Blacklands Cafe Podcast: Recent Episodes
John Mark Dempsey
The Blacklands Café is a visit each weekday with some of the most interesting people in Northeast Texas. Authors, politicians, representatives from non-profit organizations, business leaders, thought leaders, and others visit with host John Mark Dempsey and "have a cup of coffee on the house." New episodes post each weekday.
Wyman Williams, former Commerce mayor, longtime local car dealer, and our business commentator, says the Texas economy continues to be strong despite the national economic downturn of two consecutive quarters of negative growth, traditionally considered the definition of a recession but disputed by the Biden administration.
Frances Dalbey, Hunt Regional Healthcare outreach specialist, says the organization offers a Wound Care Center, among its many specialized services.
Sarah Latham, Rains County Agrilife extension agent, relates plans for a food-handling course at 10 a.m., August 8 in Emory.
Commerce Mayor Teddy Reel says installation of the new playground and exercise equipment at Ivory Moore Park on the northeast side of Commerce is nearly compete.
Commerce ISD superintendent Charlie Alderman discusses the district's new website. He says technology coordinator Heather Kilgore created the website.
Rick Parent, Commerce-area photographer and writer, reflects on the changes brought about by digital technology.
Commerce Mayor Teddy Reel, Jr., says the water level in the city's main water tower at City Park is very slowly returning to normal after a major water leak more than a week ago. He says as of Wednesday, the level in the tower was at 20 feet with capacity at 32 feet. He says at one point the water level was down to one foot. Citizens should minimize their use outdoor of use of water.
Trina Coldiron, community liaison with the Senior Center Resources and Public Transportation organization (SCRPT) in Greenville, says SCRPT can help with other organizations to provide fans, air conditioners and help with electric bills for Hunt County senior citizens.
Hunt County Master Gardener Wayne Bowman says, even though it's so hot, it's time to start preparing fall gardening.
Commerce ISD Superintendent Charlie Alderman says a 15-member school safety committee has been appointed to respond to a required state safety audit and and to make recommendations for additional safety improvements.
Alice Reese, Herald-Banner movie critic, says she thinks the new "Thor: Love and Thunder" Marvel superhero movie is the best of the Thor series and delightfully humorous, but even at $144.2 million in ticket sales its first week, the movie is considered a box-office disappointment.
Dr. Kent Montgomery, head of the Texas A&M-Commerce Department of Physics and Astronomy, says the photos released this week by NASA from the James Webb Space Telescope are sensational, but the spectrum — a representation of the wavelengths of light emitted by an exoplanet — is the most significant because it may help us better understand how the universe was formed.
Pud Kearns with Housewarmers of Greenville relates plans for a meeting Saturday (July 16) at the Landmark on Lee at 2920 Lee Street in downtown Greenville to share ideas on ways of "reimagining" the downtown area.
Lonny Schonfeld, membership director of the Greenville Chamber of Commerce, says the Chamber's annual Auction and Casino Night takes place at 5:30 p.m. Saturday (July 16) at Innovation First on Interstate 30 west of Greenville.
Steve Killian, superintendent of Cooper Lake State Park, says the lake level is down about two-and-a-half feet because of the drought, but the water remains satisfactory for swimming at the lake's beaches, and the fishing has been very good.
Commerce Chamber of Commerce executive director Paul Voss says the Hunt County Government Affairs committees are organizing to develop recommendations in numerous areas for the next session of the State Legislature which begins next January.
Trina Coldiron, community liaison specialist with SCRPT (the Senior Center Resource Center and Public Transit) of Greenville, says SCRPT recently received $32,745.50 from the Leadership Hunt County class of 2021 to for a new vehicle dedicated to providing nutrition services and related costs.
Derek Price, who writes the "Cargazing" column in the Herald-Banner, which is also nationally syndicated, made a trip to Norway with his family recently, and says most of the cars on the road in Norway are electric cars.
Brad Davis, Grammy-winning Commerce music producer and musician, recently performed a show in McKinney as "Brad Davis, The Shredder and the Shredheads." "The Shredder" is a nickname Brad has earned for his lightning-fast guitar playing skills, and says the experience was so exciting he plans a series of shows in that style.
Pud Kearns of Housewarmers of Greenville describes the full-schedule of activities on Independence Day, Monday, July 4.
Our business commentator Wyman Williams, former Commerce mayor and long-time businessman, says the plans announced recently for the Taiwanese company GlobalWafer to build a manufacturing plant in Sherman, and previous plans announced by Texas Instruments to expand its microchip making plant in the city will ultimately benefit all of Northeast Texas.
