See VETERAN on Page 6

A-Team leader hits books

A new smoking policy will be effective Jan. 1, 2012. The policy

was approved by KC’s Executive Council and the SGA. Smokers

will be restricted to approximately 25 designated smoking areas

across campus. See PAGE 3 for list of areas.

Vietnam veteran Jim Howard was the leader of a special forces unit stationed in

Vietnam. He was awarded the Silver Star and Bronze Star during his third tour.

Photo Illustration by Jake Scarborough / THE FLARE

Kasi Dickerson / THE FLARE

The Flare Vol. 75 No. 9

Serving Kilgore College since 1936

Friday, November 11, 2011

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Breaking news, videos and extended coverage at www.theflareonline.com

Heroes of

Tomorrow

Editor’s Note: KC and KC-Longview are home to some of the most acclaimed public service academies in all of East Texas. More than 250 students are enrolled in public service job courses which include those training firefighters, police, nurses and EMTs. This is the second part of a three-part series highlighting these students. Today they are our fellow classmates, but tomorrow they may be our heroes.

KASI DICKERSONExecutive Editor

Dodging trees, his combat boots stomp the damp mud as he runs with a steady pace. His breathing is heavy and his body is in

overdrive. The enemy is close behind, but he will not give up. He pushes through the pain of his aching body to focus on his mission.

Vietnam veteran Jim Howard is now 61 years old and is legally blind, but the visions of his past military service are vividly etched in his mind.

“The thing that kept me alive was my training,” Howard said. “I once had an older command sergeant major tell me ‘When you are in the s--- of it, you know that you are doing all that you can do. You know you are going to die. Then, you start having fun.’ I used this advice many times.”

Howard remembers the day he received his first military draft letter. It was 1969 and he had just graduated from high school. At the time, 18-year-old men were required to notify the Selective Service as soon as they graduated. Howard planned on attending college after waiting a semester out; however, during this waiting period he was drafted by the military.

When he opened the congratulatory letter which ordered him to report to Houston for a physical, Howard’s first reaction was throwing it in the trash. Howard grew up in Cameron, La., a very small community, where he says “the Vietnam War was not really an everyday, weekly or even monthly issue.”

Howard says that before he was drafted, the idea

Robert Siegmund practices at the Kilgore Police Academy shooting range for class.

Jake Scarborough / THE FLARE

ASHTON JOHNSON MELISSA AOUAD

Staff Writers

Beginning Jan. 1, 2012, KC will have approximately 25 designated smoking areas across campus. KC President Bill Holda announced the policy to the faculty and staff after the Nov. 1 approval from the college’s Executive Council. Student Government Association also approved the policy.

“Everyone on this campus does not smoke and do not appreciate having to walk through smoke, or getting the smell on their clothes,” said Brandon Demmings,

KASI DICKERSONExecutive Editor

KC is hosting its second Veterans Day Appreciation Celebration with ceremonies starting at 12:15 p.m. today in front of the Liberal Arts Building. At this time, the Longview Jr. High ROTC will retire KC’s old flags and raise new ones.

Following this ceremony, KC will host a program from 1 to 3 p.m. in the Devall Student Center Ballroom to show veterans within the college, community and local area how much they are appreciated.

This is a free event and all veterans and the public are invited to attend. Refreshments will be provided and door prize drawings will be held throughout the celebration.

Live music will be provided by Macon Texas Music

Randi Vinson / THE FLARE

Target practice is part of the East Texas

Police Academy curriculum. Students must

pass weekly tests with an 80 or above or are

dropped.

SGA president. “We wanted smokers to have a place to still be able to smoke and have time to relax before or in between classes.”

KC-Longview moved to designated smoking areas in the summer of 2009. Throughout the months of November and December KC will begin creating designated smoking areas.

“Hopefully, this will benefit in an overall cleaner, healthier campus,” said Mike Jenkins, vice president of student development.

The Executive Council made the decision based

Smoking policy to ignite change Celebration honors Veterans 12:15-3 p.m. today

PERFECTIONAiming for

Part 2:

Police Academy

See POLICE on Page 4

See SMOKING on Page 3 See APPRECIATION on Page 3

BRITTANI PFAUStaff Writer

They embody a multitude of characteristics necessary for their job. Some of these are

perfected naturally, yet others are instilled through in-depth training. The East Texas Police Academy trains and molds its students into the heroes of tomorrow.

“The training started out real slow with a lot of academic and book work. Later we were able to move out into the field where we learned traffic regulations, driving

and firearms training and arrest procedures,” said Justin Stringfield from Palestine. “We also had to be sprayed with OC spray (Oleoresin Capsicum, also known as pepper spray). That wasn’t very fun. But the training was fun; I enjoyed it. It was some of the most informative training I’ve had along with the Army. They were some of the best instructors I’ve ever worked with. They made us know our job.”

Born in 1966, Kilgore is the main police academy, but is not the

Look for the Ranger in today’s paper!

Then log on to www.

Ranger” link. The winners will be featured in the next issue.

All KC employees and communications

students, including those enrolled in journalism and photography classes, are

ineligible to participate in the contest.

All participants must be currently enrolled KC

students. Only two winners per issue of The Flare.

The Ranger may be featured in black and white or color

and in different poses.

“SPOT THE RANGER”

Elizabeth Moore

and

Books

Claim your prize in CA 125

WINNERS...

FRIDAY,NOVEMBER 11,

2011

NOTEBOOK

FRIDAY, Nov. 11 Veterans Appreciation

Day 12.15 p.m. - 3 p.m. DSC Ballroom

Wesley Foundation Golf Tournament and Chili Cook-Off 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Meadowbrook Country Club, Kilgore

SATURDAY, Nov. 12 Lady Rangers vs.

