Winners in last weekend’s Two Gals and a Gal Golf Scramble were announced this week. Topping the championship flight were the first-place team of Bob Daniel, Kym Daniel, and Steve West with a score of 123. They were followed by Niels Sorensen, Hannah Anderson, and Tyler Ellison in second place with 126; and Drew Daniel, Kaitlyn Russ, and Chris Conner in third place with 127. In the first flight, the team of Derek Cooper, Martha Cooper, and Shawn Davis placed first with 128. Second and third places were determined by an on-the-course playoff with the team of Robert Cantu, Dallas Cantu, and Wes Hathaway placing second with 131; and Levi Huntress, Cheri Huntress, and Jacob Moss scoring 131 for third place. Second-flight winners were the first-place team of Lee Smith, Nikki Smith, and Coleman Bentley, who posted 142 overall; second-place team of Alan Witcher, Brittney Davis, and Matt Kruse with 143; and the third-place team of Quinncy Howard, Kassidy Kelton, and Twister Kelton finishing with 144.

As many as three dozen citizens gathered at Wildcat Stadium early Saturday morning to participate in A Climb to Remember—commemorating the 20th anniversary of 9/11. Quietly and determinedly, the Canadian Volunteer Firefighters who led the tribute, wearing full bunker gear and gloves and helmets, joined in prayer before embarking on their mission: to climb 2,071 steps, lugging their equipment in remembrance of the firefighters who responded when the World Trade Center was attacked two decades earlier. They were joined by men and women dressed in work clothes and running gear; by young children not fully aware of the history that brought them, but eager to climb with their friends and parents; by a small group of Wildcat football players, who shook off Friday night’s defeat to pay tribute to events they were not alive to experience; and by some who simply stood witness. Canadian Mayor Terrill Bartlett, himself a volunteer firefighter, wrote later on Facebook: “It was a beautiful morning for a solemn tribute to those who died 20 years ago. The Canadian Volunteer Fire Department along with a good showing from the community joined in our stair climb to remember those heroes.” Bartlett reported that most did the full climb of 2,155 steps, wearing varying degrees of gear. “Thanks to everyone that participated,” he wrote. “It was awesome.” PHOTO BY LAURIE EZZELL BROWN

In a contest that was, by definition, a tale of two halves, Canadian uncharacteristically saw a 28-point halftime lead vanish in the blink of a second half that resulted in a heartbreaking 49-42 overtime loss to Bushland.

Following Hemphill County Justice of the Peace Larry Dunnam’s announcement that he intended to retire on Sept. 30, after 18 years and nine months in office, County Judge George Briant announced that the court would accept applicants for the appointment to fill his unexpired term. Five candidates applied, and all five were present at the courthouse Monday morning.