The ETX Common Thread
By Robin Gamble The ETX Common Thread is a crochet/knitting group created by Ijeoma “EJ” Unegbu. She began this group in September 2023 as a way to build women up. Today, the group has grown to about 125 members. This is an East Texas group for anyone age 18 and above who knits or crochets. […]
Emergency Planning Committee Meeting
The Smith County Local Emergency Planning Committee held its quarterly meeting on Friday, June 5. The Smith County Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) recently held its quarterly meeting, bringing together emergency response agencies from across the East Texas region to discuss disaster preparedness and response efforts. Guest speaker Mike Jones, Director of the Hays County […]
ETX Bell Now Looking for Contributors
Dear ETX Bell Community, The Bell is currently seeking contributors to help cover local news across East Texas, including city council and school board meetings, sporting events, community happenings, and feature stories. We are especially looking for contributors in the Smith County area, including Arp, Bullard, Whitehouse, Troup, and Frankston. If you’re passionate about your […]
East Texas Annual and Perennial Trial
Greg Grant (6-21-26) Every June, when the days stretch long and the heat settles in for good, I start thinking about the plants that can truly take an East Texas summer. Not the pampered ones that wilt at the first hint of stress, but the sturdy, colorful, dependable performers that keep blooming long after the […]
Thank You, Dr. Welch
Greg Grant (6-28-26) Dr. William C. Welch was one of those rare individuals whose influence continues to grow long after the person is gone. With his passing on June 8, 2026, those of us fortunate enough to know him lost a friend and a mentor, but his legacy lives on abundantly in the landscapes, libraries, […]
Ecological Gardening Seminar
Greg Grant (6-14-26) East Texans who enjoy gardening and the wildlife that flit through their landscapes will have a chance to learn how to support both at the upcoming Earth-Kind Summer Garden Series program, Ecological Gardening, on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the Cotton Belt Building on West Front Street […]
6-7-26, Doodlebugs
Doodling Around Greg Grant (6-7-26) Every now and then a small, ordinary critter carries you straight back to childhood. For me, nothing does it faster than a doodlebug. Long before I knew the name “ant lion” or understood anything about entomology and insect life cycles, I knew the joy of crouching in the sand, piddling […]
Frankston Garden Club Thanks Community for Support
The Frankston Garden Club is expressing its appreciation to everyone who helped make its annual garden tour a success. Club members thanked sponsors, donors, ticket purchasers, raffle participants, and community members who attended the event held on May 16. Organizers also offered special recognition to the homeowners who opened their gardens and yards for visitors […]