Mount Pleasant Business Report by Johnny Longlegs

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2016 CHAMBER BANQUET

Total resource campaign Wrap-up

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Mount Pleasant

EASTER PICNIC IN THE PARK MAR/APR ISSUE 20 2016

EAT LOCAL CHALLENGE 2016 BI-MONTHLY BUSINESS REPORT

Mount Pleasant

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contents:

Partners 4 Chamber Banquet 6

Total Resource Campaign 8 Easter Picnic in the Park

Eat Local Challenge 2016 12

Everything Texas Heartbeat: Sandra Pirkey 14

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Taking To the next level New Partners Jan 1, 2016 - Feb 29, 2016 Alma Mart Amigos Latinos Al Servicio Bodies By Brandon Crazy 8 Package Store Cross Fit Ti-CO Cutting Edge Lawn & Landscape East Texas Recycling East Texas Sinus & Dizziness Center Edd Hess Escape on the Lake Evento Keyolis Farmer’s Insurance - Dillon Lee Agency Faustine Curry Flex Steel Industries Hampton Speech-Language Pathology Hefner Roofing & Construction, LLC Kountry Korner KRB Investments, LLC

La Carreta Bazar La Neveria Michoacana Ministerio Agape Mount Pleasant Assistant Living Center Mrs. Baird’s Bread MSM Surveying Novatec Green Space Contracting Oasis Liquor Pearl’s Kitchen Pic - N – Pay Piney Woods Family Dentistry Raw Iron Gym RE/MAX Paramount: Christine Ballard RE/MAX Paramount - Suzie Castillo Restaurante El Mana Round Eye Sushi Guy Sam Guzman Photography Sam’s Sweets

Sherwin Williams Paint Co. Shutter Bug Photo Booth Stewart Real Estate Inspections Sur Hair Lounge, Boutique & More Surratt & Kennington Texas Craigs Texas Farm Bureau - Todd Jaggers The Market on 67 Tim Ingram Timber Creek Ranch Titus County Democratic Party Travis Mortgage - Ester Ramirez-Smith Uniquely Yours Salon United Country: Rocking T Ranch Realty - Katie Tosh Victor Rutledge Willow Creek Farming Company

Renewing Partners Jan 1, 2016 - Feb 29, 2016

AA's TreeHouse Learning Center AAA Bail Bonds Al Riddle Arby's Backroad Bar and Grill Blalock Bar-B-Que Bradfords LLC Buddy Marshall Insurance Agency Inc. Cannaday Business Services CASA of Titus, Camp & Morris Counties Center Church Citizens national Bank Coffee Break & More Conroy Tractor, Inc. Day & Nite Foods Denney Land Surveying, LLC Dennis Cameron Construction & Equipment, LLC Diamond T Outfitters Discount Tire East Texas Children's Dentistry PA East Texas Medical Center- Pittsburg East Texas Phone Repair and Satellite Service East Texas Proscapes, LLC Edward Jones - David Patterson El Chico Electron Security Systems Gary's Gun and Pawn Shop

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Glyn's Western Wear & Boot Repair Greater Hope Church of God in Christ Heav'nly Foods Highland Park Baptist Church Homeboy Sportswear It's A Small World Ivan Smith Furniture Jo's Downtown K Sounds Kindle Light School L & J Pet Products La Carretta Lesher & Associates Lori Chism, Attorney at Law Massage Therapy by Krislyn Pierce McGuire-Dyke Investment Group Mid America Flight Museum Mid America Pet Food Mills Flowers Mount Pleasant Animal Clinic Mount Pleasant Delta Waterfowl Mount Pleasant Tire and Brake, Inc. NAPA Auto Parts National Wild Turkey Federation NeTseO Trails Council Niblett Rental Properties Northeast Texas Bikers Church