Weatherford, 1 p.m.Tyler Classic

Rangers vs. Weatherford, 5 p.m.Tyler Classic

MONDAY, Nov. 14 KC Board of Trustees

meeting6 p.m., McLaurin Administration Building

WEDNESDAY, Nov. 16 Lady Rangers @

Southern University5 p.m.

Rangers @ Southern University, 7 p.m.

KC Students’ Casino Night, 7- 11 p.m., DSC Ballroom

THURSDAY, Nov. 17 Library annual open

house, 1 p.m.- 4 p.m. Watson Library

FRIDAY, Nov. 18 Thanksgiving Feast

11 a.m., Early Childhood Center

LAST FALL PRINT ISSUE OF THE FLARE

SATURDAY, Nov. 19 Vickie Brown Mobbs

Majorette Line Classic 7 a.m.- 5 p.m. Dodson Auditorium

Nov. 11 – Nov. 19

Heather Sims / THE FLARE

The Flare

STUDENT SUCCESS TIP

KC employees and students

Board of Publications held a competition to select a new name.

The cast and crew of “The Diviners” rehearse for their pre-show concert with the gospel classic “I’ll Fly Away.” Before each performance, the group will entertain the audience with the music of yesteryear. The concert begins at 7 p.m. Tuesday-

Jon Vashey / Special to THE FLARE

Taylon Sharer / THE FLARE

FACE IN THE CROWD

75TH BIRTHDAY

Yasuyuki MiyakiAge: 26 Hometown: Osaka, Japan

Sophomore Major: EMT

What do you like most about Kilgore College? ... There are some funny teachers. You know who I’m talking about. What do you miss most about Japan? ...

Mostly foods and the crowds, which I used to hate. How long have you been in America? ...

Three years and few months.What is the biggest difference between

Japan and America? ... We don’t hug and shake hands with each other as a greeting. I need to remember to shake hands the first time. Who or what inspires you? Why? ... My

father. He has accomplished many things in his life and I want to be like him someday. What do you do in your spare time?

... Go to the gym. That’s the only place I can remember to have fun without driving somewhere. What is the best advice you were given?

... Every effort you made in your life is worth it. There is nothing useless.

What is the worst advice you were given? ... Sushi should not be raw. You’d better heat it up.What is your finest accomplishment? ...

Being here. If you could meet anyone in the world,

who would it be? ... Mr. President, to ask him to be nice to Japan. Describe yourself in three words ...

Optimist, worrier, diligent. What three items would you take to a

deserted island? ... TV, chair and a fridge.What is one thing you would like to

change about yourself ? ... I’m a shy guy, I want to be not afraid of talking to strangers. If you won the Texas Lottery, what is

the first thing you would do with the money? ... Sleep in a blanket made by the bills.Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

... I’m going back to my country after I graduate, but eventually I want to come back not as student in 10 years.

‘DIVINERS’ PRE-SHOW CONCERT

The song list is as follows:

“Will the Circle Be Unbroken?” - entire cast

“Lonesome Valley” - entire cast

“I’ll Fly Away”- entire cast

“Daddy Sang Bass”- entire cast

“Rocky Top”- entire cast

“In the Pines” - women

“Black Crow Blues”- Joshua Wallace

“Motherless Children” - Sarah Sullivan

‘Diviners’ to strike a chordLAINEY ARMSTRONG

Staff Writer

Singers circle the stage with guitars, a banjo, a harmonica and a mandolin as the cast and

crew for “The Diviners” prepares for their pre-show concert.

To add to the flavor of the 1920s and 1930s, “The Diviners” will have a free sing-along of songs from the Depression Era half an hour before the play starts. Song sheets will be passed out so people can follow along with a few good old American folk songs from artists like the Carter Family and Woody Guthrie.

“This is the second time we will be having this concert; the first one was a big success,” said Kathy Barber, theatre director.

The play is set to begin promptly at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, Nov. 15-

19, and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 19, in the Van Cliburn Auditorium in the Turk Fine Arts Center.

Tickets are $6 for adults, $5 for students and $4 for KC students with an ID.

“The Diviners,” was written by Jim Leonard Jr. and is about a young boy with the gift of divining in the 1930s. Divining is the ability to seek water under the ground without the aid of technology, but with spiritual energy.

Barber describes this memory play as a “kind and sweet” play with funny dialogue.

Tickets go on sale one hour prior to curtain for each performance. Seats are general admission and no late arrivals will be seated. Children under 6 will not be admitted due to the fact that there is mild cursing in the play.

Today is the final opportunity to drop Fall 2011 courses with a “W.”

Flex courses are the only exception and the drop deadlines for them are listed on flex class permanent rolls.

All dropped courses will be processed no later than 3:45 p.m. unless an extenuating circumstance has had prior approval from the division dean.

Instructor drops should be sent to facdrop@kilgore.edu.

Students can contact Staci Martin, registrar and director of admissions, at smartin@kilgore.edu or call 903-983-8200.

~Jessica Stovall

Nov. 17 is the official start of the holiday season for Kilgore, with its historic derrick-lighting ceremony. The 24th annual Christmas in the Patch and derrick-lighting extravaganza in downtown Kilgore will include much hoopla and fanfare with more than a dozen groups or persons set to dazzle.

Performing groups include KC’s Ranger Band, Rangerettes and KC Twirlers. The honor of this year’s actual derrick-lighting will go to Deana Bolton Covin, former KC Rangerette director, and will start at 6:30 p.m., with the main festivities following at 7. Admission is free and the event will be held at the World’s Richest Acre Park on Commerce Street.

