Sports

Virginia's Glen Mayhew is founding president of the Tree Stand Safety Awareness Foundation. Mayhew has been pushing the message of tree stand hunting safety for years now with the help of numerous representatives throughout the hunting industry and outdoors media. Photo Courtesy TSSA

Virginia's Glen Mayhew is founding president of the Tree Stand Safety Awareness Foundation. Mayhew has been pushing the message of tree stand hunting safety for years now with the help of numerous representatives throughout the hunting industry and outdoors media. Photo Courtesy TSSA

HUNTING SMART

Matt Williams Outdoors Writer
Thursday, September 18, 2025
There is a powerful video on the Tree Stand Safety Awareness Foundation Facebook page that every big game hunter needs to see. More importantly, they should let the obvious message soak in. The video sends a convincing illustration to show how quickly things can go awry when hunting above ground.
Amarion Wilson, no. 6, makes a cut toward the hole as the Ram offensive opens up a running lane for him. Kelsi Wood | JHS

Amarion Wilson, no. 6, makes a cut toward the hole as the Ram offensive opens up a running lane for him. Kelsi Wood | JHS

Bears to face Wolfe City in Week 5 tilt

News Staff
Thursday, September 18, 2025
After game three of the 2025 season, the Bears will have a bye week before traveling to Tyler Grace to take on the Wolfe City Wolves.This past week the Bears came up short, falling to Palestine Westwood by a score of 49-28, resulting in a 1-2 record.
Center High School’s cheerleaders work the sidelines to stir up school spirit during last week’s big win over Spring Hill. David Danley | Light and Champion

Center High School’s cheerleaders work the sidelines to stir up school spirit during last week’s big win over Spring Hill. David Danley | Light and Champion

Timpson vs. Westwood Preview

News Staff
Thursday, September 11, 2025
Looking for another win, this week the Bears will make their way to Westwood Panther Stadium. The Palestine Westwood Panthers are currently 2-0 this 2025 season, sweeping Mexia with a score of 54-14 in game 1 and San Augustine with a score of 42-28 in game 2.
The author’s dog nearly got into serious trouble in July 2004 when he followed his nose to a mature black bear in the New Mexico high country. The dog’s escape route led the angry bear straight back to its owner. Slug-Go is pictured here at 13, shortly before he died of of cancer in 2010. Photo by Matt Williams

The author’s dog nearly got into serious trouble in July 2004 when he followed his nose to a mature black bear in the New Mexico high country. The dog’s escape route led the angry bear straight back to its owner. Slug-Go is pictured here at 13, shortly before he died of of cancer in 2010. Photo by Matt Williams

East Texas black bear sightings bring back memories of close encounter in New Mexico high country

Matt Williams Outdoors Writer
Thursday, September 4, 2025
All of this recent chatter about black bear sightings in several East Texas counties took me down memory lane to one of the most spooky moments I have ever experienced in the wild.Some valuable lessons were learned that morning.
Shelbyville kicks off 2025 falls sports season

Shelbyville kicks off 2025 falls sports season

Shelbyville kicks off 2025 falls sports season

News Staff
Thursday, September 4, 2025
Shelbyville High School kicked off its 2025 fall sports season Aug. 26 with its JV and varsity volleyball teams facing Timpson, coming up on the short end, losing to the Bears in a four set match.
TPWD says mourning dove popu - lations are in great shape as the Texas season opener approaches on Sept. 1. Texas’ mourning dove population is estimated at around 36 million - up five percent from last year and on par with the high - est estimates seen since surveys started 18 years ago. TPWD Photo

TPWD says mourning dove popu - lations are in great shape as the Texas season opener approaches on Sept. 1. Texas’ mourning dove population is estimated at around 36 million - up five percent from last year and on par with the high - est estimates seen since surveys started 18 years ago. TPWD Photo

2025-26 DOVE OUTLOOK

Matt Williams Outdoors Writer
Thursday, August 28, 2025
The 2025-26 Texas dove season is set to open at 30 minutes before sunrise on Sept. 1 (Labor Day Monday) in the North and Central hunting zones. Owen Fitzsimmons is saying it’s going to be a good one.
William Oliver of Chandler (right) specializes in putting clients on whopper flathead catfish using a rod and reel. Oliver launched a unique recapture rate tagging study in 2022 that has since yielded some interesting results. He currently has nearly 850 flatheads ranging 12-75 pounds in lakes Tyler and Palestine. Photo Courtesy of William Oliver

William Oliver of Chandler (right) specializes in putting clients on whopper flathead catfish using a rod and reel. Oliver launched a unique recapture rate tagging study in 2022 that has since yielded some interesting results. He currently has nearly 850 flatheads ranging 12-75 pounds in lakes Tyler and Palestine. Photo Courtesy of William Oliver

KING CATS

Matt Williams Outdoors Writer
Thursday, August 21, 2025
William Oliver loves the big bite.Oliver is a 39-year-old multi-species fishing guide from Chandler.
Caden Wilson with the 10.05 largemouth bass he boated on July 31 at Bois d’Arc Lake. Pending certification by TPWD, the fish will be the official junior angler lake record. Photo courtesy Jason Conn | Light and Champion

Caden Wilson with the 10.05 largemouth bass he boated on July 31 at Bois d’Arc Lake. Pending certification by TPWD, the fish will be the official junior angler lake record. Photo courtesy Jason Conn | Light and Champion

Junior angler record pending at Bois d’ Arc

Matt Williams Outdoors Writer
Thursday, August 14, 2025
Caden Wilson of Lannius caught a 10.05 pound largemouth bass on July 31 at Bois d’ Arc Lake that is a pending junior angler lake record for the 16,600-acre Fannin County reservoir.
Shelbyville baseball teams excel in season finales

Shelbyville baseball teams excel in season finales

Shelbyville baseball teams excel in season finales

News Staff
Thursday, August 14, 2025
The Shelbyville 12U boys placed in the top six at the World Series held in South Carolina out of 800-plus teams that started playing at the district level.The Shelbyville 6U Coach Pitch team placed 3rd in the World Series held in Dunn, N.C.
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