Local News
As Country as Cornbread
To hear her tell it, Lois Marie Guymer is just as plain as cornbread.
The demure lady from Douglass is anything but plain, as she spins stories from her childhood growing up in Ponta and going to school in Rusk. In fact, she has quite a way with words as she is a regular contributor to the East Texas Farm & Ranch News and also has two published books to her credit.
“I’ve been to a lot of writers conferences over the years,” Guymer said. “But, I guess I really enjoyed writing from the third grade on.”
Her writing took her through school where she wrote for her high school annual and the school newspaper, but kind of left the writing behind for awhile while she went to college and got her degree in education.
After her two children came, Katie and Jeremy, she decided to start putting down stories into written words.
“I combined their names and called them Karemy stories,” Guymer joked. “I wanted to put those stories down into something they could keep for themselves.”
Over the years Guymer devoted her life to her family. She never really entered the public teaching field, though she did homeschool her children for a while and has been an active Sunday School teacher.
She also found the time to write a pair of devotional books.
The first is called, “The Women He Touched.”
“It’s about 12 New Testament women who actually walked and talked with Jesus,” Guymer said. “While I stay strictly within the scriptures, the stories are about what I imagine brought them into contact with Jesus — I try to imagine from scripture what’s happening in their life at that moment.”
She also wrote a devotional book about the men Jesus encountered called, “To Hear His Voice.”
“When I write, I feel my purpose is to turn people back to scripture,” Guymer admitted. “In these books I want people to look at why these men and women were included in scripture, and what their stories were.”
For the past year Guymer has been a regular contributor to the East Texas Farm & Ranch News. Most of her stories come from growing up in the tall timber of East Texas.
“I was dirt poor growing up, but we were greatly loved,” Guymer said. “Having more money may have been nice, but you couldn’t have grown up any better than I did.”
Life in the country is a big part of who she is, and she incorporates it into her Farm & Ranch columns entitled, “Country as Cornbread.” She also still lives a simple and thoughtful life with her husband Gilbert at their home in Douglass.
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Sept. 11 ceremony set Saturday to honor firefighters
It was a somber day in history on Sept. 11, 2001, as Americans watched in horror as a series of terrorist attacks killed thousands, including many firefighters.
To mark the ninth anniversary of 9/11, the local Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary is planning a special ceremony Saturday to remember those firefighters and say thank you to the local fire department and volunteer firefighters who protect the Palestine and Anderson County area on a daily basis. -
Book about family includes Palestine connections
Palestine area residents may enjoy a a new book with local historical connections called “A Journey of Voices,” written by author Diane McAdams Gladow of Emporia, Kan.
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Fashion show returning to Palestine on Oct. 14
It’s been five years since an organization has put on a large-scale fashion show in Palestine, but thanks to the Dogwood Garden Club, “An Autumn Affair Fashion Show and Silent Auction” event is planned Oct. 14 at the Museum for East Texas Culture.
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Community chorus rehearsals to start
Rehearsals will start Sept. 13 for the Anderson County Community Chorus’ upcoming performance, “Sounds of Christmas.” The show is set 6:30 p.m. Dec. 12 at the Palestine Civic Center.
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Wynonna concert in Tyler on Sept. 11
Tickets for the 2010 – 11 season opener featuring Wynonna are available at The University of Texas at Tyler R. Don Cowan Fine and Performing Arts Center, Susan Thomae-Morphew, Cowan Center executive director, announced.
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Trees available from Arbor Day Foundation
Everyone from Texas who joins the Arbor Day Foundation this month will receive 10 free trees as part of the Foundation’s Trees for America campaign.
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Experts say above average dove crop to greet hunters
Dove season officially began Wednesday, but hunters will be out in full force beginning Friday evening for opening weekend.
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State to rest case in Frankston man's murder trial
The state was expected to rest its case today in the murder trial of a 33-year-old Frankston man accused of killing a 32-year-old man over what the prosecution has called a love triangle.
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Farmers Market sets super Saturday sale
Palestine Farmers Market will be having a super Saturday sale from 8 a.m. until noon this week.
Featured items at the farmers market will include produce, plants and craft items. -
Artists to compete for awards
The Gallery is presenting its first Open Art Exhibition/Contest featuring 30 pieces of art by 16 local and area artists, sponsored by the Anderson County Arts Council.
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Sept. 11 ceremony set Saturday to honor firefighters