This year’s theme for the performance is ‘The Magic of Christmas’ and will include a song written and performed by program director Debbie Dane.

After the stars are lit atop the derricks they will shine till New Year’s Day 2012.

~Daniel Guy

Today last day for ‘W’

Derrick lighting set !ursday

“Mark Twain once said, ‘The man who won’t read good books has no advantage over the man who can’t read them.’ My advice to all students is to read everything you can get your hands on. Certainly, read your assignments for the informational content it includes: you need that content to succeed in individual classes. But don’t stop your reading with the assignments. Reading broadens our horizons; it broadens our vocabulary; it builds our imagination. Reading takes us to worlds we can’t visit and gives us insight into the nature of humanity that we can’t get any other way.”

– Dr. Richard HarrisonDead of Liberal and Fine

Arts

N EWS 3PAGETHE FLARE FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2011

Poodle grooming, chip carving o!ered

Alumni success bene"ts students

Career Services aids job hunting

Heather Sims / THE FLARE

BETSY FOREMANOpinion Editor

Want to learn to groom a poodle, speak conversational Japanese and drive an 18-wheeler? No, there is not a class that teaches students to do all three things at once, but all three are taught at KC.

KC’s Continuing Education program offers a lineup of classes that spans a wide spectrum of interests.

If it is personal enrichment one is seeking, there is the option of learning to groom “poodles, schnauzers and other small dogs,”

in the beginning dog grooming course. In fact, “students may bring their own dogs,” according to the Continuing Education online schedule. In the advanced grooming course, in addition to “camouflaging defaults in dogs,” one learns to color and choose appropriate colognes for male and female dogs.

If one does not have a penchant for primping and perfuming poodles, there is always chip carving. This is not a course that teaches students to carve tasty potato chips out of raw russet potatoes. This is, in fact, an art form which, according to the

catalog, dates back to Eric the Red, a 10th century explorer. The class teaches the design and carving of intricate designs in wood, turning the wood into a work of art.

Working deep in the wilds of management can be grueling. However, with the Supervisor’s Survival Kit course, designed for people new to management positions, students may attain the skills they need to survive.

If the smell of gunpowder and the thought of re-barreling a bolt-action rifle make a person happy, then one can learn to smith a gun. Introductory, intermediate and

advanced courses prepare students to begin a career smithing firearms. Attention eager gunsmith rookie: Live ammunition will not be allowed in the classroom.

From driving diesels to arranging flowers or fighting fires to fun with fondant in the cake decorating class, KC’s Continuing Education courses offer more than just standard choices in education. They offer variety in developing useful skills and joy through personal enrichment.

Students can register by mail, phone or in person. Send registration by mail or visit the

Woodruff Adult Education Center at 220 N. Henderson Blvd., Kilgore, Texas, 75662 or call 903-983-8661 or 903-983-8288. Also, registration forms may be mailed or delivered to Kilgore College-Longview at 300 S. High St., Longview, Texas, 75601 or call 903-753-2642.

Cost and location of classes vary per course. View the online schedule at Kilgore.edu under the “Catalog & Schedules” tab. The schedule includes a printable registration form and information about registration, classes and payment.

FROM PAGE 1

staff and students. “These requests came several years ago and the Executive Council adopted a three-phase process for implementation,” Jenkins said.

Phase one was moving smoking 30 feet away from all exterior doors.

KC is now transitioning to phase two of the policy which is limiting smoking to designated areas only. Phase three will be the elimination of all tobacco products from campus.

“If we do not see any improvement in these new policies, then removing tobacco from campus altogether may be accelerated,” Jenkins said.

Over the past semester, many surrounding colleges have moved to tobacco-free campuses.

The recent purchase of cigarette receptacles, that were placed around campus in an effort to reduce cigarette litter, became a visible reminder to staff and students that KC is still lenient about smoking across campus.

“One issue that we have dealt with for many years is the cigarette litter all across campus which is a true eye-sore,” Jenkins said. “The presence of all of the receptacles and the lack of any substantial reduction in the litter problem increased faculty and staff requests for the college to move to designated smoking areas.”

New smoking regulations do not allow students to walk from one end of the campus to another while smoking. Multiple smoking areas will provide convenience for smokers while non-smokers will be able to move around campus while avoiding smoke.

“As Chief (Martin) Pessink (KC Police Department chief) and I walked the campus, watched where students were gathering to smoke and talked to

FROM PAGE 1

and the Darby Warren Project.

Veteran Stephen Benson will be the guest speaker. Benson is a sophomore from Diana and is also a KC adjunct faculty member and local paramedic.

New to this year’s celebration is a Veterans Day art contest. The purpose of this contest was to bring awareness to the community and students of every age as to what Veterans Day is about and why it is celebrated.

Participants were asked to submit an art project depicting their own personal thanks and appreciation to veterans. Categories included: Kindergarten- Third grade; Fourth-Sixth grade; Seventh-Twelfth grade; and KC students. The final category, Honorable Mention, was chosen by veterans.

Larry Kitchen, chair of the art department,

DILLON SANDIFERStaff Writer

The third annual “Rad Tech Fun Run” will take place at 8 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 12, in downtown Kilgore. Registration and check-in begin at 7 a.m. under the oil derricks at the corner of Commerce and North streets.

The 5K run consist of a 3.1 mile loop that travels through the downtown area and KC. The 10K runners will run the 5K twice.

Cost is $20 for pre-registered participants or $30 if registering the morning of the event. All proceeds benefit the KC Rad Tech Club and its various activities.

