Dan Semprini, director of fitness and wellness at the Morris Recreation Center at Texas A&M-Commerce, says teams of four are signing up to compete for prizes in " Fitober" during the month of October. The deadline to register is Monday (Oct. 5).

Pud Kearns, with Housewarmers of Greenville and a leader of Bras for the Cause, says the event will be virtual this year, with three separate Facebook Live programs starting at 7 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 8. Proceeds will benefit Hunt Regional Healthcare cancer-treatment facilities.

Hank Pickering, a volunteer for the the Northeast Texas Trail , says several projects being directed by the Chaparral Rails to Trails organization are progressing. Trail improvements from Merit to Paris are near completion, and from the Roxton to Paris are underway. A one-and-a-half mile part of the trail in Wolfe City will soon be paved. Hank says the NETT raised about $5,800 on North Texas Giving Day, exceeding the goal of $4,000.

Byron Taylor, president and CEO of the Greenville Chamber of Commerce , says the chamber's annual Auction & Casino Night, postponed earlier this year because of the coronavirus, will begin at 5:30 p.m. Saturday at the Emerald Ballroom in downtown Greenville. The RAFFA Clinic for women is holding a virtual banquet by Zoom at 7 p.m. tonght (Tuesday, Sept. 29) , with a goal of raising $100,000.

Carol Taylor , Hunt County Historical Commission chairman, says the 1920 U.S. census -- 100 years ago -- showed the nation to be changing in fundamental ways, as the majority of people were now living in cities. The 2020 census is officially scheduled to end on Wednesday (Sept. 30).

Alice Reese, Herald-Banner movie critic, reflects on the return of 86-year-old movie icon Sophia Loren in "The Life Ahead," a Netflix movie directed by her son, Edoardo Ponti. It will be released on November 13. We also discuss the probable f urther delay of major movies scheduled for release in the fall.

Paul Voss, Commerce Chamber of Commerce manager, says the city has lost only three businesses during the coronavirus situation, but two have taken over the previous spots, so the net loss is only one. Voss says small businesses have shown remarkable resilience during the ordeal.

Dr. Karri McCreary, veterinarian and co-owner of the Greenville Animal Hospital , reflects on a Pew Research Center study that shows millenials are spending a lot of money on their pets during the coronavirus pandemic, much more than baby boomers.

Sharon Feldt of Sulphur Springs, our books commentator, says "The Nickel Boys" by Coulson Whitehead is the 2020 Pulitzer-Prize winner for fiction, although it is based on the true story of a Florida reform school for boys described as a "grotesque chamber of horrors" which remained open until recent years.

Charlie Alderman, Commerce ISD superintendent, says about 14-15% of Commerce students are engaged in online learning, down from 19% at the beginning of the school year. He expects that percentage to decline further in the near future. Only one student has tested postive for the coronavirus in about the past week and a half, the superintedent says.