Malakoff-Henderson County Now

Obituary: Harry Smith

Funeral Services for Harry Smith, 15, of Malakoff are scheduled for 2 p.m., Wednesday, July 2, 2014 at First Baptist Malakoff with Bro. Jody Jones and Bro. Darrell Lindsey officiating. Interment will follow at Athens Cemetery.

Harry went t be with his Lord and Savior on June 26, 2014 in Malakoff, Texas.

Harry Ray Smith was born April 19, 1999 in Athens, Texas the son of Caddo Smith Jr. and Kissie Lynn Guidry Smith. Harry was a vibrant young man who was loved by many, being voted most popular at Malakoff Jr. High in 2013-2014. He was a very talented musician who played the guitar and several other instruments and enjoyed all kinds of music. He loved to skate, spending countless hours at Jake’s Skate Park in Malakoff. He was a loving son, grandson and brother and will be missed by many family and friends. Continue reading “Obituary: Harry Smith”

Police Issue Press Release on Malakoff Teen’s Death

The Malakoff Police Department issued a press release this morning concerning the death of Harry Smith, 15.

According to the press release, police received a call about 2:40 p.m. Thursday, June 26, that a pedestrian had been struck by a train in the 200 block of South Terry Street in Malakoff.

When police arrived, it was discovered that Harry had been hit and killedby a westbound freight train.

Investigators said that Harry had been woaking with two friends southbound on Terry Street when they heard the train coming.

According to the press release, Harry told his friends, “Come on, let’s see if we can beat the train across the tracks.” All three started running toward the crossing, but the two friends stopped and yelled for Harry to stop.

Harry continued to run and crossed the tracks in front of the train, where he was hit just as he was about to clear the tracks.

“The Malakoff Police Department and the entire City of Malakoff would like to extend our condolences and prayers to this family in their time of grief,” said Malakoff Police Chief Billy Mitchell. “We would also like to remind the public and our children how dangerous it is to be on or near railroad tracks, especially when a train is approaching.”

Around the Town: Who Loretta Wants to be Like When She Grows Up

By Loretta Humble/Around the Town

I had a birthday this last week. Birthdays get you to thinking. I am now 76 years old, closer to 80 than to 70. That’s pretty old. I don’t feel that old, especially since I got my knee fixed. I’m ever grateful to the people living with me here in senior living in Florida, because their jocundity is contagious and they never make me feel old.

I got a lot of nice things. I got some doors, and some tomato plants, and some flowers, and a watermelon, and some money. And three birthday parties, got sung to way too many times, and was wished happy birthday on Facebook about a hundred times. I also got a card from Angie Miller, saying she wants to be just like me when she grows up. I’m not sure either one of us will ever grow up, but I loved the sentiment. And actually I wouldn’t mind being more like Angie, who is a super person herself.

I had already been thinking for some time about who I want to be like. The latest one is Betty Pogue, one of my favorite residents at Cedar Lake Nursing Home. Betty is almost exactly 10 years older than me. Betty has some infirmities which HIPPA laws forbid me to talk about, but overall she is doing great. I want to be like Betty in 10 years. She is definitely still in charge of her own life. She nearly always has a smile on her face, unless she is mad, and then that doesn’t last long. She keeps busy every day making things which she gives away, and is always on the lookout for good she can do. But she doesn’t mind straightening us out here at the nursing home when she thinks we get on the wrong track. And she prays for us. Her kids love her, and come to see her because they want to, not because it is their duty. I admire her spirit so much I’ve asked Celene Terry to use her as a model for a spunky old lady in her series of paintings of women who live their lives well. Continue reading “Around the Town: Who Loretta Wants to be Like When She Grows Up”

Around the Town: New Restaurants!

By Loretta Humble/Around the Town

This week I actually got out and went “around the town” for a change. For one thing, I met Donna Rinn for dessert at Rachel’s, the new bakery/café located across from Malakoff Middle School. To the disappointment of her loyal Canton customers, Rachel (there really is a Rachel, and she is usually there though I didn’t get to meet her) closed down a similar establishment she had operated in Canton for years to move down here and make us all happy with her fantastically wonderful desserts showed in that cake display fridge in the window, as well as huge creative sandwiches and salads, and a plate lunch special.

In fact, I just went to her Facebook page, and saw pictures of all kinds of scrumptious things, including quiche, luscious-looking soups, sometimes steak, and some of the most outlandish sandwiches I ever saw. What I had was bread pudding. It was so big I tried to get Donna to share it with me, but she insisted on having the cheese cake, which she let me taste, and was great. My bread pudding was perfect. I stuffed myself on it, and still took half of it home, where I had it for supper, and again for breakfast. From what I observed that day, many of the dishes people were being served were big enough for two. An extra treat was that Teri Caswell came in for lunch and sat down with us. I forgot what she had, but there was a lot of it and she said it was great. The place is really cute, and it looks like people are really loving it.

I don’t go to restaurants a lot. I’m staying in my apartment next door to Cedar Lake Nursing Home, and I walk over and eat almost all my meals there. My excuse is that I do it to make sure we Continue reading “Around the Town: New Restaurants!”

Around Town: Loretta Brags On Granddaughter Pepper

Picture is of proud Tina Norwood hugging her daughter Pepper Norwood graduation night.

By Loretta Humble/Around the Town

My knee has been fixed. I am released from therapy, and I am a new woman. I fought replacing my knee for a long time, but I am very glad I finally did. If you are having a lot of knee trouble, I highly recommend you consider it. And if you want to know who did mine so well, just ask me. Now, I promise to shut up about my knee, as well as “O’Keeffe”, the Bartlett House, and my Cedar Lake companies, which, as I have been talking about exclusively for nearly half a year. Now I will start talking about my grandkids.

Okay, just one right now, and I’ll keep it short. I have a bunch of gorgeous and brilliant grandkids, and I know you would love to hear about each one, but this week it is all about Pepper Norwood, who graduated the from Cross Roads High School last Friday as Salutatorian. That girl is something else. She has finished more than a year of college while in high school, and is now headed to SMU this fall, thanks to a ton of scholarships and loans. She got a Cornerstone Scholarship, whatever that is—I know it is a big deal. Pepper isn’t just a bookworm, though. She loves Continue reading “Around Town: Loretta Brags On Granddaughter Pepper”