Anyone interested in being a sponsor or would like to donate awards, bottled water or other needed items, send and email to radtechkc@gmail.com.

More details and registration information can be found at www.kcradtechclub.com/Fun-Run-Registration.html.

JIMMY WARWICKStaff Writer

KC has created an alumni association for its past athletes.

“The Kilgore College Sports Alumni Association has been organized to bring together former KC student athletes in social meetings, to support the Kilgore College Athletic Program and to encourage fundraising efforts for scholarships for our student athletes,” said Jimmy Rieves, athletic director.

To be a part of this association those interested can either pay $25 for the 2012-2013 year or a one-time payment of $150 for a lifetime membership.

The advantages of this association will be receiving the KCSAA Newsletter, being on a priority list to order tickets for athletic events before they go on sale to the public

and receiving a KCSAA window decal to display Ranger Pride.

Rieves said the association would provide guidance to KC’s current athletes on how to become successful. Many former student athletes from KC have gone on to do bigger and better things with their life, like Demorrio Williams who is a linebacker in the NFL for the Kansas City Chiefs, Marcus Thornton who plays basketball for the NBA and Bob Laird who is the president and CEO of Geophysical Research Company in Tulsa, Okla.

Local KC grads have also accomplished things in our local areas such as Rodger Adams who is the athletic director/head football coach for New Diana ISD.

Rieves wants this new association to show students what they can be by looking at the successes of previous KC athletes.

DILLON SANDIFERStaff Writer

The Career Services staff is available to help any student looking for work. The staff works closely with businesses and tries to encourage them to consider KC students and alumni during their hiring process.

Visit www.kilgore.opticalresume.com to complete an optical resume. This website provides online career tools designed to assist students in building a better resume and cover letter, as well as help with interview skills and creating a portfolio. An online job board can also be found here.

Visit www.t e x a s c a r e s o n l i n e. c o m to complete the self-assessment that will help determine what career path one may think about pursuing based on his interests.

Visiting www.cdr.state.tx.us/realitycheck will provide a budgeting tool that will assist in determining the income an individual will need to make each year, based on existing or expected monthly expenses.

“This service is free to students and helps you gain skills such as resume writing, interview skills, job search techniques and will direct you to job search engines and job boards,” said Patty Bell, career services director.

The Career Service Office is open from 7:45 a.m. until 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 7:45 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. Friday in the Student Support Building, Rooms 111 and 112.

To find out more information or for help with any of these services, contact Bell at 903- 988-3713 or Hailey Smith at 903-983-8768.

PROPOSED SMOKING AREAS

Stark Hall: Northeast Corner of the buildingDevall Student Center: Sidewalk area (employee parking

access) on the northwest corner of the building; North service entry area

Masters Gym: Southwest corner of the building near the band hall where table is currently located; Northeast corner of the front entry near the oak planter with seating wall surrounding

LA Bldg: West entry sidewalk area (granite bench area)Library: Northwest corner of the building; South side of the

building across from ES ES Bldg: Southwest corner between building and mechanical

room Nolan Hall: Covered area on the west side of the building where

tables are currently locatedDodson: Southeast entry sidewalk area closest to Highway 259Rangerette Gym: East side of building; Southwest corner of the

building (brick wall that surrounds the electrical panels) Administration Bldg: Picnic table area at the northwest cornerBA Bldg: Southeast corner Fine Arts: Southwest corner of the fountain plazaTech/Voc: Northwest sidewalk where benches are currently

locatedCAS/TV: Cement pad at the Mechanical Building’s wooden

fence ATC: East end of building at the bottom of the steps; South end

of the patio area AEC: Far North and South ends of the front of the buildingOil Museum: Benches located adjacent to brick planters

running parallel to Highway 259TSF Center: Seating area on the north side of the main entrance

foyer (west side of the building)Auto Body: Outside the wood fence to the right of the gate at

the entranceMusic Annex: Near the back fence under the satellite antenna

Smoking: cigarette litter sparks transition

judged the contest and all the submissions and winning projects will be displayed throughout the celebration. Winners are: Kindergarten – Third grade: Clifton “Shane” Rogers II – “Vets in Family” / Chandler; Fourth-Sixth grade: Grace Nichols – “Freedom Isn’t Free” / Kilgore Intermediate; Seventh-12th grade:

Appreciation: Veterans Day art contest added to festivities

students about their traffic patterns on campus, we determined that seven areas wouldn’t work,” Jenkins said. “Our students needed

multiple areas that were convenient. Bottom line is the more convenient the areas, the more compliance we will see.”

In 2009, the City of Kilgore adopted a city ordinance banning smoking within 30 feet of any public building entrance.

Natalie O’Quinn – “The Wall” / Maude Laird Middle School; Kilgore College Student: Jeremy Haynes – “Never Forget”; Honorable Mention / Veterans Choice: Domenic Rosas – “Arlington Cemetery” / Chandler.

Fun run set for Saturday

See videos, extended coverage and more at:

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Police academy student Janssen Maranto concentrates as he takes aim at a target.

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FROM PAGE 1

police academy based in the Northeast

Texas area. There are programs based in

Texarkana, Athens, Sulphur Springs and

many other cities.

Students must be 21 years or older to

be eligible to join the East Texas Police

Academy. The day program consists of 16

weeks and students are required to attend

class 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through

Friday. Tuition is $1,200. The next academy

will start January 2012. For the first time,

an online class will be open for enrollment

in March 2012.

“The academy not only helps you get

ready for the state exam, but is really

informative for other situations,” said

Broc January from Palestine. “It’s stuff

that you’ll take out to use on street patrol

and things that are applicable to real life.”