Emily Glass, our commentator on events in Sulphur Springs and former mayor, will chair the 2022-23 Hopkins County United Way fund-raising campaign.
Commerce Mayor Teddy Reel says the city has about 30 vacant lots available for sale to people who want to build homes on them.
Commerce Chamber of Commerce executive director Paul Voss relates plans for the Chamber's annual "Bois D'Arc Fourth of July Celebration" Sunday evening (July 3) at Centennial Park.
Alice Reese, Herald-Banner movie critic, says "Elvis," starring Australian Austin Butler as Presley and Tom Hanks as Elvis' manager Col. Tom Parker, is an engaging biopic of Elvis' career from Tupelo, Mississippi, to Las Vegas.
Commerce Mayor Teddy Reel says the among the goals of a series of meetings on the future of the city's downtown that started this week is the creation of an iconic feature, for example a water display of some kind.
Julie Jun, who recently joined the Texas A&M-Commerce Campus Recreation staff as a nutritionist, says she'll be promoting healthy nutrition for the University's students and others with numerous upcoming programs and events.
Sarah Latham, Rains County Agrilife extension agent, shares some advice for coping with the extreme heat, including the use of "infused water," which contains pieces of fruit and vegetables.
Commerce Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Paul Voss discusses a meeting on the future of downtown Commerce set for this evening (Monday, June 20) from 5 to 7 p.m. at City Hall.
Frances Dalbey, outreach specialist with Hunt Regional Healthcare, reminds us that June is "Men's Health Month."
Pud Kearns with Housewarmers of Greenville discusses a series of Greenville Police Department activities planned for youngsters called the "Summer of Safety."
Angela Roberts, representing the Commerce Food Pantry, says the Food Pantry, located at the First Presbyterian Church on north Monroe Street, plans to serve about 30 families per week, although as many as 50 families may come to the pantry on a given day.
Texas A&M-Commerce Athletic Director Tim McMurray is leaving the University after seven years, taking a position with a sports clothing company associated with college athletics and planning a move with wife Vickie to the Hill Country. This is his final week on campus.
Pud Kearns with Housewarmers of Greenville relates the story of the handbag collection she inherited from her mother and which is on display at the Audie Murphy/American Cotton Museum through the summer.
Cooper Lake State Park superintendent Steve Killian says the park has again imported white sand for the swimming beaches at the Doctors Creek and South Sulphur units.
Sharline Freeman, director of the Northeast Texas Children's Museum in Commerce, says in observance of the museum's 20th anniversary this year, it will have 2002 admission prices of $3 for children and $2 for adults this Friday (June 10). The museum will celebrate its actual opening anniversary on Wednesday, Sept. 28.
Greenville Chamber of Commerce membership director Lonny Schonfeld weighs in on the recent hiring of Micah McBay, as the city of Greenville's new venue and tourism manager, succeeding Kevin Banks, who has retired.
Commerce ISD Superintendent Charlile Alderman contemplates Gov. Abbott's recent proposal to provide funding to families for school-choice options.
Commerce Mayor Teddy Reel, who recently succeeded Wyman Williams, says one of his objectives to improve communications with the citizens of Commerce.
Emily Glass, former mayor of Sulphur Springs and our commentator on events in the city, relates plans for a 278-acre subdivision with up to 1,159 single-family homes to be built about a mile west of the city on State Highway 11.
Former Commerce mayor and long-time businessman Wyman Williams says the expansion of the Texas economy, with dozens of companies being attracted to the state each year, is also being seen in Commerce.
Commerce ISD Superintendent Charlie Alderman, reflecting on the mass murder of students and teachers at a Uvalde elementary school, says Commerce schools all require visitors to be visually identified before they are allowed to enter a school, and then they are further delayed from entry in a vestibule before entering the main area of the school.
Teddy Reel, the recently inaugurated mayor of Commerce, says a project is underway to install new playground and exercise equipment at Ivory Moore Park on the city's northeast side.
Rick Parent, Commerce author and photographer, is publishing a new series of children's books on wolves, the first of which is "Windsongs: A Child's Introduction to Wolves As Told By A Baby Wolf."
Commerce ISD Superintendent Charlie Alderman says the groundbreaking for the new Commerce Middle School will take place on Monday, Aug. 8.
Rains County Agrilife Extension Agent Sarah Latham discusses tips provided by Texas A&M Agrilife for mothers having to do without baby formula.
Rains County Agrilife Extension Agent Sarah Latham discusses tips provided by Texas A&M Agrilife for mothers having to do without baby formula.
