Lifestyle

by Cara Knight 
Texarkana College

Imagine you’re back in ninth grade, the oldest of four siblings, growing up in a drug-infested home. You’re having to sleep outside on a hot, summer day in Louisiana because you’re homeless. 

You wouldn’t know it by looking at him, but that was reality for Phillip Parrish, who is now a Student Success Coach at Texarkana College.

“I can remember it was about one in the morning and my baby sister was crying and I was holding her,” Parrish said. “She kept asking me ‘Is it always going to be like this?’ That struck a chord in me. I didn’t want this to be my life. I couldn’t lean on excuses, so I decided from that day on I was going to make a difference for my family.” 

High school was a lot easier for him than his childhood. He said it’s only because of the counselors, coaches and deacons in his church that committed to helping him succeed. 

The Dogwood Garden Club held an Arbor Day Ceremony and tree planting on November 9th at Crestview Elementary. 
Texas Arbor Day is celebrated in November to take advantage of the weather being a better planting time for trees than in April when the National Arbor Day is celebrated.             The Bradford Pear tree was planted in memory of LaVerne Stubbs, who worked as school secretary at Crestview for 28 years.         She also worked with the Adult Literacy Council and was active in many activities of Tapp Methodist Church. 
The Texas A&M Forest Service assisted with the ceremony. 
Mr. John Hawkins, District Forester, spoke to the 3rd grade students about the history of Arbor Day and the importance of trees. Barry Caver, son of Mrs. Stubbs, spoke to the group relating special memories. 
The Dogwood Garden Club was honored to recognize one of its longtime members with the planting of this living memorial.

If you have a Letter to Santa that you would like published in the Tribune, please get it to us before December 7.

by Cara Knight 
Texarkana College

Imagine you’re back in ninth grade, the oldest of four siblings, growing up in a drug-infested home. You’re having to sleep outside on a hot, summer day in Louisiana because you’re homeless. 

You wouldn’t know it by looking at him, but that was reality for Phillip Parrish, who is now a Student Success Coach at Texarkana College.

“I can remember it was about one in the morning and my baby sister was crying and I was holding her,” Parrish said. “She kept asking me ‘Is it always going to be like this?’ That struck a chord in me. I didn’t want this to be my life. I couldn’t lean on excuses, so I decided from that day on I was going to make a difference for my family.” 

High school was a lot easier for him than his childhood. He said it’s only because of the counselors, coaches and deacons in his church that committed to helping him succeed. 

Story and photos courtesy of 
Dianna Melton

The Texas House of Representatives has an annual tradition of putting up and decorating a 20-foot Texas-grown Christmas tree in the House Chamber.  The ornament created by Alexia Ridge was selected to be hung on the tree for House District 1 this Christmas season.    

By Heather Wilson
hrussell@bowiecountynow.com

Leah White of DeKalb is a breast cancer survivor.  Leah’s story began in September of 2017 when she felt what she describes as a “thickness” in her left breast, along with some itching and general discomfort.  Leah, a wife and a mother of four who put her career as a physical therapist on hold to homeschool her children, shook her symptoms off initially, thinking perhaps she had a bug bite.  However, once she saw a doctor, she was shocked at her diagnosis.  

“I had no family history of breast cancer at all.  Zero.  And that’s why I wasn’t expecting this to be cancer,” she said.  “But after biopsies it was determined that not only did I have stage 3 breast cancer in my left breast, I also had a small amount of cancer in the right.  So I was diagnosed with bilateral breast cancer.”

Photo by Heather Wilson
Christy Walls(L) and Karen Lynch(middle) of Old Boston Methodist Church present Manna Kitchen Director Sue Anderson(R) with a check for $500.  The donation will go to pay for paper products for the Manna Kitchen for two months.

Ann Cowley, valued employee at J&G Tires in Old Boston, is retiring after 35 years of exemplary service.   Through the years, her ready smile and cheerful disposition has endeared her to the customers.  Whatever the need - whether it was preparing lunches every day for a crew of eight, or taking appointments, ordering tires, writing out tickets, running the cash register, or holding those sweet babies for customers - Ann was a blessing to the business.  She will be leaving behind shoes that can never be filled.  
“Thank you for 35 great years, Ann.  Enjoy your retirement!  You have earned it.  You will be greatly missed.  We love you!” - from John and Linda Brown and the crew at J&G Tires. 
There will be a come-and-go retirement party honoring Ann for her years of service.  It will be held at the home of John and Linda Brown on Saturday, October 13 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.  The public is invited to attend. 

By Heather Russell Wilson
hrussell@bowiecountynow.com

By Heather Russell Wilson
hrussell@bowiecountynow.com