Northeast Texas Therapy Connections, LLc Peoples Telephone Cooperative, Inc. R & R Marine Redfearn Property Management Revive Fitness Rober C Sikes DDS Ronnie Dunavant Scrubbies Wash USA, Inc Super Bueno Taqueria Daysi's y Mariscos Terri Lee - Century 21 Landmark Associates Texas A&M University - Texarkana @ NTCC TexTrail Trailer Parts The Coffee Man The Farmer's Wife The Mount Pleasant Dentist Thompson Air Conditioning & Heating Inc. Titus County Shelter Friends Titus GOP Total Lawn & Fence Travis McInroe Insurance Trinity Mother Frances Hospitals and Clinics Vaughn's Catfish Whataburger YGM

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The Chamber honored local business owners, volunteers and presented its first Everything Texas Business of the Year at its Annual Membership and Awards Banquet in January. The awards ceremony is a highlight of the annual banquet, naming recipients for lifetime achievement, civic volunteerism, the most active Chamber ambassador and the newly-created business award.

Baker’s, presented the award.

tors and is a member of the Art Scharlach Memorial Foundation. He “His education started on a farm and his wife, Kelly, also support the where he learned about responsibil- Titus County Fair, Cypress Basin ity, hard work, ethics, coupled with Hospice, Titus County Cares and natural intelligence and savvy. He educational projects. started manufacturing trailers in a tin barn at 17. At 23, he settled up with his partner, went out to Odessa and started Big Tex Trailers,” Scharlach said. Big Tex opened a manufacturing plant in Mount Pleasant in 1995 and later moved its headquarters from Odessa to Mount Pleasant. In 2001, he received national recognition by earning the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award. Scharlach said Baker is an example of the opportunities our freedoms in this country give us “if you develop your skills, work hard, have a plan and do the right thing, regardless, and surround yourselves with people you trust.” Baker said he was honored to receive the award, but gave credit for the company’s success to the “great team that has been assembled and worked hard for more than 35 years that we’ve been in business.”

KIM CRABB: CITIZEN OF THE YEAR

Kim Crabb, co-owner of Diamond C Trailers, earned the Citizen of the RICKY BAKER: LIFETIME Year award. The previous year’s ACHIEVEMENT recipient, Kellye Cooper, presented the award to Crabb, touting her Ricky Baker earned the Lifetime “It is an honor to be able to maintain many volunteer activities in the Achievement Award. Baker rea strong civic commitment to the community. ceived the award for his accomcommunity that we live in,” Baker plishments in founding Big Tex said. Crabb volunteers for the Titus Trailers in 1982. Art Scharlach, reCounty Cares reading program in tired former CEO of Guaranty Bank Baker serves on the Titus Regional local elementary schools. She was & Trust and a longtime friend of Medical Foundation board of direc- one of the top producers of the

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Chamber’s 2015 Total Resource Campaign, handles the accounting for the Titus County Fair Youth Livestock Auction and is serving a second term as a board member for Mount Pleasant ISD. She also helped organize the Titus County Relay for Life and currently serves on the sponsorship team. She and her company help the local Operation Christmas Child drive, which sent 800 shoeboxes to the national ministry for kids in need around the world last year. She also handles all the sponsorships for the Quake on Town Lake event, which benefits Cypress Basin Hospice.

