News

The Fire Chief of the Mabank Fire Department was killed after being struck by a vehicle on Saturday, June 27. According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, they, along with Highway Patrol, were requested to assist with a vehicle vs.
A truck driver that fell asleep at the wheel and caused a multi-vehicle collision that killed five people in 2025, pleaded guilty on Thursday, June 25. Alexis Osmani Gonzalez-Companioni accepted a plea deal on Thursday to five counts of manslaughter after falling asleep at the wheel on interstate 20 in Kaufman County in August and struck multiple vehicles and killed five people according to the Texas Department of Transportation.
The Kaufman County Sheriff’s Office announced that a capital murder suspect was arrested after the suspect had been on the run for months. KCSO announced the arrest of Diego Carlos Rodriguez on Friday, June 26 around 3 p.m.

Opinion

Recently, I watched a video of a NCAA Division I football coach screaming at a player, using every foul word imaginable in an attempt to make a point. The lesson I learned had nothing to do with football.
One of the most common leadership questions I have encountered is whether a boss can truly be friends with employees. Many leadership authors caution against becoming too close to those you supervise.
One of the most common debates in leadership revolves around hiring and promotion decisions. Should an organization select the individual with years of experience, or invest in someone with less experience but tremendous potential? After more than four decades in coaching, education, and administration, I have come to a simple conclusion: it is not experience that determines success.
Thanks to a heavy pear crop and squirrels that keep them on the ground, Luke has fresh wild pork every night in his front yard. He’s making plans for pulled pork barbecue and chicken friend pork schnitzel. Photo by Jeff Rice
I’ve been a devout hunter and eater of wild pork for a long, long time. I’ve pursued wild porkers in remote river bottoms of east Texas and the brush country of South Texas and just about everywhere in between. Thanks to a bumper crop of summer pears and squirrels that love to eat them, I now have pear-fattened porker coming to my front yard on a nightly basis and, they are keeping my hours, showing up early as soon as darkness falls.

Obituaries

Beverly Vaughan
1938 - 2026Beverly Ann Vaughan, 88, of Georgetown, Texas, passed away peacefully on May 22, leaving behind a legacy of love, strength, and devotion to family.…
Billye Jo Nolan
1929 - 2026Billye Jo Harvey Nolan, age 96, died on Saturday, the 16th of May 2026 at the Holly Hall Retirement Community in Houston, Texas. She was born on the…
John Murrey
1948 - 2026A true Texas car salesman to the end, on May 22, 2026, John Byron Murrey traded his “mortal coil” for an eternity in paradise with his savior, Jesus…
Nancy Corbett
1947 - 2026Nancy Linda Edwards Coverdell Corbett September 5, 1947 – May 14, 2026 Nancy Linda Edwards Coverdell Corbett, age 78, passed away on May 14, 2026,…

Community

Now is a great time to defrost some of last year’s venison and put the meat to use. Venison fajitas is one of Luke’s favorites. Photo by Luke Clayton
If you are a deer hunter it’s a good bet you can scrounge around in your freezer and find a few packages of overlooked venison steaks, roasts or ground meat. If vacuum sealed or double wrapped with good freezer paper, venison will remain tasty for a couple years but is there a better time than right now to enjoy some tasty venison fajitas, burgers or possibly a tasty venison guisado?
June 27: Kaufman Poor Farm Spring Market will be held on the second and fourth Saturday of each month. The Spring Market takes place from 9 a.m.
KEMP CLASS OF 2026 GRADUATES

Kemp High School Class of 2026 graduates celebrated their graduation on Friday, May 22 at Athens High School.

CRANDALL CLASS OF 2026 CELEBRATES GRADUATION

Crandall’s Class of 2026 high school seniors culminated the school year with their graduation on Thursday, May 21at The OC in Forney.