KILGOROUND
MITCH LUCAS

OF ALL THE THINGS OF NOTE going on in the next few weeks, one is more important to me than all the rest, and that's happening today.

This is my son's eighth birthday. Jacob is eight today, and as hard as it is for me to believe, he's spent more than half his life here in Kilgore (where he lives and breathes Kilgore High School and Kilgore College sports). Happy birthday, son.

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IF YOU'VE BEEN LOOKING for Kilgore's own Kenta Bell on the track and field Olympic qualifying shows on NBC and USA Network from Eugene, Ore., over the last few days (as I have), you haven't found him. That's because the men's triple jump qualifying is this coming weekend.

I spoke with Kenta's mom, Diane, this morning, and she and the family are leaving for Oregon tomorrow. Kenta will jump on Friday and Sunday, hoping to make a return

trip - he competed for the USA, as many of you will remember, in the 2004 Olympics.

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THE EAST TEXAS PUMP JACKS are on the final legs of their six-game road trip, finishing it up tonight and tomorrow night in McKinney. They split a doubleheader Sunday in Coppell (see that story in our sports section today).

This coming weekend, which is of course Fourth of July weekend, the 'Jacks will be home at Driller hosting Brazos Valley on Thursday and Friday, then McKinney on Saturday and Sunday. The franchise is planning a fireworks show, but will have it on Saturday night following the game rather than Friday. All of the games will begin at 7:05 p.m., according to the team's web site.

+++ ANOTHER THING UPCOMING that's sort of near and dear to my heart is the annual Meadowbrook Classic golf tournament, slated for July 11, 12 and 13 at Meadowbrook Country Club, of course.

This will be my seventh year covering the tournament, which is the biggest date of the country club's calendar each year. It feels special because it is special - the history of this tournament dates back to some very important times in Kilgore history in the 1930s, and each year I look forward to the second week of July.

I talked with Meadowbrook pro David Cline this morning. He said that the field is being finalized. I'll keep you posted in the sports section.

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY TODAY to Jill Fife, Kellye Crocker, Emily Honea, Greg Cashen, Mary Caskey, Deborah Sue Dorsey, Kathy Johnson, Daniel Nicols, Ken R. Pritchard, Sherri Nicole Dunn, Janie Blackstone, Lynne Cross, James Haltmeyer, Mary Quarles, Susan Salazar, Douglas Carter, Michael Wayne Madden, Christy Brown, Josh Watson, Jacob Lucas, Beckey Dibbell.

Celebrating with you: Blondie - or at least the group's lead singer, Deborah Harry, who's 63 today. Other celebrity birthdays include actress Pamela Anderson (41), rap star Missy Elliott (37), actress Julianne Nicholson (of "Law and Order: Criminal Intent;" she's 37), actress Liv Tyler (31), actor/comedian Dan Aykroyd (56), gospel singer/choir leader Andrae Crouch (66) and actor Jamie Farr of "M*A*S*H*" fame (he's 77).

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HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TODAY to Mr. and Mrs. Joe Fette, Mr. and Mrs. Richard Crutcher, Thomas David and Shelly Nixon.