Community Newspaper Holdings Inc. owns 10 papers in Texas: Athens Daily Review, Cleburne Times-Review, Corsicana Daily Sun, Gainesville Daily Register, Greenville Herald Banner, The Huntsville Item, Palestine Herald-Press, Weatherford Democrat, Jacksonville Daily Progress and the Mineral Wells Index. The following are highlights for each city.

Cleburne

Two lakes offer recreation 

Cleburne is home to several parks and lakes; the largest of those being Lake Pat Cleburne and Cleburne State Park.

Just outside the city limits sits Cleburne State Park, which in recent years underwent major rebuilding projects, courtesy of voter-approved bond funding from the Texas Legislature.

The park has 58 campsites, all with water and either 30- or 50-amp hook-ups. Some include sewer facilities. There are also six screen shelters, which rent for $30 per night.

The park has 24 campsites with 30-amp availability and water and electric; seven 50-amp sites with water and electric; 12 30-amp sites with water, electric and sewer; and 15 sites with both 30- and 50-amp and water, electric and sewer, Park said.

The 528-acre park, located 10 miles southwest of Cleburne off U.S. 67 on Park Road 21, encircles 116-acre Cedar Lake, a no-wake lake that features a three-tier spillway built by the CCC in 1935.

Park entrance fee is $5 per person, per day for adults ages 13 and older. Children ages 12 and younger are admitted free.

For park reservations, call 512-389-8900 or visit www.tpwd.state.tx.us.

Lake Pat Cleburne, located in the southwestern edge of Cleburne, at 1,500 surface acres, serves as the principle source of water for Cleburne.

Along with four conveniently located boat ramps around the lake, recreational activities at and around the lake include a municipal golf course, swimming, boating, picnicking and fishing. The lake is an excellent location for bird watching, and pelicans and bald eagles have been observed during migratory periods.

 

 

Athens

Outdoor recreation abounds in Henderson County 

When considering a weekend get-a-way with an eye on the outdoors look no further than Henderson County. Henderson County is home to Cedar Creek Lake, Lake Athens, Lake Palestine and Purtis Creek State Park. 

Each venue offers its own unique recreational opportunity, while perhaps the most unique excursion is the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center near Lake Athens. 

Located at 5550 FM 2495, the center includes the Texas Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame and the Game Warden’s Museum. 

“Catch some memories — go fish Texas” is the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center’s slogan. Those six words define what TFFC is about: families and friends enjoying time together and forging memories that will last a lifetime. 

No license is required for adults or children, and all bait and tackle are furnished. Plentiful numbers of sunfish and catfish are available for catching year-around, and rainbow trout are stocked from December through March. 

Staff provide a brief orientation to fishing and your choice of bait. They will also untangle line, replace lost hooks or bobbers and fix any other equipment problems, leaving you free to concentrate on fishing. 

A short drive from Eustace down Farm-to-Market Road 316 you’ll find Purtis Creek State Park. According to legend, the state park is in an area where the Wichita and Caddo Indians once roamed. 

You’ll find plenty to do at Purtis Creek, including paddling a kayak or canoe, hike and bike trails, camping and picnicking. The park offers guided hikes, paddling basics classes, nature programs and more.

 

Corsicana

Navarro County, an angler’s paradise

Navarro County, about 50 miles south of Dallas, sits in the heart of the Prairies and Lakes region of Texas.

It is home to Richland-Chambers Lake, the third largest inland reservoir in the state. Richland Chambers has been the site of numerous professional bass fishing tournaments. Guide services are available to show you how to find fish like a pro.

Navarro Mills Lake has long been a well-kept secret of North Central Texas. The lake is nestled among the rolling hills between Hillsboro and Corsicana and is surrounded by mature oak and pecan trees. 

Crappie are the stars of Navarro Mills Lake Marina and Jamie Moors, one of the managers, said they have had up to four or five people a day leaving with bag limits.

Lake Halbert lies inside the Corsicana city limits and is maintained by the Corsicana Parks and Recreation Department. This 145-acre park has accommodated Corsicana for many years. In addition to a fishing pier, Halbert offers a sandy beach swim area, athletic fields and more.

All lakes include boat ramps and campsites are available by reservations.

