

Gathering the grapes
Family, community members come together for first harvest Gary Daniels was worried the first harvest of his young Cross Roads vineyard wouldn’t be able to happen after fungus threatened his Tempranillo grape crop. Plenty of healthy grapes survived the gunk, and a crop of family and community helpers turned out Saturday morning to help make quick work of emptying the vines. “It’s all volunteer, and I didn’t have to ask more than once,” Gary said. He had help from fellow Cross


2020: A call to arms
Unforeseen outcome of 2020 oddness: Huge spike in gun sales His brow slightly furrowed, Tim Cordell leaned in for a closer look at his laptop screen. “Lotta guns being sold today,” he said. “Know how I know? It normally takes five minutes on a slow day to get a background check done. It’s taking forever right now.” Days like that have been common for staff at Cordell Outdoorz since March. An uncertain American populace became anxious with the COVID-19 pandemic and in recent m


Back to the Point
Booker returns to lead Lady Cat programs Michelle Booker is back in Pilot Point ISD, and she’s excited to fill her new role as the girls’ athletic coordinator. Booker, who was part of the softball and basketball coaching staffs from 2015-2018, wants to build on the strengths her athletes already possess while helping them grow in other ways, she said. “They’re obviously doing something right to be as successful as they are,” Booker said about the girls’ teams, especially soft


Staying close to his roots
Jurecka leads staff at Tioga post office, near Pilot Point home Jerry Jurecka is proof you can go home again. In fact, you don’t really ever have to leave. The Pilot Point native has spent his entire career with the United States Postal System and has never left the confines of north Texas since he joined the USPS at age 19. He is currently in his third month as postmaster at the Tioga Post Office, after spending the previous seven years as postmaster at Collinsville. Jurecka


FroFrom Iwo Jima to Pilot Point
Pilot Point resident creates flagpole to honor Marines Those with a patriotic spirit can view a tribute to the US Marines effort in Iwo Jima without leaving Pilot Point. This spring, local resident Jim LeGrotte toiled in his workshop for “about 45-50 hours” to create a miniature model of the famous statue, with a goal to finish by Memorial Day, he said. Fueled by materials from the Pilot Point Ace Hardware, LeGrotte completed the project by deadline and proudly posted his wor