2025 Year in Review

The Journal-Sun has done its best to be the informational resource and historical record for Cass County in 2025. Every year we take a few minutes to look back at the biggest stories of the year prior.

This is part two of Year in Review as we look back through events from July through Dec. of 2025.

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The Little Rock FAA Safety Team (FAASTeam), in partnership with Texarkana College’s Aviation Technology program, hosted a special ceremony to present the esteemed Wright Brothers Master Pilot and Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Awards.

The six Cass County recipients were joined by family, friends and a whole squadron of other folks.

The Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award honors pilots with 50 or more years of piloting experience or combined expertise in piloting and aircraft operations.

Recipients of the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award were Jim Collom, Randy Williams, Tevis Pappas, Gary Walker and Jerry Browning.

The Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award recognizes senior mechanics with 50 or more years of civil and military maintenance experience.

Recipients of the Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award were Jim Collom, Randy Williams and Perry Hodgson.

Wal-Mart hosted its grand reopening after months of facade changes and indoor construction.

Two stores in downtown Atlanta moved locations in June. Terri’s Treasures and the Cobblestone Boutique made some changes over last summer as they moved locations.

Cobblestone moved directly across the street into the old Imagination Movie Store building and Terri’s moved into the building Cobblestone vacated.

Vincent Wong was recently chosen to the Texas Association of Secondary School Principals (TASSP) All- State Academic Excellence Team. He was also chosen as one of only five students in the state for the TASSP Teens Serving Texas Award. Each award comes with a $500 unrestricted scholarship. Vincent was presented both awards at the TASSP Summer Conference held at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas.

Thanks to a ruling by the Texas Water Development

Board, water planners in Region D (Northeast Texas) and Region C (DFW area) headed to mediation to try and resolve the decades long conflict over the proposed Marvin Nichols Reservoir.

The Linden Lions Club hosted its annual Installment Banquet on June 26 with former District Governor Sheila Donnelly on hand to distribute awards, install new officers and present gifts.

Lion Jack Crawford earned the Tom Lanier Lion of the Year Award and Lion President Bill Thomas was given a recognition and appreciation plaque for his time as the Linden Lions Club president. Lion Suzanne Phillips, the incoming Linden Lions Club president, presented Lion Bill with a beautiful plaque and gave a closing speech.

Lucky U Rescue, a 501(c)(3) foster-based animal rescue and the only organization of its kind in the area, is excited to announce a new crowdfunding campaign on GoFundMe to fund the construction of a dedicated animal shelter.

With land already purchased and paid for, founder and Executive Director Lindsay Robbins is rallying community support to build a facility that will serve as a haven for stray dogs and cats, rescuing them from the streets and rural dumping areas of both Bowie and Cass counties.

Stephanie Fannin of Karnack is facing an intoxication manslaughter charge after she failed to negotiate a curve, ran into a tree line and her passenger died from his injuries.

Her passenger, Matthew Sherman of Linden, died at the scene on State Highway 8 in Bowie County on June 29.

Pattersons Pest Patrol hosted a ribbon cutting last Saturday morning as owner Sheila Patterson Dotson and staff christened the new office location located at 1005 US Highway 59 in Queen City.

Business owner and community leader Chris Spencer announced his campaign for Texas House District 1, starting with more than $100k in the bank and endorsements from conservative leaders across the district.

Taureaus Maxwell,

who was found guilty by a Cass County jury of sexual misconduct with male students in August of 2024, had his appeal for a new trial denied.

The Foundation for H.O.P.E. in Linden

hosted its 4th annual Back 2 School Bash last Saturday on the Linden- Kildare Elementary campus and it was a resounding success.

Through the hard work of team members and volunteers, 202 backpacks filled with school supplies were handed out.

While conducting a traffic stop on a 2007 Dodge Charger for a traffic violation, Deputy C. Martinez of the Cass County Sheriff ’s Office observed several behavioral indicators and criminal interdiction tradecraft consistent with illicit activity.

