News

Within the last two months, two local residents have claimed top prizes from the Texas Lottery. Both winners, of $3 million in November and $1 million in December, have elected to remain anonymous.

The North Texas Municipal Water District (NT- MWD) will be performing prescribed burns to address brush and excessive vegetative thatch at the East Fork Water Reuse Project (Wetland) in Kaufman County. The prescribed burns will be conducted over multiple days beginning in December 2020 through February 2021. The timing and conclusion of the prescribed burns will depend on local weather conditions.

Born and raised in Trenton, Michigan, David Flaishans enlisted in the United States Marine Corps at age 18. He did not want to attend college at that time because, in his words, young Dave was a student who did not really apply himself. However, Flaishans recognized the Armed Forces as a good opportunity, so he became a Marine in 1985.

Getting vaccinated for the flu is more important than ever. Not only will a flu shot help keep you and your family healthy, it can help reduce the strain on the healthcare system and keep hospital beds and other medical resources available for people with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

If you remember your teachers and parents telling you not to rely too heavily on calculators, you may be inclined to pass on the same mindset to your own children.

During the cold and flu season and amid the CO- VID-19 pandemic, there will be more medicines in homes being used to treat all kinds of symptoms. It is important to remember that you can keep curious kids safe by keeping medicine up and away and out of sight and reach.

Many couples who are planning to get married have lived together during the engagement period or even longer. A Pew Research Center study found that about two-thirds of married adults who lived with their spouses before they were married say they saw cohabitation as a step toward marriage. According to Brandon Gaille Small Business & Marketing Advice, 65 percent of couples who get married live together at some point before their weddings. Individuals who live together must outfit their homes with furniture and other essentials, including kitchen supplies. That means that couples may already own traditional wedding registry gifts like kitchen and bath items and accessories. Brides- and grooms-to-be can think creatively when registering for gifts if they already have many of the items found on traditional registries. Target has partnered with HoneyFund, a free honeymoon registry and cash wedding gift registry, to allow couples to register for honeymoon travel and other experiences. Honeymoon registries can be great ways for couples who already own household items to simplify the process of gift-giving for their wedding guests.

Excitement for a new year abounds on January 1. Baby New Year is one of the more recognizable symbols of the New Year’s holiday, particularly in print advertisements and television commercials. Perhaps you’ve wondered what role Baby New Year plays in the celebration? While he may seem like a relatively modern icon, this cultural mainstay has a lengthy history.

Adversity is part of life. There is no way to avoid it. Although adversity may seem unpleasant, avoiding it inhibits your development. The more challenges you face, the more you are prepared for challenge. Instead of shunning adversity, welcome it as a growth opportunity.

After more than 100 days in the hospital battling Acute Myeloid Leukemia, 14-year-old Elyse Spurgeon of Forney received one of the Christmas blessings she and her family had so earnestly hoped for. Her doctors gave her the approval to come home! While Elyse still has a long road ahead of her, working with her team of doctors to get to the goal of remission and healing, she now gets to enjoy Christmas together with her family and wait for the next steps in her own home. Elyse, her mother Kathryn, her father David, and her little brother Rocke, are thrilled to be home together for the first time since September 5.

This year marked the 15th annual Christmas Festival and Parade for the City of Crandall and featured a number of outdoor activities. From train rides to craft vendors, Crandall’s Hometown Christmas on December 12 had something for everyone. The main event, however, was the annual Christmas Parade. Among those featured were city representatives, the Crandall Police Department and Volunteer Fire Department, the CISD band, and Santa himself!

I asked children to write a letter to God about what Christmas means to them as part of the Kids’ Christmas Art Contest. Here are excerpts of their letters:

If you’re worried and you can’t sleep