By Neil Abeles
Texarkana Gazette
ATLANTA, Texas -- Things are starting to open up little by little.
Just south of here the community center in Huffines -- shuttered for more than a year due to COVID -- reopens this Friday.
Huffines Community Center is one of the last remaining in Cass County that once were school buildings. Others are Crossroads, Oak Grove, Marietta and Pleasant Hill.
At one time, communities such as Bryans Mill, Douglassville, Bivins, McLeod, Bloomburg, Domino, Kildare, Linden, Avinger, Smyrna, O'Farrell, Cornett, Red Hill and Cass had centers either in school buildings or similar facilities.
To celebrate the reopening, the community is invited to a free "singin' with sandwiches and dessert" starting 6 p.m. Friday.
Then on Tuesday, the doors will open again for an old-time, meet-the-public, political forum. Seventeen Cass County candidates for public office have been invited to give three minute answers to questions from the floor. This gathering will begin 6:30 p.m.
"The idea for a public forum is a first for us," said center activities coordinator Mary Manley. "It's a new idea, but don't put an idea in my head. I'll go with it. I called everyone on the board asking if we should have this forum and all agreed."
The moderator for the forum will be Brian Cloninger of Atlanta.
"He's a good friend and person, and we thought we should have someone who is neutral and not from Huffines. He'll explain all the procedures. We'll limit each participant to three questions. Otherwise, with so many candidates it could be a long evening."
Manley said she hopes there is a good turn-out of candidates and community.
"One candidate we asked said that this was her night for line dancing but that she would just bring her girls with her to the forum."
Manley said the center will now get back to work on coming up with ideas for community involvement.
"We'll start with our covered dish gatherings like we used to have. We'll do garage sales and music again, maybe on the outside when it gets warmer."
For the night of music on Friday, Manley re-emphasized that no one is to bring food. The women of the board will make sandwiches.
"It's free, but of course we are always in need of donations, especially since we have insurance payments to make and we haven't been able to meet for so long."
She also noted that Phil Cox will take care of the music performers for Friday night.
The Huffines center is led by its association board who are President Carole Wilson, Vice President Bob Dotson, Secretary Lou Ella Vernon, Treasurer Betty Adams and board members Roger and Mary Manley and Phil and Geneva Cox.
The Center's Board of Directors meets 7 p.m. the third Wednesday of the month. Residents are welcome. The center is available for public meetings and can be rented for a cost of $60 by contacting Mary Manley at 903-277-3650.