Based on these observations, Deputy Martinez requested assistance from the Atlanta Police Department to deploy K9 Stryker for a free-air sniff around the exterior of the vehicle.

K9 Stryker alerted to the odor of narcotics, prompting a probable cause search of the vehicle. During the search, Deputy Martinez located duffel bags inside the vehicle containing U.S. currency. The preliminary estimate of the seized currency was approximately $207,000.

Former teacher, journalist, historian and lover of all things Bloomburg Yvonne Vestal died July 14 at her home in Bloomburg after having recently promoted and publicized the Cullen Baker Fair. Vestal was an admired community leader.

AUGUST

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The Atlanta Area Chamber of Commerce hosted Business Buzz, a networking event, at Caffe Crema this last year. The event was designed to help business owners and fellow professionals connect with each other and grow their network.

George Echols said that he’s had a record-breaking year and harvested the biggest watermelons he’s ever grown. The melons were anywhere from 40 pounds to 60 pounds.

On Aug. 1, a motorcycle accident claimed the lives of two teenagers on Corps Road 2 at Wright Patman Lake. According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, witnesses said Kyron Richardson, 19, and a female passenger, 16, were travelling at a high speed when the motorcycle ran off the road and struck a guardrail. The teens were thrown from the motorcycle and died at the scene.

Trinity Christian School (TCS) hosted an open house for the institution’s upcoming school year at its new location inside the Faith Community Nazarene Church.

On Tuesday, August 5, the City Council of Douglassville, Texas passed an “Ordinance Outlawing Abortion, declaring Douglassville a Sanctuary City for the Unborn” in a unanimous 5-0 vote. The vote made the City of Douglassville the 77th city in the nation and the 60th city in Texas to pass an ordinance banning abortion.

Cass County Fitness announced opening a second location in the county seat city of Linden.

Recent Queen City graduate, Vincent Wong, was the recipient of this year’s Tony Buzbee Scholarship Award for the 2025-2026 school year. Tony Buzbee and the Buzbee Law Firm gives an annual $10,000 scholarship to an outstanding Queen City High School.

Regional water planners have reached a mediated agreement on the future of the proposed Marvin Nichols Reservoir in the Sulphur River Basin The agreement is much awaited positive news for Northeast Texas landowners that have long fought the progress of the projected $7 billion project that would force local landowners to abandon generational farms and ranches.

The Texas Historical Commission (THC) awarded a 2024 Distinguished Service Award (DSA) to the Cass County Historical Commission (CHC) last week in Linden during a commissioners meeting. This is the fourth year in a row the Cass County Historical Commission has received this award which is an impressive honor out of 254 counties in Texas.

Three-year-old Sa’Mari Raelynn Wilson of Atlanta competed in the America’s Best Preliminary Pageant in Texarkana and won the highest title Mega Elite Supreme along with other awards such as Americas Best Brand Ambassador, Best Smile, Most Beautiful, runner-up for Most Creative Performance, 0-3 years high score Buddy Award, top five overall scorer age 0-19 years, Mega Supreme and overall Mega High Point Scorer.

Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist Church celebrated 182 years of service to the community at Pleasant Hill Church in Linden.

A candlelight vigil was held at Queen City High School in early August as hundreds of people showed up in love and support to remember Caitlyn Sponholz who passed away in a motorcycle accident.

SEPTEMBER

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The Catholic Faith Community at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church, together with the Knights of Columbus, Council 10660, developed a program to accept and distribute free durable medical equipment (DME) to those in need.

The church recently finished construction of the warehouse which is located on the property the church sits on, and the council began to gather supplies designed to make a difference in the lives of people with medical issues who cannot afford things like walkers, canes, wheelchairs, bed rails, crutches, shower chairs and bedside toilets.

The global race to the top of the lithium mountain took another turn as Energy Exploration Technologies, Inc. (EnergyX), the U.S.-based lithium tech company backed by General Motors, POSCO, and Eni, acquired Daytona Lithium from Pantera for $40 million dollars. This gave EnergyX control of nearly 50,000 acres in the Smackover Formation, one of the most valuable lithium basins in North America.

