A Tatum ISD bus was involved in an accident this morning. Stay tuned for details!

Click here for CARTHAGE FOOTBALL!

Click here for TATUM FOOTBALL!

Click here for the CARTHAGE BULLDOGS Media Day!

Click here to watch KGAS' annual video of Meet the Coaches!

Click here to watch the Battlin' Bulldog Band as they present their Snap Competition!

Congratulations to Harrison County Extension Agent Matt Garrett! Garrett is the first-place winner in the Audio Recording category at the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Communication Awards Ceremony. He has won the contest two years in a row. You can hear this award-winning program on KMHT every Tuesday during the 6 a.m., Noon, and 5 p.m. news hours and every Thursday morning on KGAS 104.3 FM.

Our Extension team is also bringing home:

1st Place in Website Online Content (Facebook)

2nd place Event Promotional Package

2nd place Published Photo

3rd place Computer Generated Presentation

The Texas Department of Emergency Management asks that all individuals with damage from Hurricane Beryl go to this link to report those damages!

The Workforce Commission with the help of the Panola County Chamber of Commerce, organized a Childcare in the Workforce meeting which was held Thursday, July 25.
With over 25 in attendance, the discussion was informal and included topics of childcare resources found in continuing education, industry leaders utilizing childcare in their communities for employees, and others.
Click the link below to watch and listen as Keri Perot-Vance kicks off the meeting with a welcome!

Carthage ISD is hosting their 18th Annual Football Camp!

This camp invites all incoming 5th-9th graders to spend two days with the high school coaches learning new skills, for offense and defense!

Your camper needs to bring cleats (if available), but no metal cleats!

The camp will be from 8:30-11:30 August 1-2.
Camp will be held at the Carthage Multi-Purpose Building!

Registration ends August 1, so sign up today!

A Special Farmer's Market is coming to Panola County!

If you missed out on locally made and grown goodies during the early summer Farmer's Market, this is your chance to grab some of that produce before the summer ends.

This Special Farmer's Market will be Saturday, August 10 beginning at 8:00 AM. During your visit to the Farmer's Market, you can also stop by the Texas County Music Hall of Fame for a museum tour and to listen to KGAS' Tex Ritter Round Up competition which begins at 10:00 AM.

If you would like to become a produce vendor, farmers market vendors, or craft vendor for the Special Farmer's Market, contact the Panola County Chamber of Commerce today!


The map below shows where the Farmer's Market will be located, which is behind the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame!

Carthage, TX will have many visitors come into town for the big weekend, so make sure you plan to stop by the Special Farmer's Market early to take advantage of the vendor's items!

The identification of Access to Childcare as a significant barrier to our local workforce highlights a critical issue that demands attention. This meeting aims. to establish a resource network and initiate discussions on developing solutions led by our community. Childcare centers in Panola County could potentially qualiy for available funding, presenting a valuable opportunity to address this pressing need effectively.

Attendees: Childcare Centers, Community Stakeholders, Local Leaders, ISDs, and Employers looking to partner to better serve their talent.

This meeting is July 25th at 1:00 PM in the Murphy Payne Community Room on the campus of Panola College.

Carthage ISD Guardians Participate in Intensive Situational Training

Last week, Carthage Independent School District guardians participated in an intensive training session provided by Freedom Defense Training. The Guardian Program, which began in Carthage in 2014, allows designated and trained school employees to carry a concealed firearm and act as a first line of defense until law enforcement arrives in the event of an active threat situation.

Superintendent Jarrod Bitter emphasized the role of the guardians, stating, "Our guardians are not a replacement for law enforcement. They are trained to respond immediately if a threat occurs, then follow law enforcement's lead and assist once they arrive on campus."

Guardians in Carthage ISD must complete extensive training to ensure they are prepared for any potential threats. This comprehensive training program includes:

Initial training: Guardians receive in-depth training on firearm use, safety protocols, and emergency response tactics. This training is conducted by certified professionals to ensure the highest standards of competency.

Range qualification: To maintain their status, guardians are required to qualify at the shooting range three times per year. This ensures they remain proficient with their firearms and are capable of responding effectively under pressure.

Situational training: In addition to regular range qualifications, guardians participate in situational training scenarios provided by the district. These sessions simulate various high-pressure situations that could occur on campus, allowing guardians to practice and refine their response strategies.

Darrin Peeples, Director of Safety and Security for the district, highlighted the quality of the training, saying, "The situational training scenarios provided by Freedom Defense Training were extremely realistic. Our staff experienced various high-pressure situations that could potentially occur, which has greatly enhanced their preparedness and confidence."

The commitment to safety and preparedness demonstrated by Carthage ISD through the continued investment in the Guardian Program exemplifies the district's dedication to creating a safe and secure learning environment for all students and staff.

Photo attached: Carthage ISD Director of Safety and Security Darrin Peeples, Freedom Defense Training Owner Ray Barron, Carthage ISD Superintendent Jarrod Bitter

Panola College is gearing up for Fall 2024!

Classes will begin August 20, 2024. Stop by the admissions office to register or give them a call at 903-693-2038. You can also email admissions@panola.edu for more information.
Visit panola.edu and click on the admission's tab to learn more and apply online!
Enrollment ends August 19th!

Students who are moving onto campus will have their annual Move In Day August 17th!
If your organization would like to volunteer, reach out to residence life coordinator, Katy Chance, by calling 903-693-1176 or emailing kchance@panola.edu.
This is one of the most exciting and emotional days of the year!

Enrollment at Panola College is on a great track for a tremendous academic year! Currently enrollment is up from this time last year by 19% for the current Summer II courses, and it's at a 6% increase from last year for Fall.

Enroll now for Panola College!

Regular enrollment ends 8/19/2024
Late registration closes 8/26/2024

Friday, July 12, Panola County Chamber of Commerce welcomed a new member! Southern Co, located at 114 East Sabine inside Salon Bliss on the square in downtown Carthage, houses little boy and little girl clothes, they also have women's clothing from S to 3X!

Welcome to the Chamber!

The Panola County Lion's Club met Thursday, July 11.

Within their regularly scheduled meeting, the Lions held a vote for their 2025 officers.

Elected as In-President for the next session is Bud Worley.
Out-President is Dustin Burns.

Among the awards given were Dr. Wayne Kyle, who was given a Lifetime Membership to the Lions International!

Next Session's Officers are:
Secretary/Treasurer - Dr. Ben Donald
President - Bud Worley
2nd Vice President - Jody Harris
Lion Tamer - Garrett Harvey
3rd Vice President - Kevin Otto
Not pictured: Sheriff Cutter Clinton will serve as the Lion's Tail Twister

Next Session's Board of Directors:
Dustin Burns
Mark Harris - Emcee
Doug McPhail
Will Blackwell
Josh Burns
Jarrod Bitter

Congratulations to the Panola County Lions for another successful year!