On the Net:

www.richlandchamberslake.com

www.navarromillslake.com

www.cityofcorsicana.com

 

Gainesville

 

Nearby lakes offer lots of fishing opportunities

For those looking to catch a bite, the Gainesville area offers a variety of freshwater fishing spots.

One of the closest local spots is Moss Lake, 10 miles northwest of Gainesville. The lake houses several species of fish that are active in late spring and early summer, including crappie, spotted bass and largemouth bass.

Darla Barr, a game warden with The Texas Department of Parks and Wildlife, said the proximity to Gainesville makes it a destination for the avid fisherman.

While the lake is considered to be a top fishing spot around Cooke County, a much smaller and less densely populated pond just a mile and a half south of Downtown Gainesville. 

Keneteso Park, which features several soccer fields and playgrounds, is stocked with an estimated 2,500 rainbow trout every January in preparation for the annual Kid’s Trout Fishing Derby hosted by the Parks and Recreation Department. Barr said that the fishing is steady for several months after the pond is stocked, partly due to the daily limit of five fish. 

For those fisherman who don’t mind a bit of time behind the wheel, the fourth largest lake in the state of Texas, Lake Texoma, which straddles the Texas-Oklahoma border north of Pottsboro, is worth the 50 minute drive from Gainesvillle. 

The lake is home to nearly 75,000 acres of fishing area and excellent fishing conditions for bass and catfish, according to TDPW’s website.

 

Greenville

Lake Ray Hubbard 

Lake Ray Hubbard, formed in the 1960s when the Rockwall-Forney Dam was built on the East Fork of the Trinity River, is the largest lake in North Texas and dramatically changed the personality of Rockwall County.

The decision to create the 22,000-acre reservoir also created a vast amount of lakefront property that was developed for residential and commercial use by the communities of Rockwall and Heath.  The commercial focus remains Rockwall Harbor, a shopping and entertainment venue that’s popular with locals and visitors — particularly on warm nights when outdoor tables are in high demand.

On the Dallas County side of the lake, similar development helped change the face of the community of Rowlett.

The lake sits on the site of the much smaller Corder Lake and was originally named Forney Lake before being renamed in favor of Hubbard, a Dallas County administrator.

Lake Ray Hubbard is probably best known for power boating and sailing and offers boat owners a choice of five marinas.  It’s less famed as a fishing site, but many varieties of bass and catfish can be pursued.  Many North Texas drivers cross over it on a regular basis as it lies underneath Interstate 30 east of Dallas.

 

Huntsville

Huntsville State Park

Randy Plaag last visited Huntsville State Park nearly 20 years ago. He brought his young son to the park where pine trees soar high and a lake full of fish awaits.

Plaag returned to Huntsville State Park on a weekday off this summer. He brought his friend Sheila Stone and their four-legged pal Archie, both of whom were first-timers to the park.

“This is really nice. We love all the trees,” Plaag said while fishing on the banks of Lake Raven, the park’s 210-acre lake that is loaded with crappie, perch, catfish and bass. 

The majestic trees and natural beauty of East Texas’ Pineywoods may be the main drawing card for Huntsville State Park. But visitors can also paddle across the lake, explore miles of trails, or like Stone and Plaag who came over from the College Station area, relax by the lake. 

There are 21 miles of trails, a fun playground for the kids, a bird blind and a nature center. There’s also a boat ramp, fishing piers and fish-cleaning stations. Motor boats are allowed, but only at idle speeds.

People are welcome to swim in the lake’s designated area. They can also rent a canoe, kayak or paddle boat.

Campers can bring their own gear and choose from 160 picturesque campsites or rent one of the screened shelters or shelters with amenities.

Huntsville State Park, which opened to the public in the spring of 1956, has long offered a quiet and scenic place to go for families, friends, Scouts, campers, travelers and lovers of the great outdoors.

 

Jacksonville

Lake Jacksonville

Summer fun in Jacksonville for many includes a day at Buckner Park; boating or skiing at Lake Jacksonville; or other outdoor activities.

Lake Jacksonville offers a surface area of 1,352 acres, a 2-mile shoreline and a capacity of 30,500 acre feet, with a watershed of more than 40 square miles. At a total cost of $829,243.05, the lake began to fill in April 1957 after significant rainfall.

The formal dedication was held Aug. 6 of that same year, according to the Cherokee County Historical Commission.

Today it offers a scenic place to spend time with family and friends, whether it be in or out of the water.