ber’s Business Development Com- certification will be given a Chammittee. ber sponsored ad in the local newspapers that highlights their HERSCHEL’S: EVERYTHING Everything Texas product or serTEXAS BUSINESS vice, a feature in the Everything Texas Weekly newsletter, special Herschel’s Family Restaurant was features on the Chamber’s social named the inaugural winner of the media outlets and the Everything Chamber’s Everything Texas Busi- Texas Certified logo prominently ness of the Year award. The newly displayed next to their business -minted award is open to businame on our online business dinesses who participate in the Eve- rectory, and last but not least, the rything Texas Certification Prochance to win the Everything Texgram, a program the Chamber as Business of the Year Award.” started as a way to further promote its Everything Texas brand. The Chamber also recognized outgoing directors Matt Clump, Brad The nominees were: East Texas Lowry, David Hooper, Dennis “I love Mount Pleasant. That’s why Journal, Echo Publishing, Edison Newman, Shannon Norfleet and I do all I do,” Crabb said. “I want to Phonograph Museum, Guaranty Jey Yancey, thanking them for see Mount Pleasant grow. I grew Bank & Trust, Herschel’s Family their three years of service. up here, and I just enjoy talking to people, getting The 2016 Executive Board out in the community. I’m and Directors were intrototally honored, surprised duced. and amazed.” Executive Board: Rob MARK ALEXANHedges, Republic Services DER: BILL PRICE AM– chairman; Trent Abbott, BASSADOR AWARD Guaranty Bank & Trust – chairman elect; Glen CalMark Alexander, co-owner vert, Priefert Complex Deof Superior Mortgage, was signs – vice chairman; Tothe recipient of the Bill ny Mize, Brookshire GroPrice Ambassador of the cery Company – vice Year Award. The award is given to Restaurant and Mount Pleasant chairman; Vikki Goates, American the Chamber Ambassador who Country Club. Chamber CEO Katie National Bank – treasurer; Richard earns the most points by attending Stedman and Beverly Austin, chair Witherspoon, Herschel’s Restaumeetings, ribbon cuttings and of the Chamber’s Shop Local task rant – past chairman, and Katie chamber events and functions. force, presented the award to Her- Stedman - chief executive officer. Karen Neeley, the chair of the schel’s for its creation of the EveChamber Ambassador’s commitrything Texas Burger. Directors: John Allen, Titus Retee, said Alexander earned 520 gional Medical Center; Beverly points. Bill Price, after whom the “The burger was showcased along Austin, Northeast Texas Small award is named, presented the with the logo on the restaurant’s Business Development Center; award to Alexander. menu and at community events, Jacob Butler, Pilgrim Bank; Barry showing off the taste of Everything Hamilton, Hamilton’s Jewelers; “This award goes to the ambassa- Texas,” Stedman said. Hudson Old, East Texas Journal; dor who tries to keep up with the Ester Ramirez Smith, Superior standard that Bill Price set for us Austin thanked all of the business- Mortgage Services; Tracie Smith, for seven straight years,” Neeley es for being such wonderful exam- Northeast Texas Credit Union; said. “So far no one has come ples of “the best of Everything Tex- Mitchell Walker, Northeast Texas close to Bill’s 700 points, but it as.” Community College; and Kerry takes a lot of participation to reach Wootten, Russell & Wootten PC 520.” The Chamber hopes that new businesses will join the Everything Photo courtesy of Marcia Davis. Alexander served as a member in Texas Certification program. Acthe Chamber Total Resource cording to Stedman, “All Chamber Campaign and chairs the Champartners who choose to apply for

“It is an honor to be able to maintain a strong civic commitment to the community that we live in.”

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The Chamber’s annual Total Resource Campaign wrapped up March 2, setting records in both aspects of the campaign. Four teams of Chamber volunteers fanned out across the city and county beginning Jan. 26 to sign up businesses for sponsorship opportunities that will fund Chamber programs for the coming year. The TRC also serves as the Chamber’s annual membership drive. “We blew past the goal,” said Chamber CEO Katie Stedman. “It was down to the wire, but we made it, exceeding our goal by $11,000.” The campaign generated 520 sponsorships for a total of just over $176,000. The volunteers also signed up a record 52 new Chamber members during the campaign. In 2015, businesses snapped up 476 sponsorship opportunities and 45 businesses joined the chamber. There were also 78 renewing mem-

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bers this year, up from 70 last year. The TRC total has increased every year. Stedman gave credit to the This year’s campaign was the most businesses and the volunteers who successful to date, with the rush to made it possible. the finish line generating a record one-day amount. “The only reason we were able to achieve this is because we live in a community of people who believe in this city and want to be a part of its success,” she said. “This is for Mount Pleasant. This isn’t about the Chamber. It’s about our community and making sure we are using these dollars to truly add value to our members who help support the projects. We believe the TRC campaign ultimately benefits everyone in Mount Pleasant by making it a better place to live.”

“In the morning of the last day, we were still $4,000 short of the goal. By the end of the day, we had raised $15,000,” Stedman said.

