 903-900-3503 Master Plumber (RMP) M-41625 BEST OF TEXOMA.COM

texomaservices903@gmail.com 163

BEST AUTO REPAIR AND SERVICE

164

BEST TOWING SERVICE

BEST OF TEXOMA

BEST OF TEXOMA.COM

165

SERVICES

BIG DOG LITTLE DOG 121 N. Tone Ave. Denison, TX 903-465-8122 www.facebook.com/Big-Dog-Little-Dog No. of years in industry: 10

Passion for animals is what drew Britney Strickland to pet grooming.

“We offer a very friendly, safe environment for dogs,” Strickland said.

“We only hire the best and are strict as to how the dogs are handled by all our staff. We provide the best of the best as far as the products we use and do our best to make the dogs feel as comfortable as possible and leave looking and feeling beautiful. We are also family-owned and operated and treat our customers as family.”

The weirdest animal an owner brought in for grooming? A guinea pig.

“We have weird groomings all the time,” Strickland said. “We have some wild dogs and they need wild cuts to fit their personalities. It makes our job that much (more) fun.”

BEST HOME PAINTING SERVICE

Thanks for Voting for Us! The Lone Star represents our endless pursuit of customer satisfaction. Established in 2016, we work hard to earn your business through our prompt service, reliability, and integrity of our services.

510 S. Crockett Ave. Denison, TX 75020 Phone 903-436-4220 Website: jrslonestarpainting.com 166

BEST OF TEXOMA

SERVICES

BEST PET GROOMER

BEST PHOTOGRAPHER

BEST PLUMBING SERVICES

BEST REMODELING SERVICES

BEST ROOFER

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

Big Dog Little Dog (903) 465-8122 See page 171

Courtney Mitchell Photography (903) 487-2865 See page 157

Allen’s Plumbing (903) 465-9272` See page 227

Banks Construction (903) 337-1623

K&M Roofing (903) 870-6748 See page 176

- WINNERS - WINNERS -

- WINNERS - WINNERS A1 Dog Grooming and Boarding Kennels (903) 532-5371 See page 150

Michelle Carney Photography (903) 821-1566

Snooty Pup (903) 870-4089 See page 177

Joanney Rigdon Photography (903) 819-5330

BEST OF TEXOMA.COM

Sisemore Services (903) 893-0801 See page 169 Texoma Plumbing Services (903) 900-3503 See page 163

- WINNERS Bradshaw Builders (903) 892-4409 King Cole Enterprise (903) 821-8117 See page 149

Abel Aleman (903) 868-1401 See page 168 Lankford (903) 465-7677 See page 151

167

SERVICES

SNOOTY PUP GROOMING 1606 Texoma Parkway Sherman, TX 903-870-4089 www.SnootyPupGrooming.com No. of years in industry: 16 John and Genie Plumlee opened their business in Sherman because they want pets to be taken care of and look their best.

The groomers at Snooty Pup have more than 30 years experience, collectively.

“They have worked at this location for over 12 years and are very familiar with their customers’ pets,” Plumlee said. “Our customers trust us in caring for their pets and know that their pets will be treated

with respect.”

Regulars at Snooty Pup include pot-belly pigs who come in occasionally for a bath.

“The weirdest cut was a full Mohawk from the top of their head to the tip of their tail, and was dyed pink,” Plumlee said.

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RUNNING keeping your new LIKE A ride in tip-top shape TOP

BY ED SOUTHERLAND

New cars are better than ever: more efficient, safer and more reliable.

But let’s face it, every now and then there’s a glitch, and even new cars require top-flight service to keep them running well. With each new model year, cars become more high tech and computer dependent. That means the equipment needed to properly service and maintenance them becomes more complex and expensive. The shade tree mechanic of the past is in the past; he cannot hope to stay abreast of the latest automobile technology.

For these reasons, the service departments of auto dealers have become more important than ever before. As a rule, they can afford to keep their staff well trained and their diagnostic and repair equipment (traditional

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and electronic) up to date.

Having your car or truck in the shop is always an imposition no one likes, but a top flight service department with an understanding and considerate staff can make that disruption easier to deal with. We asked the service manager of this year’s top three finalists in

the Auto Dealer Service category what makes for good service and what makes their service departments Best of Texoma favorites.

“It all starts with the owner and good employees with good morals and values,” said David Pryor, service manager at Bob Utter Ford for the last 22

years. “It all starts at the top. We try to put our customers first; we try to do everything we can to provide them with the best repair at the best price and be honest about what we’re doing. We’ve been here for a long time, and have a lot of people who have been here for a long time as well. It’s a good crew, and we take pride in our work. We make mistakes every once and a while, but we try not to.”

At Blake Utter Ford, Jonathan Armstrong said, “Number one is customer satisfaction. Then, friendly inquiry and acknowledging (of each) other both go a long way. And of course, taking care of the customer the best that you can and getting them back in the vehicle as fast as you can. In our service department, we all work together. It all comes down to putting the customer first; that’s the reason we come to work everyday.”

And that, folks, is what it takes to put your wheels back on the road.

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CROWNING

GLORY

BY ED SOUTHERLAND

M

ost of us have had bad haircuts, bad hair days and other hirsute disasters at one time or another. That’s why we put so much faith in a good barber or hair stylist.

But a good haircut is not as easy an assignment as it sounds. The barber or stylist must be on top of trends that reach back for generations and reach forward to embrace the latest in pop culture.

“A barber is not only a barber, he’s a style coach,” said Hal Hinton of Fellas Men’s Hair. “He’s a friend, he’s a therapist. A barber wears a lot of hats; culture is one of the fence posts of it.”

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But how does culture affect what people want?

“Your have to learn every style of hair. When I get older gentlemen in, and in talking with them I find out they were in the Korean War, I know the kind of haircut he wants because that’s the kind of haircut he remembers,” Hinton said. “Haircuts stay the same for men. It’s because when life becomes important, haircuts stop being about style and become about utility. You have to know about every culture to be a proper barber.”

Jesus Prado created Gent’s VII because he wanted to bring back some of the atmosphere that made barbershops a special experience.

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BEST SECURITY COMPANY

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Grayson Pro-Tech (903) 463-7767 See page 174

Five Star Storage (903) 868-3157 Sherman, Denison

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Lange Veterinary Hospital (903) 816-2646 See page 161

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About Self Storage (903) 465-9036 2002 W Morton St, Denison

Bob Utter (800) 259-3560 See page 139

- WINNERS Cavender Home Theater (903) 892-3499 6202 Texoma Pkwy, Sherman

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Four Feathers Alarms (888) 899-7258 9650 North FM 1417 Denison ADT (903) 650-8016

Camel Maxi Storage (903) 893-4464 4502 W Houston St, Sherman

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Cherokee Communications (580) 434-5375 See page 166

Bryan County Animal Hospital (580) 924-5630 Texoma Veterinary Hospital (903) 868-9434

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SERVICES the younger (clientele) like the ‘pop styles,’ and we have a middle group that sort of just goes with the flow. Pop culture and Pinterest are the biggest influences on styles for younger women and girls.”

Tamie Permie, co-owner of MAXIM Salon, believes that the way the world is today, everyone wants exactly what they want and want it quickly.

“The difference between now and when we were younger is that people don’t make appointments,” Permie said. “Twenty years ago people did, and they kept those appointments.”

BRO’S HOUSE OF FADES

What about how culture affects styles?

“Hair styling is about art. It’s artistry with hair,” said Permie. “You have to stay educated and you have to be up on the current trends as well as still see the classic things about styles.”

“SOME OF THE WORST MISTAKES IN MY LIFE WERE HAIRCUTS.”

- JIM MORRISON

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CHRIS JENNINGS / HERALD DEMOCRAT

“Culture plays a big role, because different cultures have different hair styles,” Prado said. “We have to be able to adapt to each type and offer that culture, that hair texture, (those) wants and needs. One of our goals is to be able to cater to everybody.”

Prado said he and his associates stay up on the latest trends, but they can’t neglect the traditional looks.

“You get a lot of the older styles, moderate styles, classic cuts that add a more modern touch. And when I say modern touch, it’s more of a fade, a blend, a nice transition.”

When it comes to women’s styles and trends, Shari Duncan of Tangles says that what’s popular in entertainment plays a big role.

“Pop culture has a big impact on hairstyle,” she said. “We have an older clientele that is pretty traditional, but

T

V in Texoma

Surfing the tube

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BY ED SOUTHERLAND

T

elevision in America began with pointy antennas perched on roof tops bringing in fuzzy pictures in black and white. If you were not relatively close to the transmission tower, reception was a “sometimes” thing. Eventually, viewers too far from the source were able to hook up to community antennae, bigger and more powerful versions of the home receptors. The signals from the services were hardwired into the customer’s home, so the signal was good all the time. This evolved into the cable services we know today. Cable providers offer not only local television and area over-the-air sources, but from distant sources and independent providers of special programming.

Today, TV service is generally

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SERVICES available from four distinct sources: over-the-air (yes, you can still receive channels with an antenna), subscription cable services, satellite services such as Dish Network and DIRECTV and internet-based streaming services.

What used to be essentially free once you bought a TV set and an antenna is now a significant part of the home entertainment budget.

But that is changing, as well as more ways to watch television in the expanding picture.

Chris Cavender has been providing Texoma customers alternative ways to watch the tube for more than 40 years through his company, Cavender Home Theater.

“We provide service in different ways,” he said. “One of those ways is through a subscription service. We’re a premier Dish retailer. We’re one of the few Dish providers with that designation because of our longevity and customer service record.”

