October 2021

Precinct 3 Kaufman County Commissioner Terry Barber, who represents Terrell, receives a certificate on Oct. 13 from Victoria County Judge Ben Zeller for completion of a voluntary advanced course on county government titled Commissioners Court Advanced Curriculum. Barber and Precinct 4 Commissioner Ken Cates received a Certificate of Achievement from the County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas (CJCAT). COURTESY PHOTO

Kaufman County is promoting a Veterans’ Day essay contest sponsored by Paul Murrey Ford and American Legion Post 165 and represented by Dallas Fox, a distinguished Kaufman County veteran. A call for entries has gone out to public school officials across Kaufman County.

Barring any court intervention, the new state redistricting map signed off on this week by Gov. Greg Abbott will keep Terrell in Congressional District 5, in state House District 4 and in state Senate District 2.

Oct. 30: The Poetry 5k and Fun Run/Walk will be held Saturday, Oct. 30 at Poetry Community Christian School. The races begin at 8 a.m. followed by a Family-Friendly Fall Festival with raffles, games, food, vendors, auctions, prizes, and more.

Visitation will be held for Ernestine Johnson from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 29, 2021 at Black and Clark Funeral Home -2517 E. Illinois Ave. – Dallas, TX 75216. Viewing will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021 with funeral services following at 11 a.m. at Shiloh Baptist Church - 321 Frank Street-Terrell, TX 75160.

Jack-o'-lanterns are one of many indelible symbols of Halloween. It's hard to pinpoint the precise origins of jack-o'-lanterns, but many historians trace the tradition to 19th century Ireland. In fact, this instantly recognizable staple of Halloween decor actually gets its name from an Irish folktale character named "Stingy Jack."

Jack-o'-lanterns are lit on front porches, neighborhood streets are blanketed in colorful leaves, mulled apple cider is simmering on the stove, and children are putting the finishing touches on costumes and trick-or-treating routes. It's Halloween season once again, but with COVID-19 still a part of life in 2021, how can children who are not yet vaccinated safely enjoy Halloween?

Homeowners think nothing of having goblins, nurses, vampires, or astronauts showing up at their doors each October asking for candy. Any other time of the year and these visitors might be turned away. But Halloween is all about the magical and the macabre, and trick-or-treating is a major component of the festivities.

This spooky rascal lords over a front yard at Pacific and Nash near downtown Terrell. If you see this colossal skeleton coming your way on Halloween night, you’d better have some treats for him. HANK MURPHY

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) biologists say hunters can expect an exceptional 2021-22 white-tailed deer season. The statewide white-tailed deer population is estimated to be around 5.4 million deer and while it is down slightly from previous years, fawn recruitment (fawn survival rates) predictions indicate an overall robust population increase headed into the season.