NECHES —
The Neches community will celebrate its 20th annual Neches Heritage Festival Saturday complete with a parade, arts and crafts, music and free games for kids of all ages. The festival theme is “Neches Country Fair.”
The parade line-up will begin at 9:30 a.m. on FM 2574 at the Neches city limit sign. The parade will kick off at 10 a.m. ending at the grounds of the Skeen Community Center on FM 19 adjacent to the back side of the elementary school.
Decorated floats, all types of cars, two-wheelers, four-wheelers, horses and riders, and horse drawn carriages are past and present example parade entries.
This year two parade grand marshals will be featured, John Lanier and Kim Dickson.
Float prizes of $100, $50 and $25 will be awarded to the first-, second- and third-place winners respectively. Call Arlene McReynolds at 903-584-3371 or Elaine Huddleston at 903-584-3210 if you are interested in entering this event.
The festival program will start at 10:45 a.m. and include recognition of veterans, parade winners and recognition of the 2012 State Basketball Champions, the Neches High School Lady Tigers.
The festival will be held rain or shine, as a large covered tent will provide shade, seating and protection from weather. This event is family-oriented with activities for all ages — and a good opportunity for family reunions or to arrange children’s play dates.
Disc jockey Casey Brown will provide musical entertainment.
The Top Gun entertainers are scheduled to teach gun safety to the crowd with a “Wild West” performance at 12:30 p.m. followed by the Cherokee Cloggers at 1 p.m.
Arts and crafts booths are still available in a limited capacity for $10 per space. To reserve space, call Pat Grounds at 903-584-3134 or 832-266-7306.
Come match your baking skills against some of the best in East Texas at the third annual Cake Bake Off.
Entries will be judged on how the cake is displayed, what the cake looks like and how it tastes. In addition to receiving first-, second- and third-place ribbons, first place will receive a $30 Walmart gift card; second place, a Genie Food Chopper by Oster; third place, a glass cake plate with cover that doubles as a punch bowl.
For more information about the Cake Bake Off, call Sherry at 903-948-6189 or Penny at 903-584-0267 or 903-530-8150. After the winners of the contest are announced, slices of all the cakes will be sold to the public with proceeds to benefit the Skeen Community Center.
The Heritage Committee also will be selling drawing tickets on a 25.06 Mossberg rifle with scope. Tickets are $1 each or six for $5 to defray the cost of the festival. Tickets may be purchased from any committee member.
Johnny Bell Faucett and Lamar and Rae Roberson will be available inside the Skeen Community Center to assist the public at an informational history booth and a booth that also has local cemetery recordings.
Information in both booths, and the individuals manning them will assist anyone looking for answers to questions related to the history of their relatives.
Local News
Neches Heritage Festival slated May 5
- Local News
-
-
Community invited to welcome back National Guard troops
The community is asked to help welcome back the local National Guard troops, which will be coming by bus to the National Guard Armory in Palestine at about 3 p.m. Wednesday.
-
Texas Area Fund Foundation kicks off new program
The Texas Area Fund Foundation kicked off its newest program — The Action Fund — Thursday evening at an event hosted in the home of Francis and Cad Williams.
-
Police department seeking input from citizens on text alert program
The Palestine Police Department is asking for input from citizens regarding the feasibility of introducing a new communication program call Citizen Observer Tip411, an e-mail and text alert system that would allow for outgoing alerts and information to citizens.
-
Palestine Police participating in national 'Click It or Ticket' campaign
The Palestine Police Department and City Marshal’s Office has announced their participation in the 2013 national Click It or Ticket seat belt enforcement mobilization to help save lives by cracking down on those who don’t buckle up.
-
Anderson County Commissioners OK grant application for sheriff's office
During a special meeting Friday, Anderson County commissioners gave the go-ahead to Sheriff Greg Taylor to apply for a grant that would help fund salaries for two additional drug unit investigators for the department.
-
Triplett concedes in mayor's race
Local businessman Timothy Triplett conceded the election to Palestine mayoral candidate Therrell Thomas Thursday, after asking for a recount following the May 11 election.
-
Salute to the Armed Forces set for May 25
The Texas State Railroad will host its 15th annual Salute to the Armed Forces event at the Palestine Depot on Saturday, May 25. The Memorial Day weekend event has been reinvented this year to return it to its original focus of paying tribute to all branches and all eras of U.S. military service.
-
PWFAA’s annual talent showcase to honor late theater owner
The Piney Woods Fine Arts Association will present the annual Houston County Youth Talent Showcase at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Crockett Civic Center.
-
Fund established for West relief effort
Following a successful garage sale fund-raiser earlier this month to raise money for the community of West, struck by tragedy after a fertilizer plant explosion in April, organizers have set up a bank account fund to raise more money for the effort.
-
County, cities receive May sales tax allocations
Texas Comptroller Susan Combs recently reported that state sales tax revenue in April was $2.15 billion, up 3.9 percent compared to April 2012.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Community invited to welcome back National Guard troops
Probe Begins After Conn. Commuter Trains Crash
NTSB Begins Investigation Into Conn. Train Crash
Lotto Fever Sweeps the Country
Conn. Commuter Trains Collide; 60 Go to Hospital
Coffee Run Leads to Hatchet Hitchhiker Arrest
Fmr. IRS Head Insists No Politics in Targeting
CDC: Fecal Bacteria Common in Swimming Pools
$1 Million in Jewels Stolen at Cannes Film Fest
NM Mom Chases Down Child Abductor
Raw: Crash Sends Car Into Fla. Pool
Raw: Obama Sits Down With Elementary Kids
Raw: Bear Falls From Tampa Tree
Ousted IRS Chief: Errors Not Caused by Politics
Terror Suspect Due in Court in Idaho Friday
Raw: Driver Ejected From Truck, Over Bridge
Could Tobacco Be the Next Biofuel?
Wash. State Releases Draft Rules for Legal Pot
Dying Man's Blinks Lead to Murder Conviction
Officials: Texas Tornado Likely Had 200 Mph Wind
Brothers Arrested in NOLA Parade Shooting