Cavender also has streaming services such as Sling TV and free services with over-the-air antennas with a device called an AirTV

Player, a hub that can incorporate over-the-air antennas and streaming with a seamless interface.

Across the Red River, Cherokee Communications offers services to Southeastern Oklahoma.

“We’re a full service provider,” said Samuel Sanchez. “We do broadband, voice, internet — everything. We’re

not a cable company only; first we’re a telecommunications company, but we do provide cable TV.” Cherokee’s significant difference is in their distribution system.

“We’re not a coax system (the single wire that comes out of the wall and into a cable box). We use a telecom fiber network.

The end result for the customer is the same, but fiber is more top end,” Sanchez said.

The picture is clear — ways to get TV is becoming more diverse all the time.

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THE KEY the TO locksmiths can stilljobgetdone SUCCESS

BY ED SOUTHERLAND

Locks have not changed all that much over the years. A modern locksmith would recognize the workings of a Chubb or a Bramah easily, but there are innovations on the scene, especially with automobiles.

“We get several calls a day to service people who can’t get in their cars,” said Weston Gregory, shop technician at Sherman Lock & Key, aka “Lock Doc.” The old solutions — a bent coat hanger, the infamous Slim Jim and the like — usually don’t work anymore.

Electronics have seen to that. Many

newer cars do not even have a key; push button remotes and starting have banished the car key from your pocket.

“Slim Jims don’t work anymore, but we have specialized tools and can get into almost anything,” Gregory said.

What about the new models with just a remote for entry and a push button to start and stop?

“We call those push-to-start or proximity remotes,” Gregory said. “Usually in those systems, there is a key hidden in somewhere, often in the remote.”

Gregory grabbed a remote, flipped

the end cap off and sure enough, there was a key.

Problem solved, although Gregory also advises that having an extra key, perhaps one that will open the car but not start it, is a good idea.

“With new cars, some people get a key that will just unlock the door but will not start the car,” said Michael Rodgers of Midway Lock & Key. “They are a lot cheaper than chip keys, but for most people we recommend a full second set of keys for each car in the family.”

The electronic revolution in locks

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EDWARD SOUTHERLAND / BEST OF TEXOMA

SHERMAN LOCK & KEY

SERVICES EDWARD SOUTHERLAND / BEST OF TEXOMA

THE “LOCK DOC” AKA SHOP TECHNICIAN WESTON GREGORY.

>>> A GRINDER CAN CUT A KEY BLANK TO THE PROPER >>> PROFILE TO OPEN A LOCK. has required that locksmiths stay up to date.

“In the past few months, we’ve been improving all of our technology and all of our systems so we can deal with the latest models,” Rodgers said.

While the locksmith can duplicate almost any style of key these days, what do you do if the original is lost?

“All locks have a key code number,” Rodgers said.

“It’s often attached to a key or lock. Most people throw them away. You ought to keep it; write it down in a safe place. If you bring me the code, I can put the information in the computer and make a new key.”

So much for cars; what about home security? Properly installed, the solid, deadbolt lock is still the best way to lock your house.

“Most residential locks are either Schlage or Kwikset,” Gregory said. “Of the two, I prefer Schlages. I think they are better made and are a little harder to pick. If I have to pick a lock, I’ll be happier if it’s a Kwikset rather than a Schlage. Most builders will use cheaper stuff when they build a house, but there is better stuff designed for home use. We are starting to put more commercial type locks on houses as well.”

As for home applications, Rodgers said some people just want something cheap, though that isn’t going to provide much security.

“We offer higher end products, but often people just use some cheap knock-off brand, which doesn’t hold up very well,” Rodgers said.

Locks are like a lot of things; you generally get what you pay for, and what you get can depend on you making certain decisions, rather than leaving the choice of locks to someone else.

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what to consider when purchasing a fence

FENCE ME IN

BY ED SOUTHERLAND

Some time long ago, humans started building fences. They built them to keep bad things out and good things in. They built them to delineate what was theirs from what was someone else’s. In the new world, fences were built with whatever was at hand: stones cleared from fields for farming, wood where timber was plentiful, and from natural barriers such as trees or bushes where it was scarce.

Fannin County had a thriving industry in the middle of the 19th century collecting, packaging and selling seeds from bois d’arc apples to other parts of the country to be used to plant thick hedgerows of tough, bois d’arc trees for natural fences. Joseph Glidden invented an economical way to attach barbs

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to wire fences in the 1860s, and in 1874, John Sanborn brought Glidden’s barbed wire to Grayson County and started a revolution in animal husbandry on the Southern Plains. And where would American folklore be without young Abe Lincoln, the rail splitter, or a fence for Tom Sawyer to whitewash?

“If it weren’t for kids and dogs, I wouldn’t have a business,” said Greg Sells, owner of Ace Quality Fencing in Sherman. With 20 years in the business, Sells knows his fences.

“If it’s a fence, we’ll put it up,” he said. “We’ll custom build it, by golly, if we can’t find it in stock.”

Ace builds all types of fences from agricultural to

BEST OF TEXOMA

SERVICES

domestic, but the majority of his business is on the domestic and commercial side of the ledger.

“We do a lot of commercial work, like big warehouses and the fences and gates used in the consumer storage facilities,” Sells said.

Fences, like others things, are subject to changes in fashion and tastes of the public, but the days of the simple wooden picket or board fence is just about gone. Not so much the idea as the materials. Sells said vinyl fencing has been popular over the past few years, for decorative as well as privacy fences, because of its durability and ease of maintenance. Carefully engineered, vinyl fences are extruded and can come in a myriad of designs. Pickets, privacy board, even the modern version western three,

four or five rail fences now come in vinyl.

Sells refers to vinyl as a “forever fence.”

“You see a lot of it around ranches where they’ve got horses,” he said. “It’s a good product. Apartment complexes like it, too.”

For domestic privacy in Texoma area backyards, the first choice is usually wood, usually cedar.

“It comes in one by four, one by six, six- and eight-foot tall sections,” Sells said. “You can get board on board, which is more private. It comes with a built in stain which lasts longer; you can use steel posts or wood posts. There are a lot of variables depending on budget.”

The phrase, “depending on the budget” is heard again and again when discussing all types of choices for new or remodeled homes, and it is at the top of Sells things

to consider when discussing fencing.

“Are you adding a fence to increase the value of the property in order to sell it?” he asked. “If that’s the case, you don’t want a $100-a-foot fence. We can find something that looks good and will do the job and be a ten year fence for a lot less. If you plan to live there for a long time, then you can afford a bigger investment for a fence that will last and be maintenance free over time.”

Other considerations are aesthetic (how will the fence look) and whether it compliments the home’s look and design. Front yard fences are generally decorative and come in as many colors, styles and designs as you can imagine. Backyard fences are for privacy, but with modern material, a requirement does not inhibit the design factor very much.

“If you do it right the first time, even the less expensive fence is going to last and give good service,” Sells said.

And do not forget purpose. Do you need to fence a swimming pool for safety, or have a fence to keep pets on your property and not your neighbor’s? Have a dog that likes to dig under fences? There are applications to discourage that sort of activity, but for a quick tip Sells suggests sprinkling cayenne pepper on the ground where the pet likes to dig. A few sniffs and a few sneezes and they will abandon that idea and stay at home.

“IF IT’S A FENCE, WE’LL PUT IT UP. WE’LL CUSTOM BUILD IT, BY GOLLY, IF WE CAN’T FIND IT IN STOCK.” BEST OF TEXOMA.COM

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RESERVATION UNDER “GOOD BOY”

today’s pet hotels rival those for humans

BY ED SOUTHERLAND

Is your favorite pooch starting to look a little frazzled? Or, perhaps you are scheduling a much need few days for yourself and are wondering what to do with Spot or Fido. The answer to both quandaries might just be to check your pet into a boarding facility— so both of you have a few days off.

These days, no self-respecting canine wants to just hang out in a plain old kennel. Dogs in the know want more, and local pet boarding operations can provide it. If long walks on the beach — OK, maybe not the beach, this is North Texas after all — but walks in the woods for sure, playtime with other tail-wagging guests, a quick dip in the pool

and relaxing while watching Direct TV’s DogTV on a 42-inch flat screen television sound appealing to you, it probably will to your pet, too.

“Boarding is a good activity for a dog if you set it up right,” said Jason Godwin, a certified dog behaviorist who runs the Kennels on Farmington in Elmont, just west of Van Alstyne. “We’re highly active; we play a lot out here.”

Godwin doesn’t train dogs per se at his operation, but does work with owners who board there to address any problems dog and owner are having.

“Our customers seem to like that, and I like it because it puts the pressure for success on the owner to

work the dog at home,” he said.

This home away from home for your pet is just that.

“We have two, two-story homes on our property,” Godwin said. “I live in one and board two dogs in that home. Right across the driveway is another two-story home where we can board another 33 dogs. My busiest time is the summer. That’s when families are traveling and taking vacations.”

“Two-thirds of my business are vacations, the other third are the consistent, come every week or so customers. People you wouldn’t think of — firefighters, families with odd schedules like doctors and nurses.”

TAILWAGGERS COUNTRY INN

DREW SMITH / GRAYSON MAGAZINE

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“OVER THE 15 OR SO YEARS OF A PET’S LIFE, MOST ARE GOING TO NEED BOARDING AT SOME POINT AND DESERVE THE SAME CARE YOU WOULD EXPECT FOR ANY OTHER FAMILY MEMBER.” Godwin said that any visit starts with letting your pet get acquainted with their new surroundings.