Students are tested each week and are

required by the academy to make an 80 or

above on each test. A student is allowed

one re-test and if he does not meet the

required grade, the student is dropped

from the academy.

“You’ve got to study and stay on your toes

academically,” said Josiah Lemelin from

White Oak. “As long as you’re willing to

apply yourself, you’ll make it through.”

Thirty-seven students graduated from

the academy on Oct. 28. The police

academy has outdone itself in regard to

state requirements. The state requires

each student to score a 70 or above on the

TCLEOSE state exam pass rate; whereas,

the academy has passed with 99 percent

overall.

“I impressed myself. I was never very

good in school but I was making good A’s

in the class,” Stringfield said. “You really

have to study or you won’t make it. You

can’t just sit there and listen in class.”

Academy hopefuls must be sponsored

by a law enforcement agency in order to

gain entry into the program. The ETPA

is licensed by the Texas Commission on

Law Enforcement Officer Standards and

Education as a Law Enforcement Academy

and is contracted by the Commission to

provide training courses.

“The instructors and training were

great,” said Ben Leevy from Alba. “They

really cared about preparing us. It wasn’t

just a job to them.”

The curriculum includes a basic peace

officer course, basic county jailer course,

basic telecom course, intermediate core

courses, all current TCLEOSE-mandated

licensure courses and a wide variety of

basic, intermediate and advanced level in-

service courses.

“The training was very helpful in

preparing us– very thorough. I’m glad

that I went through,” Lemelin said. “You

can prepare and train all you want, but no

amount is going to prepare you 100 percent.

There will always be that 1 percent that

catches you off guard when you’re on the

job–something that you never prepared for

in class.”

For many students receiving certification

through the academy, the dream of

pursuing a career in law enforcement and

serving the public have been alive since

childhood.

“When I was young I thought about going

into the military because I wanted to serve

my community. I knew the difference

between right and wrong and I knew

that right always prevailed,” Lemelin

said. “Then, as I got older and matured,

I realized that I could do the same thing

through law enforcement and make more

of a difference in my local community.”

Police: Academy graduates exceed state expectations

Rangers control scoreboardJESSICA STOVALL

Staff Writer

The KC men’s basketball team has been doing whatever it takes to win, and the scoreboard has been agreeing with them.

On Nov. 4 the Rangers defeated the Cedar Valley Suns, 67-53.

The men will play Texas Southern 6 p.m. today and Weatherford 5 p.m. Saturday in the Tyler Classic.

“They get tired of guarding each other. This weekend will give them a good chance to see what other teams bring to the table,” said head coach Brian Hoberecht. “We need to understand how hard we have to play to play good basketball.”

In the game against Cedar Valley, Travis Betran, Harlem, N.Y., sophomore, led the team in points, scoring 20 overall. He has been a leader for the team, and his stats are showing nothing less. With almost 30 minutes on the court, Betran was able to make half of the field goal shots he went for and seven of eight free throw attempts.

The Rangers continued their quest for success Tuesday night when they hosted Lone Star College- Tomball.

The final score was 75-53, with KC on top.

The Rangers have clearly been working on their rebounds; they were able to keep Tomball to a low shooting percentage early.

Though Tomball received the ball first, the Rangers were able to keep control of the first half and go into the locker room ahead, 29-24.

With one of their lead players, Betran, out with a sprained ankle, other players stepped up and got the job done.

Ashton Kahn, Toronto sophomore guard, scored 13 points, the highest of the night.

KEN HUGGINS JR.Staff Writer

The Lady Rangers started off the season 2-0 after defeating Southern University 59-40 on Nov. 4.

Kilgore will play in the Tyler Classic 2 p.m. today against Odessa College and 1 p.m. Saturday against Weatherford.

The first quarter of Friday’s game was everything but consistent play on offense. KC had multiple turnovers and missed a lot of layups, something head coach Roy Thomas stressed before the season started, but he knew the team would need time to get things going after a slow start, and it did.

Defensively, KC dominated, keeping it in the game early. Then momentum quickly turned into KC’s favor offensively as buckets started to fall in as the Lady Rangers took a 10-point 33-23, lead at halftime.

“We have to keep playing aggressive and playing good defense, and making sure

we block out,” said Thomas going into halftime.

A key adjustment that needed to be made was KC’s ability to move the ball around more on offensive possessions to find the right shot.

“We’re making one pass and another pass, then we’re shooting too quick we need to make three or four passes and then we can get good shots,” Thomas said.

Sophomore forward Bianca McGee led the team with 15 points. Andrea Gamble, freshman forward, knocked in 11 points and four assists; Alicia Johnson, sophomore center, added nine.

“Coach told us to pick it up at halftime, no more missed layups, no more turnovers,” McGee said.

KC got ahead and never looked back as the Lady Rangers sealed the deal with a victory.

“When we execute, we’re a pretty good ball club, and overall I thought we did OK. It was a good win,” Thomas said.

2-0 Lady Rangers head to Tyler Classic

Patrick Gnagbo, Ivory Coast sophomore, and Fred Mattison, Anderson freshman, both put up 12 points for the team. Gnagbo was successful and led the team throughout the game, while Mattison’s name was heard more in the second half.

Even with all of the hype of

a win, there are still things Hoberecht thinks the team should work on.

“We had a lot of self-inflicted frustration tonight; we weren’t as focused,” Hoberecht said.

The team didn’t seem to have the typical energy they would during any other game.

“I love winning, but I’m more concerned with playing good basketball,” Hoberecht said.

The Rangers will be working on many defensive skills and focusing on man-to-man coverage going into the Tyler Classic this weekend.

