KILGOROUND

MANY thanks to the great folks of Kilgore who have welcomed me as editor of the newspaper. I've been working here almost two months and I'm starting to get the lay of the land, so to speak, but there is still much to learn about this great little town. The staff here is also great and ohso giving. So far, everyone but publisher Bill Woodall has offered to "give" me his or her Kilgoround day, but this is my first and I'm only filling in for Lester Murray, who is on vacation this week.

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I'M REALLY looking forward to this year's Holiday Trail of Lights celebration in Kilgore. Several years ago I worked for a weekly newspaper in Marshall and thoroughly enjoyed the Trail season. The beautifully-lighted courthouse was just across the street from my office.

I've had the pleasure of riding around Kilgore during Christmastime and

marveling at the derricks and stars, but I've never been to "Christmas in the Patch" or seen the Mt. Kilgore Snow Hill. I most certainly will do both in 2008.

So mark your calendars now for the Kilgore Historical Preservation Foundation's 22nd annual "Christmas in the Patch" derrick and stars lighting ceremony on Thursday, Nov. 20, on the Winter Elder Stage at the World's Richest Acre Park. This is THE event to kick off the Holiday Trail of Lights.

The KC Band, twirlers and drum line will begin performing at 6, followed by the program at 6:30 p.m. The derrick lights will be turned on by the three winners of the "Tis the Season" essay contest — Kaitlyn Hunt from Kilgore High School; Kathleen Meredith from Maude Laird Middle School; and Cassidy Daniel from Kilgore Intermediate School.

According to the KHPF email we got yesterday, there will be a whole lot of singing, dancing and storytelling going on that night, all provided by Kilgore and Longview individuals and groups.

The finale will feature all of the performers singing "White Christmas" with a special dance presentation by Alexis and Colby Johnston, great-granddaughters of Winter Elder, for whom the stage at the park was named.

I love Christmas and think this will be a wonderful way to welcome the season!

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I MET Carolyn Holcombe yesterday when she came in to talk about the upcoming "Scouting for Food" program. Her Cub Scouts in Pack 251 and the Boy Scouts from Troop 252, led by Scout Master Keith Nix, will deliver special bags to Kilgore residences on Saturday, Nov. 15, in hopes that generous folks will fill them with canned goods and boxed foods. They ask that everyone put these filled sacks in noticeable places on their porches or curbs by 9 a.m. the following Saturday, Nov. 22.

Everything collected will go to the Helping Hands of Kilgore food pantry and the Kilgore Crisis Center.

Times are tough and getting tougher for many, and the food you can afford to donate will be distributed to those who cannot afford to feed their families. So, look for those bags and fill them up if you are able.

Also, kudos to Carolyn, whose own boys are long grown but she continues to serve as Cub Master. In fact, she and her husband began with scouting a couple of years before their sons were old enough to take part and now, 30 years later, she still gives her all, despite some recent health problems. It's people like Carolyn who make small towns like Kilgore so special.

+++ CONGRATULATIONS to our Kilgore FFA students who fared well at last month's Harvest Festival in Longview. They include: Marina Linkinhoker, whose broilers took Grand Champion honors; Dustin Craine, Reserve Champion Broilers; Sydni Borders, Junior Rabbit Showmanship; and Mason Rawls, Ag Mechanics, Overall Reserve Champion and Division 3 (Household Products) Champion.

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Blowing out the birthday candles today are James Hren, Tracci Elrod, Danny Preston, Robin Shaw, Rita Brantley, David Dorsett, Thomas George, Mrs. Rex Greene, Angela Margaret Crutcher, James Allen Pegues, Tony Lloyd, Jan Elder, Dorothy Forth, Angela Taylor, Bruce Melton Jr., Staci Osborne, Erik Hernandez, Garline Hillhouse, Dustin Odom, David Dorsett.

Happy anniversary today to Jeffrey and Leslie Jennings