“Some dogs arrive, and it’s Disneyland as far as they are concerned,” he said. “They just want to run and play and make friends, and you can tell that pretty easily if you’ve been working with dogs long enough. If the animal seems nervous, then over the first 24 hours I would introduce them to my dogs, who are very relaxed, and see how they react with them.

“If (the animal) doesn’t take to that, they’ll spend more time in the house in an environment more like they’re used to at home. The more dogs can associate with other dogs, the fuller their day will become.”

If your dog’s life at the Kennels on Farmington sounds like a week at camp, then time at Tailwaggers Country Pet Resort might be closer to Club Med. “We opened in 1998 on 34 acres just outside of Van Alstyne. We board dogs and cats; we do daycare and provide grooming as well,” explained Suzen Dennis, owner and operator of the facility.

Tailwaggers picks up and delivers pets to and from home and can handle more than 300 animals. Cats live and play in a room with a seven-foot, wall mounted fish tank for their amusement and have all manner of cat toys for

BEST OF TEXOMA.COM

playtime. Dogs have access to a 42inch, flat screen TV tuned to Direct TV’s DogTV as well as the usual toys and a swimming pool.

Each dog is assigned a counselor during their stay, and Dennis said that when playing with other dogs the staff groups them according to size, breed, temperament and age.

“I wouldn’t put a six-month-old Lab out with a 12-year-old,” she said.

“We’ve got our sniffers and our cruisers.

The sniffers go out and poke around and the cruisers are the hardcore players. Dogs are pack animals, and love to be with their own kind. I urge people to socialize their dogs; take them around whenever they can, bring them into all different types of scenari-

os because what dogs don’t know or are unfamiliar with, they sometimes fear.”

Dennis suggests owners carefully consider the facilities and programs before boarding a dog. Visit the place, speak with the staff, take a look around and see how the animals there are treated and how they are responding to what is often a new and uncertain situation.

“Over the 15 or so years of a pet’s life, most are going to need boarding at some point and deserve the same care you would expect for any other family member,” Dennis said.

As the old saying goes, “It’s a dog’s life.” But in the right location, with the right attention and care, that might not be such a bad thing.

Best Apartment Complex.......................................................189 Best Art Gallery........................................................................189 Best Assisted Living...............................................................189 Best Bank Teller.......................................................................189 Best College Professor...........................................................189 Best Elementary Teacher........................................................193 Best Firefighter/EMT...............................................................193 Best Health Club/Gym...........................................................193 Best Independent Senior Living...........................................193

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Best Law Enforcement Officer..............................................193 Best Local Artist......................................................................195 Best Non-profit Organization................................................195 Best Principal...........................................................................195 Best Secondary Teacher (Middle and High School)..........195 Best Tech Company................................................................195 Best Temp Agency...................................................................199 Best Wedding/Event Venue...................................................199

BEST OF TEXOMA

Administrative • Industrial • Professional Manpower is much more than a staffing agency. As our commitment to our dedicated Associates, we pay for their first bachelor’s degree, and over 3000 other certification programs, all at no cost to our Associates or our Client’s. Manpower is on a mission to skill up our local workforce, and we welcome other business leaders in the Texoma community to come partner with us to make this much needed change in our community.

BEST TEMP AGENCY 600 E Taylor Rd, Suite 209 Sherman, TX 75090 (903) 893-9543 BEST OF TEXOMA.COM

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WORK & LIFESTYLE DANIEL DUSEK PHOTOS

SERVING THE COMMUNITY

BY ED SOUTHERLAND

T

exoma is fortunate to have a large number of nonprofit groups and agencies dedicated to providing services to area residents. These groups fill an important gap between government and private organizations, and the community would be hard put without them. Too often, these groups operate under the radar and the public may not be fully aware of what they do. Three of the most popular nonprofits in the area include CASA, Women Rock and Gages Pages.

WOMEN ROCK, INC.

BRAS FOR A CAUSE

Bras for a Cause is the main program put on

by Women Rock, Inc., but behind the well-received annual fundraising event is a more important purpose— breast cancer.

“We assist women and men with financial assistance for mammograms, ultrasound and breast health care,” explained Becca Boss.

“We also assist (those) who are going through breast cancer.”

The group’s well recognized pink ribbon helps highlight their efforts and in October, their Bras for a Cause, featuring men modeling bras, has proved itself not only successful from a financial stand point, but popular with the public as well. They also sponsor the Susan K. Hicks Memorial 5K, 10K & Fun Run each spring.

LYNETTE GEORGE / HERALD DEMOCRAT

WORK & LIFESTYLE

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The Renaissance (844) 517-4412 3701 N Loy Lake Rd, Sherman

Glenda Townsend Texas Star Bank See page 197

Joanna Bryant Grayson College (903) 465-6030

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Ricky Noth Bank of Texas (903) 891-8100

Rusty Weatherly Grayson College (903) 465-6030

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- WINNERS Steeple Chase Farms (903) 771-1410 See page 193 The Bridges on Travis (903) 893-6929 5295 N Travis St, Sherman

Gallery Off the Square (903) 357-5290 101 E Jones St, Sherman Sparrows Gallery (903) 337-0708 124 W Main St, Denison

Traditions Senior Living and Memory Care (903) 893-4280 See page 195 Brookdale Willows (903) 891-3737 See page 189

Kara Harrelson Independent Bank (903) 891-9999

Tell us about

Rachel Sumrall Grayson College (903) 465-6030

you.

It may surprise you that senior living is not onesize-fits-all. At least not in our communities. In fact, personalized care is our way of life. That’s why we want to learn as much as we can about you, your family, your needs and your preferences. From there, we’ll partner with you to find just the right fit among our many options, so you or your loved one can live the fully enriched, best possible life.

Lets talk! Call (903) 202-0454 today to schedule your free meal and personal tour.

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WORK & LIFESTYLE

COURT APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCATES

CHOCOLATE INDULGENCE

child’s life, then report to the District Courts and testify as to what is in that child’s best interests.”

The advocates of CASA are volunteers from the community who donate their time and efforts to provide this valuable service.

Hutcheson and her staff coordinate and oversee the training, placement and work of the advocates.

CASA is also well-known for their fundraising effort Chocolate Indulgence, which has been delighting Texoma residents for more than 20 years.

GAGE’S PAGES Another nonprofit making an impact is Gage’s Pages.

This group has been helping Denison school children return to classes each fall with a backpack filled with school supplies and books to get students off to a good start.

“Gage’s Pages was formed in honor of my nephew, Gage Gordy, who passed away when he was 15 months old due to an unforeseen heart condition,” said Lacie Giasson.

“Our organization began by hosting book drives for

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GAGE’S PAGES

a local elementary school; Gage had a love of books at a young age. We had so much community support and positive feedback that we decided to host school supply drives for an entire district the following year in celebration of Gage’s birthday.”

The organization is coming up on its seventh year and since it began, has been able to provide thousands of dollars worth of school supplies to every school in the Denison Independent School District.

BEST OF TEXOMA

DANIEL DUSEK

CASA of Grayson County is a group of court appointed special advocates who work with children involved in the court system.

“We advocate for children in foster care— any child who has been removed from their home due to abuse or neglect,” Director Krystal Hutcheson said. “We make contact with the child and anyone involved in that

BEST OF TEXOMA.COM

BEST TEMP AGENCY 191

WORK & LIFESTYLE

BY ED SOUTHERLAND

CROSSFIT BARBELL REPUBLIC

H

ow do you get your exercise? Today, more and more people of all ages are looking for something more than an occasional walk around the block as they strive for the recognized health benefits regular workouts can provide.

TV informercial scenes abound with plans, programs, videos and devices promising to help you “get fit quickly” in your own home, but while these choices can be beneficial if actually used, many people prefer to get out of the house and into the gym, health club or fitness center. Is there a difference in these on-site facilities? Who better to ask than the people who run them.

“The difference is probably generational sometimes, depending on what people are calling these centers,” said Shawn Teemann, one of the owners of the Nautilus Family Centers.

“Over the years, people have called them ... different things. I would say a gym is more like a gymnasium, something like we have in our basketball facility. A health club, holistically, would be what the whole place is. It would be a place where membership is focused on helping people lead healthy lifestyles.”

Typically, a health club like Nautilus, which features a range of fitness machines from international manufacturer Nautilus, Inc., also include other ways to work out. Teemann mentioned their basketball court, and many clubs offer free-weight training, swimming, treadmills, exercise classes and more in addition to on-site trainers to guide and encourage members.

From its name alone, the Crossfit Barbell Republic conjures images of body builders pumping iron, but owner Chris

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BEST OF TEXOMA

DREW SMITH / GRAYSON MAGAZINE

Pumping it up

WORK & LIFESTYLE

BEST ELEMENTARY TEACHER

BEST FIREFIGHTER/EMT

BEST HEALTH CLUB/GYM

BEST INDEPENDENT SENIOR LIVING

BEST LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

Lacie Giasson Mayes Elementary (903) 462-7500

Micah Daugherty Denison Fire Rescue (903) 464-4427

Nautilus Family Fitness Sherman (903) 813-0800 2719 N Hwy 75, Sherman

The Renaissance (844) 517-4412 3701 N Loy Lake Rd, Sherman

Mike Eppler Denison Police Dept.

