Now_Staff_Writer


Dancing to Conjunto

Overwhelmed with emotion, the woman approached the stage and stretched her hand toward the singer, Betty Barajas. As Betty clasped her hand, the woman quite unexpectedly slipped an authentic pearl bracelet around her wrist. Surprised by the gift, Betty said, “I gave her my hand because I thought she wanted to hold it. One […]


Mansfield’s Marathon Man

Growing up in Pennsylvania, Steve Szeszko spent most of his youth playing outdoors, going to school or practicing with the school band. He was never much interested in competitive sports. Today, Air Force Master Sergeant Steve Szeszko, husband and father to two young daughters, is passionate about marathon running, one of the most challenging […]


Digging in the Dirt

Margie Duke has always loved living in the country. “My roots and upbringing are here,” she reminisced. “I used to ride a tractor and pick cotton with my dad.” Is it any wonder then that several years after she and her late husband, Joe, married, they would make their home in the country? And […]


July is Crape Myrtle Time

Look around at all those gorgeous, blooming trees! If you do not have some crape myrtle trees, try them. There are varieties for every space, taste and color preference. They can run from 2 feet (miniatures) to 20-plus feet (tree size). They are all ultra- hardy and do very nicely on natural rainfall after […]


Do Not Drink the Water

Those happy days of summer spent splashing in the pool without a care in the world may not be so carefree. The closing of public pools because of contamination brought Recreational Water Illnesses (RWI) to the forefront. RWIs occur when swallowing or having some contact with water that is contaminated with pathogens (germs). These […]


Sounds of Learning

Student-drawn monkeys, tigers and other jungle animals trek across the brightly colored halls of the Mansfield campus of Pantego Christian Academy (PCA), where the sounds of learning echo with what can only be described as fun. Perhaps it is the dedicated teachers, partnered with involved parents, resolved to bringing up children to stand on […]


Board the Pirate Ship

This is not a tale of pirates who sail the seas and steal plunder. This is a story about a Little League team, supported by coaches, families, teachers and neighbors. Only two things are on their list to steal: bases and hearts. “What makes our team unique is that every one of these kids […]