On the Line

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We'll be back with a new episode next week.

Lynn LaRowe's name is very familiar to Texarkana Gazette readers.

As the Gazette's longtime legal affairs reporter, Lynn has covered the biggest local crime stories of the last 15 years, as well as hundreds of other cases and lawsuits.

For this week's episode, host Karl Richter spoke with her about her career, how she does her work and the insights it has given her. And she previewed some of the stories she is working on now.

This week’s episode features retired Marine Staff Sgt. Tyron Hinton and his wife, Dr. Corrine Hinton, an associate professor of English at Texas A&M University-Texarkana.Tyron had several combat deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan and sustained injuries.Corrine became a military caregiver for her husband and works to bring awareness and help to the parents, friends and partners who serve in caregiving roles for veterans. She is an alumni fellow with the Elizabeth Dole Foundation, which is committed to empowering, supporting and honoring our nation’s military caregivers.November is National Veterans and Military Families Month, and to those who have served and sacrificed, we thank you.In this episode, guest host Christy Busby Worsham spoke with the Hintons about their journey and experiences, as well as the available resources for military caregivers and veterans.

LINK: Hidden Heroes

From Texarkana to New York, L.A. and almost two decades in Paris, Carol Miles has led an extraordinary life.

As a pioneering woman of color in the world of high fashion modeling, a singer, a restaurateur and now as a champion of composer Scott Joplin's legacy, she has used her talents to break barriers and better communities.

She and host Karl Richter spoke about her cosmopolitan journey, her new album of original songs and plans to celebrate Joplin's birthday later this month in Texarkana.

LINK: Scott Joplin Support Group (Facebook)

For this week's episode, host Karl Richter spoke with Jenny Walker, executive director of the Literacy Council of Bowie and Miller Counties.

She leads the Literacy Council's mission to fill a wide variety of educational gaps in the Texarkana community, and she spoke about some of the exciting new projects and programs the Council has in store. It's a LOT more than just teaching people how to read.

This week's special Halloween episode features a double dose of Texarkana thrills and chills.

In Part 1, host Karl Richter spoke with Haunted Texarkana Ghost Walk host Scarlett Lewis about the tour and her love of local history, and she shared some of her favorite spooky tales.

Part 2 is a conversation with Pamula Pierce Barcelou, whose father, Charles B. Pierce, made two iconic horror movies — “The Legend of Boggy Creek” and “The Town That Dreaded Sundown” — in and around Texarkana, based on true local stories. She spoke about her father's legacy in the horror genre and beyond, and what she's doing to preserve it.

Happy Halloween!

LINKS

Haunted Texarkana Ghost Walk (Facebook)

"The Legend of Boggy Creek" official website

Colleagues, friends and loved ones share their thoughts and memories about the late Aaron Brand.

Aaron died unexpectedly the weekend of Oct. 2 at his home after a two-decade career as the Texarkana Gazette's features reporter, covering culture, arts and entertainment, among other subjects.

Closing music: "I'll Be Seeing You" performed by Marc-Andre Bougie and Candace Taylor.

This week's episode focuses on this year's race for mayor in Texarkana, Texas.

Mayor Bob Bruggeman is seeking a fifth consecutive term in office. Former City Council member Brian Matthews is challenging him for the seat.

For this forum, we provided both candidates the same seven questions in advance and asked them to limit their responses to two minutes each. Both candidates also had the opportunity to make a two-minute closing statement.

They were interviewed separately and their responses were edited together question by question. The responses themselves have not been altered.

We gave the incumbent, Mayor Bruggeman, the first word and the challenger, Dr. Matthews, the last.

Early voting begins October 18, and Election Day is November 2.

As always, the Texarkana Gazette will provide complete coverage of the race and the results.

CAMPAIGN SITE LINKS:

Bob Bruggeman (Facebook)

Brian Matthews

Ina McDowell is in the forefront of efforts to bring Texarkana's long-neglected downtown back to thriving life.

As executive director of Main Street Texarkana, she works to keep downtown rooted in its past as it progresses into a new future.

She and host Karl Richter talked about the downtown renaissance currently underway — as exemplified by the renovation of the Hotel Grim and other major projects — what Main Street does to help accelerate the process, and what you can do to get involved.

When Houston-area technology professional Benny Prince began researching his Ark-La-Tex roots, he had no idea he would meet a character literally larger than life.

James Wesley “Big Jim” Patterson, Prince’s great uncle, stood out in the family story as much as his reported 8 foot, 4 inch height stood out among residents of Bloomburg, Texas, where he died on Halloween 1920.

A trove of heirloom documents, including rare vintage photos, told Prince the tale of Patterson’s life as a circus sideshow performer, businessman and member of a family that played an important role in the history of Cass County.

Now Prince is working on a book about Big Jim and hopes someone out there can tell him even more about the giant billed by Sells Brothers Circus as “The World’s Tallest Man.”

(Note: This episode is being published a few days earlier than usual, in conjunction with a story in the Texarkana Gazette. "On the Line" will return to its regular Tuesday schedule next week.)

LINKS

Kickstarter: "Out of the Borderlands into the Big Top," by Benny E. Prince

Email Benny Prince