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FROM PAGE 1

of his serving in the Army was the furthest thing from his mind.

“I had no idea what was going on in that part of the world; heck I was in high school. I wasn’t worried about that stuff,” Howard said.

Although his first draft letter was wadded up in the bottom of a trash can, Howard’s Army career was not over.

He soon received a second letter; this one also ended up in the trash. The third letter however, came with a military police officer and a deputy.

“I went straight from home to the bus station, straight from the bus station to the induction and my military career started,” Howard said.

In one day, Howard’s life changed drastically. He had gone from his home in Louisiana to Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, where he received his basic training.

“When I got drafted I was awakened to what was going on in the world and it was not a pretty situation,” Howard said. “I was exposed for the first time, when I was inducted, to the anti-war protestors, which I had never seen or been around before.”

After he finished basic training, Howard enlisted for six years to fulfill his wish of becoming a helicopter pilot. He was accepted into the program and sent to Fort Rucker, Alabama, to begin training; however, he failed his Chief Warrant 1 (CW1) flight physical meaning his dreams of becoming a helicopter pilot were over. Howard still had a six-year obligation to fulfill which meant the military authorities could do anything they wanted with him. First, they sent him to infantry training in Fort Polk, La., and then he volunteered for airborne training in Fort Benning, Ga. There was a window of time during Howard’s airborne qualifications course when the Special Forces recruited him and sent him to Ranger School in Panama, Fla. By the time he entered the Special Forces, Howard was infantry, airborne and Ranger qualified.

In 1970, Howard experienced his first tour in Vietnam with an organization called Command and Control North (CCN) which is what we now call Black Ops. Howard was the leader of an A-Team made up of 12 people. His team’s primary mission was Vietnamese POW (prisoners of war) Snatch, meaning his team captured Vietnamese prisoners to bring back for interrogation. This tour lasted eight months.

“An A-Team leader’s job is to run the team, to designate what needs to be done, receive communications and know what the total mission scope is and to see to it that it is done,” Howard said.

The transition from living in a small Louisiana community to living in a jungle in Vietnam was dramatic.

“There’s nothing like it in the whole world because first of all you know what you’re there for and you’ve never lived like that or had to live like that,” Howard said. “The heat was just unbelievably hot. It would be 110 degrees in the shade and the monsoon season was three months of rain.”

Howard notes that diseases, insects and the language barrier were other problems; however he says, “I was one of the few people that was actually glad to be there.”

He says his favorite aspect of his service was “my comrades in arms; there was no other people in the world like them.”

The food, however, was his least favorite part.

After his first tour, he returned home for two weeks until he was asked to participate in the Son Tay Raid. This mission lasted about 30-45 days.

“It has been said that the best way to describe a tour in Vietnam is days and days of boredom followed by moments of sheer terror; and that describes pretty much the way it was,” he said.

While in the states, Howard received additional training which included training for High Altitude Low Opening (HALO) jumps. HALO is when a parachutist jumps from an altitude of above 18,000 feet. The purpose of this jump is for jumpers to exit aircraft at commercial airliner traffic patterns without being suspected as a military flight. Howard was one of the first to participate in these jumps as it was in the early stages of Delta Force.

Howard went back to Vietnam for the third time in 1972. For 16 months,

Served three Vietnam tours

he and his team operated out of and A-Camp in Quangtri on the border of the demilitarized zone (DMZ) and Cambodia. Howard describes an A-Camp as nothing more than bamboo, cloth and whatever fencing they could find. He says the walls were made of cardboard which made for an easy escape in case rockets started coming in.

During the Quangtri era, Howard was awarded the Silver Star which is the third highest award given to service personnel for valor and courage under fire. He also received the Bronze Star for valor.

Howard says he has “a lot of pride in what I achieved and who I was with. I think without the military service my life would have gone in an entirely different, wrong and bad direction. The military was like an awakening for me.”

Howard said goodbye to Vietnam in 1973 and the war officially ended in 1975.

“I was disappointed in the way the war ended because we were in a war where we had never lost a conflict and in a war that was dictated too by the politicians and we were not allowed to finish the job,” he said.

Howard met his wife of 36 years, Christine, on a blind date at a New Year’s Eve party.

“I knew his mother, grandmother and two aunts. They came to my beauty shop and they would say, ‘I would like for you to meet my son when he is on leave,’”

Christine said.Howard says that it was “love at first

sight” when he met Christine and they married in October of 1975.

“Vietnam has been over for almost 40 years, but he’ll sit and talk about it like it was yesterday,” Christine said. “He would tell me sometimes, ‘I’d be out in the jungle for a month and my socks were embedded into my feet.’”

After Howard left the military in October of 1974, he worked one year as a military contractor and then he worked for capital equipment sales.

Howard attended the University of Southwestern Louisiana (USLA) in the late ’90s for his basics. This year is his first semester back to school and he is enrolled in classes at both the Kilgore and Longview campuses. Howard is legally blind and will eventually be totally blind.

“When I started losing my vision and forced to retire I had to find a direction and something to do. I found an interest communicating with young students which is when I decided to go back to school,” Howard said. “I want to be a history teacher for high school because I’m very interested in what’s going on with young kids today and what makes them think and why they think the way they do.”

Howard plans on transferring to the University of Texas at Tyler.

“I think it’s great. He loves getting up

and going to school,” Christine said. “I think it is good for him to be with young people. With him losing his eyesight it gives him a purpose and he is enjoying it.”

Howard also recognizes the young soldiers serving today.

