KILGOROUND

FOOTBALL PRACTICE began here for Kilgore High School yesterday, and it figures the break we've gotten this summer for the heat is going away just as practice starts.

The guys will have a few days before they have to practice in pads - the first few days are padfree, and basically just a getting-back-into-footballshape period.

Kilgore has started practice early this season because coach Mike Vallery elected not to have a spring practice session. A big part of that thinking was because of the delayed date of this upcoming school year (an Aug. 27 start). Due to coach Val's decision not to have practice, that means, under UIL rules, that they can begin fall practice sessions a week early, and it also means an extra preseason scrimmage.

The annual watermelon feast will follow practice on Friday, Aug. 17, the day before the Bulldogs' first scrimmage, played at Dallas Kimball against

Kimball and Haltom on Saturday, Aug. 18. KHS visits Tatum on Friday, Aug. 24 for the final scrimmage, and then the Bulldogs start the season for real Friday, Aug. 31 here at R.E. St. John Memorial Stadium against Crockett. +++ IN THE EVENT you might have missed it, the 15-16 year-old all-star team from here made it to the final three of the Dixie Youth Baseball World Series before losing an elimination game to Florida. I know their goal was to bring the trophy home, but I was proud of their performance just the same, and I gave it a bit more than I normally would simply because these are the kids, for the most part, that will be representing Kilgore High School in the prep baseball season next spring. Members of the team, just to recap, were Hayden Patterson, Javarri Kelly, Timothy Boaze, Andrew Ector, Xavian Sanders, Ryan Heimer, Steven McBryde, Trace De- Berry, Will Mixon, Brandon Terry, Chris Dudley, Trevor Moon. Their coaches were Louis Kelly, Donny Heimer and Tim Boaze. Again, hat's off, guys - you had a great run. +++ A FEW DATES TO REMEMBER for Kilgore Independent School District (KISD) students... • Sixth grade students headed to Maude Laird Middle School for this year should plan to attend orientation on Tuesday, Aug. 21 from 8 a.m. until noon at MLMS. • Meet-the-teacher day all around KISD is Thursday, Aug. 23, beginning with Kilgore Heights (that's kindergarten; it will be held from noon until 1:30 p.m. that day), and continuing with Chandler Elementary (grades one through three; meet teachers between 4:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.), Kilgore Intermediate School (grades four and five, and it's from 5:30 p.m. until 6:30 p.m.) and finally MLMS (from 5:30 p.m. until 7). +++ HAPPY BIRTHDAY TODAY to Bonne Hart, Angela Hearne, Gregory Guinn, Kathryn Maxwell, Tamara Lynn Talley, Janette Jones, Jason Dean Henson, Samantha Rae Morrow, Martha Swaim, Donald Cox, Randy Hinton, Carol Stetson, Mike Anthony, Trey Copeland, W.E. "Gene" Whitworth, Billie VanMeter, Denise Croley. Celebrating with you: Not many famous people, but a few - singers B.J. Thomas (65) and Rodney Crowell (57), actor Wayne Knight (neighbor Newman on "Seinfeld;" he's 52), actress Charlize Theron (32) and "X-Files" star David Duchovny (47). +++ HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TODAY to Donna and Ross Mc- Farland, Mr. and Mrs. Bill Brantley, Mr. and Mrs. W.A. McDonald