Pauline Johnson celebrated 45 years with Community Services of Northeast Texas (CSNT).

Johnson spent her entire career with CSNT in its Head Start Preschool Program.

Atlanta native Ora Jane Johnson was installed as President General of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas (DRT) at the organization’s annual convention in Odessa, Texas.

King Kolten Lemmon and Queen Jamaiya Mack were crowned this year’s 2025 royal couple at Linden-Kildare’s Homecoming celebration.

Queen City ISD crowned Adalyn Tyson and TJ Guest Homecoming Queen and King for 2025.

James Griggs was charged in the shooting death of DeVatae Robinson back in May of 2025 along with Zachary Grissom. Griggs was charged with murder and Grissom was charged with murder and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

Griggs was out on bail but had a pretrial set for Nov.

The East Texas Food Bank (ETFB) honored Pastor Kara Mitchell and Pastor Chad Mitchell with Hunger Hero Awards as part of Hunger Action Month. Pastor Kara is over the Linden Methodist Church and Pastor Chad is over Hughes Springs Methodist Church.

In April of 2025 lawmakers discussed several bills aimed at honoring the sacrifices of local heroes through the renaming of highways and bridges.

One such proposal was Senate Bill 1369 which hoped to rename a road in Morris County as the Army Staff The Atlanta Chamber of Commerce put on an unforgettable evening with its inaugural Chamber Mixer

IN REVIEW

OCTOBER

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with the

theme of the “Roaring into the 20s”.

The Youth of the Year was Javan Nickolas Pastakia, the Woman of the Year was Christi Nutt, the Man of the Year was Jeff Pancone, the Business of the Year was Bob’s Printing and there was a tie for Educator of the Year with both Brandon Garner and Megan Pancone taking home the honor. The Atlanta Lions Club. Cass County Radio KALT and the police department won Service Appreciation

Awards.

The Atlanta Area Chamber of Commerce has been a driving force behind local business growth and community development since 1948. For as long as most of us can remember it was located inside the historic Texas and Pacific Railroad Depot.

It was announced in October of 2025 by Chamber President Tammy Davenport that the Chamber moved to a new physical location right in the heart of downtown Atlanta.

The new address is 108 N. William Street and the new phone number is 903-310-5260.

Cass County Judge and U.S. Army Reserve Command Sergeant Major (CSM) Travis Ransom was selected to serve as the next Senior Enlisted Leader for the Military Intelligence Readiness Command (MIRC). He will assume responsibility at a ceremony at Fort Belvoir.

The historic train depot is being renovated and will be fully operated by the City of Atlanta’s Tourism Department. It will open as the Atlanta Visitor Center & Museum.

The Smackover Formation is one of the most valuable lithium basins in North America.

The race to secure America’s lithium supply took a major step forward as EnergyX announced the official site for its Project Lonestar™ Lithium Demonstration Plant at TexAmericas Center in Texarkana, Texas. EnergyX is investing approximately $20 million into their 22,000 square foot lithium demonstration plant and expects to create more than 40 new highly skilled jobs.

Employees of the Atlanta Public Library held a retirement party for Tammie Davidson and remembered her 20-year achievement as collections manager and assistant director.

Queen City ISD received a career training grant

totaling $277,590 to train 70 students as welders in partnership with Texarkana College.

Four shots were fired into the window of a home on Ellington Street and the occupants in the home were afraid when the bullets came through the window and immediately called the police. That led to a high-speed chase which took police from Cass County into Bowie County.

Texana Bank announced that Andrea Wells,

Internal Loan Auditor at Texana Bank in Linden, successfully completed the ICBA Education Community Bank Internal Audit Program and earned the professional designation Certified Community Bank Internal Auditor – CCBIA.

Citizens gathered in Atlanta to take part in the annual Life Chain silent event to communicate their opposition to abortion.

