'Sterling Celebration' set for YesterYear
BY SUZANNE LOUDAMY Staff writer

The calendar says June. It must be time for YesterYear in Whitehouse. And the year 2007 brings about the 25th anniversary for the celebration of the city's heritage for its citizens and the many guests who come to experience the fun of the festival.

Activities begin on Friday, June 15 with the Roy Lawrence Memorial Golf Tournament to be held at Eagle's Bluff Country Club. The tournament cost of $75 per player includes green fees, cart, range balls and lunch. The shot gun start is at 1:30 p.m. with registration beginning at 11:30 and lunch at 12:30. Contact Steve Emmons at 903-245- 0074 for more information.

Saturday, June 16 Princess Shelby Hilburn, her Ladies in Waiting Meagan Barkley and Lindsey Taylor and their courts will be formally presented during the coronation beginning at 7 p.m. in the Whitehouse High School auditorium. The ball will follow. A live band, dancing and delicious food will fill the evening with fun. Tickets are $10 each.

The next event is a tea held in honor of the reigning Mr. and Mrs. YesterYear. This year's couple is Clarence and Girthal Miller. The tea will be held in the Commons area of the high school on Sunday, June 17 from 2-4 p.m. It is free and open to the public.

The fourth weekend of June finally arrives and with it comes the YesterYear Review on Friday night. It is a variety show of sorts with local talent singing, dancing and acting their way into the hearts of many. This year's theme of "Sterling Moments … A 25th Celebration" will focus on the 25 years of the festival and those who have made it great. This will also feature the Royal Courts and all their pageantry. Tickets for this event are $5.

The event that every kid in town waits for finally arrives on Saturday, June 23. The annual parade will begin at 10 a.m. at the junior high. The route will take the floats, clowns, Shriners and marchers south on Hwy. 110 and then east on FM 346 to Bascom Road. Those interested in being part of the parade can contact Kurt Kunzman at 903-839-3118.

The streets will be a buzz all day with the carnival back in town. The past couple of YesterYear celebrations have missed the lights and sounds of the carnival. This year they are proud to have D'Heilly Midway and Jim's Rides in Whitehouse to make the week even more fun. The carnival will open on June 20 and run through June 23 and will be set up on the south side of FM 346.

Other events of the day will include a petting zoo in the city park as well as the gun fighting team called the Texicans. The Texicans are a local group of men and women dressed in period clothing who depict the wild west gun fighters of the 1800s.

As always, the park will be filled with craft vendors, cotton candy and popcorn and a wonderful barbeque meal will be available at the fire station. This year's BBQ event is being sponsored by the Henry Marsh Bell Masonic Lodge.

For those who dream of carburetors, crankshafts, and shiny paint jobs you'll not want to miss the Whitehouse Range Rider Motorcycle Club's charity car, truck and bike show.

YesterYear Saturday night will be capped off with the Red Dirt Roundup featuring Zona Jones with Honeybrowne, Todd Fritsch and Adam Fears. These talented performers will be in concert at Wildcat Stadium beginning 6 p.m. Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the gate.