Fundraisers, festivities on tap for KHPF
By LESTER MURRAY news2@kilgorenewsherald.com

The Kilgore Historical Preservation Foundation met yesterday with upcoming events highlighting the meeting.

Amber Maxwell, fundraising committee chairwoman, said her committee is looking at three events for the upcoming year.

"The first event we are planning is a vintage style show to benefit the Dean-Keener-Crim House," said Maxwell. "Jan Jaynes will be handling decorating and under, Gem Meacham will be handling publicity, Brenda Maxwell will be handling the models and arrangements at the Meadowbrook Country Club, Helen Padgett and Nina Fern will be the event hostesses and I will be handling invitations and clothing."

Maxwell the day of the event will be Thursday, May 11, and the time will be from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. "Food and drink will be served and tickets will be $20 per person," said Maxwell. "This event is scheduled one week before Mother's Day and it will be a Mother's Day event."

Maxwell said the models will be either mother, daughter combinations or some combination of that type. "Anyone who has clothing from the 30's through the 50's we would appreciate using them for the show," said Maxwell.

Maxwell said the second fundraiser will be the sale of afghans which will be a second edition sale. "The afghans will be sold for $50 each and will be on display in several locations to be named later," said Maxwell.

Maxwell said the third fundraiser will be the sale of Christmas ornaments. "This will be the same type that was sold a few years ago that depicted the Kilgore Library," said Maxwell. "The committee has not yet decided on the theme for this year's ornament but that decision will be made soon."

Terry Stembridge, book committee chairman, said the book is coming along quite well. "We had planned originally on the book coming out in May but the committee decided the book would be better served by waiting until August," said Stembridge. "Photos are still being considered so anyone who has a photo that they think would enhance the book should contact me at (903) 985-0308." Stembridge said the book will have a new name also, "Kilgore, Visions From the Forgotten Streets."

Bruce Stanton, publicity and marketing committee chairman, said the place mat project is right on schedule and the mats will be out in May.

J.T. Konczak, post office committee chairman, said a new heating and cooling unit will be placed in one part of the post office as a trial to see if this is the way to go for updating the post office heating and cooling problems. "This is a ductless unit so different parts of the post office can be done as the need arises," said Konczak.

Amber Maxwell said Bill Maxwell wants to donate benches for Christmas Tree Park for visitors to sit on in the memory of W.T. Maxwell. Tom Brown said the benches would be graciously received after the Christmas Tree Park Committee decided on what type of benches would be appropriate and where they should be placed.

William Villyard, derrick committee chairman, said new derricks should be going up soon, one in April and one in June, weather permitting.

Deana Covin, Christmas in the Patch Committee chairwoman, said plans for the "Christmas in the Oil Patch" event is progressing nicely. "New members have been added to the committee as well as new groups are being added to the list of performers," said Covin. "Mark Fried will be the emcee of the event again this year."

Tom Brown, president of KHPF, said on a more somber note, KHPF will no longer be supporting the downtown lighting that is strung on top of the individual businesses. "The lights need to be replaced, not just bulbs but the entire lighting system," said Brown. "I feel, as does the KHPF board, this is not the responsibility of KHPF but falls under the Holiday Trail of Lights which is under the Kilgore Chamber of Commerce."

MIke Coston, Kilgore Chamber of Commerce president, said the chamber will have to look into the cost of replacing all of those lights and the impact it will have on the individual businesses.