Atlanta Mayor Marshall Brooks

bought both the first and second bottles of legal alcohol sold in Atlanta in more than 100 years.

McLeod Elementary Principal Erin Lambeth

was named the Region 8 Thriving Leader for the third consecutive year.

The weather was beautiful for the community combo of the Maker’s Market and Ninth Annual Steven Smith Memorial Cruise-In. Plenty of vendors and car enthusiasts were on hand for another successful event served up by Headers, the Atlanta Chamber of Commerce and the Atlanta Lions Club.

People in the surrounding communities were invited to attend National Night Out

at the Cass County

Law Enforcement and Justice Center in Linden. The public was able to meet County Elected Officials, Linden City Officials, Law Enforcement Officers, First Responders and Smokey the Bear plus see emergency service vehicles, a helicopter, motorcycles and a car show.

Atlanta’s new monument for veterans of the Middle East Wars was installed smoothly Thursday, Oct. 16, at the Veterans Memorial Plaza.

The Atlanta City Council held an emergency meeting to discuss and sign contracts that finalized a deal for the new location of the Genesis Prime Care – Ellington Clinic.

East Texas Meat Slingers

moved into their new location at 110 N. East St. in downtown Atlanta.

First Baptist Church Atlanta celebrated 150 years in October of 2025.

NOVEMBER

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The Queen City Band of Champions rocked both the Regional and Area High School Marching Contests

and advanced to State.

The Big Bad Band from Rabbit Land secured another trip to the State Marching Contest after slaying it at both the Regional and Area High School Marching Contest’s.

The 51st Cullen Baker Fair was a huge success

once again as more than 200 vendors lined the street and many planned events went off without a hitch. As they say, the Cullen Baker Country Fair in Bloomburg, is the “Biggest Little Fair in Texas!”

Larry Allen was named the new 4-H Youth Development Extension Agent for Cass County through the Prairie View A&M University Cooperative Extension Program.

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) announces Thousands of lights were installed in downtown Atlanta because the Atlanta City Development Corporation (ACDC) wanted citizens to know Atlanta’s downtown is welcoming, safe and even entertaining -- a good place to bring the kids and grandparents, too.

Cass County voters cast their ballots on 17 statewide constitutional amendments and there were a few local races and voter approval measures on the table as well.

All 17 of the Texas Propositions passed. Linden- Kildare CISD Place 5 was won by Robbie Johnson in a close race, Cass County ESD 4 Proposition A was voted against and the formation of Linden VFD becoming ESD #5 was voted against.

Cass County Judge Travis Ransom announced on Nov. 8 via Facebook that he will seek a second term as Cass County Judge.

Linden-Kildare High School chefs competed in the pilot program called the “Tiger Takeover” for an opportunity to have their creation on the school menu on Nov. 4. Local judges narrowed it down to two dishes from the original five.

Superintendent Rex Burks, State Representative Gary VanDeaver, Chef Matthew Murr (Menu Development Specialist-Texarkana ISD) and Chef Ann Knopp (Culinary instructor at L-K CISD) judged the final four competitors. Executive Chef Rosie Cervantes, with Sous Chef Aniyah Linwood won.

Enon First Missionary Baptist Church celebrated 140 years.

Atlanta’s Texas Department of Transportation (Tx-DOT) office, along with the Atlanta High School Technology Department, hosted a memorial service on Nov. 4, to honor the 82 lives lost in our area across nine counties in 2024.

Atlanta’s Big Bad Band from Rabbit Land placed fourth

at the 3A State Marching Contest in San Antonio.

Queen City’s Band of Champions turned in a Top 15 finish at the 3A State Marching Contest in San Antonio.

McLeod Independent School District officials announced that the district received a rating of “A” for “Superior Achievement” under Texas’ School FIRST financial accountability rating system. The “Superior Achievement” rating is the state’s highest, demonstrating the quality of McLeod ISD’s financial management and reporting system.

What a incredible milestone for the Atlanta Texas Lions Club as they voted in the 100th and 101st new members into the club.

