Here are a few photos from Elkhart High School's graduation on Friday night. There are more photos available at the Herald-Press Photo Gallery.

A World War II mock battle between German and United States soldiers in Southern Germany in 1945 was held during the Armed Forces Memorial Day Weekend event Saturday, May 23, 2009 at the Texas State Railroad's Palestine Depot in Palestine, Texas.

The day featured living history demonstrations with re-enactors from the Revolutionary War period up to the present. Rides on a Huey helicopter and a sspecial military train were available.

It was a lot of fun to look at all of the living history reenactors who represented time periods from the Revolutionary War to the present. Those I talked to said they wanted to honor the soldiers who gave their lives for freedom. They enjoyed bringing history to life so people could see how it looked back then.

Watching the mock battle was really a treat. There was a huge crowd of people watching. All the military vehicles really added an authenticity to it as well.

Before the mock battle, there was a parade of the military vehicles with a short history of each vehicle and how it was used during war time.

This event is held every May around Memorial Day weekend. Be sure to check it out next year at the Texas State Railroad Park.

Photos from the event can be found on Stuart Whitaker's Photo Gallery and the Herald-Press Photo Gallery.

Here's a photo from annual recital rehearsal for Carol Bentley's Academy of Dance May 14 at the Palestine Civic Center.

Click the photo and it will show you a larger photo that fills the screen.

Photo by Stuart Whitaker.

For residents of nursing homes, going fishing brings back lots of memories.

So for the fourth year, Cartmell Home for Aged is bringing the fishing pond to the residents for its Let’s Go Fishin’ days today and Thursday.

Cartmell Home will bring in a 3,500-gallon tank stocked with 400 pounds of catfish for its residents to catch in front of the home.

“Many of them are not able to go fishing, so we bring the fishing to them,” Cartmell Home Administrator Debbie Harrison said. “They look forward to it all year and make a big day of it.”
The Austin-based company Let’s Go Fishin’ and its owner Brian Kitchen provide the tank and the fish.

Families of residents are invited to bring lawn chairs and cameras to celebrate the occasion.

To offset the expense of bringing in the catfish tank, Cartmell Home will hold a hamburger lunch fund-raiser from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday. A hamburger, chips, cookie and soft drink will be sold for $5. Though a dining area is available, a drive-thru also will be set up for those needing to pick up orders to go.

Call-in orders will be accepted through Thursday morning. To place an advance order for the drive-thru, call Cartmell Home at 903-727-8500.

Pictured is Mertie Patton showing off a fish she caught during a previous Let's Go Fishin' event.

Here are links to the Herald-Press election coverage stories:

• City of Palestine mayoral election ends in runoff, two other races decided (also results in City of Elkhart and City of Frankston elections)
• Palestine ISD bond passes, one school board race decided
• Elkhart ISD school bond passes, two school board races - one ends in runoff
• Leon County votes for ambulance service

The Relay for Life committee is in search of someone to sing the National Anthem at Relay on June 12 at the Relay for Life event at Westwood's Panther Stadium. Auditions will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 16 at the Reagan Park Gazebo.

The committee also is in need of volunteers for the night of Relay to help with things such as registering survivors, serving the survivor dinner, and much more. All volunteers will receive a t-shirt. Anyone interested can contact Relay for Life Event Chair Sarah McDonald at 903-724-4178.

Relay for Life benefits the American Cancer Society. For more information, visit www.relayforlife.org/andersoncotx

A few videos from the Farm & Ranch News publication — the first is Jan Ott of Mixon, Texas turning Angora fiber into yarn. The second is artisans hand braiding lace. This took place at the recent folk life festival at Mission Tejas State Park.

Here are two photos from the Neches Heritage Day festival in Neches on Saturday, May 2.

First, the Cherokee Cloggers perform to "Mama Mia." The second video is the Ponderosa band from Jacksonville performing.