News

From the football field to the pasture, Red Shields is conquering life alongside his horse, Apache.

Red and Apache spent Saturday, Aug. 15 in downtown Pittsburg meeting and greeting residents and visitors. Mr. Shields spent the morning at football media day, where he posed for photos alongside his fellow Pirate football players. Afterwards, he hopped on Apache’s back – in full football uniform – and the duo high-stepped it downtown to raise money for the Pirates football fundraiser.

“I decided to go get on my horse because I thought it would bring more people – which it did – to want to buy my cards,” Mr. Shields said. “I ride him when I can on the weekends. I love horses.”

Apache is a mix of Tennessee Walker and Walkaloosa and has a striking appearance as well as signature gait.

“He’s smooth and it’s relaxing. When I ride my horse, I ride because I want something to mess with,” he said. “If you see me, say hello and I’ll speak back.”

Pittsburg kids will soon be able to ‘break it down,’ – literally.

Breakdancing, also known as b-boying, will be offered to kids kindergarten age through 18 at Top Flight Tumbling and owner Mandy Hobbs said she couldn’t be happier.

“I am super excited about adding breakdancing to my other classes at Top Flight Tumbling,” she said. “This will add liveliness to our program and be a fun and adventurous class to teach and learn.”

Mondo Barrientos teaches breakdancing at his church and will be teaching the courses at TFT, which is located in the back of Leapin’ Lizards in downtown Pittsburg. The dance business also offers hip-hop, tumbling and cheerleading classes.

Instructor Laura Oglesby teaches hip-hop dance and said she can’t wait to work with Mr. Barrientos. Breakdancing is traditionally done to hip-hop or funk music.

“We will probably intertwine our classes,” she said. “No one teaches that anywhere around.”

The Chamber of Commerce pageant committee has decided to reschedule The Peach Queen pageant to July 23, 2016. The sign ups will start Feb. 20, 2016 and end May 31, 2016.

According to pageant committee members, "We realize due to economics and timing (back to school and school events/sports) it would be better to reschedule as a summer event, due to the fact that's when Peaches are on the rise."

The Woman’s Auxiliary of Northeast Texas Baptist District Association will again host its Health Information Fair from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 22 at Douglass Alumni Gymnasium, 408 Terry Street in Pittsburg.

Medical doctors, registered nurses, social workers and community service activists will be on hand to answer questions relating to health and wellness, social and human resources. Health professionals from area hospitals and health providers will provide free screenings including blood pressure, glucose and oxygen checks.

Persons who attend this event will be given information on resources available through specific state agencies concerned with aging, disabilities and other health or social matters.

There will be opportunities to gain information about local services available in the East Texas area that are provided at no cost to citizens or at an income related cost.  Healthy snacks and door prizes will also be awarded. 

Nik Rhode is more than 20 moons old – in German years, that is.

‘How old are you in German years?’ was just one of the humorous questions Mr. Rhode received when he first arrived in Pittsburg in 2012 as a Rotary Exchange student.

Mr. Rhode traveled from his home in north Germany, just 20 miles south of the border of Denmark, to Pittsburg where he spent time with Roy and Debbie Knox and Davey and Rachel Miner.

According to Mr. Rhode, he also told fellow high school students that he got to Pittsburg by building a raft. When he’s not joking around, he’s passionate about Rotary International, the Rotary Exchange program and Ro-Tex, an organization which isn’t under the Rotary umbrella, but which bridges the gap between Rotary and its exchange students.

The 19-year-old speaks four languages, German, English, French and Spanish.

Ten years ago, Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans and surrounding Louisiana towns and no one was left untouched, including family pets.

Donna Page of Leesburg wrote the book, “Katrina Dogs,” for children as a way to bring awareness of the need for pet adoptions.

Mrs. Page will be signing copies of the book along with one of its star characters, a border collie mix named Bernie, on Aug. 29 at the Lucky Dogs Festival hosted by the Tyler Public Library.

Bernie and his dog brother, Booger, were both rescued by the Page family and star in “Katrina Dogs.” Booger has since passed away, but Bernie travels with Mrs. Page on all her book signing gigs, which have been held as far away as New Orleans.

While her background is in architectural illustration and fine art, Mrs. Page said she has always wanted to write a children’s book.

As summer draws to a close, it is time for everyone to start thinking about school safety as kids start back to school. Below are some back to school safety tips that the Pittsburg Police Department urges residents to keep in mind.

Students should be sure to always walk on sidewalks. If there are no sidewalks, walk facing traffic. Designated corner or crosswalks should be observed at all times. Look both ways before crossing the street and then look again.

Children should never run out in the street or cross between parked cars. Bus riders should obey the bus driver. If kids walk to school, parents need to make sure they’re using the “buddy” system.

Pirate fans can show support  with yard signs by calling Ann Waldrep at (903) 855-9017. Both versions of the signs are available to view in the window of The Pittsburg Gazette.

Now in its third generation of family ownership, Efurd Orchards is going strong.

The store is located three miles south of Pittsburg on Highway 271 and has come a long way from its humble beginnings in 1972. Back then, an old dirt floor greeted customers who came from miles around to buy Pittsburg peaches.

Today, a bustling retail business complete with fruit, ice cream, pickles, jams and jellies greets customers who come from all across Texas to shop.

John and Sandra Efurd started the family business, now owned by their son, Greg and his wife, Amy. Greg and Amy’s kids, now grown, spent their childhoods at the orchards playing among the peach trees. Brantly, 22, Reagan, almost 21 and Courtlyn, almost 20, work at the orchards over breaks from college.

Brantly heads up the wholesale division and plans to return to the family business after graduating from Texas A&M.

Rachel Hagler of Gilmer stomps grapes at Los Pinos Ranch Vineyards Saturday, Aug. 1 during the vineyard’s Sole to Soul grape harvest. Ms. Hagler said stomping grapes knocks an item off her “bucket list.” Juicing the day’s harvest takes the better part of a day for the vineyards staff and the finished wine product, in this case Blanco Grande, will be ready by December.

 Photo by Tori Lyle