(903) 465-2720

- WINNERS -

- WINNERS - WINNERS -

- WINNERS -

Planet Fitness (888) 237-9005 721 E Taylor St, Sherman

Wesley Village (903) 465-6463 See page 201

CrossFit Barbell Republic (903) 436-1507 316 W Coffin St, Denison

Brookdale Willows (903) 891-3737 See page 189

Morgan Helm Mayes Elementary (903) 462-7500

Hanna Lindemouth Denison Fire Rescue (903) 464-4427

Kadey King Neblett Elementary School (903) 891-6670 See page 203

Billy Hughes Bonham Fire Dept.

(903) 583-3731

- WINNERS Brandon Toney Sherman Police Dept.

(903) 892-7290 Tony Bennie GC Sheriff’s Office (903) 813-4408

BEST APARTMENT COMPLEX

Thank You for Voting Us Top 3 Apartment Complex Steeple Chase Farms • 3621 Steeplechase Drive Sherman, TX 75092 P: 903-771-1410 • TTY: 711 • F: 877-578-3871 BEST OF TEXOMA.COM

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WORK & LIFESTYLE

NAUTILUS

stretching it out

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BEST OF TEXOMA

HERALD DEMOCRAT

Smith said there is more to it than that and that the question of gym or health club is in the eye of the beholder.

“I’m not exactly sure where we would fall,” he said. “Everything we do is a coach-led and trained professional program. You don’t just come in and get on the machines. You’re never without a high-end trainer and personal coach.”

Sessions at Barbell Republic are not impromptu efforts, Smith said.

“You have to come to one of the available class slots. We’re a lot different from everybody else in the way that we do things. Our programs are more focused, less socially oriented.”

Whether health club or gym, the differences may not matter much. In the end, it is still up to the individual to make the effort to achieve their health goals.

WORK & LIFESTYLE

BEST LOCAL ARTIST

BEST NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION

BEST PRINCIPAL

BEST SECONDARY TEACHER

BEST TECH COMPANY

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

Mary Rylant

Women Rock, Inc. (903) 487-2528 225 E Houston St, Sherman

Natalie Hicks Mayes Elementary School (903) 462-7500

Dale Rhodes Denison High School (903) 462-7000

Finisar (408) 548-1000 6800 South, US-75, Sherman

- WINNERS -

- WINNERS -

- WINNERS -

CASA (903) 813-5400 500 W Chestnut St, Denison

Rhonda Johnson Crutchfield Elementary School See page 203

Whitney Smith Whitewright High School 903-364-2155

Gage’s Pages www.gagespages.net

Steven Traw Sory Elementary School See page 203

- WINNERS Mary Karam (903) 465-3703 Wendy Acosta

BEST OF TEXOMA.COM

- WINNERS GlobiTech (903) 957-1999 200 FM1417, Sherman

Amanda Garza Denison High School 903.462.7000

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the apartment

BY ED SOUTHERLAND

a

partment complexes are blossoming all over Texoma as more and more people of all ages and incomes choose the apart-

ment lifestyle over other options.

Here are some of the advantages to renting a spot in a multi-family dwelling over purchasing a home.

1. CONVENIENCE “I think the first consideration is convenience,” said Melanie Vanmeter, Community Director at The Residence at Gateway Village, one of the area’s newest apartment living complexes. “Convenience to locations for shopping, work and things you do every day. Another big consideration is maintenance. If you live here (and) something breaks, we fix it. Just call us and you don’t have to take your time and your checkbook; that’s included in the rent.”

THE RESIDENCE AT GATEWAY VILLAGE

2. MAINTENANCE Vanmeter put physical

maintenance of the property high on the list.

“No lawn work,” she said, “so you have more times to do things you enjoy.”

And often, the things you enjoy come with the package as well. Many complexes have first-class swimming pools, exercise rooms and are in close proximity to local parks, hiking trails and other recreational opportunities.

Eagerly awaiting that package you ordered, but can’t be at home all day waiting for it to arrive? Vanmeter said at The Residence, staff will accept and sign for packages and mail you might otherwise have to make a trip to the post office to pick up.

3. AMENITIES “We have a lot of amenities, such as a movie theater here on site where people can get together for Super Bowl parties and such,” said Tiffany Wild, Property Manager at Steeple Chase Farms.

The movie theater is the real thing, with electronically reclining seats, connections to streaming services such as Netflix and cable and a Blu-ray player. The theater is in the club house, which also boasts a full kitchen. “We also have a playground and a courtyard, and regularly offer programs on subjects such as financial services and other services and information people can use, all free for our residents.”

4. RESIDENT ACTIVITIES Big apartment developments often take on aspects of small towns, with social activities planned for residents.

“We have conference rooms that residents can use and an event room residents can rent for parties and gatherings,” Vanmeter said. “We also arrange special events such as dinner nights. We do pizza nights (and) did a ‘Wind Down Wednesday’ where we had wine, snacks and buffet brunches.”

THE RESIDENCE AT GATEWAY VILLAGE

BEST OF TEXOMA

advantage The key to making apartment living work for many people is the quality of the staff that help provide the services offered.

“Wherever you are, you want to make sure you trust the people you live around,” Vanmeter said. “At The Residence, we want to make sure we meet our residents expectations, and if I can’t do that, I wouldn’t have a job.”

WORK & LIFESTYLE

STEEPLE CHASE FARMS

We Have A Tradition Of Excellence Of Providing Unmatched Service To Guide Your Needs.

Congratulations

Glenda Townsend for being voted Best Bank Teller in Best of Texoma

We are dedicated to our communities and our customers that we proudly serve. Trust the Bank that’s worked for its customers since 1890. Texas Star Bank.

Sherman l Tioga l Tom Bean l Van Alstyne l Anna l McKinney l Celina l Durant BEST OF TEXOMA.COM

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WORK & LIFESTYLE

FOR

ART’S SAKE

a

s the old adage goes, “art is in the eye of the beholder.” Texoma is filled with artists who like to put their own touches and spins on how they view the area. Three of the most popular are Mary Karam, Mary Rylant and Wendy Acosta.

Mary Karam started with a camera at age seven.

“We were going on a trip, and my sister and I both got cameras. We were a camera family. I got more serious about it when I was half way through a master’s degree in math when I decided I needed something to balance the math,” Karam said.

She went out, bought a camera and signed up for a photography class the same day.

“I absolutely fell in love with it, everything about it — the pictures, working in the dark room, all of that,” she said.

Although she has added pottery to her artistic mix, Karam is still primarily a photographer.

“My favorite things are going out

BY ED SOUTHERLAND

to Hagerman (and) taking pictures of birds in flight. When I’m working to do a creative piece I’m looking at the theme and deciding how to interpret that theme,” Karam said.

“Recently I’ve been exploring the definition of trees.

I call them my ‘tree spirits,’ where I combine double and sometimes quadruple images of trees.”

“I generally work in acrylics,” said Mary Rylant, “but again, I’ve done almost all the other disciplines — mixed media, glass, almost all of them.”

Rylant said she loved to draw as child and was recognized for her art at Irving High School, but then put it away to concentrate on family and career. Eventually she became a landscape designer, which was rewarding, but not something she could call her own.

“I wanted to do something that was just for me, just fun,” she said. “I started paint-

ing again last year, and have been really successful with it. It sort of surprised me.

I’m finally getting to have the life I always dreamed of. It’s fun being able to be creative every day, and I’m totally enjoying myself in the last half of my life.”

A lot of Rylant’s art is finding patterns and making a picture out of an abstract design.

BEST OF TEXOMA

WORK & LIFESTYLE

“I start with an abstract and refine it to make a picture,” she said. “I think that it is just what is in me, and inspiration of what is around me.”

Wendy Acosta said she is a maker.

“I work in mixed media. What ever I find that intrigues me, I work with. I do a lot of painting in acrylic, I do paper and pen, and I might do some welding, but mostly painting,” Acosta said.

Acosta was a theater major in college, but one day she said she got a picture in her mind and wanted to put it on paper.

Realizing she needed some basic tools to accomplish that,

she took lessons from a local artist, and “just started picking it up.” She was not always happy with the results, but finally “I started to embrace the imperfections, and it comes a lot easier that way.”

And as to ideas, “A lot of times, I will see a pattern that intrigues me,” Acosta said. “I’ll try to recreate that pattern from colors that I like. I start playing around with those colors and something will develop. It never fails, when I have a clear plan I will never get there, but as soon as I set my preconceived ideas to the side and give myself over to the process, it becomes what it is supposed to be.”

BEST TEMP AGENCY

BEST WEDDING/ EVENT VENUE

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

Snelling (903) 892-0042 5452 Texoma Pkwy, Sherman

Willowood Ranch (903) 891-0070 3803 Ward Neal Rd, Bells - WINNERS -

- WINNERS Manpower (903) 893-9543 See page 187

Rustic Grace (972) 737-3259 13299 FM 121, Van Alstyne

Express (903) 893-1122 See page 191

Katy Depot (903) 463-7729 101 E Main St, Denison

THE RESIDENCE

AT GATEWAY VILLAGE

3415 Southbend Drive • Across from Texoma Medical Center RESIDENCEATGATEWAYVILLAGE.COM

THE RESIDENCE AT GATEWAY VILLAGE • Six Unique One & Two Bedroom Home Layouts • Community Green Spaces, Pavilion, Clubhouse, Bark Park • Co-working Space: Equipped with Apple Computer + WiFi • Corporate & Furnished Apartments + FIBER to each unit • Onsite Storage, Covered Parking & Garages

BEST OF TEXOMA.COM

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WORK & LIFESTYLE

SENIOR LIVING

BY ED SOUTHERLAND

A

s we age, it often becomes more difficult to deal with the simple tasks of everyday life we once gave little or no thought to. With a population of older citizens who are living longer and who will need to address these changes comes increased attention to possible solutions for these problems. Two terms — independent senior living and assisted senior living — have come to describe these options, both of which differ from the more traditional nursing home care.