Stedman said businesses use their marketing budgets to select sponsorships designated for specific projects the Chamber is planning throughout the year. “We don’t raise money for just general operating expenses. The busi-

nesses give to a specific project, event or product the chamber is producing,” she said. “We are then able to promote our sponsors in creative and meaningful ways that are good for them while their sponsorship dollars allow us to do some great things in the community.” She said the TRC lines up those underwriting opportunities ahead of time so the Chamber has every event or project funded in advance.

good stewards of the money we’ve and she is looking forward to buildraised in the past,” Abbott said. ing a great rapport with those new businesses. He also said the TRC success also speaks to the fact that that the “We want to support what our Hiseconomy is doing well in Mount panic neighbors are doing because Pleasant. they add so much richness and diversity to what is offered in the community,” she said.

We were able to achieve this is because we live in a community of people who believe in this city and want to be a part of its success.

“The TRC is basically a blueprint and a strategy for the Chamber for the entire year,” she said. “Our members can rest assured that we are actually doing things for businesses and the community every month of the year.”

Stedman said there were several volunteers this year who had great connections with leaders in the Hispanic community. One of those volunteers, Ester Smith, brought in 12 new members in one day.

The Chamber staff, board, volunteers and members celebrated with a victory party at Two Senioritas Another new segment of the busiMarch 3, recognizing Kim Crabb as ness community the Chamber the top individual producer and reached out to is home-based businesses. This year, the Chamber Trent Abbott, the TRC chair, said added a membership category with the success of the campaign lower annual dues than a regular “speaks to our community and how small business. much they support not only the Chamber, but what’s going on in “It’s $150 for a home-based busithe city.” ness. That’s a one-man shop operated out of someone’s home. They “The fact that we raised the amount don’t have a storefront, but they of money we raised in a town the have a business and they should size of Mount Pleasant speaks to be able to have an opportunity to the quality of the people and the connect to the greater business businesses we have here,” Abbott community and to potential customsaid. ers just like people who own a building,” Stedman said. The camHe said his strategy for the teams paign added seven members in was to work together for a common that category. goal. “I told our sales teams, ‘You’ve got the easiest job.’ We have an easy product to sell because people love our community. They love being from Mount Pleasant and this Troy Sellers’ “Everything Texas proves it,” Abbott said. “We’re sell- Winning Team” as the top producing our community and people buy ing team. into that. They love it.” Stedman said one of the biggest He said the success was due to successes of the campaign is the “the great volunteers and a great number of new Hispanic-owned community.” businesses that have come on “It is a testimony that we’ve been board as new Chamber members mtpleasanttx.com

but also wanted to make it is a leisurely affair reminiscent of the Old South. “We are encouraging people to come out with their whole family. Dress up and bring an Easter basket and your picnic basket and enjoy your lunch in the park,” Stedman said. “We didn’t want to just do an egg hunt. We want people to really be able to enjoy time with their families.”

popcorn. The Easter egg hunt will be open to kids ages 12 and under, with three hunts planned in designated areas of the park for kids 3 and under, 47 and 8-12. “We will have age-appropriate prizes for the egg hunt and surprises for families throughout the day,” Stedman said.

With this being the first year for Easter Picnic in the Park, Stedman So, while the kids are scouring the said they are guessing at the numgrass for pink, blue, green, orange, ber of kids who will come, so they yellow and purple candy-and prize- are planning for about 20,000 eggs. filled eggs, teens and adults can The presenting sponsor is BrookDellwood spread a blanket, open their picnic shire Grocery Company. Additional Park will baskets and munch away on their sponsors Thurman’s Pro-Med bloom in multi-colored favorite foods while they watch. Pharmacy, Northeast Texas Pedipastels this month as girls Shutter Bug Photo Booth will be atric Clinic, Robert’s Air Conditionand boys dressed in frills and bow there to capture family photos with ing, Denney’s Land Surveying, ties go on the hunt for Easter eggs. the Easter Bunny. East Texas Proscapes, Re Max – It’s the first in a long time. A cityBrad and Erin Buchanan, Rychlik wide Easter event is set for Satur- “We’re encouraging people to Auto Services and Super 1 Foods. day, March 19 from 11 a.m. to 1 come in their Sunday best,” Stedp.m. man said. “We’d love to see fami“The number of sponsors who are lies dressed up to get their picture supporting this event is incredible “The City of Mount Pleasant and taken with the Easter Bunny.” and confirms the excitement in the the Chamber are working hand in community for an event like this at hand to create this event that will Center Church has partnered on Easter,” said Stedman. be very family centric,” said Cham- this event and will be making this “Partnerships and synergy are what ber CEO Katie Stedman. “Any op- their congregation’s main Easter make this community great, and we portunity for the Chamber and the event. They will be bringing the Ark are hoping for a fabulous turnout City to work together is an opporto the park to provide entertainand a great day for families.” tunity we love.” ment. Their volunteers will also provide a variety of yard games and Organizers wanted to host a hunt will serve everyone sno-cones and

