ETBLITZ BULLETIN BOARD, presented by CLOWER MEATS | Sunday, July 27 edition
EDITOR’S NOTE: With the 2025-26 school year getting closer, there are so many events happening in the different communities that make up the ETBlitz.com coverage area. So The Bulletin Board, presented by Clower Meats, was born, news from schools throughout the ETBlitz.com area. Our coverage area now (in alphabetical order) includes Arp, Beckville, Carthage, Gilmer, Gladewater, Henderson, Kilgore, Leverett’s Chapel, Overton, Pine Tree, Sabine, Tatum, Troup, West Rusk, and White Oak, as well as Kilgore College, Tyler Junior College, Panola College and their athletic conferences. Anyone who has a submission for The Bulletin Board should email me, Mitch, at mlucas@etblitz.com. This is a FREE service at no cost. Here’s The Bulletin Board for Sunday, July 27. Now, about Clower Meats, located at 2705 Highway 42 North in Kilgore (near the intersection of 42 and Highway 31): Since 1969, the Clower family has been providing East Texas with the very best meats, from steaks and hams to cube steak and even beef jerky. And they’re the home of “Oilfield Sausage.” If you’ve never had Oilfield Sausage… my goodness, I don’t know what to think about you! Get by Clower Meats and grab some as soon as humanly possible!
WEST RUSK
Meet the Raiders Aug. 9
West Rusk fans are invited to come out to Bruce Bradshaw Stadium on campus on Saturday, Aug. 9, at 5 p.m., and meet the West Rusk High School football team, coaches, and cheerleaders. Bring cameras and hang out with Raiders coach Rafe Mata and the coaching staff, and meet the 2025 Raiders football teams.
TATUM
Tatum football camp July 29-30
This camp is for kids incoming first through fifth grade, and incoming sixth through ninth grade.
The camp is $30 per child, and they should bring a water bottle and wear clothing appropriate for running and playing ball.
The camp will be 8:30 a.m. until 11 a.m. both days, and a T-shirt is included.
Help offset costs of pregame meals for Eagles
Feeding Tatum High School football players isn’t cheap! And sponsors are being sought to help cover the team’s weekly pregame meal, about $500 a week. Those who sponsor will get a shout-out on the Eagle Stadium jumbotron during the game.
To find out more or contribute, visit Tatum High School Football on Facebook and send them a message through Facebook Messenger.
BECKVILLE
Beckville parent meeting Tuesday
There will be a general parent meeting about Beckville High School sports on Tuesday, July 29, at 6 p.m. at the school’s coliseum. Coaching staff will give parents what they can expect for sports at Beckville this year, as well as updates from the University Interscholastic League, ways to communicate with coaches, updated practice and game schedules, and expectations of students and parents.
ARP
Arp Back to School giveaway
We just found out today that Dallas Cowboys linebacker Demarvion Overshown is going to start the season on the PUP list (physically unable to perform). But Agent Zero will once again host a school-supply give-away at Arp City Park on Saturday, August 9, beginning at 9 a.m. The backpacks with school supplies in them are first-come, first serve, while they last. And despite the PUP list designation, Overshown is rehabbing a knee injury, and has told members of the ETBlitz.com staff he still plans to be back in the Cowboys’ line-up this season. He’ll be wearing No. 0, though, on his jersey.
KILGORE
KHS football seeks student filmers
If you’re a Kilgore High School student (that’s a must) and you love football, there’s a pretty good deal floating around out there. This is your chance to get involved.
The Bulldogs’ coaching staff is seeking current KHS students to help them film practices and games, both on Thursday nights (freshmen and junior varsity) and Friday’s varsity games.
Students who accept will be a member of the team and travel with the Ragin’ Red. They’re also eligible to gain a letterman in the process.
If you’re interested, reach out to coach Mason McCormack at mmcormack@kisd.org.
KMS gear grab August 11
Incoming football players at Kilgore Middle School should pick up their football gear/equipment on Monday, Aug. 11, at the boys locker room on the KMS campus. Eighth graders can pick up gear – and turn in physical forms, if they haven’t already – beginning at 4:30 p.m., and seventh graders can do the same beginning at 6.
PINE TREE
Meet the Pirates is July 31
Pine Tree fans can come out and Meet the Pirates (and it states varsity teams, so likely not just football, but at least volleyball, as well) on Thursday, July 31, at Pirate Center. The school district also plans to have fine arts performances that night. It all begins at 6:30 p.m.
OVERTON
Overton volleyball parent meeting Thursday
A meeting is set for Overton High School volleyball parents Thursday, July 31 at 6:30 p.m. at the gym. This is for parents of players entering ninth through 12th grades that plan to play volleyball this school year. For questions, email coach Kolebi Spikes at kolebi.spikes@overtonisd.org.
Overton volleyball alumni game Aug. 1
For any of you former Lady Mustangs out there, if you feel the need to hit the court again, the current Overton High School Lady Mustangs are ready.
