On the Line

Here's a taste of "Tune In Texarkana," a new podcast from the Gazette's Starbear Studio focused on local musicians. From Episode 1, BIG$ NovaGawd performs "You Vogue, I Meditate." The podcast's monthly episodes will feature host Erin DeBlanc interviewing artists across the spectrum of the Texarkana music scene, and each will include performances recorded live. "My vision for the podcast is to be able to give local artists a platform to share their music with a large audience. There are many talented musicians in Texarkana that many of us are unaware of, and having this podcast, thanks to the Texarkana Gazette, enables them to share their creativity and hard work with more people than they would entertain at a local venue," DeBlanc said. To listen to "Tune In Texarkana," search for and follow the show on your favorite podcast app. You can also listen at tuneintxk.castos.com or texarkanagazette.com/podcast. ...

Texarkana native Chris LeGrand created Satisfaction: The International Rolling Stones Tribute Show more than 20 years ago. The show has grown into a full-time business for LeGrand, who portrays Stones frontman Mick Jagger. A performance Friday, June 17, at Texarkana's Perot Theatre is one of hundreds Satisfaction will stage this year. He and host Karl Richter talked about how Satisfaction got started, how the group keeps its tribute authentic, life on tour and more. ...

After last week's mass shooting of elementary school students in Uvalde, Texas, we wanted to talk with someone familiar with childhood trauma who could speak to what the survivors in Uvalde are going through. Cindy Thomas is a licensed professional counselor who has specialized in working with children for more than 20 years. She currently works for a local school district, and as you will hear, she has a keen understanding of how trauma affects children and how to help them. LOCAL RESOURCES: COUNSELING SERVICES Behavioral Medicine Center 1902 Galleria Oaks Dr Texarkana, TX 75503 903-614-3800   Betty J Feir PC & Associates 5501 Medical Parkway Texarkana, TX 75503 903-793-8588   Community Healthcore 1911 Galleria Oaks Drive Texarkana, TX 75503 1-800-4-INTAKE 903-792-0308   CASA of NE Texas 1201 Main St Texarkana, TX 75501 903-792-1030   Texarkana Children’s Advocacy Center 1203 Main St Texarkana, TX 75501 903-792-2215   Chenal Counseling 1305 Arkansas Blvd., Suite Texarkana, AR 71854 870-340-2636   Genesis Primecare Tammy Crawford 4323 Jefferson Ave Texarkana, AR 71854 870-773-0700   Elizabeth McCauley 4140 McKnight Road Texarkana, TX 75503 903-824-5548   Olive Tree Counseling 3930 Galleria Oaks Dr Texarkana, TX 75503 903-336-3484   Serendipity Wellness Center Robert Strayhan, MD 1732 Galleria Oaks Dr Texarkana, TX 75503 903-764-1636   Southwest Arkansas Counseling Dorcas I Adepoju, MD 2904 Arkansas Blvd Texarkana, AR 71854 870-773-4655   Summerhill Counseling Center 4091 Summerhill Rd Texarkana, TX 75503 903-792-8887   PSYCHIATRY/MEDICATION MANAGEMENT ...

Texarkana native Catt Dahman is a creative force of nature, with more than 60 novels to her name. She works mostly in the horror genre, and that passion has led her to a new endeavor: movies. In the tradition of filmmakers such as Roger Corman and our own Charles B. Pierce, Catt is busy writing, producing and directing horror movies that have much bigger stories than budgets. The latest is a modern, fictional take on Texarkana's Phantom Killer called “Sundown.” She and host Karl Richter talked about the movie, her path to becoming a director and her other endeavors, including advocating for prison reform. LINKS Ren Says Films Catt Dahman official website On the Line on Twitter ...

As executive director and CEO of TexAmericas Center, Scott Norton oversees one of the Texarkana region's most important economic assets. That proved in January, when the Gazette broke the news that an ammunition plant employing 400 people will soon begin operations at the Center. It was the perfect opportunity to catch up with Scott about some recent developments at TexAmericas Center, and what the future holds there. This episode first aired Jan. 25, 2022. ...

When Houston-area technology professional Benny Prince began researching his Ark-La-Tex roots, he had no idea he would meet a character literally larger than life. James Wesley “Big Jim” Patterson, Prince’s great uncle, stood out in the family story as much as his reported 8 foot, 4 inch height stood out among residents of Bloomburg, Texas, where he died on Halloween 1920. A trove of heirloom documents, including rare vintage photos, told Prince the tale of Patterson’s life as a circus sideshow performer, businessman and member of a family that played an important role in the history of Cass County. Now Prince is working on a book about Big Jim and hopes someone out there can tell him even more about the giant billed by Sells Brothers Circus as “The World’s Tallest Man.” This episode was first released Sept. 26, 2021. LINKS Kickstarter: "Out of the Borderlands into the Big Top," by Benny E. Prince Email Benny Prince ...