“Independent living is where you have assistance available to you, but where for the most part you don’t need it or use it,” said Karen Severin, executive director of

200

Traditions Senior Living & Memory Care in Sherman. “It’s like a backup if you have any problems, but you really don’t have any problems.”

At Traditions, independent seniors have their own apartment with their own access key.

“They live by themselves, without assistance, but if they need assistance all they have to do is push a button,” Severin said.

Assisted living provides different levels of help and care.

“If someone comes in on a level one care, we manage their medicine only,” she said. “There are other levels of care where, for example, if they need assistance transferring from a wheelchair to a bed, we help

with that.”

Tyler Land is sales manager with Brookdale Willows Senior Living, and directed her comments toward the assisted living side of the equation.

“We are able to care for a wide range of residents. We have some residents who don’t need a lot of care. They live with us because they need meals or a little help with housekeeping and just an easier lifestyle,” Land said.

As Land pointed out, these needs can change.

“Once [residents] age in place, we are able to provide the additional care they may need without them having to move out into a new

WORK & LIFESTYLE

community,” she said.

The level of care needed is determined by the resident and by the family’s concerns.

“They prompt to start looking at this type of move in the first place. It’s also important to consider what will happen if they don’t make the decision now,” said Land. “What we don’t want to happen is for them to stay at home and perhaps fall and break a hip and have to go to a skilled nursing facility.

Our community is more of a homey environment. You bring everything from home; you fix your apartment however you want to, so it makes for an easier transition process.”

Transition is an important key to how we all must eventually deal with aging. Accepting the changes in our lives and finding a smooth transition from one phase to the other is paramount, and options for these transitions are more available now than ever before.

BEST OF TEXOMA.COM

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WORK & LIFESTYLE

businesses expand local tech company market

TECH GROWS IN TEXOMA

BY WILLIAM C. WADSACK

While Texoma is known for its manufacturing companies, the area is also generating attention through its tech companies.

In 2018, Finisar and GlobiTech, both located in Sherman, made plans for continued growth.

FINISAR Finisar announced in December 2017 it would hire 500 new employees to expand its production of VCSELs at its new Sherman facility this year to help meet Apple’s demand for the technology in its iPhone line of products.

After approving a $1 million incentive agreement with Finisar in March, the SEDCO board of directors restructured the payment schedule for the incentive agreement with the electronic components manufacturer in October. The agreement will allow the corporation to provide Finisar four payments of $250,000 each over a two-year period as the company invests $160 million in

FINISAR CORP.

DREW SMITH / HERALD DEMOCRAT

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BEST OF TEXOMA

DREW SMITH / HERALD DEMOCRAT

FINISAR CORP. IS PLANNING TO MOVE THEIR ALLEN OPERATION TO SHERMAN

BY THE END OF 2019 OR BEGINNING OF 2020. >>> capital equipment and construction in its Sherman facility.

GLOBITECH The SEDCO board of directors approved a $1.9 million incentive for silicon-epitaxy manufacturer GlobiTech in July, should it move forward with a $47.5 million expansion of its local facility. Then in October, GlobiTech confirmed it was delaying the expansion,

despite having already secured tax abatement agreements from Grayson County and the city of Sherman in addition to SEDCO. “GlobiTech received HQ approval for the Fab 3 project but has determined that we now need to take a more cautious approach on initiating the project in light of the recent U.S.-China trade/tariff situation,” GlobiTech Inc. President Mark England said in a written statement at the time.

“Nevertheless, in this interim period, GlobiTech continues to move forward by completing our air permit requirements and finalizing our Fab 3 designs to be able to restart in earnest upon seeing positive market and political signs.”

Jones said the delay isn’t expected to change anything about the planned GlobiTech expansion other than the start date.

CONGRATULATIONS SHERMAN ISD STAFF

Steven Traw for “Best Principal” Sory Elementary School - Sherman

-

Rhonda Johnson for “Best Principal” Crutchfield Elementary School - Sherman

Voted

TOP

3

Best

I was so excited to see SISD a Best of Texoma TOP 3 winner again this year and of course we hope for 1st place the night of the gala again.

of

Kadey King for “Best Elementary Teacher” Neblett Elementary School - Sherman

Te x o m a

-

BUILDING

Sherman ISD l 2701 Loy Lake Road l Sherman, TX 75090 l (903) 891-6400 l www.ShermanISD.net BEST OF TEXOMA.COM

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M

ore and more couples are looking for non-traditional settings for their weddings, and the same holds true for those planning special events, celebrations for friends and family, business reasons and more.

Texoma has a growing number of venues that specialize in these sorts of things, and Best of Texoma voters have named Willowood Ranch, Rustic Grace and the Katy Depot as the top three in the area.

TEXOMA VENUES

SET THE

WILLOWOOD RANCH & CHAPEL 3803 Ward Neal Rd. Bells, TX 903-891-0070 www.willowoodweddings.com No. of years in Texoma: 15 Venue capacity: 300 Additional services offered: Wedding, events and accommodations Cost to rent venue: $1,500-3,500

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COURTESY PHOTO/YELP

Willowood Ranch believes what makes their venue special is that it is a destination wedding venue. They host ceremonies and receptions as well as provide overnight accommodations.

BEST OF TEXOMA

WORK & LIFESTYLE

RUSTIC GRACE ESTATE 13299 FM 121 Van Alstyne, TX 972-737-3259 www.rusticgraceestate.com No. of years in Texoma: 5 Venue capacity: 250 Cost to rent venue: $2,450-6,250

PHOTO BY RYAN O’DOWD

Rustic Grace Estate is a unique space that is home to an authentic 1920s red barn with vintage-inspired silos, a white wedding chapel boasting plenty of natural light and reclaimed wood floors, scenic lake and longhorns. The staff believes that Rustic Grace is a place that was made to make memories.

WEDDING STAGE

BY ED SOUTHERLAND

KATY DEPOT EVENT CENTER 101 E. Main St. Denison, TX 903-463-7729 www.katydepot.info No. of years in Texoma: 15+ Venue capacity: 270 Additional services available: Wedding decor and floral options

PHOTO BY MICHAEL HUTCHINS

Cost to rent venue: Starts at $2,500 to rent from 10 a.m. to midnight

Originally built in 1912 as a train station, the history of the building and original design are unlike many in North Texas.

BEST OF TEXOMA.COM

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Best CPA/Accountant................................................................211 Best Credit Union.......................................................................211 Best Drive-Thru Banking............................................................211 Best Financial Advisor/Planner..................................................211 Best Home Builder.....................................................................211 Best Home Inspector.................................................................215 Best Insurance Agency..............................................................215 Best Insurance Agent.................................................................215 Best Loan Officer........................................................................215

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Best Mortgage Company...........................................................215 Best Place for Banking..............................................................216 Best Real Estate Agent..............................................................216 Best Real Estate Agent - Lake Texoma....................................216 Best Real Estate Company........................................................216 Best Real Estate Company - Lake Texoma..............................216 Best Tax Service.........................................................................218 Best Title Company....................................................................218

BEST OF TEXOMA

THANK YOU

TEXOMA FOR VOTING

DEAN GILBERT REALTORS

A TOP 3 BEST REAL ESTATE COMPANY

Dean Gilbert, Jr 903-327-5188

801 E. Taylor SHERMAN 903-893-5188 BEST OF TEXOMA.COM

Dean Gilbert 903-271-5188

BEST REAL ESTATE COMPANY

Joe Gilbert 903-821-6514

418 Hwy. 120 W. POTTSBORO 903-786-5188 207

FINANCIAL & REAL ESTATE

FINANCING A HOME

BY ED SOUTHERLAND

T

he largest personal investment most people will be involved with in their lifetime is buying a house. Particularly for the first time buyer, the process of finding the money can be a confusing and nerve-wracking one.

We asked three mortgage lenders what basic things a prospective buyer should consider before sitting down to discuss money.

1. CREDIT “You should know what’s on your credit report,” said Michelle Castle of Guild Mortgage. “The report I pull is a little different from the standard consumer report, but the information is more or less the same. You need to pull that report and know exactly where you stand before you start the process.”

Budget is the next consideration.

2. BUDGET “How much money do you have to spend for a new home? I think it’s very important that people don’t spend every penny they have to buy a home, so you need to put together a budget to see exactly what you are comfortable with. And for a third thing, you need to have an idea of the location you want to be in, and of course that is often a matter of convenience and the proximity of schools, shopping, work and other factors,” Castle said.

At Certainty Home Loans, Vanya Griffith-Mayes puts knowing your current credit scores at the top of her list.

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BEST OF TEXOMA

Helping Clients Succeed Financially Dobbs Wealth Management Group of Wells Fargo Advisors provides the advice and guidance you need to focus on your short-term and long-term goals while navigating life’s financial opportunities and turning points.

It begins with a conversation.

Let’s get started!

Clients. Community.

Commitment.

Juston J. Dobbs, MBA, CDFA®, CFP® Senior Vice President - Investments

Amber Dobbs

Senior Client Associate

2027 Texoma Parkway • Sherman, TX 75090 • 903-893-6682 • www.justondobbs.com Wells Fargo Advisors is a trade name used by Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC, Member SIPC, a registered broker-dealer and non-bank affiliate of Wells Fargo & Company. CAR # 0319-04425 The use of the CDFA® designation does not permit Wells Fargo Advisors or its Financial Advisors to provide legal advice, nor is it meant to imply that the firm or its associates are acting as experts in this field.

