“Hey, didn’t you used to be Gary DiBello?”

From 1989 to 2003, Gary DiBello was as much a part of the morning routine in Texoma as a cup of coffee. He was a morning fixture as host of “Mornin’ Cup” on KTEN-TV Channel 10. DiBello joined KTEN in 1989 as a weekend anchor. Soon, the station bosses set him to work creating a local morning show. In short order, the station’s viewers were “Waking Up with Gary.”

Bois d’Arc

The Corps of Discovery had not yet started up the Missouri on their epic journey to the Western Sea, but Capt. Lewis already was working to fulfill the mandate of expedition when he sent this letter and a packet of cuttings to Pres. Thomas Jefferson.

Taking Flight

Fifty years ago my third-cousin flew into Okmulgee, Okla. Municipal Airport. Our family met him at the hanger after he taxied up the runway. I truly expected to see Sky King walk down the wing. It was after all, the exact same kind of airplane Skylar J. “Sky” King flew on TV—a twin-engine Cessna 310-B.

Soap Star

During the day Wendy “Bo” Mueller, 46, is a sales assistant in the advertising department of CableOne Advertising in Sherman. At night and on weekends she becomes Texoma’s newest soap star—mixing up batches of exotic, all-natural, aromatic soaps in her rural Denison soap kitchen.

The Mighty, Seed

You can grow an astounding array of flowers, vegetables and herbs from seeds right here in Texomaland, if you just don’t let the instructions on the seed packets intimidate you. “Start seeds indoors six weeks before first frost-free date,” they direct you. Balderdash!

Queen of Quilts

It’s official. Whitesboro’s Donna Sluder is a bona fi de media star. The former banker is making a name for herself in a new industry—quilt making. Her Main Street downtown Whitesboro retail store, Kaleidoscope, is housed in a 19th-century brick building, selling quilting fabric, patterns and notions.

How To Balance

You are irritable. Your blood pressure looks like a pro-bowler’s high score, and everyone is jumping up and down on your last nerve. Life gets tedious, don’t it? Sherman-based therapist, author, and life coach Brent O’Bannon can provide wisdom to keep you from snapping like a pop star taking that third trip to rehab.

Lake Texoma Getaways

Lake Texoma isn’t like many other resort areas—on our lake when it gets cold, people still hit the water—only skiing and sailing are replaced by fishing. Some of the best striper catches are in the coldest parts of the winter and guides do a big business with locals and out-of-towners alike.

Play Ball!

My aunt in Sherman sent me a copy of your Summer issue (Play Ball!). My dad played for the minor league 1948 Sherman-Denison Twins baseball team and there he was in a photo I had never seen. Dad passed in 1983 and it meant a lot to see him in his uniform. He loved to played baseball.