John Mark Dempsey

Pud Kearns with Housewarmers of Greenville and Wally Jeffers of Hunt County Shared Ministries (FISH) say the annual FISH barbecue takes place Friday (April 6) at 11 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. at Wesley United Methodist Church in Greenville and at 11 a.m.

Dr. Nick Patras, director of the Texas A&M-Commerce Counseling Center, discusses "Mental Health Matters Day," Monday (April 2).  A highlight of the day will be an appearance by Kevin Hines, author of the book "Cracked, Not Broken" about his attempt to commit suicide by jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco.  He is one of the few survivors of such an attempt.  Hines will appear at 2 p.m.

Byron Taylor, the president of the Greenville Chamber of Commerce, says Gabriel Medina is starting a non-profit builders co-op called Makerspace in Greenville that will be located in the former Habitat for Humanity building at 3015 Lee St.  Makerspace is a garage that includes tools and equipment that most people are not likely to own, and by paying a subscription fee, builders can go there to make things.  Byron says a new restaurant, Pizzo's Sicilian Cafe, has opened in the Uptown Forum.

Commerce ISD  Superintendent Charlie Alderman says applications for students in the eighth grade are now being accepted for the Pride Prep Academy, offered by the Commerce ISD and other nearby school districts.  Pride Prep accepts high-achieving students and allows them to start taking college courses as a high-school freshman.  The students graduate with 36 hours of college credit.  The Commerce ISD pays the college tuition for its own students, Alderman

Derek Price, author of the nationally syndicated "Cargazing" column that appears in the Herald-Banner, says the complete redesigned of the Ram 1500 pickup is "remarkable."  He says it adds up to a smoother, quieter ride.  And, of pop cultural interest, Ram has removed the ram-head logo from the grille, which may disturb some traditionalists. 

Amy Stark of the Commerce Public Library says they've finally collected enough plastic caps and lids -- 400 pounds -- to make a park bench for Authors' Park, adjacent to the library.  Library patrons contributed the caps and lids.  And Amy discusses the digitization of the Commerce Journal going back to 1901.  All editions of the newspaper are now searchable online via the library website.

The words in the headline attributed to Abraham Lincoln are not the words of Herald-Banner movie critic Alice Reese, but generally sum up Alice's view of "Pacific Rim 2: Uprising," the long-awaited followup to the original "Pacific Rim" science-fiction monster film.  Alice enjoyed "Unsane" more, a psychological thriller directed by Steven Soderbergh and starring Claire Foy, who previously played the young Queen Elizabe

Kim Saenz, the director of the Hunt Regional Emergency Centers in Commerce and Quinlan, comments on an emergency-planning guide provided by Hunt Regional, which includes recommendations for preparing an emergency-supplies kit, making a family emergency plan, and educating yourself on government emergency procedures.

Commerce ISD superintendent Charlie Alderman says the school board will take up the issue of making improvements in school safety in an executive session Thursday evening. Commerce ISD police chief Joe Venable will present options to the board for making the schools safer.  On Friday from 11:30 a.m.

Hunt County United Way executive director Frances Dalbey says the organization is taking applications from non-profit organizations for funding in 2019.  The deadline to apply is April 13.  The annual spring fund raising event for the United Way will be a luncheon, "Living Well Aware" with speaker Dr. Patsy Sulak of Temple, Thursday, April 5 at the Texas Theater in Greenville.

The chairman of the Hunt County Historical Commission, Carol Taylor, discusses some of the guests she'd invite to a fantasy dinner party of Hunt County historical figures.  Included is Lindley Johnson, probably the first settler in the Greenville area around 1833, a member of the original Texas Rangers.  He settled on property in what is now north Greenville, on Wolfe City Drive, near the KGVL/KIKT radio station.

Pud Kearns with Housewarmers of Greenville says AARP volunteers are providing help with tax preparation at the W. Walworth Harrison Public Library in Greenville from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (please arrive by 2) Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays through April 11.  And Pud says the Dallas Symphony Orchestra presents "The Best of John Williams" at 7:30 p.m.

Jeremy Gamez, our personal technology commentator, reflects on a Houston Chronicle story that seniors are becoming more comfortable with digital technology, such as that contained in smart phones.  Jeremy, the business technical analyst for the Texas A&M-Commerce provost's office, says there are many opportunities for seniors to learn about technology, including a website,

Texas A&M-Commerce economics professor Dr. Dale Funderburk says the tariffs on steel and alumninum proposed by President Trump would be bad for the Texas economy, particularly the oil and gas business.  Dr. Funderburk says if it's a national security concern to boost the steel industry, then it would be better to subsidize it rather than impose tariffs.