Investment and Insurance Products: NOT FDIC-Insured NO Bank Guarantee

BEST OF TEXOMA.COM

MAY Lose Value

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FINANCIAL & REAL ESTATE

“You should know the price range of the home or the cost of the monthly payment you are comfortable with and what kind of funds are available to you for a down payment or closing costs,” she said. “To sum up, I would say credit status, price range or payment range and money for down payment.”

3. PURCHASING AND RE-FINANCING OPTIONS Debbie Fumell is a mortgage compliance officer with the First United Bank’s mortgage division, so her perspective is a little different with respect to what a borrower needs to know.

“It’s important to know if this is (going) to be a purchase or a refinance,” she said. “They need to know the cost of the house and the amount they will need to complete the purchase. It’s important they have all of their income and

assess documents ready for the lender at application. And budget — the need to understand their budget, what they have for a down payment and what they can afford in payments.

An additional aspect of the process mentioned by both Castle and Griffith-Mayes concerns the timeline for the home buying process.

4. PERSONAL TIMELINE “If you were to go shopping anywhere, you want to know you have the money in the bank to spend,” Castle said.

“It’s the same thing with a mortgage loan. There’s so much misinformation on the internet that people don’t really know what the payment is going to be. To understand that, you need to talk with someone local who knows ... expenses specific to this part of Texas. For those reasons, I think starting with the financial aspects of the purchase is the place to start.”

MICHELLE CASTLE, GUILD MORTGAGE

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BEST OF TEXOMA

FINANCIAL & REAL ESTATE

BEST CPA/ ACCOUNTANT

BEST CREDIT UNION

BEST DRIVE-THRU BANKING

BEST FINANCIAL ADVISOR/PLANNER

BEST HOME BUILDER

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

Chip Adami (903) 892-2727 Adami Lindsey & Co.

Texoma Educators Federal Credit Union (903) 892-1505 506 W Lamar St, Sherman

First United Bank (903) 893-7555 See page 5

Gail Utter (903) 893-0101 See page 2

Ceci Bates Custom Homes (903) 815-1504 13035 TX-289, Pottsboro

- WINNERS -

- WINNERS -

Chase (903) 893-5111 200 N Travis St, Sherman

Tom Kyle (903) 892-1234 Texoma Financial Services

Landmark Bank (903) 892-1800 Multiple locations

Juston Dobbs (903) 893-0101 See page 209

- WINNERS - WINNERS Mike Wright (903) 463-3121 Wright Tax Service Matt Hanley (903) 465-8788 Ramsey & Hanley CPAs

Fannin Federal Credit Union (903) 583-8131 1737 TX-121, Bonham City Credit Union (214) 515-0100 401 W Wilson Ave, Sherman

- WINNERS Briscoe Homes (903) 267-5495 2729 W Washington St, Denison EarnhartBuilt (903) 813-6196 110 S Houston St Denison

®

BEST OF TEXOMA.COM

211

FINANCIAL & REAL ESTATE

Insuring

peace of

mind

BY ED SOUTHERLAND

KRIS SPIEGEL Hempkins Insurance 431 W. Crawford St. Denison, TX 903-463-6251 kris@hempkins.com No. of years in industry: 38

B

ecause choosing insurance coverage for personal or business needs can be complicated, most people rely on the trained experts who know and understand the insurance business and strive to insure their clients have the right insurance coverage for their needs.

CINDY MCCULLOUGH McCullough and Pierson Insurance 903-868-1200 Cindy@CoveringTexas.com No. of years in industry: 18+

SANDRA PHILLIPS State Farm Insurance Denison, TX 903-463-3740 No. of years in industry: 29

212

“The top four insurance products consumers need to consider in this area include personal lines of coverage, business insurance, life and health,” Spiegel said. “When considering personal coverage an individual should consider homeowners or renters coverage, automobile coverage and a personal umbrella for excess liability. When it comes to protecting your business, one must consider general liability, property coverage, business auto, workers compensation, as well as an umbrella. Although there are many special and specific (types of) coverage for a particular industry, these coverages represent the basis for a majority of businesses.”

Spiegel said he went into insurance because he has a passion for business, wants to help others and felt it was important to pursue a career that allowed him to be involved in many industries.

“Our industry is unique in that you have the ability to be engaged with a person across all aspects of their insurance needs both personally and professionally, which creates a unique relationship,” he said.

Spiegel also thinks people in the Texoma area looking for services are likely to turn to him because Hempkins Insurance likes to build personal relationships with their clients and values being able to provide representation for their clients from the time of an initial account evaluation to the time the client has a claim.

“Whether it is a personal auto accident, a loss at their home, or a claim on their buisness general liability, our personal relationships and care for the well being of the insured is where I believe we separate ourselves in the market,” he said.

BEST OF TEXOMA

BEST REAL ESTATE COMPANY

BEST REAL ESTATE AGENT SHANNON GLADEN, EASY LIFE REALTY

BEST OF TEXOMA.COM

BEST REAL ESTATE COMPANY - LAKE TEXOMA

BEST REAL ESTATE AGENT - LAKE TEXOMA LISA HITCHCOCK, EASY LIFE REALTY

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FINANCIAL & REAL ESTATE

Helping you find

home

BY ED SOUTHERLAND

W

ith the growing region, the housing market in Texoma is thriving and flourishing.

There are many reasons to purchase in the area and area professionals believe that the time to purchase is now.

CENTURY 21 903-893-5188

EASY LIFE REALTY

No. of years in industry: 25+

“The sooner you purchase a home the faster you can take advantage of the expansion of the community,” Gilbert said..

“Homes are a terrific wealth mechanism whether its your personal homestead or investment properties.”

Gilbert went on to say that the Texoma community has a lot to offer.

“From the outstanding schools to the shopping and state-of-the-art medical facilities and physicians,” he said. “Plus, Lake Texoma is a superb asset to the community for fun and recreation.”

214

903-814-2689 lisa@ViewTexoma.com No. of years in industry: 8

While she is still unsure of why she decided to go into real estate, Hitchcock said she chose Texoma because of the small-town atmosphere, proximity to Lake Texoma and nearby metropolitan areas.

The three things she says buyers need to know before purchasing are if they are approved, what their budget is and what they would like their future investments to be.

“I am hard working agent that always has my clients best interest at heart,” Hitchcock said.

BEST OF TEXOMA

FINANCIAL & REAL ESTATE

BEST HOME INSPECTOR

BEST INSURANCE AGENCY

BEST INSURANCE AGENT

BEST LOAN OFFICER

BEST MORTGAGE COMPANY

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

Texoma Home Inspection (903) 821-4663 4563 FM 896, Trenton

Nat McClure State Farm (903) 893-9621 2201 N Heritage Pkwy, Sherman

Cindy McCullough McCullough & Pierson Insurance (903) 868-1200

Tonya Hudgins First United Bank (903) 893-7555

Guild Mortgage (903) 957-3100 See page 215

- WINNERS -

- WINNERS -

- WINNERS -

- WINNERS -

Hempkins Insurance (903) 463-6251 431 W Crawford St, Denison

Kris Spiegel Hempkins Insurance (903) 463-6251

Vanya Griffith-Mayes Certainty Home Loans (903) 870-0576 See page 211

Certainty Home Loans (903) 870-0576 See page 211

- WINNERS Dwayne Ward (903) 624-9827 Texomaland Home Inspections ABC Inspections (903) 380-5550 227 S Travis St, Sherman

Lovelace Insurance (903) 786-3855 501 Spur 316, Pottsboro

Sandra Phillips State Farm Insurance (903) 463-3740 See page 214

Michelle Castle Guild Mortgage (903) 957-3100

First United Mortgage Group (903) 893-7555

Thank you for voting us Best of Texoma!

BEST MORTGAGE COMPANY

Best Mortgage Company: Guild Mortgage Sherman Branch 714 N. Travis St. Sherman, TX 75092 O: 903.957.3100 Michelle Castle

Sabrina Wegley

Guild Mortgage Company is an Equal Housing Lender, NMLS #3274 (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org). For licensing, visit www.guildmortgage.com/licensing.

Michelle Castle, Branch Manager, NMLS #231122. Sabrina Wegley, Sales Manager, NMLS #231244.

BEST OF TEXOMA.COM

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FINANCIAL & REAL ESTATE

PARAGON REALTORS 903-814-1826 No. of years in industry: 15 Patrick Rowland went into real estate because he thought it would be exciting and fun. He said that as soon as an individual is financially able, it is a great time to buy a home because homes are good investments. Buying in Texoma is a good idea, he said, because individuals can get the best of both worlds by living in a small town yet still being near the DFW Metroplex.

He says the top three things people should know before purchasing a home are their credit scores, making sure they have been working for their current employer for at least six months and the ratings of the schools in the area.

Rowland said he believes Paragon, formerly Virgina Cook Realtors, was voted one of the best in Texoma because of the services they provide and their knowledge of the area.

