Community

(RON EISELE | CONTRIBUTED PHOTO) At left, Cade Owen won the award for smallest fish caught at a fishing tournament with the Family Fun and Fishing event Saturday, April 25 at Firemen’s Park in Graham. At right, Coen Cretors won the award for largest fish caught at a fishing tournament with the Family Fun and Fishing event.

All Things Outdoors: Future fishermen gather at Fireman’s Park

It wasn’t your usual tournament of big shiny new bass boats. The entrants didn’t have jerseys festooned with sponsors, there wasn’t even a dock as a starting point. Yet, the area was filled with fishers eager to get their line in the water. 

They came in all sizes and shapes from the littlest to the tallest, the youngest to somewhat older, male and female, they all entered the tournament to see if they could score one of the many shiny new trophies offered that day. 

(THOMAS WALLNER | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Graham Community Foundation members pose with North Central Texas College Graham Director Charise Bewley in one of the newly renovated classrooms at NCTC. Shown from left to right are Colby Kramer, Bewley, Neal Blanton and Kyle Peavy.

Graham Community Foundation donates for NCTC renovations

The Graham campus of North Central Texas College will have two new renovated classrooms for dual credit classes due to support from the Graham Community Foundation.

The Graham Community Foundation is made up of members Neal Blanton, Kellie Riddle, John Brown, Colby Kramer, Kyle Peavy and Tonya Weatherman. The organization started as a way for citizens to pool funding into a public charity to fund capital improvement projects.

(DAN FERRIS | CONTRIBUTED PHOTO) Colonel Max H. Krupp served 28 years of military service to the United States through the U.S. Army and National Guard.

The Price of Freedom: What are Mustangs?

“Mustang” Means to go from the military enlisted ranks to the officer ranks programs. Different branches have different names for this program. 

Not many folks do this, but let me tell you guys about one who did. Let me introduce to you, and tell you about Max, or Colonel Max H. Krupp. 

Having spent some time around and talking to Max, it seems to me that Max may like to do things “the hard way.” At least, he did so while he was in the Army/National Guard. Max has a great story to tell. 

(ADAM LAVINE | CONTRIBUTED PHOTO, THOMAS WALLNER | THE GRAHAM LEADER) James Workman served on the USS Proteus and the USS Chicago and had a total of 27 years in active and reserve service for the U.S. Navy.

Workman celebrates military service, memories

The end of July marked a significant moment for U.S. Navy veteran James Workman after he turned 96 years old and continued his life of adventure in Young County.

Though he was born in Wichita, Kansas, Workman’s father was in a band which moved him around and made it where he did not truly call any place home. 

He was drafted into the U.S. Army with his neighbors in Enid, Oklahoma but certain conditions made it to where he did not serve.

(KENZIE KLINE | CONTRIBUTED PHOTO) Harley Vaughan, Cody Epperson and Cooper Wilde take a break from painting the Men’s Discipleship Home on site of The Feet Ministries to smile for a picture. They, among others, worked throughout the week to paint the outside of the building in order to improve the community facilities.

Bringing the spirit home

High schoolers in my youth group at Eastside Church of Christ ventured to Fort Worth to serve on a mission trip Tuesday, June 23 at the Beautiful Feet Ministries. 

The ministry focuses on the homeless and needy, providing them with meals, clothing, showers, and many other physical needs. However, the ministry also supplies spiritual needs by sharing the Gospel through daily worship. These acts of service and evangelism help those who need it daily. 

(DAN FERRIS | CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS) George Dennis Keathley, shown at right, was born in Olney and lived and died and life of military service that is recognized today through various honors.

The Price of Freedom: George Dennis Keathley

The highest Military Medal awarded by the United States government, usually by the President of the United States is the Medal of Honor.

George Dennis Keathley was born Nov. 10, 1907 in Olney. He went to school in Olney and attended college at Cameron Junior College in Lawton, Oklahoma. 

In 1933, Keathley enrolled into Texas A&M University and acquired a degree in agriculture. He was a member of Troop D Calvary of the Corps of Cadets of that university. He graduated from Texas A&M in 1937.

(DAN FERRIS | CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS) Born and raised in Graham, Chris Hunnewell (shown at right) enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1976 and followed a proud family tradition of military service.

The Price of Freedom: Chris Hunnewell

I joined the Navy because? I like this guy. Why? He and I served almost at the same time. He was just a year behind me.

Chris Hunnewell, a born-and-raised Graham, Texas, native, took a path less traveled by enlisting in the U.S. Navy in 1976. The Vietnam War had just ended and the military had transitioned to an all-volunteer force, and Hunnewell “was bored to tears and ready to see the world.”

(RON EISELE | CONTRIBUTED PHOTO) Fishermen cast lines at the base of the Possum Kingdom dam which has been opening its gates recently due to a large amount of rainfall in the area.

All Things Outdoors: Striper fishing at Possum Kingdoms’ tailrace

With all the latest rain amounts and watching as Lake Graham slowly overtakes my backyard lawn, I got to wondering about what was happening over at Possum Kingdom Lake. 

Coming back from a recent trip to Weatherford, I decided to take the long way home by way of Hwy. 16. 

Coming up to the bridge on the southside I immediately saw that the Brazos was “bank to bank” and flowing at a pretty good clip. 

(CARL DUNCAN | CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS) Local artist Jill Paschal whose are is featured on the Facebook page 3 Dots & 1 Dash which features many art mediums. At left is a A lion painting created by Paschal for her granddaughter.

Meet the Neighbors: Jill Paschal, a local artist

Webster says a neighbor is a person who lives close by or in your neighborhood. What Mr. Webster did not clarify is a size requirement for neighborhoods. I like to think that the 9,000 people in town are all part of my neighborhood. 

I guess you could say Jill Paschal and I became friends because of butterflies. I needed someone, an artist, to draw a 4 foot by 4 foot butterfly for a community project I plan to do a little later in the year. I can’t draw, so I went to visit my neighbor Anita at the Quilt Box on Fourth Street, she provided just the resource I needed. 

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