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County Team Wins State Title

State champions

The Cedar Creek Cowboys competed in the USSSA State Tournament this past weekend. The Cowboys went undefeated in six games and won the Championship game vs the Dallas Patriots. They are the USSSA State Champions now!

Players are Kobe Borchardt of Eustace, Dalton Burkhalter of Malakoff, Cameron Rogers of Cross Roads, Trent Harris of Athens, Luis Valdez of Athens, Cayden Henderson of Kerens, Cody Strawn of Eustace, Cory Strawn of Eustace, Kobey Roberts of Mabank, Hunter McLarry of Chandler. Coaches are Derek Rogers, Stephen Burkhalter, Bill Borchardt and David Strawn. Bat Boy is Colt Rogers of Cross Roads. Son of Derek Rogers

TFFC Donations

TFFC 2

Halloween at the Hatchery, an annual event at the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center in Athens, raised $2,106 for three local organizations. Presenting checks to representatives of the organizations was James Booker, Events Coordinator at TFFC. Accepting were (left to right): Terri Budow, Henderson County Community Partners Rainbow Room; Melinda Campbell, Henderson County Humane Society; and Donna Johnson, East Texas Crisis Center.

Around Town: Loretta picks up some new art

loretta pictures

If you noticed my column missing last week, and I hope at least a couple of you did, it is because I just goofed around and didn’t get it done in time. Now I’ve got to condense what I was going to tell you last week, and still save room to tuck in what I’ve got to tell you this week.

Last week I was whining about a big tragedy. But now I’m recovering from the trauma, so maybe I can talk about it shorter. Remember purslane, that wonderful nutritious weed that appeared in my garden? Remember I was trying to get all of you to come help yourself to some? Well, you missed your chance. One morning I went out to pick some and found it all gone! A young friend who was trying to be helpful decided to weed the garden. He pulled it all up and tossed it. I’m still pretty sad about it, but, oh well, easy come, easy go. And my turnip greens are looking pretty good. Though I don’t think they will go well in green smoothies.

Another thing I was going to tell you is that John and I went to see “Bad Granddad,” simply because we had some time to kill and didn’t want to watch anything serious. We laughed ourselves silly. I’ve been telling everybody to go see it if they can overlook the considerable grossness, but maybe I’ll quit now. I told my Garden Club ladies about it the other day, and they were not impressed. In fact, Jo Ann Surls said she could now see why I didn’t appreciate “Death of a Salesman.” In other words, she doesn’t think too much of my taste in drama. You may think the same thing. I did appreciate “Death of a Salesman.” It’s just that I prefer to giggle than think. Continue reading “Around Town: Loretta picks up some new art”

Obituary: Rayburn B. Henderson

Funeral services for Rayburn B. Henderson, 80 of Athens are scheduled for 2 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2013 at the Hannigan Smith Funeral Home in Athens with Bro. Roy Benefield officiating. Interment will follow at Davis Cemetery in Athens.

Mr. Henderson passed away on Sunday, Nov. 3, 2013 in Athens.

Rayburn Bankston Henderson was born Feb. 6, 1933 in Pauls Valley, Oklahoma, the son of James Thomas Henderson and Dorothy Taylor Henderson. He married Virginia Rushing in Columbus, Mississippi on May 14, 1955. He was a Baptist and attended Lake Athens Baptist Church. He was a member of the Painters Union # 53 and worked in construction, later owning and operating R.H. Painting and Construction. He could fix or build anything he wanted. Rayburn was an avid outdoorsman. He loved hunting and fishing and trapping anything he could. He was a family man, a loving husband, father, brother and grandfather and will be missed by all those who knew and loved him.

Mr. Henderson was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Preston Dee Henderson.

He is survived by his loving wife of 58 years, Virginia Rushing Henderson of Athens; two daughters, Pamela Rae Anderson and husband Ed of Ector, Texas, Kimberly Faye Baker and husband Dillon of Kaufman, Texas; four sons, Marty Ray Henderson and wife Pam of Combine, Texas, Terry Glynn Henderson and wife Shelia of Athens, Texas, Gary Lynn Henderson and wife Tracey of Lucas, Texas, Thomas Franklin Henderson and wife Brenda of Kemp, Texas; three brothers, Billy Henderson and wife Winnie of Winfield, Alabama, James Turner Henderson and wife Lucille of Foreman, Arkansas, Robert Joseph Henderson and wife Janet of Broken Bow, Oklahoma; two sisters, Nell Henderson Graham of Fernbank, Alabama, Barbara Grisson and husband David of Athens, Texas; 17 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren and his trusty dog Purdis.

Visitation will be Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2013 from 6-8 p.m. at the Hannigan Smith Funeral Home in Athens.

Serving as pallbearers are Kasey Henderson, Kodey Henderson, Korey Henderson, Holden Henderson, Hunter Henderson, Seth Henderson, Brandon Henderson, Blake Henderson, Jake Evans and Dylan Evans.

Arrangements were entrusted to the Hannigan Smith Funeral Home of Athens.

You may light a candle or write condolences to the family at: www.hannigansmith.com

Help HCPAC Earn Matching Grant

50thHCPAC press release

An incredible opportunity has been given to the Henderson County Performing Arts Center (HCPAC) in the form of a matching grant for $50,000. Recognizing our value to the community and encouraging the continuation of our good works, the Murchison Foundation is generously offering this grant if HCPAC can raise $50,000 before Dec. 1 of this year.

This is quite a challenge but, as in the past, we feel our loyal supporters will help us meet this challenge. That means you!

As Vice President of the Board of Directors of HCPAC, it is my privilege to spearhead the Murchison Foundation matching grant drive. My name is Marcia Colbert Tarrance. Most of you know me from the theatre but if you don’t you probably will soon enough as I will be contacting many of you to ask you to join us in our quest.

The Murchison Foundation offer dovetails nicely with the theatre’s Legacy Campaign. Started almost four years ago and scheduled to culminate in 2014, our 50th Anniversary year, the Legacy program will be extended another four years to help us meet our goals.

That’s where you come in. If you haven’t joined the Legacy Campaign, now is the perfect time to do that. Pledge an annual gift for the next four years and be a part of the contributions that will earn the theatre an additional $50,000 from the Murchison Foundation. If you joined us back in 2011 with a Legacy pledge, thank you and please extend that pledge for another four years. We are on the cusp of achieving our goal to be self-sustaining.

Over the years the Murchison Foundation has bestowed over $400,000 to the theatre. They have been instrumental in every phase of our growth. This latest opportunity will not only show them we have loyal supporters who strongly believe in our contributions to the community but it will also encourage them to think favorably about donating to us in the future.

The “new” revenue we need to raise on or before Dec. 1 need only be in the form a pledge from our donors. The Legacy Program gives you an opportunity to pay out your pledge over the next four years.

I look forward to discussing the details with you in the near future. I will be available before and during the intermission of Death of a Salesman and The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. I will also be contacting many of you that have indicated your desire to support the program and I will be reaching out to those Legacy patrons who started their giving program in 2011.

If you would like to discuss this fantastic opportunity with me, please call me at the theatre at903-675-3908 or reach me by email at [email protected].

What a great gift the Murchison Foundation has given our theatre over the years. I urge you to join them and be a part of our future.