Hassells observe anniversary
      Edward and Gwendolyn Hassell of Rusk celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary Saturday, July 7 with a reception at First Baptist Church. Mr. Hassell married the former Gwendolyn Jones July 6, 1957, in Dialville. He retired from Brown & Root after 18 years, and then retired from his tire business after 18 years.
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Bowers-Birdsong
     Amy Michelle Bowers and David Herman Birdsong will be married at 4 p.m. Aug. 4 at the Alto First Baptist Church. She is the daughter of Luke Bowers of Tyler and Susan Mims of Whitehouse and is employed at the University of Texas at Tyler. He is the son of Randall and Verlene Birdsong of Alto and is the area manager for Oilind Safety in Tyler.
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Coffee fetes bride-elect
      Monika Marroquin, bride elect of Allen Parrish, was honored with a coffee June 30 at the First United Methodist Church fellowship hall. More than 40 persons attended the event. Ms. Marroquin is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Victor Marroquin of Austin and Genoveva Gomez- Marroquin of Houston.
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Alto youth makes it to Eagle Scout
Jonathan Avant made improvements to Caddoan Mounds for his project
BY LELAND ACKER
      A Rusk youth is blazing trails as he has earned the honor of becoming an Eagle Scout. Rusk/Alto scout leader Debbie White said Jonathan Avant is not only reaping the reward of his hard work, but will also be the first African American Eagle Scout in southern Cherokee County and possibly all of Cherokee County. Mrs.
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Riding high...
     (Above) Country artist Blake Shelton greets fans while performing at the Tops in Texas Rodeo in Jacksonville Friday. (Below) A professional barrel racer rides hard to victory. PHOTO: TARA CROSBY
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