April is the month for ditching your dishes and dining out.

Cook Tuesday contests, will be held April 1-29 featuring approximately 40 Chamber member eaterFrom juicy piled-high cheeseburg- ies. It’s part of the Chamber Memers and fresh deli sandwiches to ber Advancement Committee’s crispy chicken and fish to simShop Local Initiative with a special mered all day marinara and sizzling focus on food. fajitas, Mount Pleasant has a variety of mouth-watering favorites to “We designate April to celebrate satisfy your palate during Eat Loour restaurants and their contribucal. tion to our community,” said Shop Local Chair Beverly Austin. The Annual campaign, which features Don’t Cook in April and Don’t There are two ways to win with

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weekly drawings for eating out on Tuesdays and a chance to win the grand prize at the end of the month. Prizes have been sponsored by Pick & Pay, Brookshire’s, H&R Distributing and Hamilton’s Jewelers. Here’s how it works:

Don’t Cook Tuesday Contest  Eat at a participating restaurant on Tuesday.

 The diner must put their name and contact number on the back of the Tuesday receipt as well as the name of their server and restaurant.  Diners will drop their receipts in designated Shop Local boxes located in each participating restaurant.  A representative from the restaurant will bring those receipts to the Chamber by noon on Wednesday.  The Chamber will draw from the receipts and award a prize to the Don’t Cook Tuesday winner every Wednesday afternoon in April! Don’t Cook in April Contest  Eat out every day or any day in April at a participating restaurant.  Diners put their name, contact number, the name of the server and restaurant on the back of each receipt.  Diners will drop their receipts in designated Shop Local boxes located in each par-

ticipating restaurant.

tin said.

 A representative from the restaurant will bring the receipts to the Chamber every day or by the deadline - Friday, April 29 at noon.

This year’s campaign will also be different in that members of the MAC Task Force will be going to the restaurants wearing MAC Tshirts to eat together and support member restaurants.

 On Friday, April 29, the Chamber coordinators will gather all receipts from Don’t Cook Tuesday and Don’t Cook in April for the Big Drawing.  A diner’s name will be drawn for the Big Drawing.  The server whose name is on the back of the winning receipt will win in the Big Drawing.  The restaurant with the most total receipts will win in the Big Drawing.

 The winners of the Big Drawing will be announced April 29 at 2 p.m. at Herschel's Family Restaurant, last year’s winning restaurant for most receipts. “The managers will get their employees engaged and everyone has a chance to win a prize,” Aus-

“We will visit our members restaurant and have lunch there, so those members will know that their Chamber supports them,” Austin said. “It’s our way of bringing more awareness to our restaurants. The patrons will know we are there and that there are committed and passionate Chamber members eating in the restaurant that day.” Austin said the Eat Local campaign has had incredible success in past years and the committee’s goal is to increase 2015’s $53,000 in total receipts by 20 percent. Overall, the MAC Shop Local Initiative has a vision “to increase opportunity and economic growth in Titus County through collaboration, cooperation and support.” “Our strategy for the year-long marketing effort is to answer the question, ‘Why you should visit, live, open a business or shop in Titus County,’” Austin said.

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Sandra Pirkey Chamber CEO’s office. She’s dressed for a morning ribbon cutting ceremony in her Chamber Ambassador navy blue blazer adorned with a colorful scarf, which gives it an elegant, feminine touch. Recalling the friendly ribbing from her male counterparts in the local business world only enhances the pride she exudes at her long and successful career.

