News

TRADITION- In keeping with a tradition that began in the 1990s, state champion Taylor Long rings the bell during a Hamilton High School ceremony held in his honor on Wednesday of last week. Placing first in the 800-meter run in Austin two weeks ago, Long became just the seventh HHS track athlete to bring home a state gold medal. The feat placed Long in the elite company of former individual state gold medal winners Garland Coalson, Mona Henkes Gloff, Leo Banda, Dr. Charles Johnson, Amber Weems and James Ratliff. Long also helped lead the Bulldogs this year to their first ever regional team track championship. Hamilton’s last regional track title was captured by the 2008 Lady Bulldogs in the same year Weems and Ratliff each earned individual gold medals at the state track meet. Pictured (l-r) following the bell ringing ceremony, Athletic Director Casey Jones, Head Track Coach Sonny DeLaGarza, Long, Coach Ryan Marwitz, Coach Aaron Emeyabbi and Coach Clayton Stuart. Staff Photos/Hinton

Friends of Hamilton ISD Foundation awarded innovative grants to HISD classes Friday. Clockwise from top left, recipients included ag department, HJH resource and English, Ann Whitney Elementary, AWE kindergarten and AWE/HJH life skills. Staff Photos/Jeschke

HISTORY COMES ALIVE at the Hamilton County Historical Museum Cemetery Walk on Saturday. Duane Cowart portrayed Roy “Spot” Brazil. James Yates told the tale of Ted Jones. Todd Barkley told stories of his uncle Bill Riley. Candace Thompson told the tale of Chester and Ella Atkinson, who owned the Atkinson Hotel. Staff photos.

MR. CHEVROLET- Tom Locke portrayed his grandfather, George B. Golightly, in the Hamilton County Historical Museum’s fifth annual Cemetery Walk Saturday in the IOOF Cemetery. Ruby Jones portrayed his wife, Frankie, well known for her weekly “Dink” column in The Hamilton Herald-News. Mr. Golightly was a prominent businessman and civic and church leader in Hamilton and was instrumental in the building of Hamilton County General Hospital and served as its first chairman of the board. He was a director of Perry National Bank and a charter member of Perry Country Club, where he could be found most Sunday afternoons. He operated Golightly Chevrolet for many years and bought the depot building when it was abandoned by the Cotton Belt Railway in 1941. Intending to build a new deadlership, he instead built his dealership encircling the depot at the corner of Highway 36 and Railroad Street. Staff Photo/Jeschke

WESTERN DAY- Parker Clowdus introduces classmate Krixus Penoyer to her calf during the first grade’s Western Day last week at Ann Whitney Elementary. More photos, Page 6. Staff Photo/Jeschke