Before appearing on NBC's summer reality show America's Got Talent, Pam Martin and Viva did their "dog dancing" act for BARC, The Humane Society's fund-raiser back in March. In fact, you can watch the videos we took on the Herald-Press YouTube page.




Good luck to Pam and Viva! We will be rooting for you!

Do you remember the little girl Gwendolyn Strong who visited Palestine with her parents to raise awareness for SMA (Spinal Muscular Atrophy)?

My first story about this amazing family can be read here.

Upon arrival in Palestine, they visited the Texas State Railroad for a special media event.

Making the family's journey extra special, while visiting Gwendolyn's great-grandfather 104-year-old Harry Gillespie (a Palestine native) in Mississippi, Palestine Mayor Bob Herrington made a surprise visit to recognize Gillespie for his connections to Palestine.

It's nice to know the family is back home. We are happy to hear that their journey of love raised more than $40,000 for the Gwendolyn Strong Foundation to find a cure for SMA.

Image from www.gwendolynstrong.com

Want to watch the Palestine Community Theatre's production of "Beauty and the Beast"?

Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. are the last three performances of this show. Tickets are on sale at Education Unlimited on Crockett Road, the Palestine Area Chamber of Commerce on Main Street in downtown Palestine, and, if you’re lucky, at the door of the Texas Theater on play nights at 217 W. Crawford St. in downtown Palestine.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $6 for children in advance.

Here is a video from CBS 19 promoting the Great Texas Balloon Race which continues through Sunday in Longview.

Click here for the Great Texas Balloon Race schedule.

Here is a video from CBS 19 about the rise of snake bites due to the hot, dry weather.

I'm not a fan of snakes. How 'bout you?

These photos of Palestine's firework show were submitted by local resident Ann Mottern.

Here are some photos from the Fourth of July Children's Parade Saturday in Palestine (taken by Herald-Press News Editor Beth Foley).

More photos can be found on the Herald-Press Photo Gallery.

Here are a few photos taken at the DAV/BARC, The Humane Society's Fourth of July Celebration at Dogwood Trails Assisted Living. (Photos from Tammy Campos).

During the Pet Contest, Most Patriotic Dog award was presented to Junior, a 7 month old Chihuahua owned by Sheridan Whiteside (pictured with Dru Whiteside)

Jane Davis holds Bella (11-month-old Yorkie) owned by Herman and JoAnn Morton
Bella won 2nd place Best Beard.

Pam Smith demonstrates Domino's jumping abilities.

1-and-a-1/2-year-old Jager Hammans poses with Honey (owned by the Campos family). Honey provided entertainment (via a variety of doggie tricks) for the crowd.

More photos from this event can be found on the Herald-Press Photo Gallery.

Happy Fourth of July!

Here are some photos taken by local photographer Tammy Campos at the Fourth of July celebration at Dogwood Trails Assisted Living.

A fund-raiser also was held to raise funds for a much-needed van to transport local veterans to the VA hospital.

BARC, The Humane Society was on hand hosting a Pet Contest. More photos from this event can be viewed at the Herald-Press Photo Gallery.

Happy Independence Day!

If you've been following the Strong family's 5,000 mile journey for a cure from Santa Barbara, California cross country (including a stop in Palestine on Tuesday), you'll be happy to know that they made it to Mississippi where Gwendolyn's great-grandfather (former Palestine resident) Harry Gillespie lives.



The Strongs wrote a very nice blog post about acts of kindness in Palestine which is worth reading. Thank you Victoria and Bill for your kind words! I'm glad East Texas treated your family so nicely! Writing stories like this really make my job worthwhile.

Click here to listen to KYYK 98.3's Gary Richards interviewing Bill Strong about their journey and visit to Palestine.

While stopping in Palestine during their 5,000 mile journey across several states spreading awareness for SMA (Skeletal Muscular Dystrophy), Santa Barbara, California residents Bill and Victoria Strong took a few photos.

The Strong family has done this on their blog in "Where is Gwendolyn Now?" segments several times. Usually their 20-month-old daughter Gwendolyn (who suffers from SMA) is in the segments, but she was sleeping, so Big Bird and Elmo helped her out!

As of Wednesday, the Strong family was in Mississippi, which means they will be meeting with Victoria's 104-year-old grandfather Harry Gillespie (former Palestine resident) pretty soon! He is going to meet his great-granddaughter Gwendolyn for the first time ever!

Here's a photo of former Palestine resident Harry Gillespie:

Want to Sponsor-a-Mile to End SMA? Click here to learn how.

CBS 19 also was at the Texas State Railroad Palestine Depot on Tuesday for the Strong family's media event to raise awareness of the No. 1 genetic killer of children, SMA (Skeletal Muscular Atrophy). Their 20-month-old daughter Gwendolyn suffers from SMA. The family is currently on a 5,000 mile tour which started in their hometown of Santa Barbara, California to raise awareness for SMA.

Here's her story (click the blog title above to see the video):



You can follow Gwendolyn's journey at gwendolynstrong.com

KLTV interviewed the Strong family when they stopped at the Texas State Railroad Palestine Depot for a media event on Tuesday to promote awareness of SMA (Spinal Muscular Atrophy).

Click the blog title above for the video to show: