Main Street receives two new board members

DENISE REINERT AND GERALD STANGLIN Kilgore Main Street's board of directors welcomed two new faces Thursday night at the first board meeting of the new year.

Gerald Stanglin, Kilgore College vice president of Education, filled one vacancy; Denise Reinert, local business owner, filled the other. Merlin Holmes and Mike Bassham were the former members. Bassham had served his entire term and Holmes, who was slated for another term as board president, moved to Louisiana.

The newcomers were already acquainted with each other and the other board members through community interactions. The pair also worked together during the recent Downtown Business and Loft Tour. Both said they are ready to see downtown Kilgore revitalized.

Reinert, who owns Sheer Company, a salon on Kay Street, said Kilgore has a lot to offer and she wants to get the word out to residents who may believe they have to drive to Longview or Tyler for shopping.

"This is a passion of mine," she said. "I want to see local money spent locally."

Reinert is active in St. Luke's United Methodist Church Education Committee, the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life Teams Committee and Beta Sigma Phi/Beta Gamma Psi chapter.

Last night Reinert brought up a variety of ideas for Main Street board consideration.

"Denise's ideas and enthusiasm were a welcome addition to the meeting," said Fallon Burns, Main Street manager

"When I arrived in Kilgore 12 years ago, I drove down Main Street, from 259, past all the churches and when I saw downtown, I thought to myself 'This could use some help,'" Stanglin said. "I think civic involvement is important. Someone has to step up and be a part of this."

Aside from his duties at Kilgore College, Stanglin is one of five elders at Chandler Street Church of Christ and he has past experience with Main Street programs in Pleasant Grove and Lancaster.

"Gerald has prior board experience and it was obvious in his attention to detail at the board meeting," Burns said. "He raised critical points and asked numerous questions that helped guide the board."

Other members on the board are Harvey McClendon, local insurance agent and councilman; Donna Shupe, Main Street business owner; Amber Abell, housewife and board president; Bill Woodall, newspaper publisher and board vice president; and Sue Brown, a member of the Kilgore Historical Preservation Foundation and the board's design chair. Burns serves as secretary.

Ex-officio members include B.J. Owen, Kilgore director of special services; Amanda Nobles, Kilgore Economic Development Corporation executive director; and Carol Hinton, Kilgore Chamber of Commerce, director of tourism.

Burns said she is pleased to have the two newest members join the board.

"I think they both have a lot to bring to the table," she said.