Adventure Days of Knox County

Goree, Texas participated in the Adventure Days of Knox County on June 17-18^th. On Friday night, the Movement Space dancers performed. And after a cake auction, 3kord, praise band from Goree First Baptist, had a concert.

Saturday was a jammed packed day.

Trainham Ice, at the bank building, was station #6 for the Amazing Grace Race where five teams participated in challenges spanning the entire county. In Goree, their task was to melt ice until they filled a cup.

There were also teams pillaging around looking for the GPS locator in the ‘Underwood Building’ during the Geocaching Event.

Geocaching is an outdoor activity in which the participants use a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver or other navigational techniques to hide and seek containers (called "geocaches" or "caches") anywhere in the world or in our situation, Knox County.

Did I mention the 5K run? Early that morning at the Knox City Country Club folks ran for the cause.

A morning tour was scheduled for the southern part of the county. An afternoon tour of the northern part of the county ensued after Fireman’s Luncheon (benefited county-wide fire stations) at Benjamin School. About 11:45 a.m., a nice air conditioned yellow dog arrived in Goree and fifteen or so filed off. Upon entering the bank building, the stories began…stories about:

-the olden days, i.e. theater, skating rink, three grocery stores, five gas stations, etc.

-how the clean-up began

-the move of the town and school to be by the RR

-first brick building in 1906, domino hall, jail, GMB and beginnings

-Goree School, dorm rooms w/showers, music camp, quilt show w/tour bus, cowboy ball

-Miller Creek and outdoor adventures

And to top off the evening, a blues concert at the Munday Park. Thanks to everyone who made this ‘staycation’ possible in our own backyard. Here’s to great beginnings. And Goree, Texas cannot wait till next year.

2011 Cotton Pickin' Quilt & Food Show In Review

“It (speaking about the Quilt & Food Show) was even better than last year. There is something around every corner. I didn’t think it could get better”, was one comment overheard. Another, “See what can happen when two great groups work together for a common cause.”

Well it was way more than two great groups involved, but she was right...two were instrumental in pulling it off. Going for Greatness in Goree did the Quilt Show and Munday Chamber of Commerce did the Food Show. The Knox County Visioning Group, Knox City Chamber of Commerce, Knox County Historical Commission, Badlands Productions and Ranger Creek Ranch were among the rest.

It was mesmerizing to see over 100 quilts decorating the gym. Vendors were everywhere! The Home Ec Building was the spot for food vendors and cooking demonstrations. Gourmet Food Shows with “Yo Momma”, Cynthia Kinsey were well attended with standing room only. The first, “From Fridge to Fabulous in 30 Minutes”, was amazing. The other demonstration, “Puff Pastries—Breakfast, Dinner, Appetizers and Desserts”, wow’ed the crowd with extra pizzazz due to her warm, witty and fun personality. The east wing held four more rooms packed full with vendors.

If the next generation doesn’t take a hankerin’ to quilt, then it will be a sad day on the farm. The lost art isn’t lost, yet though. Thanks to groups like the Brazos Valley Quilt Guild. A “Log Cabin Challenge” was issued to their members. The Guild’s quilts made this year were required to incorporate the log cabin pattern and were judged by Donna Mizer. First place ribbon for the hand quilted category was awarded to Lula Baty and second went to Geraldine Koenig. First place in machine quilted went to Jan Carver and second to Mary Huffman. And finally, first in the wall hangings went to Carol Dickson and second went to Susan Spake. Experts, for certain.

Another endangered trade is canning. Lorrie Coop demonstrated “Canning & Food Preservation” techniques twice that day. And something that IS popular with the younger generation is scrapbooking. Ronda Thompson put her skills to work for everyone interested in scrapbooking with Creative Memories Products. Mrs. Penny Kizer demonstrated a new measuring tool that would make any sewing job a breeze. And Trainham Ice’s Caroline Garcia was on task sharpening scissors.

Quilt viewers were given the opportunity to vote on the quilt they liked most…the Viewer’s Choice Award went to Judy Hubbard who entered a Pinwheel Quilt given as a retirement gift from Munday First United Methodist Church which was pieced by Mary Huffman, hemmed by Penny Kizer and custom quilted by Amanda Bibb. Her prize was a beautiful rocking chair donated by Lake Creek Beverage Store of Goree, Texas. Joni Smith of Erick, Oklahoma won this year’s Raffle Quilt donated by Geraldine Koenig, pieced by Susan Spake & Friends, quilted by Jo Heard.