Dr. Dale Funderburk, Northeast Texas economist and long-time Texas A&M-Commerce economics professor, reflects on news that the West Texas city of Midland has the highest inflation in the country at 10 percent.
Alice Reese, Herald-Banner movie critic, says "Downtown Abbey: A New Era," the second movie adaptation of the popular PBS series, tells stories related to almost every character but remains a manageable viewing experience.
Hunt County Master Gardener Wayne Bowman offers advice on ways to cope with insects in gardens and flower beds.
Autumn Johnson, director of Campus Recreation at Texas A&M-Commerce, says with Physical Fitness Month and Water Safety Month being observed in May, the Morris Recreation Center offers facilities and services to help.
Frances Dalbey, Hunt Regional Healthcare outreach specialist, says Hunt Regional is holding a job fair for a wide variety of positions from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, (May 19).
Pud Kearns with Housewarmers of Greenville says volunteers are needed to help place American flags on the Audie Murphy Overpass south of downtown Greenville for Memorial Day on Thursday, May 26.
Dr. Kent Montgomery, head of the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Texas A&M-Commerce, says the University's observatory will be open starting at 9:30 p.m. Sunday night (May 15) for the total lunar eclipse, which will produce a "blood moon," colored red.
Mary Shockley, Hunt County Agrilife extension agent, says how you present information to kids about nutrition makes a difference in their receptiveness to it.
Bert Cooper, executive director of Community Seeds in Lone Oak, says the new "Sacred Grounds" coffee shop operated by Community Seeds in downtown Lone Oak now offers tasty cinnamon rolls and other goodies baked in the incubator kitchen for entrepreneurial chefs.
Trina Coldiron, community liaison with the Senior Center Resource Center and Public Transit organization (SCRPT) in Greenville, says SCRPT is in need of part-time drivers for the Connection public-transportation program and for Meals on Wheels delivery. Also, Trina says Julie Sickels recently was name SCRPT's "Volunteer of the Year" for her contributions to SCRPT.
Frances Dalbey, Hunt Regional Healthcare outreach specialist, says May is Stroke Awareness Month. Despite advances in research and clinical care, stroke continues to be the fifth leading cause of death and a leading cause of adult disability in the United States, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stoke.
Alice Reese, Herald-Banner movie critic, says "Dr. Strange in the Multiverse of Madness" is darker in tone than most other Marvel movies.
Steve Killian, superintendent of Cooper Lake State Park, says recent rains have raised the level of Cooper Lake from about five feet low to only about two feet low.
Derek Price, producer of the "Celebrate Hunt County" videos, previews the first Hunt County Festival of the Arts, scheduled for Friday and Saturday, May 6-7, in Greenville.
Commerce ISD Superintendent Charlie Alderman discusses the status of the construction projects approved by voters last November, including the new Commerce Middle School.
Commerce Mayor Wyman Williams, who is ending his six-year term, says transparency of city financial records and the stability of the city's finances are the the greatest accomplishments of his time as mayor.
Commerce Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Paul Voss describes plans for the annual Bois D'Arc Car Show on the downtown square in Commerce starting at 8 a.m. Saturday (April 30).
Commerce Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Paul Voss describes plans for the annual Bois D'Arc Car Show on the downtown square in Commerce starting at 8 a.m. Saturday (April 30).
Pud Kearns with Housewarmers of Greenville says the Ladonia Fossil Park on the North Sulphur River is a great place to find a shark's tooth or some other pre-historic treasure.
Hank Pickering, a board member of the Northeast Texas Trail, says the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department will conduct a feasibility study of adopting the NETT as a state park.
Derek Price, representing the Hunt County Festival of Arts May 6-7, says the event was inspired by the late Dennis Strickland, who became an ambassador for the arts in his relatively short time living in Greenville.
Dr. Karri McCreary, veterinarian and co-owner of the Greenville Animal Hospital, reflects on some recommended spring and summer safety tips for pets.
Commerce ISD Band Director Kara Wallace says the "Taste of Commerce" will kickoff with an event at Mugs in downtown Commerce at 12 noon on Saturday (April 23).
Commerce Mayor Wyman Williams says the City Council has instructed the City Manager Howdy Lisenbee to plan for a complete replacement of the infrastructure of Washington Street before resurfacing the street.
Emily Glass, our commentator on events in Sulphur Springs and former mayor, reflects on the honor of Wastewater Treatment Plant of the Year in the state of Texas, received by the city's wastewater facility.
Sarah Latham, Rains County Agrilife extension agent, says April is Stress Awareness Month.