KILGOROUND

Happy New Year everybody.

I got to celebrate the arrival of 2009 twice. It was funny that my cell phone went nuts at 11 p.m., when well-wishers and seasons-greeters from my home on the East Coast thought to text me. The first few text messages I replied with a simple "you too" — and, of course, reminded the "texters" that it wasn't midnight yet in Central Standard Time. This was followed by a rush of midnight CST text messages telling me "It is now."

As an afterthought, I rushed over to our local supercenter on Wednesday night for a last-minute shot at some black-eyed peas for the new year. Needless to say I was not the only woman on the bean — and pea — aisle who came up empty handed. I opted for field peas for my dose of New Year's luck. Cabbage, however, was plentiful and with the economy at a low, I'll take money anywhere I can find it.

With every new year comes resolutions. My first resolution this year is to go back to school — again. My second resolution is to keep my first resolution.

This year I look forward to the downtown revitalization and streetscape. I cannot wait until next holiday season, when the project has transformed downtown Kilgore into a new and improved Holiday Trail of Lights destination. I can only imagine how beautiful the outcome will be.

The transformation project kicks off on Monday, so use caution when traveling along Main and Kilgore streets.

Happy Birthday today to Matt Climer, Brynda McNey, Barbara Mabery, Arlene Hedges, Perry Solomon, Franesta Geter, Kristi Golden, Les Bewley, Brenda Ligon, Andrea Robinson, Shannon Siebert, Mary Bateman, Erin Spradlin, Justin Honea, Jordan Taylor, Peyton Pentecost

Happy anniversary today to Mr. and Mrs. George Copelan.

Blowing out the birthday candles tomorrow are Todd King, Regina Bull, Jason Valdetero, Karol Denmon, Dottie Faulkner, Daine Jeter, Scott Clark, Robin Berry, Jason Ryan Jackson, Herbert Johnson, Amy Brown, Jerry Randolph, Olin Moore, Amon Horton, Don Fields, Katherine Blair, Leo Lowery, J.B. Davis, Lisa Wylie Carroll, Marcus Brown, Geneva Randall, Kelli Coleman, Matthew Ramirez, Sabrina Jones, Eddie Gallaway, Chris Kirbow

Celebrating anniversaries tomorrow are Mr. and Mrs. Tim Payne, Mr. and Mrs. Z.T. Watson Jr., Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Randolph