And finally, Agape Tours brought a group of forty-four clients on a Mystery Trip to experience the Knox County Adventure Tour. They met at the Bank Building in Goree for coffee and donuts, spent hours at the Quilt & Food Show and then were off to tour Knox County. They saw the Cathedral in a Cotton Field, were impressed with the fruits of Keep Munday Beautiful, gawked at tractor art and wall murals, ducked under the ‘almost-none-like-it’ bridge while headed to tour the jail and museum, flew by The Narrows (our little Continental Divide) and finally roosted at Ranger Creek Ranch for a marvelous dinner joined by Wyman and Sylinda Meinzer, our state photographer. An Agape Tour traveler is seen here with her door prize, an autographed copy of his latest, "Under One Fence: The Waggoner Ranch Legacy"

Great day in the morning! Job well done to ALL who made an event like this HAPPEN! It just gets better with age. Thanks, thanks, thanks…

The Scoop of Knox Prairie

A report on the three day event has been posted!

Nature Tourism

What fun we had gearing up for the Real Rural Tourism Symposium last Friday in preparation for tomorrow! Remelle and I toured the tour. We mapped, timed, planned and played all afternoon. Tough job, but someone had to do it. We blazed our way around Knox County and 'experienced the prairie'.

A heavy rain the night before kept us from 'experiencing' over in Vera, but that makes my excitement of the unknown grow even greater. I'm showin' up for the simple purpose of finishing what we started.

As this event plays out, it will be well worth the time and effort. The symposium is like a bridge which unites, connects and serves its' purpose. Through our county-wide connection we can accomplish something together that we couldn't alone. All of our little pieces make one beautiful picture called the Knox Prairie.


Here is a detailed schedule of the tour, click here. A lot has been going on around here due to the tour stopping in Goree and at the lake...James has the Memorial Building park mowed and spiffy, Glenn from the City has been sprucing up the street corners, Caroline and I went out to Miller Creek this morning and picked up four bags of trash, Miller Creek Ranch has dropped off refreshments for the stop at the lake and TXDOT has worked hard shredding highways and weedeating the overpass these last two days.

HUNT KNOX

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if there was a website that showcased the many hunting opportunities available in Knox County? The KCVG, Knox County Visioning Group, is starting a FREE new service: “HUNT KNOX.” The KCVG wants Knox County to stand out above the rest and to be a ‘go to’ county for hunting recreation, thus helping our county’s economy.

We want to connect landowners and hunters by utilizing the “Hunt Texas Online Connection”. There are two ways in which we can do this: 1) If a landowner or leaser has access to the internet, then we can provide them with the information needed to complete an online login and post their lease –or- 2) Our team will enter your information on the computer for you and filter prospective lessees. For more information contact Caroline Garcia or Tammie Trainham at the City of Goree, (940) 422-5306.

Job Fair

The KCVG, Knox County Visioning Group, hosted a job fair this evening and our town was well-represented. Earlier this afternoon I was asked if our town was having a caucus following the primary. After looking up the definitions for caucus and primary, I deducted that there were no plans for having a caucus; but we were having a primary election. (Am I showin' my age?) I asked Miss Margaret, “Now, why do you want to have a caucus?” To which she replied, “I want someone like you to represent us and put Goree on the map.”

After tonight’s job fair, I can honestly say that a few more folks know that something is going on in Goree, Texas. And even though we are ‘off’ the map except for an exit sign or two, we will not be ignored. As you can see by our booth, we stirred up some ‘talk’ about our town.

Thank you KCVG for giving Goree a place to pitch our new vision and for your support in putting Goree back on the map.

Knox County STRONG

A group of five Knox County citizens represented the Knox County Visioning Group in Abilene at a Texas Workforce Workshop this week. There were eight groups chosen to attend this workshop. These eight teams developed projects that economically benefited their communities, presented their ideas and were judged and awarded funding.

Our vision will be unveiled and marketed at a county-wide luncheon to be held in Benjamin on August 26th at 1:00 p.m. We aquired a wealth of information and implementation is inevitable now. Watch out world, here we come! May our enthusiasm be contagious.

Oh, I almost forgot~we were awarded $3000.00!!! Thanks to those who presented this opportunity, those who participated from KCVG and a big hand to our facilitator and scribe! ~And most of all, thank you Lord~