The retirement of Jan Branch, after 41 years of serving the community, left a void to fill at Cypress Bank in Pittsburg. While interviewing a candidate to fill a role in the future Cypress Bank in Diana, Pittsburg native Matt Carpenter didn’t realize he was going to be asked to take up a position in his hometown.

Acting on a resolution that was submitted by Red River County Party chair Hunter Evans earlier this year, the Democratic Party of Texas officially passed over the weekend official opposition to the proposed reservoir in Northeast Texas.

The Titus County Commissioners Court spent most of the July 11 meeting focusing on improvements. Prior to those improvements, there was discussion on the upcoming calculation of the tax rate, giving citizens an opportunity to voice their concerns over the possible rate.

Thomas (Tom) Donald Ramsay, the former State Representative from Mt. Vernon, TX (District 2), former member and Chairman of the Texas Ethics Commission, former MVISD School Board Member, former banker, Mt. Vernon real estate investor & broker, Mt. Vernon Tiger super-fan, loving husband, brother, father, cousin, uncle, and grandfather passed away at the age of 82 in his Franklin County home on Saturday, July 9, 2022 surrounded by loving family.

The Mount Pleasant High School Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) had 18 students compete in the National Leadership Conference during the week of June 27-July 3 in Chicago, bringing home a national recognition award. MPHS was recognized with the Gold Seal Chapter Award of Merit, one of only 10 high school chapters in Texas to be recognized. The honor read “in recognition and appreciation of your chapter’s active participation in programs and projects advancing the goals of FBLA-PBL.” MPHS was also recognized as part of the ConnecTen by growing their chapter by more than 10 students from the previous school year.

Some of you know where you’re going. You know, north, south, east, and west. You know what you want to do tomorrow and for months in advance. You have everything in place. But will you do if life includes the wrong exit on the path of life? What if you get lost?

The third annual Concert on the Lake was held July 2 on Lake Bob Sandlin. Performers included Cole Scoggins, Ricky Lynn Gregg, Dexter Rowe, Pauline Reese, The Basic Boathouse Band, Jody Crocker, Stephen D. Jones, Ricky Roach, Chad Hendric, Breck Vonder Hoya and Kerrie Lee. A portion of the proceeds from the event benefited Scottish Rite Hospital for Children of Dallas, Shriner’s Hospital for Children of Shreveport and Honor Flight DFW. Sponsors for this year’s event were Bo Rester State Farm, KRB Investments, Mayben Realty, MS Custom Welding, Los Pinos Ranch and Winery, R and R Discount Tire and Brake, Outlaw Performance and Marine, Bell Concrete and NAPA Auto Parts of Mount Pleasant, Sulphur Springs and Paris.

One of the things you learn in life, especially when you get older and recognize the fact, is that we don’t always get to call the shots. Things happen in our lives despite our best efforts and often things happen that are not on our list of things to do. Our smart phone calendars can be obsolete when life comes calling unexpectedly, and when those things happen, it is how we choose to react that can set the tone for our days ahead.