While working on contest entries for the Associated Press Managing Editors competition for newspapers, I did a search on the Palestine Herald-Press website for stories I had written in 2009. At the time, I didn't think I had very many stories "worthy" of the contest, but upon looking back, I came up with a few gems (in my opinion).

Now, it necessarily wasn't my writing that made these stories special to me, but more the subject matter I was given to write about. These are stories that truly touched my heart. Click the links below to read the stories.



Here's a look at my favorite stories I wrote in 2009 that I am especially proud of:

• “Journey for a Cure” — This is a story about a California family (Bill and Victoria Strong) stopping in Palestine, Texas on their 5,000 mile journey across the country to raise awareness for Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) which has crippled their 20-month-old daughter Gwendolyn. The family details the extensive care necessary just to keep their daughter alive while informing the public about this devastating illness. Before the end of the journey, the family introduced their daughter for the first time to her 104-year-old grandfather in Mississippi (a Palestine native).

• “Every 15 Minutes” — This is a feature about the "Every 15 Minutes" program designed to teach teens about the dangers of drunk driving. Using an intense, interactive “mock accident scene” and sobering program Every 15 Minutes stresses the shocking statistics that one teen dies in the United States every 15 minutes due to an alcohol-related wreck.



• “Keeping Hope Alive” — This is the story about a woman who has not given up hope despite the fact that her 19-year-old son has been missing for four years. After the case turned cold, this mother committed herself and her efforts to reopen the investigation into her son's disappearance.

• “Birdwell Talks About Surviving Pentagon Attack on 9/11” — This story is a feature on Lt. Col. (Ret.) Brian Birdwell, who spoke to the Palestine Independent School District faculty about his horrific experience during the attack on the Pentagon on 9/11. Birdwell was in the Pentagon when the plane crashed into the building. In his speech,the visibly scarred veteran describes his emotions then and now. Birdwell endured 39 operations over a four-year period for the burns he received on that day. He and his wife founded Face the Fire Ministries Inc., which was established to assist burn survivors and wounded servicemen and women and their families.

• “Competition helps woman find strength to battle cancer” — This is a story about Mimi Burch, a woman who drew strength from her horse-riding competition to get her through the darkest days of her breast cancer treatments. A week after finishing her radiation therapy, Burch competed in a five-state competition not expecting to win, but to show that she wasn't going to let cancer take over her life. She won the competition.

Courtesy Photo: Bill and Victoria Strong try to cherish every moment they have with their daughter Gwendolyn, who suffers from SMA, Spinal Muscular Atrophy. Gwendolyn turned 2 years old in October, a major milestone for a child with SMA. Keep updated about the Strong Family on the GwendolynStrong.com website.

—— Cheril Vernon, Community Editor, Palestine Herald-Press

I am happy to report that the Yorkie named Teddy lost on CR 404 is safely back at home!

I had mentioned the little dog in a blog post about the Lost Tails website which posts photos of lost and found pets in the area.

With the help of some family friends, the owners found the little Yorkie stuck in some brush way back on their property. Besides being dirty, hungry and thirsty, the Yorkie is doing fine! This is a miracle because the dog had been gone for a few days and could have easily have been a target for a larger animal.

If you have ever had to scour the neighborhood looking for a lost pet, you know the horrible feeling of not being able to find your beloved pet. This happens every day in Palestine.

While putting up signs, calling and visiting the animal shelter and looking for your pet are the best things you can do, Palestine also has a fairly new website for lost and found pets.

This website Lost Tails posts pictures and information about missing and found pets in the Palestine area.

The idea is that if you find a pet, you can check this website to see if someone is looking for it, cutting down the time this pet has to spend without his/her family, especially before this pet is taken to the animal shelter. And if your pet goes missing, this website will provide you a place to post a picture and information that may help someone identify a pet they see that appears to be lost.

This Yorkie is the newest missing pet on the Lost Tails website, posted today. This adorable dog disappeared from his home on County Road 404, close to CR 403. Please call Joyce at 903-729-1521 if you see him.

On the "found" side, there is a cute Pug that was found on Jan. 1 on Loop 256 near the Aramadillo store. Maybe you know where this pet lives.


Be sure to visit Lost Tails often to see if you recognize any pets on the site. Some of these pets have medical conditions and need to be returned to home for proper care.

It's that time of the year when were are waiting for our W-2s to see if we are going to pay Uncle Sam or get money back on our taxes this year.

In Palestine, AARP Tax-Aide volunteers will be offering free tax return preparation starting Feb. 3 in Palestine.

AARP Tax-Aide volunteers will be available on Wednesdays and Fridays, Feb. 3 through April 14, at the Meals on Wheel of Palestine Senior Activity Center, 200 N. Church St.

All low- and medium-income taxpayers are welcome to participate in the free service.

Those wanting help should bring their 2008 tax return, all W2s and 1099s as well as Social Security and ITIN cards for each member of the family.