“We need to recognize even more today these sacrifices that these young soldiers are making. They are not in the military because they can’t find a job; that is not the principle reason. They are not in the military because they are criminals; they are there because they want to defend this country which is a very unique and commendable action,” Howard said. “All the soldiers serving now are volunteers; no one is forced into service today. Advice I would give them is have pride in what you do because we are proud of you, and do the best you can and finally keep your head down.”

Veterans Day unites us as a nation asking us to remember those who have sacrificed their lives to protect our freedom and to honor those who are serving in our armed forces now. And to many of us, like Howard it is a day that means so much more.

“It is a day of mixed emotions,” Howard said. “It reminds me of my youth which will never come back, it reminds me of the friends lost, and it reminds me of the extreme sacrifices that soldiers and their families make for this country, and I don’t think that we recognize them enough.”

Ever since I can remember my one goal in life has been to go to college

and graduate with a bachelor’s degree. At first I did not know exactly what I wanted it to be in. It ranged all the way from wanting to be a wedding planner to becoming a lawyer.

I soon realized I was not good at planning anything–much less a wedding, and when I found out how much law school costs and how long it takes to become a lawyer that idea was quickly forgotten.

But I have known since the fourth grade that I was going to college and would have a career in whatever I finally decided.

One of the reasons I was so sure I was going to continue my education was because of my mother. She always told me growing up, “Aide, to be anybody in this country you need an education.”

My mother has always worked two jobs to make ends meet. One of my most vivid memories as a teenager is helping my mother clean a doctor’s office after hours. I can see her standing there in the middle of the hallway with a mop in her hand telling me, “I always wanted to be a doctor; now I just clean a doctor’s office.”

I strongly believe my mother would have been a great doctor if she had been given the chance to have become one.

She is always reading books about different medicines, what they do and how they can help you. Family members sometimes call to ask what a good remedy would be for a certain ache or pain. My mother always has an answer for them.

I am one of the first people in my family to attend college and with that comes great responsibility. I have to show those who come after me that

college is possible and that with hard work and dedication you can accomplish your dreams.

You do not have to settle for less then the best. I still have a long way to go

and many obstacles to overcome before I reach my dreams of becoming a communications graduate, but it is not impossible. In the end it will pay off.

I had to remind myself of that this semester. I was not as dedicated to doing my best as I had been in the previous semester and I even considered taking a break from it all.

But, I always have my mother’s voice in the back of my head telling me to get a college education.

She tells me every chance she gets, “You have every resource at your fingertips and my support to accomplish your goals. Do not waste them.”

I try to live by these words, “Do all you can now when you have the chance. Life does not wait for anybody.”

I am not going to sit and tell you I do not get discouraged at times, especially when I see my friends actually having time for themselves and when I realize I still have a long way to go. Sometimes it feels like I am not making any progress which is especially hard for me since I have not learned the art of patience.

So, as I thought about spring registration I considered taking a break, but decided against it. I know it’s going to be hard and at times I am going to want to quit, but I have to remember my mother’s words. I have to think about the benefits I am going to enjoy one day because I did not give up when things got hard.

Besides, my momma did not raise a quitter.

Aide Prado is a freshman

communications major from

Longview.

Always moving forward

KamiRutherfordHenderson

sophomore

SelenaChurchHenderson

sophomore

AmyMyersHallsville

freshman

At this time of year, it’s easy to forget those less fortunate. The end of the semester is on the horizon while Thanksgiving waits around the corner, promising a turkey-induced coma. We forget that others remain without

the basic necessities of life while we have an excess of

everything. Everything it seems, except time for those in need. Volunteering any amount of time is a great contribution to a community as a whole. When we take the time to help our fellow man, we also realize that our actions, no matter how small they seem to us, can make a huge impact for others.

Strive to make a di!erence

The Flare

AnupBhandariNepal

sophomore

Anup Bhandari volunteers weekly at the Newgate Mission Center teaching art classes to homeless people.

“Homeless people have been forgotten from our society. Some people see them as bad people, but that is not true. They are good people and they are like everybody else,” Bhandari said. “Being an artist, I am using my skills and teaching them to paint. This is a healing opportunity for them.”

On Nov. 26 the artwork produced in Bhandari’s classes will be displayed at the Paul Boorman Trail in Longview during the Newgate Mission’s annual fundraiser.

Bhandari has been volunteering for various organizations for about six years. He is conducting a winter blanket drive for the homeless this winter for the second year in a row and plans to do so on a yearly basis.

“It is important to help others and if you have any skills you can use them to help others,” Bhandari said.

Cheryl CarverLongview

sophomore

Cheryl Carver has been participating in volunteer work for as long as she can remember. She currently volunteers at

Hiway 80 Rescue Mission, PATH and the Boys and Girls Club.

“Volunteering helps me make a difference in this world for others and for myself,” Carver said.

Carver feels that it is important to volunteer in the community or wherever someone would like to volunteer. She sees it as a win-win situation, volunteering not only helps others but it also helps the volunteer by keeping them connected to others in a basic and sincere way.

“No accomplishment would last as long or mean as much as helping someone when they need help or just understanding,” Carver said. “No need to impress, just to care.”

Last Spring Break, Kami Rutherford traveled to Birmingham, Ala., for Habitat for Humanity and she says this

encouraged her to do more Habitat work. A few weekends ago, she worked on the Women Build project in Longview.

“We had about 30 people there helping. If we could only have that many people volunteering every day, just think, no one would be without a home,” Rutherford said.

She has also done tutoring for GED classes for a drug treatment center. Currently, she is volunteering at the Clairmont (a nursing facility) in Longview where she visits with residents, helps decorate for the holidays and participates in activities like Bingo.

“It is gratifying to help and to listen,” Rutherford said. “Most of the residents just want someone to talk to.”