Pirkey has long been involved with the Chamber, serving previously as chairman of the board, on various committees and as a Chamber Ambassador.

“I served as chairman of the Ambassadors several times. One time, they wouldn’t let me step down,” she said. “I’m strongly behind what the Chamber does for our community and for our businesses. It is a Originally from Dekalb, Pirkey necessity for networking and comopened her agency in Mount Pleas- munication. We support each other. ant in 1984 after graduating from That’s very important.” Tyler Commercial College and working as an insurance claims She attends every ribbon cutting adjuster in Texarkana. She joined ceremony that she can to support the Chamber the same year, imme- the new businesses and to be a diately seeing the value it could part of what’s going on in the complay in building her business from munity. She described the AmbasSandra Pirkey has been a leader in its paltry foundation. sadors as being the face of the the business community for more Chamber. than 30 years. Recently retired, the “When I started, I had my dining feisty, energetic icon turned the room chair, a borrowed desk and a “It’s mainly PR. We’re out there independent insurance agency damaged file cabinet that I paid talking and visiting and telling peoover to Bo Rester and Jason Reid. $50 for,” Pirkey said. “It was a mea- ple what the Chamber can do for ger start, I tell you, but I remember them. I like telling the business “They have really teased me about the Chamber being there. I still people what a value it will be to two men replacing a woman,” have the pictures of the Chamber their business,” she said. Pirkey said, chuckling, during an cutting the ribbon for my business interview around a table in the and that means a lot to me.” She loves sharing in the joy of new

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“I’m strongly behind what the Chamber does for our community and for our businesses. It is a necessity for networking and communication. We support each other. That’s very important.”

business owners when they get to use the giant scissors and cut the ribbon on their shops. “Each one means our community is getting stronger and building and we share in that, and that makes me feel good,” Pirkey said.

She also said it’s been a lot of fun making lifelong friends.

“I get a lot of pleasure out of making friends and I like the support and the advice. When you’re in business, you rely on other people for information. That was important She said having the older genera- to me, to be a part of the communition of business people supporting ty and the business world, so I the younger generation just putting would know what was going on up their “Open” signs is especially and stay involved,” she said. rewarding. She said she will miss being “in the “I enjoy seeing that and I always loop,” but making more time for say, ‘I’ll pray for you,’” she said. volunteering will replace the hours “That support gives them a degree spent working for a living. In her of comfort to know that we’re there transition to retired life, she has to help in any way they need.” kept her personal office at the Her advice to encourage them in agency. their journey? “I’ll get up every morning and dress “I think the thing that helped me is like I’m going to the office. I’m still to remember that you will not altrying to get acclimated to working ways succeed, but failure is a part out of the house,” she said. “That’s of life just like success, so I think to what concerned me most about have the courage to fail is part of retiring. I don’t really have a hobby. being an entrepreneur,” she said. State Farm was my life. I devoted “You have to be able to face life all of my time to that.” like that.” But, retirement has given her more time to travel with her husband, She said she tells them, “We’re all Charles Pirkey, a retired math in this together and you always teacher. have someone you can call to talk to and get you through the tough “We’ve traveled a lot. That’s mainly times and keep going. Just work, what we do. We just get in the car that’s what it is, work.” and go,” she said. “It may not be far, but that’s what we like to do.

We have no children. My husband and I have always been friends and we do things together.” She said she told Charles he was going to have “twice the wife and half the money” when she retired. “He said, ‘I was afraid of that!’ Pirkey said with a laugh.

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MOUNT PLEASANT BUSINESS REPORT An official publication of the Mount Pleasant/Titus County Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Council 1604 North Jefferson | Mount Pleasant Texas 75455 903.572.8567 | mtpleasanttx.com Mount Pleasant/Titus County Chamber Publisher Katie Stedman Editor in Chief Mandy Stringer Creative Director Mandy Stringer Graphic Design, Layout Lynda Stringer Contributing Writer Echo Publishing Co. Printing

Mount Pleasant/Titus County Chamber of Commerce 1604 North Jefferson Avenue Mount Pleasant, TX 75455 www.mtpleasanttx.com info@mtpleasanttx.com (p) 903.572.8567 (f) 903.572.0613

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