Cliff and Amy Gunstanson needed a miracle and God provided as they received a $16,730 grant to supply renovation materials for a house they purchased that was way past being patched up. Home Depot, Communities Unlimited, Tony Lankford Roofing, Jason Butler of TXK Make Ready and several volunteers began fixing on the home on Veterans Day.

Marietta became the 84th city in the nation and the 67th city in the State of Texas, to pass a Sanctuary City for the Unborn Ordinance.

The Linden Chapter Order of the Eastern Star #576 donated a check to the Child Protective Services of Cass County.

DECEMBER

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It was announced that

in 2026.

It was also announced that Santa would be back at the old Ellis home located on the corner of Louise and Main St. on Dec. 7. Mr. Ellis used to dress up as Santa and set up outside of his home and welcome local children to drop by and tell him what they desired for Christmas. It was a great tradition that was revived.

The new and bright lights of downtown Atlanta are a project of the Atlanta City Development Corporation to enhance the downtown holiday area. The bright and colorful lights by the Christmas tree in the center of Veterans Memorial Plaza made a perfect setting for photographs.

In October of 2025 word spread like wildfire that the old Brooks Hospital was being torn down. People around the community speculated what was to be built on that nearly 3-acre lot. It was confirmed in December by Genesis PrimeCare CEO Carla Roadcap and Director of Operational Strategies Ray Delk, that Genesis Prime-Care was indeed going to build a new clinic and pharmacy on the city lot. They hope to begin building as soon as the old Brooks Hospital was torn down. The opening of the new clinic is set for December of 2026.

Cass County fire departments were blessed with equipment grants as the second round of Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program grants for the next fiscal year went out recently.

The Texas A&M Forest Service awarded around $17.6 million in funds to volunteer fire departments across the state. Cass County fire departments who received those awards were: Cass County ESD 1 – $25,000 for fire and rescue equipment, Cass County ESD 2 – $25,000 for fire and rescue equipment, Cass County ESD 3 – $25,000 for fire and rescue equipment, Crossroads-Cornett Volunteer Fire Department – $25,000 for fire and rescue equipment, Douglassville Volunteer Fire Department – $25,000 for fire and rescue equipment and Linden Volunteer Fire Department – $25,000 for fire and rescue equipment.

Reverend Arlistel Maxie and his wife celebrated their 16th Anniversary Service at Enon First Missionary Baptist Church. Maxie is the pastor of the Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church.

It was announced in December of 2025 that at the beginning January of 2026, LifeWise Academy in Atlanta would offer classes to Atlanta ISD students in grades 3–5. Students will travel from the Atlanta Elementary School to the Atlanta Methodist Church across the street where they will receive Bible-based character education. The LifeWise idea was put together by Anna Puckett.

Bloomburg ISD House Leaders raised $630

to buy needed items for residents at Golden Villa Nursing Home. They were able to purchase wipes, fruit, snacks and blankets which were all donated.

The Atlanta Lions Club oversaw the birth of Queen City and Atlanta Leo Clubs.

The Annual Hometown Christmas event in downtown Atlanta was flooded with people of all ages.

The Atlanta Texas Lions Club treasurer Debra Durr

received the coveted Melvin Jones Fellowship Award from District Governor Jimmy Cox.

Lion Tammy Davenport was the recipient of the Lions Club President Appreciation Award.

Well-deserved for her dedication to growing the Lions Club as membership chairperson.

Atlanta High School Student Council students joined peers from seven other districts for a Just Love & Kindness service event, putting compassion into action. Students first assembled care bags filled with blankets, gloves, and hygiene items, then toured Mission Texarkana, the Randy Sams Shelter, and the Salvation Army Center of Hope, leaving the bags behind to support those experiencing homelessness. The day was a powerful reminder of the impact service, empathy, and community can make.

For the first time in 50 years the newspaper office announced we were moving closer to downtown. The newspaper was once downtown but had been at its last location since 1975.

Here’s to a