Herald Democrat

Serving Sherman, Denison, Bonham and the Red River Valley. Curated by Joshua Brumett

[heralddemocrat]

I finally found something easier to shoot than children with animals: old people in Halloween costumes... This might break Tumblr

A photographer, overheard in the newsroom

[npr]

Health officials are saying it. Scientists are saying it. Heck, even many journalists are saying it: “The risk of Ebola infection remains vanishingly small in this country,” The New York Times wrote Wednesday.

But what does that mean? Are you more likely to be struck by lightning or catch Ebola?

The answer to your question: What’s my risk of catching Ebola?

Graphic credit: Adam Cole and Ryan Kellman for NPR

[heralddemocrat]

Are you ready for Halloween?  These kids are!  Sherman's Halloween Carnival was Thursday evening, because why shouldn't we start eating candy a week before the holiday?

[heralddemocrat]

I figured if it's good enough for the kids on Toddlers in Tiaras, it's good enough for the reporters.

An editor, overheard in the newsroom

[heralddemocrat]

Through Habitat, a home for 30 families

Habitat for Humanity of Grayson County is in the middle of their 30th home.  Check out our feature on the lives that have been transformed across the county, from home number one to home number 30.  And, more importantly, find ways to help here.

[heralddemocrat]

Weekend Roundup! All our finest news from over the weekend, hand-selected for your browsing pleasure.

Ann Smajstrla feels like a legume at the Whitesboro Peanut Festival.

Saturday was National Fossil Day.  Did you go fossil hunting?  We did.

We report on Sherman High School's fledgling culinary arts program in a shameless attempt to get free food.

All this, plus nostalgia for a time we don't remember.

[heralddemocrat]

Will you tell me if I am reading this correctly? I am neither an economist nor a farmer.

Overheard in the newsroom

[heralddemocrat]

Enterovirus D68: the facts

Most healthy adults have nothing to fear from this virus. In fact, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, many adults can catch the virus and fight it off without ever showing symptoms. Babies, children and teenagers are far more likely to become sick from EV-D68, which can cause symptoms similar to the common cold. Children may have fever, runny nose, sneezing, cough, and body and muscle aches, the CDC’s website states.

“Some kids will be perfectly fine, they’ll just be sick for a couple of days,” said Stevenson. “But for some kids, it can be really serious and develop severe respiratory illness.”

Read More...

And of course, you can always check out the CDC's information on the virus.

[heralddemocrat]

"I don't think they give them candy. They probably give them socks. You know, stuff that old people need. I don't know."

Overheard in the Newsroom (on trick or treat night at the senior center)

[heralddemocrat]

Marching bands tune up for competition

“In terms of competition, you’re not going up against other bands. You’re going up against an ideal, a standard, a set of criteria,” said SHS Band Director Ryan Jenkins. If you match up to that ideal, you earn a rating of “Division one.” 

Read More...

Check out our local marching bands Saturday at Clark Stadium in Plano. Denison will take the field at 3:10 p.m. and Sherman at 4:40 p.m. 

[heralddemocrat]

Sorry, folks, no pictures.

[heralddemocrat]

I don't want to help Hitler. Better not play with these matches.

Overheard in the newsroom

[heralddemocrat]

"Voice" propels Sherman man into national spotlight

Taylor Phelan is not a household name — at least not yet, anyway. But as career trajectories go, the last few weeks of Phelan’s life have been like settling into the firing chamber of a cannon marked “Fame.”

Two weeks ago, the 2007 graduate of Sherman High School was just another dude: a slightly built, pompadoured 25-year old who ran a start-up design company with his wife out of their Sherman home. Then Sept. 23 happened.

That was the date NBC aired the second episode of the seventh season of its hit singing competition “The Voice.” Phelan, appearing sixth out of the eleven contestants that night, stood in front of a national TV audience and sang a one-minute, thirty-six-second snippet of the indie-rock ballad “Sweater Weather.”

Read More...

A hometown boy on nbcthevoice - we'll be rooting for you!

[heralddemocrat]

Pizza in the newsroom!

Pizza! In the Newsroom!  It's Friday and there is pizza in the newsroom!

[heralddemocrat]

Sherman Symphony Orchestra prepares for a new season

“This is our 49th season and the first season where we are presenting our concerts ourselves, selling our own tickets and handling the details of advertising and such,” said Daniel Dominick, music director and conductor. “It is a very exciting season. The repertoire is fantastic, there are wonderful players in the group, we are doing opera again at the end of the season, and our Pops concert will include movie and TV themes that everyone will recognize. We are going to play classical pieces that were the influences for that popular culture of music.”

Read More...

Tickets can be purchased here or by calling 800-595-4849. Reserve seating, general admission and special student pricing is available.

[heralddemocrat]

On Friday evening, four young women from North Texas lost their lives when their softball team's bus was struck by a semi truck.  Our hearts go out to the Texoma communities affected by this tragedy.  We will continue to cover this story as investigations develop.

The latest details on the accident from the National Transportation Safety Board.

NCTC students and family mourn their loss.

The young women, as remembered by their high school coaches.

[heralddemocrat]

How many cookies we got over there? Cause I am calling dibs on one of them bad boys.

Overheard in the newsroom