John Mark Dempsey

Dr. Velvete Womack, our wellness commentator and owner of Balanced Nutrition in Rockwall, discusses a Mayo Clinic article on exercise.  Individuals can determine the intensity of their exercise routine, and what's best for them, by several recommended methods.  Lower intensity exercise -- in which you can still carry on a conversation with a partner -- is recommended for beginners.

Hunt County Master Gardener Byron Chitwood says fire ants can be combatted with what's called the "Texas Two-Step" method.  Step one is less well-known -- spreading fire-ant bait over the entire yard.  Step two is more familiar -- placing the bait on top of individual mounds. The Master Gardeners are hosting a tour starting at 9 a.m. Saturday (June 2), including the Heritage Garden in downtown Greenville.  Tickets are for sale at the Hunt County Agrilife Extension office on Washington Street.

Dr. LaVelle Hendricks, associate professor of counseling at Texas A&M-Commerce, recently took a group of students to Mexico to study the Mexican system of dealing with illegal drugs. Despite the notorious drug gangs in Mexico, Dr. Hendicks says Mexican laws against use of illegal drugs are much tougher than American laws, and Mexico does not provide government-funded rehabilitation programs.

Jack Neal, the executive director of the Northeast Texas Trail, and trail user Hank Pickering of Wolfe City discuss a recent Texas Monthly article on the trail.  Jack says the trail is not considered complete, although hikers, bikers and others can traverse its entire 130-mile length from Farmersville to New Boston.

Alice Reese, Herald-Banner movier reviewer, loves "Solo: A Stars Story," in theaters this weekend.  Although it does not star Harrison Ford, Alice says it reminds her a lot of the "Indiana Jones" movies.  Alice also enjoyed "Book Club," with Jane Fonda, Diane Keaton, Candice Bergen and Mary Steenburgen, which she says shows that even older ladies need love.

Frances Dalbey, executive director of the Hunt County United Way, says summer meal programs for children have started from 11 a.m. to noon Monday-Friday at the First Presbyterian Church and the Norris Community Center in Commerce.  Meal programs will begin Monday, June 4 at Ja-Lu Park in Greenville and at the Celeste High School football stadium.  The United Way's second Mobile Learning Cafe at Celeste, after the Celeste ISD donated a bus this year.  The original Mobile Learning Cafe in Quinlan will open for business Monday, July 9.

This program features a conversation on the student-produced "Lions After Dark" program with host Elizabeth Rodriguez and guest Brandon Bailey, a recent Texas A&M-Commerce graduate, sharing their perspective on the city of Commerce.  It may surprise you how positive it is. "Lions After Dark" recently won second place for student radio entertainment programs in the National Broadcast Society competition.

Hunt County Historical Commission chairman Carol Taylor relates the story of a riverboat captain who lost 300 oak barrels of "good whiskey" in the 1850s, when the Red River was at least partially navigable.

Texas A&M-Commerce Counseling Center director Dr.

Jack Neal, director of the Northeast Texas Trail, and a trail supporter, Hank Pickering, guest on the Blacklands Cafe.  Hank is a regular user of the part of the trail that passes through Wolfe City and recently organized a clean-up campaign.  He also created the sign seen on this page.  The Northeast Texas trail covers about 130 miles from Farmersville to New Boston, following former railroad right-of-ways.

Michael Paris, executive director of the Paris Economic Development Corporation, reflects on a recent column in the Paris News by Mary Madewell, expressing optimism for the economy of Paris and Northeast Texas.

Derek Price, owner of Greenshoot Media and author of the "Cargazing" newspaper column,  says automobile companies are adapting to what seems to be millennials' cooler attitude toward cars.  Derek says only about 60 percent of 18 year olds now have a driver's license, compared to 80 percent in the 1980s.  He says car companies are adapting.  The companies are making cars much more capable of connecting with smart phones.  Another idea being a

Bert Cooper, director of Community Seeds in Lone Oak, says the organization benefits from the Branded Ranch Rodeo Saturday (May 19) at the Hopkins County Civic Center in Sulphur Springs.  A day full of family-oriented, Western activities begins at 10 a.m.

Jeremy Gamez, our personal technology commentator, reflects on a recent New York Times article "I Downloaded The Information Facebook Has On Me.

Herald-Banner movie reviewer Alice Reese discusses an article on the 35 least and most anticipated summer movies of 2018. The most anticipated summer movie of 2018 came out early, "Avengers: Infinity War."  Among the other most anticipated summer movies is "Solo: A Star Wars Story," a prequel to the original "Star Wars" with the focus on the young Han Solo, coming out May 25.