BEST PLACE FOR BANKING

BEST REAL ESTATE AGENT

BEST REAL ESTATE AGENT - LAKE TEXOMA

BEST REAL ESTATE COMPANY

BEST REAL ESTATE COMPANY - LAKE TEXOMA

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

First United Bank (903) 893-7555 Multiple locations See page 5

Shannon Gladen Easy Life Realty (903) 224-5171

Lisa Hitchcock Easy Life Realty (903) 224-5171

Easy Life Realty (903) 224-5171 See page 213

Easy Life Realty (903) 224-5171 See page 213

- WINNERS -

- WINNERS -

- WINNERS -

- WINNERS -

Lainie Ramsey Homes by Lainie (903) 786-6063

Jerry Gilbert Century 21 Dean Gilbert Realtors (903) 893-5188

Paragon Realtors Formerly Virginia Cook (903) 893-8174 See page 226

Ebby Halliday (903) 893-5921

Lainie Ramsey Homes by Lainie (903) 786-6063

Century 21 Dean Gilbert (903) 893-5188 See page 207

- WINNERS First Texoma National Bank (903) 813-4898 Durant, Sherman Landmark Bank (903) 892-1800 Multiple locations

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Norman Gordon Paragon Realtors (903) 815-2499 See page 229

Century 21 Dean Gilbert (903) 893-5188 See page 207

BEST OF TEXOMA

Thank you Texoma!

BEST TITLE COMPANY Garrett Riddels Jamie Riddels

Peggy Cole Stacy Nichols

OWNERS

ESCROW OFFICERS

210 WEST MAIN | DENISON, TX | 903-465-2545 BEST OF TEXOMA.COM

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Crunching

the

numbers

BY ED SOUTHERLAND

F

iguring the ins and outs of finance can be a mystery to many people— that’s why identifying top flight, certified public accountants and accounting services are important to many businesses and individuals. To that end, Texomans have used their experience and expertise to single out Chip Adami of Adami, Lindsey & Co., Mike Wright of M W Wright & Co. and Matt Hanley of Ramsey & Hanley as three of the area’s best.

DAROLD P. “CHIP” ADAMI, JR. Adami, Lindsey & Co., LLP chip@adamlindsey.com 903-892-2727 Education: Bachelor’s of Business Administration, Texas Tech University Years in industry: 26 Specialty: Tax and accounting Adami, Lindsey & Co. has been in the Grayson County area since 1974, and while the firm has three partners, there are 15 team members available to help serve the public. Adami is a second generation CPA and has worked with businesses of all sizes as well as individuals.

Adami believes people like visiting Adami, Lindsey & Co. because the company emphasizes planning, strives to be a partner to clients that are available to help their businesses succeed and allow families to keep more of their own tax dollars.

MIKE WRIGHT M W Wright & Co. mike@mwwrightco.com 903-463-3121 Education: Southeastern Oklahoma State University Years in industry: 29 Specialty: Tax prep Wright believes everything about numbers is fun and that the people of Texoma like the service he provides because MW Wright & Co. has a wonderful staff who is willing to go above and beyond to make sure their clients are satisfied.

MATT HANLEY

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BEST TAX SERVICE

BEST TITLE COMPANY

- FIRST PLACE -

- FIRST PLACE -

Liberty Tax Service (903) 771-0059 903 N Travis St, Sherman

Chapin Title (903) 868-1415 See page 221

- WINNERS -

- WINNERS -

Mike Wright and Co. (903) 463-3121 120 S Austin Ave, Denison

Grayson Co. Title (903) 465-2545 See page 217

Sexton Tax Services (903) 463-3971 1809 W Morton St, Denison

Red River Title (903) 868-4446 Sherman, Whitesboro, Anna

BEST OF TEXOMA

We are so proud to be voted Best of Texoma We truly appreciate you - our customers and friends in Texoma.

Thank you !

BEST INSURANCE AGENCY

Sandra Phillips, Agent 903-463-3740 2521 W Morton St, Denison, TX 75020 www.sandraphillipsinsurance.com

BEST INSURANCE AGENT

BEST OF TEXOMA.COM

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FINANCIAL & REAL ESTATE

Finding a

lake home

BY ED SOUTHERLAND

T

he growth of the real estate market in Texoma is not just about the economic developments that are making their way into the area. The community, hospitals and educational resources all affect the sustainability of the market.

Lake Texoma real estate agents also believe that the regional amenities affect potential buyers’ decision to purchase.

LISA HITCHCOCK Easy Life Realty 903-814-2689 lisa@ViewTexoma.com No. of years in industry: 8 While she is still unsure of why she decided to go into real estate, Hitchcock said she chose Texoma because of the small-town atmosphere, proximity to Lake Texoma and nearby metropolitan areas.

The three things she says buyers need to know before purchasing are if they are approved, what their budget is and what they would like their future investments to be.

“I am hard working agent that always has my clients best interest at heart,” Hitchcock said.

LAINIE RAMSEY Homes by Lainie Real Estate Group 903-786-6063 No. of years in industry: 18 From an early age, Ramsey had an interest in homes and becoming a real estate agent has afforded her the opportunity to make home ownership a reality for area families.

When it comes to the right time to purchase a house, she believes there is no good or bad time; it’s more about the individuals needs and wants than a time of year.

“With relatively moderate pricing, the Texoma area is still a place most people can afford,” she said. “Plus we have Lake Texoma.”

The top three things Ramsey said people should know before purchasing a home are their purchasing power (what their pre-approval numbers are), the condition of the home they’re considering or the details of the home’s most recent inspection and how valuable the home is in terms of things that can be compared and appraisal values.

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JERRY GILBERT Century 21 Dean Gilbert Realtors 903-893-5188 jerry@DeanGilbert.com No. of years in industry: 25 After serving in the U.S. Marine Corps, Gilbert worked in construction building homes. He felt his next career path would be in a field of service to the community he grew up in and knew that real estate was right for him.

“The sooner you purchase a home the faster you can take advantage of the expansion of the community,” he said. “Homes are a terrific wealth mechanism, whether it’s your personal homestead or investment properties.”

Gilbert said the top things people need to know before purchasing are related to knowing the area they want to live in.

“Be familiar with the market in the price range you are pre-qualified for through your favorite lender,” he said.

“Schools and employment are critical to most buyers.

Evaluate property taxes and insurance as well as maintenance to calculate your budget.”

BEST OF TEXOMA

Close With The Best VOTED BEST

BEST TITLE COMPANY

TITLE COMPANY

Serving Texoma Since 1872 Over the years we have evolved into the largest title company in the area for one reason, our satisfied customers. To win best title company 11 years in a row is a tremendous achievement for us and we sincerely thank everyone who voted for us. Chapin Title Company is honored to serve Texoma and its amazing people. It’s your confidence in our professional service that inspires us to be the very best.

✓Timely ✓Efficient ✓ Accurate Closing Services Flexibility to meet your needs l Service that’s unsurpassed l A name you know and trust Sherman Downtown 903.868.1415 Sherman Town Center 903.893.7138 Pottsboro 903.786.3477

BEST OF TEXOMA.COM

www.chapintitle.com

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FINANCIAL & REAL ESTATE

INSPECT BEFORE YOU BUY

BY ED SOUTHERLAND

W

hen you decide it is time for a new car, you dutifully do your research to learn the strengths and weaknesses about each model you are considering.

If your choice is a used car, you take it to an independent mechanic to check it out and offer a report. You don’t want a lemon now, do you?

Sounds like good advice, but why would you investigate a $25,000 automobile you will have for five or six years and not exercise the same scrutiny when buying a home at ten times that price that you expect to live in for the rest of your life? If you are smart, you don’t. Enter the home inspector.

“We go through the house and try to find things wrong with the property,” Texoma Home Inspection owner Jake Reynolds said. “We look for big things,

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FINANCIAL & REAL ESTATE

what to know about home inspections anywhere from the foundation to the roof to the walls, ceilings, floors, doors, windows, electrical, heat and air to see that everything is working like it’s suppose to.”

It’s not a pass or fail; it’s just an informational report, so you can make an informed decision on whether you want to buy the property or not. Most of Reynolds’ inspections are done for prospective buyers, but sometimes home builders will provide one as a sales incentive. And while home inspections are optional and not required by law, sometimes a lender will ask for one.

Reynolds suggests that prospective buyers familiarize themselves with the property before calling an inspector, so as to point out things that could be a

problem.

“We usually recommend that the buyer show up toward the end of the inspection,” he said. “That way we can show them the problems we found and explain why it’s a problem. Most of the time, they show up.”

Reynolds, who is also a Bonham fireman, does 40 to 50 inspections each month.

“I could do it full time,” he said.

“But, I also enjoy my work with the fire department.”

Reynolds is fully licensed by the state of Texas and the International Society of Home Inspectors and offers a 90-day warranty on his reports.

“If I say something is working, and it

fails within 90 days, then it’s covered by the warranty through a third-party company,” he said. “I also do a thing called the ‘buy-back guarantee.’ If you find something big I missed that I shouldn’t have missed in the first 90 days, the international society I belong to will buy the home back for what you paid for it.”

A quality home inspection report can be a useful tool in the hands of a prospective buyer to aid in negotiations with the seller, and the relatively minor cost, considering the overall cost of a home, makes it a worthwhile investment in almost every situation.

