Texas A&M-Commerce Athletic Director Tim McMurray discusses the return of Lion football after a lost season in 2020 because of the pandemic. The 5th-ranked Lions play at Colorado State-Pueblo, ranked 12th in the nation, Thursday night. The game will be heard on KETR.

Autumn Johnson, director of Campus Recreation at Texas A&M-Commerce and our wellness commentator, reflects on Psychology Today article, "How to Stop Comparing Youself to Others." It's common for users of social media to compare their lives to the "best-foot-forward" posts that many people make that give an unrealistic impression of what their lives are like. It tends to make many unsatisfied with their own lives.

Dr. Dale Funderburk, Northeast Texas economist, reflects on a recent Barron's article, "Five Vibing Texas Towns That Aren't Austin." The towns are the Big-Bend-area town of Marfa, San Marcos, San Antonio, Corpus Christi and Fort Worth. They're noted for their arts, culture and relatively favorable real-estate values.

Bert Cooper, executive director of Community Seeds of Lone Oak, relates the organization's plans for the Roy Clayton Sunrise Creek Ranch, where homeless or otherwise troubled men will go to learn how to get their lives back on track. It uses the "Oxford model" which teaches independent living skills. Community Seeds is also offering STEP (Strategic Training and Empowerment Program), funded by L-3 Harris in Greenville, to provide guidance in learning how to find and retain a job.

Carl Klauss of the Commerce Rotary Club explains the "Early Act First Knight"(EAFK) program that Rotary is helping to implement at the A.C. Williams Elementary School. EAFK introduces the principles of good citizenship to children and "knights" students who achieve the objectives of the program. EAFK has had excellent results in many schools around the U.S.

Judy Woods, representing the Dallas Symphony Orchestra series in Greenville, says the campaign to sell season tickets for the series concludes this week. This is the 47th season of the DSO performing at the Greenville Municipal Auditorium. The DSO performs two children's concerts on Friday, Oct 1 followed by a concert for all ages "Masterpiece Classics," that night. A "Summer Pops Classics" concert is scheduled for Saturday, June 4, 2022.

Dr. Dale Funderburk, Northeast Texas economist and long-time Texas A&M-Commerce economics professor, says the Nexii building products company that is coming to Commerce, like all manufacturing plants, will have a strong multiplier effect, meaning much of the money earned by employees will be spent in the community, because they will likely live in or near Commerce. The Canadian company is expected to open early in 2022 in the former Covidien building and employ about 200 people.

Pud Kearns with Housewarmers of Greenville, also active with Bras for the Cause, says "Brastalgia" is the theme of this year's event, scheduled for Thursday, October 14 in downtown Greenville. Artfully decorated bras will celebrate each decade going back to the 1920s. Proceeds will go to improvements for the Tubby Adkisson Mammography coach. A kickoff event will be at 5:30 p.m., Thursday, August 26 at the Emerald Ballroom in downtown Greenville.

Bonnie Hunter, executive director of the Commerce Economic Development Corp., says the NEXUS II company that has agreed to create a manufacturing facility in the former Covidien building on Maple Street, is expected to be open by the second quarter of 2022 and employ about 200 people. NEXUS II, based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, is known for manufacturing Nexii construction panels, prominently used in Starbucks and Popeye's chicken buildings. The company prides itself on its "green" manfacturing technology.

Commerce Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Paul Voss says Commerce businesses are in desperate need of employees. Mohawk Industries has offered a $3,000 bonus to new employees. Paul observes that True Value has installed a sign in the building next to Commerce Fitness, in the shopping center where Braum's is located.