The annual alumni game – as in, the alumni vs. the current team – will be next Friday, Aug. 1, at 6:30 p.m. at the high school gym.
Sign up: OVB Alumni Game.
TROUP
Decals With Dads, Dinner With Moms at Troup
A couple of important dates to remember: The Troup Tigers’ varsity football annual dinner with moms is set for Saturday, Aug. 16, at 6 p.m. at the high school cafeteria, and dads, Decals with Dads (which I’m thinking involves the placement of helmet stickers) is on Wednesday, Aug. 27, also at the cafeteria.
CARTHAGE
Carthage ISD taking Hall of Honor nominees
One of our programs new to ETBlitz.com is Carthage High School, and Carthage is accepting nominations for its athletics Hall of Honor, right now.
Nominations should be submitted with a photo and a letter that states their credentials for potential induction, any awards they’ve won and citizenship and community involvement, or other information that the person submitting the nomination deems relevant. Nominations are due by Aug. 1, and need to be submitted online here: CHS Athletic Hall of Honor Nomination Form.
Carthage junior high pick-up Aug. 7, practice Aug. 12
Equipment pick-up for junior high school football players at Carthage will be Thursday, Aug. 7; for eighth grade, 8:30 a.m. until 11:30 a.m., and for seventh grade, 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., all at the junior high field house.
The first practice for junior high football will be Tuesday, Aug. 12, and after-school practices will start on the first school day.
Carthage volleyball practice starts Aug. 1
Practice for Carthage High School volleyball will start on Friday, Aug. 1, at 7:30 a.m. The Lady Dawgs’ first game is Tuesday, Aug. 12, a dual match with Lufkin and Livingston, at Livingston.
For questions, email coach Mandy Lancaster at mlancaster@carthageisd.org.
Season ticket pick-up ongoing
Season ticket-holders for Carthage High football last year can renew their seats today, then Monday through Thursday next week, from 8 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. at Carthage High School Commons.
Anyone who can’t make it, or no longer needs tickets, can call Jean Thomas at (903) 693-3806.
Those who didn’t have season tickets last year but would like to this season will have that opportunity as soon as the renewal period ends for last year’s ticket-holders.
GILMER
Meet the Buckeyes August 9
Gilmer High School’s annual Meet the Buckeyes kickoff party is set for Saturday, August 9, a 6 p.m. start at Jeff Traylor Stadium. Come out, meet the 2025 Gilmer High School football team and coaches, have supper and all kinds of treats. Vendors will be on hand and there’s even face-painting, although I would encourage you to maybe not plan to get your face painted on Aug. 9 for the season opener. Maybe get it re-painted before then.
Coach Alan Metzel and the Buckeyes’ first preseason scrimmage is just a few days later, at home on Friday, Aug. 15, against Paris.
LEVERETT’S CHAPEL
Football lift-a-thon Aug. 8
Leverett’s Chapel’s football team will host a lift-a-thon on Friday afternoon, Aug. 8 at 5:30. This is to raise money to help offset the cost of athletic expenses.
Each participant will perform three core lifts: the squat, the bench and the deadlift, and their combined score will be their final weight. Each player needs a minimum of three donors to donate a monetary amount per pound (a penny, a nickel, a dime, a quarter or more).
The donor can also simply choose a flat donation.
And for example, if a lifter finishes with 750 pounds and a donor had agreed to a nickel per pound, that would be 750 multiplied by 5 cents, or a donation of $37.50.
To help, fill out this form and return it to coach Keith Hughes by next Thursday, July 31. If submitting a check, it should be made payable to Leverett’s Chapel ISD.
For more information, reach out to Hughes at khughes@leverettschapelisd.net.
KILGORE COLLEGE
Become a KC athletics sponsor
Here’s a great opportunity for your business to be promoted, and support Kilgore College athletics at the same time.
Kilgore College athletics has tiered sponsorship packages for the 2025-26 school year:
- A $1,500 package that includes mentions during broadcasts of KC sports, on either live-streaming or radio; placement of an ad for your business on the team’s schedule posters (football, men’s and women’s basketball teams and softball); a rotating banner ad on the college’s athletic site, kcrangernation.com (click here to be directed: Kilgore College), including your business’s logo and a link to its website; flag sponsorship at the KC Athletics Hall of Fame Golf Tournament in October; ads in the football program throughout the season; and two reserved tickets to all home football and basketball games, as well as passes to all softball games at home.
- A $750 package that includes the rotating banner ad on the KC athletics website; a hole sponsorship sign at the hall of fame golf tourney; and the passes to all KC games.
- A $300 banner ad sponsorship of the KC athletics website, with the business logo and link included.
To become a sponsor, fill out the sponsorship form here (KC Athletics Sponsorship-2025-2026.pdf), and return the form and payment for the package you choose to Kilgore College Athletic Department, c/o Courtney Pruitt, Athletic Director, 1100 Broadway, Kilgore, TX 75662. To speak with public information director Chris Craddock about ads and logos, email him at ccraddock@kilgore.edu.