With present Hallsville City officials planning to improve city streets, water pressure, building a new police station and other improvements it reminds me of the start of Hallsville as a city. We became a city over a town because of an improvement. We went from a town of home water wells and pumps to having a water system in 1939.

Tom Brown had down paper work on a grant to get money from the state for a water system. There was not any money, the depression was still on.

In late spring of 1938, Cedar street resident Dick Bolding received a telegram from the state saying appropriations had been allotted for money to build the water system for a Hallsville.

Why would Dick Bolding be notified? Bolding had been the mayor of Hallsville when it incorporated in 1935; it only stayed a city a few months. Residents didn't like the town as a city.

To get the grant Hallsville had to become a city and on June 18, 1938, 137 votes were cast with 116 for reincorporation and 21 against. The water system was finished in 1939. Uncle Tom Brown ran it until he left for work in defense plants during World War II. John Johnson was over it until the later in 1960 when Brown ran it again. Frank Craig came in 1970. Dick Bolding was not the mayor in 1938, A.L. Hendricks was. Bolding had been a lawman, and had a farm on Waldron Ferry Rd. across from where Don and Peggy Wilson live. He was also an officer with Farmers State Bank. His wife, Novie, had a hat shop about where the Barber Shop is now. I think it had been the Post Office once when Judge Lynch was postmaster. When the cotton gin burned in November of 1952, I thought it was the hat shop, from my view on Pine Street.

When good athletes marry, do their kids excel in sports? Scott Peace went to state in the pole vault and Gay Greer Peace played on a volleyball team that went three deep. Their oldest son, Zachary was a starter in football, but has turned into a real star in track at his school in Brandon, Miss. In the district track meet, the junior entered six events, won all the events, and their school won the district championship. In the regional meet at Clinton, La., he placed first in the 300m hurdles, 110m hurdles, second in the 800m relay, 400m dash, and 1600-mile relay; and third in the 400m relay. He will compete at state on Saturday at Mississippi College in Clinton, Miss; Grandparents will be there.

Bobcats play at home tonight at 7 p.m., and Ladycats play at Lindale at 5 p.m. Ladycats play Rockwall-Heath (19-12). They defeated Little Elm 5 to 2 in 12 innings and 5-0. Whitehouse plays McKinney North. The Ladycats defeated Bullard in a warm up game 5-0. The 2001 team was also undefeated in district at 10-0. Scott Mitchell's Bobcats should be a slight favorite over Lindale tonight. The team will have to play better than they did against Pine Tree. Their young pitcher shut us out. They will play in Lindale on Saturday at 1 p.m. To Lindale, follow Interstate Highway 20 to the Lindale exit, turn right on State Highway 64, turn right at the Lindale Junior High School sign, baseball and softball fields are to the right of the school. The softball field has tier seating so you need to take a lawn chair. The baseball field does have stadium seating.

Karen Glowczwski recently spoke to the Lions Club on mentoring. The pancake supper had the largest crowd in years.