When Something Feels Off
The following opinion article is not representative of the ETX Bell organization, it’s leadership, or it’s staff and has been sourced from outside the company. William Shakespeare coined the phrase “Something is rotten in the state of Denmark” which has become a euphemism of when you “feel” something is wrong, but you have no evidence.There […]
Bullard ISD opens new Bullard Middle School for spring semester
Bullard, TX — Bullard Independent School District is proud to announce the completion of the new Bullard Middle School campus, a major milestone in the district’s ongoing commitment to providing exceptional learning environments for students. District and campus staff welcomed 7th- and 8th-grade students into the new building on January 7, 2026, as the spring […]
Looking Back, Looking Ahead
Before I ever started the ETX Bell, I spent time sitting down with leaders across our communities, pastors, business owners, city officials, educators, and longtime residents, asking a simple but uncomfortable question. Does starting a local newspaper in this area, in 2025, actually make sense? I had read the data. I had heard the studies. […]
Whats Closed on Martin Luther King’s Birthday?
Martin Luther King Jr. Day Closures Monday, January 19, 2026 In observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, several government offices, schools, and public services across the Tyler area will be closed on Monday, January 19, 2026. Government Offices Federal government offices State of Texas offices Smith County non-emergency offices City of Tyler offices City […]
Monte’s
By Robin McPherson Gamble Monte’s is a family-oriented music hall located just down the road in Brownsboro, Texas. This establishment is the brainchild of Monte Bragg and his wife, Gaynell. Bragg said, “I built this place so families would have somewhere to go to have good, clean fun.” “There is no drinking, no fighting, and […]
Pickin’ Parlor
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo. Live, local music is easy to find in the ETX area and not just on weekends. So many talented musicians live and work around us. One such venue is just down the road in Frankston. Every Monday […]
Dot’s Place
By Robin McPherson Gamble Brownsboro hosts live, local, family-oriented music at Dot’s Place, a local restaurant. Dot’s has an open mic night every Tuesday from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. Pizza, burgers, and more draw people in and have the parking lot overflowing. There are always a variety of musicians and people who don’t play but […]
Holiday in The Country
Gracie Vallejos Holiday in the country Monday night, the city of Troup gathered together for a merry and bright annual celebration. Creating relationships between neighbors, friends and local small businesses. At 6pm the star was lit on the large Christmas outside of Cameron-J Jarvis Troup Municipal Library. Many organizations did free drawings, giving away fun […]