The Kilgore Coterie Club met on Thursday, February 28, in the parlor at St Luke’s Methodist Church. Joy Tate and Brenda Maxwell served as hostesses. Rachael Brian called the meeting to order and introduced Cristi Langley who presented the program on the Panama Canal. The history of the canal dates back to when Núñez de Balboa first crossed the isthmus. The narrow land bridge between North and South America houses the Panama Canal, a water passage between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The earliest European colonists recognized this potential, and several proposals for a canal were made. By the late nineteenth century, technological advances and commercial pressure allowed construction to begin in earnest. Noted canal engineer Ferdinand de Lesseps led an initial attempt by France to build a sea-level canal. Beset by cost overruns due to the severe underestimation of the difficulties in excavating the rugged Panama land, heavy personnel losses in Panama due to tropical diseases, and political corruption in France surrounding the financing of the massive project, the project succeeded in only partially completing the canal. Interest in a U.S.-led canal effort picked up as soon as France abandoned the project. French engineer and financier Philippe-Jean Bunau-Varilla played an important role in I convincing America to build the canal and in the signing of theHay–Bunau-Varilla Treaty which secured both independence for Panama and the right for the U.S. to lead a renewed effort to construct the canal. U.S. success hinged on two factors. First was converting the original French sea-level plan to a more realistic lock-controlled canal. The second was controlling disease which decimated workers and management alike under the original French attempt. Initial chief engineer John Frank Stevens built much of the infrastructure necessary for later construction; slow progress on the canal itself led to his replacement by George Washington Goethals. Goethals oversaw the bulk of the excavation . William C. Gorgas, an expert in controlling tropical diseases such as yellow fever and malaria was one of the first to recognize the role of mosquitoes inyellow fever the spread of these diseases, and by focusing on controlling the mosquitoes greatly improved worker conditions. On 1 April 1914 the construction was officially completed with the hand-over of the project from the construction company to the Canal Zone government. The outbreak of World War I caused the cancellation of any official "grand opening" celebration, and the canal officially opened to commercial traffic on 15 August 1914 . The Canal remained a territory of the United States until 1977, when the Torrijos–Carter Treaties began the process of transferring territorial control to Panama. more

Stephen and Angie Grimes of Kilgore are pleased to announce the engagement and approaching marriage of their daughter, Macy Marie Grimes, to Ryan Christopher Bustin, son of Bobby and Sherry Bustin of Kilgore. The bride-elect is the granddaughter of Dennis and Donna Cooley of Kilgore, George White of Leverett’s Chapel, and the late Peggy White of Kilgore. more

President, Nita Collier opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance. Reo Calender gave the prayer for the meeting and the meal. Merlean Thompson, Secretary, read the minutes from the last meeting. No corrections. Approved as read. Gloria Kennedy, Treasurer, gave the treasury report. It was approved for audit. more

Spring Break is a dangerous time on Texas roads, with hundreds of impaired driving crashes involving young drivers occurring each year. As college students and young adults head to Spring Break destinations in the coming weeks, the Texas Department of Transportation’s “Plan While You Can” campaign reminds them to make a plan for a sober ride before the party starts. more

“Music and Memories” was the topic for Civic Garden Club’s February meeting. Carolyn Mangum, Activity Director for Arbor Grace Nursing and Rehab Center of Kilgore, spoke on how music can benefit persons with memory issues. Many times music can calm patients and even cause them to participate by singing songs that are familiar to them. Using technology such as MP3 players has been effective. Earphones or a radio turned down low, can be used in their room. Music instead of medication often produces good results. more

Kilgore College is taking a major step towards streamlining their degree plans and expediting students toward their goals of degrees and credentials by eliminating many developmental courses from their catalog. KC President Dr. Brenda Kays said Tuesday the college is easing the coursework burden on students by retooling courses so students can focus on skills more relevant to their chosen course of study. more

The City of Kilgore’s been tackling water projects for the past several years while also refining plans for major work in the future – those are ever-closer to fruition as City Hall prepares to issue bonds totaling almost $6 million for a variety of work. more

With this week’s sales tax allocation from the state, the first quarter of 2019 in the City of Kilgore is outperforming last year by almost 16 percent. This month’s check from the Texas Comptroller’s Office totals $892,277.06, a 34.6 percent increase compared to the $663,053.39 of March 2018. more

When Shadarria Tennison first started going to the Kilgore facility after-school, she was grieving, angry. “My grandmother was my best friend. She loved everyone and no one was a stranger,” Tennison told Kilgore Rotarians last month. “She died when I was 9. It was very hard for me. Me, trying to understand that she was gone. I felt like someone took something away from me I thought was going to be there forever.” more

If someone contacts you with threats to disconnect electric service unless you make immediate payment – typically using a prepaid card or another non-traceable form of payment – be alert that you are likely the target of a scam. Southwestern Electric Power Co. (SWEPCO) continues to receive reports that involve criminals posing as SWEPCO representatives contacting customers and demanding immediate payment. They use phone, in-person and online tactics. more