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 […]
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 […]
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, […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
The Frankston Garden Club recently earned four awards while attending the District 3 Workshop and Meeting in Lufkin. Several club members represented Frankston at the event, where garden clubs from across the district gathered for educational sessions, networking opportunities, and recognition of outstanding achievements. Club members celebrated receiving four awards during the meeting, a reflection […]
Frankston ISD has announced summer operating hours for its weight room, which will remain in effect through July 31. The facility will be open on weekdays from 5:30 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. and again from 4:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Weekend hours will be 5:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. The district also reminded users to […]
June 16, 2026 Amy Pawlak Bullard ISD Public Relations Coordinator 903.894.6639 PRESS RELEASE Sergio Olivares named head band director for Bullard Panther Band Bullard – Bullard ISD is pleased to announce Sergio Olivares as the new head band director for the Bullard Panther Band. Mr. Olivares, who currently serves as an assistant band director in […]
BULLARD, Texas — For the family behind 1847 Farm and Ranch, preserving nearly 180 years of history requires more than maintaining the property. It requires finding new ways to keep the operation financially sustainable for future generations. The ranch, which has remained in the same family since 1847, is currently operated by a sixth-generation family […]