Many citizens of Cooke County like to stay right here in their hometown or neighboring community to spend Christmas with family and friends, and look forward to sharing holiday traditions once more.
Melinda Cheatham said she is ready for Christmas.
“I'm going home to cook this afternoon,” she continued. “We're having pasta in a pot which is kind of a tradition on Christmas Eve. Then we have turkey and ham. For tradition we also go to a Candlelight Service on Christmas Eve. Everyone is coming home for Christmas.”
“Well, we're getting closer to being ready for Christmas,” said D.D. Blackman. “We're going right out to shop after eating lunch.”
Blackman said she and her husband, Bruce, have lived here in Gainesville for three years but, “their Christmas tradition is usually to go to Tulsa, Okla. and to spend it with Bruce’s parents and a brother there. They lived there for a long time too.”
Over in Muenster, Joyce Kindiger said she is celebrating Christmas with family there.
“We like not having to travel,” she added. “We’re having Christmas at my sisters' this year and we can walk there. It's about two blocks away.”
“We're kind of ready,” Sharon Heitzman said. “I have to go shopping one more time tonight. Then I’m finished.”
Heitzman said that family usually comes here for Christmas because she works and is a manager at Weber Aircraft. Her daughter, Casey, attends school in San Angelo and is just back to spend the holiday with them.
“For tradition we always go to Mass on Christmas Eve,” she continued. “I guess we've been doing that about twenty-something years. We always go to Mass in Pilot Point. That’s where my husband grew up.”
Karla Hutcherson said they don’t care so much to travel out for Christmas, but celebrate it here in town with family.
“A Christmas tradition is we still have turkey and dressing,” said added. “This year we are also going to have pheasant. My husband and son are pheasant hunters.”
“We couldn't give up the turkey,” said her husband David Hutcherson. “I don't understand, looks to me we eat just what we shoot,” he joked. He said they are “ready to roll” for Christmas.
Gina Dill said she and her family cook a big meal and open a lot of presents on Christmas.
“We usually don’t travel on Christmas, but a lot of people do. We just don’t have a lot of people really far off so we just stay here, and so many people, they say flying on the holidays is crazy.”
“Normal tradition at our household, since we’re grown kids now, is we come in on Christmas Eve, just with mom and dad and the three kids and then we open gifts about 5 p.m.,” said Marci Mullins. “Then we do a Christmas dinner and then we do a Midnight Mass. We’re from Muenster so we go to Midnight Mass at Sacred Heart. Back in the day when grandma and grandpa Haverkamp (Ben and Mamie) were alive, then we would go over to their house after Midnight Mass for breakfast.”
Mullins said that all of her family is pretty much here in Gainesville. “Our brother in Stephenville is the furthest one out,” she added.
Anita Morris said she likes to keep Christmas simple now and she likes to spend it here. “This is a nice place to be,” she said. “My kids are coming. So it's nice that way, not to have to be on the road.”
Local News
I'll be home for Christmas
Many residents plan to avoid travel, stay in town for holidays
- Local News
-
-
Randy Travis arrested in Sanger
SANGER — Country singer Randy Travis was arrested Monday morning in Sanger on a charge of suspicion of public intoxication.
-
In Memory of Andy
Gainesville Middle School designated Monday as Andy’s Lakers Day, in honor of Andy Sandoval, a GMS seventh-grader, who recently died of a brain aneurysm.
-
GHS students take top place finishes at academic meet
Several Gainesville High School students had top place finishes at the Ryan High School academic meet on Saturday.
Sophomores Mark Clark and Alexander “Alex” Huerta lead the leap of GHS leopards competing. -
Gainesville woman hit by car
THACKERVILLE, OKLA. — A road collision early Sunday morning near Thackerville injured one female pedestrian, a Gainesville resident whose identification has not been released by officials.
-
Gainesville native fights for justice
IDABEL, Okla. — An Idabel, Okla. police officer — reeling from the death of his friend and fellow officer — is trying to beef up his state’s negligent homicide laws.
-
As deadline approaches, election day unclear
As the Texas primary election approaches, a muddle continues locally and statewide as to exactly when election day arrives.
-
House District 68 candidates present platforms
EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the second part of a two-part report.
Texas House District 68 representative opponents stressed their intentions to mend local problems via “rural values” during Thursday’s candidate forum -
Cooke County emerges out of drought
For residents in Cooke County, one of the most severe droughts in Texas history is no longer a concern — for the time being, anyway.
-
Souper Bowl a super success
The aroma of some dozen different homemade soups filled the air Sunday in the lunchroom at the First Christian Church in Gainesville.
-
A mother's Love
VALLEY VIEW — She’s a crusader for special needs children and their parents, but Valley View resident Wendi Tipps doesn’t think of herself as a hero.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Former Komen Exec Defends Funding Cut
Skip the Coffee Cup and Inhale Your Caffeine Fix
Calif. Gay Marriage Ban Ruled Unconstitutional
Jury Selection for Ex-UVa Athlete Enters 2nd Day
Raw Video: Giants Celebrate Another Super Bowl
Cab Driver Helps Wis. Family Escape House Fire
Greek Leaders Seek Deal As Bankruptcy Looms
Bernanke: Recovery Depends on Consumer Spending
Staff Removed at LA School During Abuse Probe
Eastwood in Super Bowl Ad 'Compassionate'
Stranded Fishermen Rescued From Bay of Green Bay
Analyst: Outside Troops Won't Intervene in Syria
Police: Father Planned Deadly Fire for Some Time
US, UK Pressure on Syria; More Homs Violence
Raw Video: Mass Killer Wants Medal, Freedom
Court Strips Contador of Tour De France Title
Runaway Goat Leads Police on Wild Chase
And the Winner for Best Super Bowl Ad Is...
Romney Latest Poll to Join Let-me-explain Club
