News

Whether the sound is a soft, haunting strumming or an upbeat, up-tempo twang, the sound of dulcimers in harmony can be heard at least once a month in Pittsburg.

The Northeast Texas Dulcimer Chorus meets from 9 to noon on the first Saturday of each month at the First Baptist Church annex building. Because September’s first Saturday fall on Labor Day weekend, the chorus will meet from 9 to noon Saturday, Aug. 29.

Members hail from Pittsburg, Tyler, Longview, Mount Vernon, Texarkana, Mount Pleasant and all points between.

The club started meeting in 1997 and has picked up more than 50 members over the years. Janice Marsh of Pittsburg has been playing the dulcimer since 1996 after a chance encounter with the fretted string instrument on a senior citizen’s retreat.

Camp County and the City of Pittsburg are under a burn ban as of Tuesday morning. Most east Texas counties are now under a ban, including Cass, Morris, Upshur, Gregg and Smith according to the Texas Forest Service. 

All outdoor burning is prohibited with the exception of outdoor grilling or welding with supervision and appropriate fire suppression. A fine of $500 may be levied on those violating the ban.

Texas is once again participating in the Sales Tax Holiday Aug. 7-9.

According to the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, the law exempts most clothing, footwear, school supplies and backpacks priced under $100 from sales and use taxes, which could save shoppers about $8 on every $100 spent.

Items sold online, over the telephone or by mail also qualify for the tax exemption and lay-a-way plans can also be used.

Amanda McCellon with the City of Pittsburg’s Main Street program urges shoppers to consider staying in Pittsburg to shop for back to school items.

“Money spent locally is three times more likely to impact your community, improving the quality of life in your community and generating more jobs,” she said. “As you plan your back to school shopping strategy I encourage you to visit the merchants in our hometown.”

While big box stores may have a larger selection, small towns can win out in the overall shopping experience.

Now in its fourth year, the Fill the Bus school supplies drive aims to donate more supplies than ever before to Pittsburg children.

First National Bank of Pittsburg sponsors the supply drive which provides the donations to Pittsburg Elementary. A bake sale will be held from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 7 in order to raise money to purchase supplies. Anyone can drop off supplies to the bank, located at 1896 Highway 271 North, during business hours and monetary donations are also accepted.

Mandy Meade with FNB-Pittsburg said the bank holds the drive each year in order to give back to the community it serves.

“A lot of families have a hard time this time of year,” she said. “We want the students to have the supplies they need.”

Supplies needed include No. 2 pencils, 24-count Crayons, 12-count map colors, round-tip scissors, Elmer’s glue sticks, wide-ruled notebook paper and boxes of Kleenex.

Body worn cameras are a trend popping up in many communities as issues of officer and suspect relations are called into question.

Pittsburg Police Department Chief Richard Penn spoke to Pittsburg City Council Thursday, July 30 about the use of body cameras. He said he has researched the cost of the cameras and believes the PPD could be outfitted for around $3,000, though estimates from some retailers go as high as $20,000.

Mr. Penn said his department receives few complaints and averages two written complaints per year. The PPD record speaks for itself, he said, but body cameras are not without their merits. Research has shown that use of force incidents do drop when officers use recording devices and PPD is already equipped with vehicles that use in-car audio and video recording devices.

Serenity Bean, 8, watches as B.J. Brannon, 7, uses a water cannon at the opening of Splash Pittsburg on Saturday, Aug. 1. The splash pad opening was attended by dozens of area children who enjoyed standing under water buckets and running through sprinklers as parents enjoyed the shaded benches and free Wifi the park offers.

A statue of Lonnie “Bo” Pilgrim and wife, Patty, was unveiled Thursday, July 30 on the grounds of Pilgrim Bank. Bo, far right, and Patty, center, attended the unveiling with their family. Son Ken, at left, commissioned the statue, which has the couple looking toward the Prayer Tower and Witness Park.

Senior citizens and veterans now share a common home in Pittsburg.

The Senior Citizens Center building, which has been the meeting place for the Gordon Mattison American Legion Post 422 in Pittsburg, is now owned by the post.

Just as it has in the past, the Camp County Senior Citizens Center will continue serving meals to seniors at the building and also through its meals on wheels program.

The transfer of the title deed for the building located at 525 Elm St. took place July 8 and the American Legion held a building dedication and flag raising July 27.

Franklin Harrison, commander of the post, said keys were formally transferred from the Senior Citizens Center to the American Legion.

“The official flag raising was held for the dedication of the flag representing the American Legion and veterans who both served and made the ultimate sacrifice for our country,” he said.

From left, song leader Don Reynolds, Rep. Bryan Hughes with the Texas House of Representatives, Rotary President Chris Lummus and Rotarian Joe Rex Robertson sing “The Battle Hymn of the Republic,” at the July 29 Rotary meeting. Rep. Hughes was the speaker for the meeting. The club meets every Wednesday at noon at the First Baptist Church Family Life Center.

Sanitation Solutions Inc. gave two $1,000 scholarships to recent Pittsburg graduates. From left to right are Josh Bray with Sanitation Solutions, Pittsburg Mayor Shawn Kennington, 2014 graduate Megan Monts, 2015 graduate Efrain Garcia and Pittsburg City Manager Clint Hardeman. Mr. Bray said the company likes to give back to each city it serves through its scholarship program.