Edward Southerland is a feature writer for Best of Texoma. For more information, visit BestofTexoma.com or www.facebook. com/BestOfTexoma.

eight home inspection mistakes buyers make 1. NOT HAVING AN INSPECTION AT ALL 2. CHOOSING THE CHEAPEST OPTION. KNOW YOUR INSPECTOR AND THEIR REPUTATION BEFORE HIRING THEM 3. NOT BEING PRESENT DURING THE INSPECTION 4. NOT MAKING THE ROUNDS WITH THE INSPECTOR 5. DISTRACTING THE INSPECTOR. WATCH, BUT DON’T INTERFERE WITH HIS WORK. 6. EXPECTING A PERFECT REPORT OR BECOMING DISAPPOINTED IF YOU DON’T GET ONE 7. FOCUSING ON THE WRONG THINGS. SMALL ITEMS CAN USUALLY BE FIXED. IT’S THE BIG PROBLEMS THAT SHOULD RAISE CONCERNS. 8. NOT GETTING A RE-INSPECTION OF NEGOTIATED REPAIRS OR CHANGES

BEST OF TEXOMA.COM

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Nate Rodriguez Sr. Group Publisher

William C. Wadsack Senior Editor

Edward Southerland Best of Texoma Feature Writer

Drew Smith Photographer

Future Brown Lifestyles Editor

Jessica Tracy Production Manager Graphic Designer

Rebecca Jones Creative Director

Noel Hanson Production Designer

GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Audrey Love Andrea Reategui CONTRIBUTING COPYEDITOR Wende Andrew

Advertising Sales Representatives

Kelsie Mason Advertising Director

Melodie Jackson

Leigh Ann McGee

Teresa Young (Not pictured)

The purchase of advertising from Texoma Marketing and Media Group or its subsidiaries did not affect the outcome of the Best of Texoma results. Votes were counted and tallied by an independent third party. Digital results can be viewed upon request. In the event of a tie, the number of nominations was used to declare a winner.

Best of Texoma is a registered trademark of the Heral Democrat and a publication of Texoma Marketing and Media Group. Š 2019 GateHouse Media

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BEST OF TEXOMA

s AT Present R C O M E D D L HERA

–

r e m a f f o l l a baseball h – tmc and

THE

JUne 10, 2019 TEXOMA EVENT CENTER

#ALLTEXOMALAND all-texomaland all star preps awards are the herald democrat’s WAY OF HONORING STANDOUT HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETES AND THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS AT AN UNFORGETTABLE END-OF-THE-SCHOOL-YEAR EVENT FEATURING AN APPEARANCE BY AN A-LIST PROFESSIONAL ATHLETE. THis ANNUAL all-star AWARDS BANQUET RECOGNIZES THE BEST STUDENT ATHLETES IN HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS, WHILE ALSO GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE COACHES, FANS AND FAMILIES WHO HAVE ALLOWED US TO SHARE THEIR ATHLETES’ STORIES, PERFORMANCES AND PASSIONS.

Tickets on Sale Now! heralddemocrat.com/alltexomaland BEST OF TEXOMA.COM

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Thank you, Texoma, for voting us

TOP THREE

Best Real Estate Agency!

BEST REAL ESTATE COMPANY

formerly Virginia Cook, Realtors

226

BEST OF TEXOMA

Thank you Texoma for voting me Top 3 Real Estate Agent!

Norman Gordon

Representing buyers and sellers with integrity and expertise throughout the greater Texoma area.

841 E. North Creek Dr. | Sherman, TX

903-815-2499 | ngordon@paragonrealtors.com

Emergency Service Available 24/7

Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning Proudly Serving Grayson County & Southern Oklahoma Since 1965 With the most experienced service professionals around, we offer around the clock services to ensure your needs are met in the most efficient manner possible.

Whether its a broken toilet, a leaky faucet, a hot house or an inoperable furnace, we’ll get the problem fixed right away.

(903) 893-1141

(903) 465-9272

TACLA 004305E #M14615 OK #00101957

BEST OF TEXOMA.COM

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A Touch of Class Antique Mall – 120 A1 Dog Grooming and Boarding Kennels – 150 Abel Aleman Roofing – 168 Allen’s Plumbing – 227 Anders Optical – 67 Angels of Care – 65 Ashley Homestore – 133 B&B Automotive – 164 Beauty Bar – 160 Big Dog Little Dog – 171 Breath of Life – 13 Britton Brooks – 3 Brookdale Willows – 189 C&L Stone – 121 Cedar Mills – 107 Changing Seasons – 69 Chapin Title – 221 Cherokee Communications – 166 Choctaw – 97 City Limits – 27 City of Denison – 99 CJ’s Coffee – 37 Classic of Texoma – 115 Courtney Mitchell Photography – 157 Dahle Dental – 91 Dean Gilbert Century 21 Realtors – 207 Denison Independent School District – 194 Dobbs, Justin – 209 Douglass Distributing – 125 Downtown Escape Rooms – 135 Easy Life Realty – 213 El Patio Escondido – 33

228

Express Personnel Services – 191 F&I Pawn - 10 Farmstead – 31 First United Bank – 5 Fisher, Deborah – 79 Focused Care – 80 Frosted Shoppe, The – 25 Fulbelli’s – 51 Gents VII – 175 Good Earth Soil & Materials – 127 Grandpappy Point – 95 Grayson County Title Company – 217 Grayson Pro-Tech – 174 Guild Mortgage – 215 Gundersheimer - Eye Do Optical – 61 Hampton Inn & Suites Denison – 93 Hear Care – 6 Heart To Heart Hospice – 83 Highport Marina – 93 Hilton – 230 Home Hospice – 67 Hospice Plus – 77 Hucks Catfish – 35 Interior Home Store – 152 Italian Affair – 25 Jackman, Matthew – 55 Jelsma, Richard – 76 JR’s Lone Star Painting – 166 K&M Roofing – 176 Kiddie Kampus – 155 King Buffet – 39 King Cole Enterprises – 149

BEST OF TEXOMA

Knight Chiropractic – 73 Knight Furniture & Mattress - 7 La Mesa – 29 Lange Vet – 161 Lankford Roofing – 151 Lecrone Law Firm – 159 Library Grill, The – 24 Lux Aesthetic Medical Spa – 11 Manpower – 187 Maxim Salon & Spa – 167 Metal Warehouse – 131 Muddbones – 23 Nick’s Family Restaurant – 43 Norman Gordan, Paragon Realty – 216 North Rig Grill – 21 One Medical – 68 Parkway Buick GMC – 128-129 Pediatric Dental Specialists – 53 Pediatric Dentistry of Sherman – 81 Perdue Foundation – 153 Phillips, Sandra – 219 Quilt Asylum – 138 Regional Plastic Surgery – 56 Residence at Gateway village – 199 Reynold’s Electric – 178 RGB Eye Associates – 75 Roberts Decorator Supply – 143 Roberts Heating and Air – 162 Sciortino, John – 4 Scotty Wright Painting – 181 Shea, Sheila – 179

BEST OF TEXOMA.COM

Sherman Collision Repair – 156 Sherman Independent School District – 203 Sherman Jazz Museum – 103 Signature Home Furnishings – 119 Sisemore Services – 169 Snooty Pup Groomer – 177 Steeple Chase Apartments – 193 Stokes Orthodontics – 9 Syed, Sameer – 85 Taste of China – 41 Texas Star Bank - Glenda Townsend – 197 Texoma Country Pools – 124 Texoma Delivery – 12 Texoma Medical Center – 57, 58, 62-63, 71, 232 Texoma Plumbing Services – 163 Top Notch Electrician – 161 Tracks Restaurant - 24 Traditions Senior Living – 195 Twin Oaks – 117 Utter Family Of Dealerships – 139 Utter Wealth Management – 2 Vanya Griffith-Mayes – 211 Virginia Cook – 226 Waldo Funeral Home – 173 Wash Factory – 170 Webb’s Electric Heating & Air – 8 Wesley Village – 201 Wilson’ Farm – 123 Wren Chiropractic – 59 Zeikus, Priya – 82

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We Do. Weddings Receptions Special Events

First Class

Denison • Sherman • Texoma Event Center

Private Events l Public Events l Weddings l Restaurant l Happy Hour l Lake Texoma

903.463.3331 • www.hgigateway.com

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BEST OF TEXOMA

First Class

Denison • Sherman • Texoma Event Center

Private Events l Public Events l Weddings l Restaurant l Happ

Private Events l Public Events l Weddings l Restaurant l Happy Hour l Lake Texoma

903.463.3331903.463.3331 • www.hgigateway.com • www.hgigateway.com

Best Hotel BEST OF TEXOMA.COM

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The Region’s Leading Healthcare Provider Focused on Quality, Growth, Stability Our Commitment Is to Your Good Health!

Advanced Services Include: • Behavioral Health Center • Breast Care Center • Cardiology/Cardiovascular Surgery • CentRx® Pharmacy • Diabetes LifeCenter • Home Health • Interventional Neurology • Medical Supply & Scrubs • Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) • Neurosurgery • Orthopedic Surgery • Radiology: Inpatient & Outpatient • Rehabilitation: Inpatient & Outpatient • Robotic Surgery • Sleep Lab • Stroke Services • Trauma Center - Level III • Urgent Care • Weight-loss Surgery • Wound Care and Hyperbaric Medicine • Women’s Services

Texoma Medical Center is Honored to be Recognized “Best Hospital” Thank you to the readers of the Herald Democrat’s Best of Texoma Poll. For the last 12 years, you have voted TMC as a “Best Medical Facility.”

FPO BEST HOSPITAL

Recognitions & Accreditations

5016 South US Highway 75 Denison, TX 75020 texomamedicalcenter.net Physicians are on the medical staff of Texoma Medical Center, but, with limited exceptions, are independent practitioners who are not employees or agents of Texoma Medical Center. The hospital shall not be liable for actions or treatments provided by physicians. For language assistance, disability accommodations and the non-discrimination notice, visit our website. 191823-2000 4/19

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