Line Dancing Lessons @ Our Old Alma Mater ~ Boogie Your Way To Fun & Fitness

Attendees dance to the "YMCA" as one of the Southern Cultural Heritage Center's Country and More Dance Party.  

The Southern Cultural Heritage Center hosts line dance practices every Monday at 5:30 p.m.

Stacey Mahoney has one goal: to help others stop being wallflowers when it comes to line dancing.

The Southern Cultural Heritage Center offers weekly classes where participants can learn a variety of group dance steps, from "Boot Scootin" Boogie" to the "Cha Cha Slide."

And to put those lessons to use, a Country and More Dance Party is held once a month, allowing folks to cut a rug.  Mahoney, executive director of the Southern Cultural Heritage Foundation, is a dance instructor.  

Mahoney, who has a background in dance, said the notion of holding the line dance classes and dance parties evolved following a conversation she had with two women.

"A couple of ladies came to me after they had attended a dance event in Pearl and said, "Hey, this is what we went to, and it was so much fun, and you've got the space for it," Mahoney said.

Upon hearing their request, the first dance party was held in March.

Afterward, Mahoney said several people approached her about offering dance lessons.

"They said, "Hey, we need practice.  Can we have practiced so when we have the dance party, we will know what we are doing?" Mahoney said.  

Thus weekly line dance classes began being offered.  Mahoney said these classes, which include men, women, and people young and old, have ranged in attendance from five people to 20.

In addition to the "Boot Scootin" Boogie and the "Cha Cha Slide," other oldies but goodies are taught, as well as some of the newer line dances, which include the Lonely Drum Line Dance and the Shivers Line Dance - fashioned from Ed Sheeren's song "Shivers."

The line dance practice classes begin at 5:30 p.m. and are held Mondays at SCHC academy 1302 Adams St, "except for the third Monday of the month when we have board meetings and on holidays, Mahoney said.

The cost for each class is $5.

The Country and More Dance Parties are held on the second Saturday each month from 7-9 p.m. at the SCHC auditorium.  The cost to attend the party is $10.

"What we do is have a two-hour playlist set, and dancers get a program that lists all the dances in the order we will be doing them.  We also have a cash bar and refreshments," Mahoney said.

Before the dance party, Mahoney said a tutorial is offered from 6 to 7 p.m.

"That's so we can go over a few of the dances.  A lot of people will come to the tutorial," she said.  The tutorial is included in the $10 cost of the dance party.

Mahoney said participants of both the dance line classes and parties have fun.

"And it's a great way to get your exercise," she said.

Dance classes and dance parties are scheduled to continue through the summer.  For more information, call 601-631-2997 or visit www.southernculturre.org.

Belated Memorial Day Tribute To Trey Kitowski III

Remembering Charles B. Kitowski III (Trey). He lost his life in Afghanistan in 2007. Theresa Ann Martin Kitowski and Charles B. Kitowski II, (Chuck's) son.

As usual, this has been another bittersweet Memorial Day. My heart aches for his presence, but I thank God for the thirty good years we had him with us. I am grateful for treasured memories. (Theresa Kitowski, May 29, 2023)

Prayer For Aging With Dignity

I don’t want to grow old, God. I don’t want any part of it. But since I cannot stop the clock, my prayer is this: Let me age gracefully.

Dear God, please guide and grant me good health and mental clarity. Please give me the strength to overcome my vanity and combat self-pity. Help me to remain adaptable and open to new experiences. Protect me from isolation and loneliness. Thank you for your guidance and support.

May the love of my family and friends be my reward for all the struggles of my youth.

Let all the blessings of age emanate from me. Let wisdom flow from my mouth, compassion flows from my heart, acts of kindness flow from my arms, faith flow from my soul, and joy shines forth from my eyes. Amen.

Happy Mother's Day Classmates!

Happy Easter Classmates

2023 St. Aloysius/St. Francis Alumni Banquet

The St. Aloysius and St. Francis Alumni Association hosted the annual Alumni Banquet at Levee Street Warehouse on April 1, 2023. Honorary classes included the Class of 1973 (celebrating 50 years) and the Class of 2023. The Gumbo Pot provided a fabulous meal for our alumni and guests. Everyone had a great time.

