KILGOROUND

ADMIT it. It was a treat to watch the national media get hyped over something besides Iraq, Korea or Mark Foley.

THE buildup to the arrival of the 300 millionth American was sort of fun.

THEORETICALLY, the new citizen was either Kiyah Lanae Boyd, 6 pounds, 6 ounces, born in Atlanta, Georgia, or and Zoe Emille Hudson, 7 pounds, 3 ounces, born in Manhattan.

BOTH arrived Tuesday morning at 7:45 a.m. and 30 seconds (Eastern time) as instant contenders for the symbolic title of 300 millionth American.

IN fact, the hypothetical 300 millionth American might have been swimming the Rio Grande or, as Newhouse News Service put it, overstaying a student visa.

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REMEMBER the National Guard troops that left Kilgore back during the heat of July?

THEY got a two-day break in training at Fort Dix, New Jersey last weekend. Many of them flew home for a brief visit with family before reporting back Tuesday. They will spend the rest of this week in New Jersey and then they're off to Kuwait for an additional two to four weeks of training. FROM there, they'll be shipped to Iraq and can anticipate 12 months on the ground there. +++ FOR those of us who really, really like food, two of Kilgore's 'best' events are rapidly approaching.

THE Oilmen's Chili Cook-off to benefit the Crisis Center is at 11 a.m. on Commerce Street November 2. Plunk down your $5 and sample as many of the 50 or 60 recipes as you can choke down. AND the international students at Kilgore College will host their Taste of Nations and International Bazaar from 5 until 7 p.m. Monday, November 13 at the Devall Center Ballroom. For $7 you can sample recipes from Africa, Asia, Europe and Central and

South America. (Depending on how you handle India, that's pretty much the globe - except for Antarctica.) You'll even be offered the opportunity to buy an international cookbook for $10. +++ BECAUSE you asked - and only because you asked - the Tyler Rose Parade starts at 9:30 a.m. Saturday. It follows pre-game activities beginning at 9 a.m. +++ HAVEN'T started shopping yet? Christmas is

only 59 days away. +++ HAPPY birthday today to Latane Speer, Beverly Russell, Suzy Killion, Joe Renee Ligon, Deldrick Anthony, Michael Warlick, Carole Arent, James Holder, Cash Craig, Robbie Joe Dilliard, Berl Click, Terri Lynn Splawn, Kristin VonSenden, Avery Claire Gorman

CELEBRATING wedding anniversaries today Mr. and Mrs. Michael Clements, Mr. and Mrs. Bart Barthelemess