Isn’t this cool weather wonderful? A great time to grab a few minutes to curl up with a really good book. The Mineola Memorial Library is part of two book clubs. One is the East Texas Library … more

Things are flourishing and lovely inside the picket fence I write about. Outside the picket fence is another story altogether. As a peace-loving “Yankee,” a woman who grew up in the suburbs of … more

Medicare’s “Compare” websites have helped millions of Americans find the right nursing home, hospital or home health care agency for themselves or their families. Now, a new Medicare online … more

Thursday morning and I’ve made my traditional first of school trip to the Mineola Primary School to see the smiling teachers and crying mommies and daddies. (I’m not making fun – I was there … more

Those school bells will be ringing in just a few days and summer will be but a memory for students and staff at all of our local school districts. Doris Newman and I will no doubt be out at the … more

It escapes me how a Baptist girl growing up in East Texas managed to not go to church camp, but somehow I managed to. There were some youth trips and GMA (Girls Missionary Auxiliary) events with … more

Life is full of firsts. For instance, this past Sunday while at the office working on the final touches of a story, I somehow lost a tooth from my already false teeth. This particular tooth had … more

(Editor’s note – Suzanne Bardwell is co-owner with her husband Jim of the Gladewater Mirror and a retired teacher of 33 years.) I have spilled barrels of ink in columns on the joys of being a … more

I firmly believe if we can’t laugh at ourselves we are missing lots of opportunities for merriment. Besides, it’s much nicer to laugh at one’s self than at others. Though I have to say, … more

I know it’s hard to believe, but high school football is upon us. Why? Dave Campbell’s Texas Football Magazine hit the newsstand last week. The “Bible of Texas high school football” as it is … more