Sharline Freeman, director of the Northeast Texas Children's Museum in Commerce, says the museum had its best July ever, with almost 4,000 visitors from 128 cities. Sharline says the museum has recently received contributions of an outdoor construction play area from At-Home Real Estate and an indoor slide from the Heritage Land Company.

Alice Reese, Herald-Banner movie critic, says Jennifer Hudson is more than up to the task of portraying "the Queen of Soul" Aretha Franklin in the new movie, "Respect." In particular, Alice says her singing sounds remarkably like Aretha. Alice also reviews the comedy "Free Guy" and the drama "Coda."

Commerce ISD Superintendent Charlie Alderman says the first day of the new school year is Thursday (Aug. 12). Masks in the classroom will be encouraged, but not required, for teachers and students.

Commerce Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Paul Voss says he expects the Hunt Regional Emergency Center in Commerce to reopen by the end of the month, as Hunt Regional officials have indicated. The Commerce staff has temporarily been transferred to the emergency center at the Hunt Regional Medical Center in Greenville as it attempts to manage the COVID-19 outbreak. Also, Paul says he has recently received confirmation that a new Tractor Supply store will be built on Live Oak Street, west of the Taco Bell.

Pud Kearns with Housewarmers of Greenville notes that the health-care organization Carevide is offering numerous COVID-19 vaccination clinics around Hunt County. Clinics at Greenville ISD campuses this week include: 5:30 - 7 p.m. Tuesday, August 10 at Travis/Sixth Grade Center (3201 Stanford St.)5-7 p.m. Wednesday, August 11 at Greenville Middle School (3611 Texas St.); 4-7 p.m. Thursday, August 12 at Greenville High School (3515 Lions Lair).

Brad Davis, Grammy-Award-winning Commerce music producer and musician, is producing songs by Commerce's "Copper Ring," the professional name of Connie Hall. Brad compares her style to Bonnie Raitt and the Judds. She's been signed by PLA Media of Nashville, the company of Pam Lewis, who discovered Garth Brooks. Copper Ring's first single is "Talk About Love."

Steve Killian, superintendent of Cooper Lake State Park , says the number of people camping at Cooper Lake State Park is less in August, so reservations can be made much more easily, sometimes on the day of the camping event. And Steve says August is also good because the park is great place to view the Perseid meteor shows, which peak on Wednesday and Thursday nights, August 11-12. Educational programs have returned to the park and several are scheduled this weekend (August 6-7).

Emily Glass, our commentator on events in Sulphur Springs and former mayor, reflects on news that crime in the first six months of 2021 was down significantly in Sulphur Springs. Sixty-two major offenses were reported in the period of January-June, compared to 93 in 2020. It was a 22-year low for the city. But concern is growing over traffic safety in busy downtown Sulphur Springs , and Emily addresses those concerns. Emily and her husband are proprietors of the Venue at two-ninteen in downtown

Sharon Feldt of Sulphur Springs, our books commentator, says Commerce author Brian Dowsley recently published "Savage Dreams," the latest in his "Galactic Pathfinder" series of space adventures. Sharon says it's the best so far in the series. She also enjoys Yantis author Tex Midkiff's book, "Hidden History of East Texas." And Sharon says the Silver Leos writing group will be meeting again in person at the Texas A&M-Commerce Alumni Center starting Thursday, August 12.

Dr. Kent Montgomery, Physics and Astonomy department head at Texas A&M-Commerce, says the meteor seen by many in Northeast Texas the night of July 25 was likely not part of the annual Peseid meteor showers , which have started but will not peak until the nights of Wednesday and Thursday, August 11-12.