KILGOROUND
KATHRYN MARTINEZ

Who knew Brian Bittick played semi-pro baseball in college? Now you do. I imagine he is another of many looking forward our yet unnamed wooden-bat team to take the field June 10.

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Carl and Judy Beam brought me a specimen the found on their land. Bees, to be exact. The Beasm's discovered the bees as they were tearing down a house on the property. The odd thing about these bees is they seem to be a cross-breed between red wasps and yellow jackets. The peculiar bees were red with yellow stripes and yellow with red strips. I called Dennis Smith, Gregg County Extension Agent, to find out if the bees were in fact a new breed, but I have not heard back from his office.

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Several years ago I had a neighbor whose cows trampled through their fence and ate all of my plants and trees I had been growing since I was

a teenager. I never had the heart to replace all those plants that I loved so much, until I went to the White Elephant, run by Kilgore Improvement and Beautification Association and Betty Renshaw who is a member. I bought two clippings from the used-goods store, a wandering jewel and a spider plant. My Jewel is pretty but I have failed at my attempt to keep the spider plant alive. I guess I will need to Call Jean Laird and get some tips from her before I venture to think I have a green thumb again.

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On this day in: 1889 - President Grover Cleveland signs a bill admitting North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana and Washington as U.S. states; 1924 - Calvin Coolidge becomes the first President of the United States to deliver a radio broadcast from the White House; and in 1973 - Cold War: Following United States President Richard Nixon's visit to the People's Republic of China, the two countries agree to establish liaison offices.

+++ Born on this day in: 1892 - Edna St. Vincent Millay, American writer (d. 1950); 1932 - Ted Kennedy, U.S. senator from Massachusetts; and in 1944 - Robert Kardashian, American lawyer (d. 2003).

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Celebrating a birthday today are Donna Griffin, Scott Stokely, Mrs. J.L. Pollick, Beverly Nicholson, M.G. Boulware, Tammy Kinkaid, Othelia Green, Jeffrey Pennington, Lynn Currin, Steve Lovelace, Adam English, Jennifer King, Linda Williams, Deanna Anderson, Kendrick Lamar Hall, Jack McFarland, Jessie H. Warren, Christine Villyard, Ruth Landes, Shayna Ellis, Kenneth Drinning, Christine Villyard.

Blowing out the candles on Saturday are Lucille McCarthy, Odis Cochran, Patricia Peralez, Joel Franklin, Susan Curnutt, Ashley Nicole Taylor, Winnie Hughes, Neva Caldwell, Dottie Petty, Linda Gosswick, Richard Chase, Steve Lawrence, Nathan Lanicek, Elizabeth Tanner, Delina Brown, Ruby Dean Woolridge, Cynthia Roberts, Dylan Black, Clayton Bo Griffin