Laura Love Ables (Class of 1961) and husband Christopher Ables.

Ina Lott Whittington, Myrtle Loviza Alvarado, Marian Ann Love, and Sue McNamara Fowler. (Class of 1959)

Sandra Harvey and Cathy Barnes Downey

Myrtle Loviza Alvarado (Class of 1959) and Bobby Alvarado (Class of 1954)

(Class of 1961)

Marian Ann Love, Sandra Harvey, and Sue McNamara Fowler.

(Class of 1961)

Louis "Sonny" Logue's Brother Dies

September 22, 1954 ~ April 2, 2023

Keith B. Logue beloved husband, father, and friend, passed from an earthly to a heavenly life in Longview, Texas on April 2, 2023. He was born on September 22, 1954, in Vicksburg, Mississippi, to L. Harold Logue and Lucille Blackledge Logue. Keith was a lefty and grew tall with jet black hair and a ready smile. He liked playing sports, fishing, hunting, exploring the National Military Park, and living near "Ol' Man River". As a teen, he mowed neighbors' lawns and worked at a local grocery store, making enough money to buy his first car. He later graduated from Vicksburg High School in 1972 as a member of the National Honor Society.

Keith went on to enroll at the nearby Hinds Community College and a year later at Mississippi State University in the cooperative education program. He studied engineering at MSU and worked alternating semesters at the Southern Company in Birmingham, Alabama. While at MSU, he was elected president of the student section of American Society of Mechanical Engineers, was selected as a member of Pi Tau Sigma (honorary mechanical engineering), and was inducted into the Engineering School Hall of Fame. He graduated May 1978, as part of the centennial class.

After college, Keith was recruited by Eastman to work as a project engineer in Longview, Texas. It was there that he met his one true love, Susan Kay Roquemore, who was also recruited by Eastman from Baylor. They were married on April 19, 1980. The family was completed after the birth of a daughter and then a son with Susan as their stay-at-home mom. Keith often had them laughing with his funny remarks, mispronunciations, and "mostly" true stories. He could fix almost anything and seldom needed a repairman.

Keith enjoyed working at Eastman and was licensed in the minimum years as a Texas Professional Engineer. Also active in the community, he volunteered for United Way, Junior Achievement, the Longview Child Development Center, and Longview Boys Baseball. He was the first male PTA president at LISD Hudson PEP Elementary. He looked forward to driving the kids to school and was always proud and amazed by their progress.

He and the family were longtime members of First Baptist Church in Longview. He assisted Susan in teaching 2nd grade Sunday school for many years and was an integral part of church ministry. He later served as chairman of the deacons. He and Susan are current members of Longview Missionary Baptist.

Furthering his education, Keith commuted after work to UT Tyler and earned a master's degree in business. He then pursued teaching and later was awarded a 5-year pin by LeTourneau University as an evening adjunct professor.

Keith later accepted a transfer with Eastman to Batesville, Arkansas where he and the family prospered in the smaller town for four years until transferring back to Longview. He was glad to again be near all things East Texas and the family farm.

After 32 years of dedicated service, Keith retired from Eastman. Home life, hobbies, and traveling with Susan became his new priority. He never wavered in his honesty and loyalty to the people he touched and was quick to help those in need. This included a longtime association with Mississippi State University as an alumnus and president of the East Texas chapter. Keith had a passion for MSU sports especially women's basketball and with Susan attended their Final Four tournaments in Dallas, Texas and Columbus, Ohio.

Those left to celebrate Keith's life are his cherished wife, Susan; daughter, Kimberly in Arkansas; son, Kyle (Brooke) in North Carolina; granddaughter, Emma; a sister, Mary; brothers, Michael (Becki) and Louis; and numerous in-laws; nieces; nephews; cousins; work and church friends.

A Life Celebration® funeral service for Keith Logue will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, April 7, 2023 in The Chapel of The Cammack Family Welch Funeral Home. The family will receive friends for a time of visitation from 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 6, 2023 in the Garden Court of The Cammack Family Welch Funeral Home.

The family requests that memorials be made at reelrecovery.org to support free fishing retreats for men battling cancer.