Amid her volunteer work, Rutherford is taking 12 hours as a sociology major. She says you just have to make time to volunteer.

“It makes me feel good,” Rutherford said. “There is a lot of reward in helping and a lot of places to help.”

Amy Myers volunteers with her church in a variety of ways, which includes serving at the Hiway 80 Rescue Mission,

volunteering for a local hospital, Vacation Bible School and City Reach mission trips.

On her first mission trip she traveled to Colorado in the summer of 2006, just before her freshman year in high school. She has also done mission work in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Arkansas.

“These trips mean a lot to me. I have built relationships with others who go on the trips because students around the U.S. go,” Myers said. “I have seen what kind of impact God can make on a city. Last year in Arkansas, we took a day to go help in Joplin, Mo., to clean up from the tornadoes they had. When we were cleaning up a park people were yelling out their windows ‘thank you.’”

This next summer she will be traveling to Canada to help a church grow and help the community.

“It’s a nice feeling to have when helping someone in need,” Myers said. “I will never forget the trips, the people or the experience.”

Volunteering has been a family tradition for Selena Church as she grew up with an aunt who was a Girl Scout leader.

Last Spring Break, she participated in the Habitat for Humanity Birmingham, Ala., trip. She is currently volunteering at the Clairmont nursing facility in Longview. She also participated in the Habitat Women Build project a few weekends ago.

“For me, I am going into social work and I am using this as a service learning experience so I can learn more about the geriatric population,” Church said.

At the Clairmont nursing facility Church has built a friendship with a bedridden woman.

“I sit with a lady who is bedridden and actually worked to raise money to get her wheelchair fixed,” Church said. “With her I have a feeling of accomplishment. I can see the results of my helping her. Her face lights up when I come to visit.”

SARAH SULLIVAN

Entertainment Editor

Are you interested in serving your community in

a simple and fun way? The Student Government Association is providing you with that opportunity by hosting Casino Night.

Casino Night is from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 16, in the Devall Student Center Ballroom. This event is an effort to raise canned goods for the Helping Hands Food Bank of Kilgore. The cost to get in is simple– canned goods. Every two canned good items counts as $500 in casino cash so the more you bring the more you will have to spend.

Once you have all of that casino cash in your hands, what are you going to do with it? You can bet on Blackjack, Texas Hold’em,

Craps and Bingo. You can also bid on items such as gift cards and electronics in their auction.

Any faculty and staff who are interested in donating but do not wish to attend the event may bring their

donations to the SGA office in the Devall Student Center Game Room.

For more information, contact Edward Williams, director of student activities and residential life, at 903-988-7520.

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Good Deeds

SARAH SULLIVAN

Entertainment Editor

Your boss has his hands full and is approaching a closed door. You halt the tasks you’ve been toiling

over for hours and go out of your way to open the door for him. He thanks you as he walks through the threshold and you smile, feeling a bit closer to a long-desired promotion. But would you have done the same thing had there been no reward in mind?

Sometimes we get caught up in life so

much that we forget about other people’s lives and we stop enriching all of the life that surrounds us. It isn’t difficult to brighten somebody’s day as well as your own: just do a good deed. Any small amount of kindness could completely change a person’s outlook on their entire day.

The Flare has compiled a list of suggestions that you can use to make a difference in the life of a stranger. Now the only question left is which random act of kindness will you choose to use today?

Smile at someone! This is a double-whammy task because

you cheer someone up and you become a conservationist with your own energy, using less muscles to smile than to frown.

Be on the lookout for folks following behind you and make an effort to hold the door

open for them. Perhaps stealing away three seconds of your time, holding a door open is a great gesture and can be really helpful to people with their hands full.

Become one with Mother Nature and plant a tree. Trees actually

help us more than we realize: their leaves expel oxygen into our atmosphere. Yes, oxygen– that stuff that we need to live. So repay the favor and plant a new tree.

Hoping for a better tomorrow? How about a clean tomorrow? If

so, make it a point not to litter and to help pick up litter even if you didn’t put it on the ground. Each piece of garbage you keep from being swept into the hands of Mother Nature will make your great-great-grandchildren’s lives far less filthy.

Send care packages to soldiers overseas to remind them

that you’re thinking of them and thank them for keeping you safe. Visit www.anysoldier.com for assistance and details on how to send your love to a soldier in need of some comfort from back home.

Buy a hot meal and a cup coffee for a homeless person. It’s hard enough to be left

out in the elements but the closer it gets to the holiday season the homeless have to fight to stay warm and survive. A warm meal and smooth cup of fresh coffee may be just the thing they need to lift their spirits.

Volunteer at your local soup kitchen. Each Thanksgiving, the Hiway 80

Rescue Mission in Longview provides meals for those in need during the holidays and the mission always need an extra pair of helping hands in the kitchen. Visit www.hiway80mission.org or call 903-234-2583 for details on how to help change someone’s life with a simple plate of hot helping of holiday cheer.

Give up your seat to an elderly person. They could use a rest far more than

a strapping young individual and it’s a great gesture of kindness. So remember to pay attention and wait for the opportunity to stretch your legs for a good deed.

Take a moment to thank a service member. If you pass by a

nurse, doctor, soldier, firefighter, police officer or anyone who works hard to keep you safe and happy, give them the respect they deserve and thank them for all that they do.

Each year there are hundreds of thousands of people across the

globe who live in unsuitable housing or have no home whatsoever. If you would like to be one of the people to join the cause to solve this international problem then join Habitat for Humanity. For details on how to join the fight against poverty housing, visit www.habitat.org.

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Cash in cans for Helping Hands