John Mark Dempsey

Our wellness commentator Velvete Womack, owner of Balanced Newtrition in Rockwall, says biofeedback is a way for individuals to learn to control certain functions within the body, such as high blood pressure.

Rick Miller of the Center for Applied Leadership reflects on a New York Times article, "The Utter Uselessness of Job Interviews."  "Interviewers typically form strong but unwarranted impressions about interviews, often revealing more about themselves than the candidates," the article says. 

Malinda Allison says the annual Bonham Quilt Hop is Friday and Saturday, and also has locations in nearby Honey Grove.  The Quilt Hop is a show of new and old examples of the art of quilting.  One of the locations in Honey Grove is at the 134-year-old St. Mark's Church.   Also, visitors will enjoy the Fannin County Barn Quilt Trail, where painted representations of quilts are seen on homes and barns.

Amy Stark of the Commerce Public Library says the Texas Alliance for Minorities in Engineering (TAME) Trailblazer, a 40-foot hands-on traveling museum, will be at the library from 10 to 2 Thursday (July 27).  The Trailblazer is primarily for children in the third through eighth grades, but everyone is welcome, and admission is free.  The library is at 1210 Park St. in downtown Commerce.

Commerce Chamber of Commerce manager Paul Voss reflects on plans the "Commerce Strong" event Saturday, Sept. 9 in response to the recent situation involving the Commerce police chief and the revitalization project being directed by the Toole Design Group, a city planning organization. 

Herald-Banner movie critic Alice Reese says the new movie "Dunkirk," the story of the evacuation of the British army and other Allied troops from a French beach in World War II thanks to the help of civilian sailors, may be the best movie of the year so far.  Alice says "Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets" is visually impressive, but, to her, incomprehensible.

Derek Price, the author of the nationally syndicated "Cargazing" column that appears in the Herald-Banner, reflects on driver-assistance features, such as adaptive cruise control, which he calls "baby steps toward autonomous driving."

Commerce ISD Superintendent Charlie Alderman says if the state legislature mandates raises of around $1,000 per year for teachers, school districts will have difficulty in providing the pay increase because the state will not provide additional funding.  He says districts will have to make cuts in other areas, possibly laying off teachers to allow for the raises.  The raises are being considered in the current special session of the legislature.

Commerce Chamber of Commerce manager Paul Voss discusses business developments in the city, including the Tokyo Express restaurant, in the former Lone Star Pizza building, and the new Taco Bell building on Live Oak Street.  Paul says it's likely that another franchise restaurant will move into the old Taco Bell location. And he says the new Mugs coffee shop in downtown Commerce will open in August, after a fund raising event for "Li'l Angels."

Sarah Latham, Hunt County Agrilife Extension agent, relates value of the body mass index (BMI) and waist size in assessing overall health.  The American Heart Association recommends waist sizes of 35 inches or less for women and 40 inches for less for men.

Texas A&M-Commerce economics professor and the interim dean of the College of Business, Dr. Dale Funderburk, discusses legendary investor Warren Buffett's decision to buy the Texas energy company Oncor, and Buffet's other major investments in Texas. "When we invest in Texas, we invest big," Buffett said.  Also, we discuss the booming oil-export market in Texas, now that U.S.

Recently elected Cooper Mayor Darren Braddy discusses the current clean-up efforts in the city, which he says are designed to improve the city's image.  Community members are volunteering on the third Saturday of each month for cleanup efforts, and so the next opportunity will be this Saturday (July 15).

Dr. LaVelle Hendricks, associate professor of counseling at Texas A&M-Commerce and a member of the Commerce school board, relates plans for "Commerce Strong" at 10 a.m. Saturday, September 9 in downtown Commerce.  He describes it as "an event for reconciliation and healing" following the recent incident involving former Commerce Police Chief Kerry Crews, a female African-American A&M-Commerce student and others.

Commerce Mayor Wyman Williams comments on the meetings beginning today (July 10) with Ian Lockwood and other representatives of the Toole Design Group.  Lockwood is the primary designer behind the revitalization of downtown Sulphur Springs. Public meetings are scheduled at 6:30 p. m.