Water aerobics program offered at Buckner Park pool 

A new water aerobics program at Jacksonville’s Buckner Park pool has proven so popular this summer, city officials have given the green light to expand it from one to two days a week.

Already working with the American Red Cross to offer swim lessons and water safety classes, city leaders felt water aerobics might be a good way to round out its offerings this year.

The cost of the program is $40 per month or $10 per class, with two classes offered from 7-8 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday. They will be offered throughout the month of July, with plans to extend through the month of August. 

For more information, visit the city of Jacksonville website, www.jacksonville-texas.com, or contact Tonya Foluke at 281-330-7568 to learn more.

 

Mineral Wells

Lake Mineral Wells State Park, Possum Kingdom Lake

The Mineral Wells area is where outdoor enthusiasts come to play whether it is boating, fishing, swimming, hiking, camping, trail riding, rock climbing and more.

Along with the Brazos River there are two local state parks and lakes — Lake Mineral Wells State Park & Trailway and Possum Kingdom State Park — with a third state park under development.

Lake Mineral Wells State Park & Trailway provides a variety of activities from fishing, light boating and swimming to birding, camping, hiking, rock climbing, mountain biking, horseback riding and entertainment and educational programs and activities. 

It sits on 3,282.5 acres and draws some 125,000 visitors annually.

Facilities include screened shelters, a boat ramp and fishing piers, restrooms with showers, picnic sites, campsites with water only and with water and electricity, a trailer dump station, and primitive campsites at the end of a 2.5-mile hiking trail. The park has a total of 16.5 miles of hiking trails. 

A connected 26-mile trailway travels from Mineral Wells to Weatherford, accessible to hikers, joggers and bicycle riders, with portions open for equestrians.

Possum Kingdom Lake, a 17,700-acre lake, offers 310 miles of shorelines lined by tall bluffs. Hell’s Gate is one of the most well-known coves in the state. Visitors can enjoy fishing, boating, hunting, hiking, mountain biking and other water and land sports.

Possum Kingdom State Park has a store/marina, boating and fishing facilities, 2 miles of hiking/nature trails, cabins and a variety of campsites from primitive to premium.

 

Palestine

Mission Tejas 

Seated along the El Camino Real, Mission San Francisco de los Tejas was the first Spanish mission in Texas.

Honoring the historical location, the people of Houston County founded the park 72 years ago. The Civilian Conservation Corps improved it during the 1930s. In 1957, the park opened to the public. 

Visitors at Mission Tejas can enjoy hiking, birding, fishing, geocaching, camping, and attending events, such as the annual Folk Festival. This summer, the Mission will get a new $1.7-million visitor center, including an exhibit hall, gift shop, and public bathroom.

The new exhibit hall will display, among other things, artifacts and visual elements such as photographs and illustrations.

“This new build is just one example of dozens of similar state park improvement projects underway across Texas,” said Tom Harvey, a spokesman for Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. 

The park is at 120 State Park Road 44 in Grapeland. For more information, visit tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/mission-tejas, or call 936-687-2394. 

 

Salmon Lake Park 

Salmon Lake Park, at 357 Salmon Lake Road in Grapeland, started with a dream: Floyd and Fannie Salmon wanted to own land covered with trees and laced with water. 

In 1960, the Grapeland couple bought 50 desolate acres. Floyd built a lake for watering cattle. With the help of Floyd’s dad, Jake, the couple began turning the land into a unique, nostalgic park. 

The lake became a swimmer’s delight, with sandy bottoms, beaches, piers, and diving boards for the public. 

Today, Salmon Lake Park visitors also enjoy walking trails and camping. A children’s playground and snack shack offering snow cones and ice cream add to the park’s amenities.

 

Weatherford

Weatherford parks

 A great way to keep kids entertained during the summer is by visiting some of the parks Weatherford has to offer. 

Cherry Park has a large playground, perfect for keeping children entertained. It also offers lots of shady spots for parents to relax while their kids play. Another feature the park offers is the Cherry Park Pool, which costs $3 per person. The park is at 300 S. Alamo St.

Love Street Park is one of the newer parks in Weatherford. It has both a playground and a splash pad. The park has covered picnic tables next to both the playground and a splash pad so parents can easily and comfortably keep an eye on their children. The park also has a pond for fishing. Other amenities the park offers are a walking trail and a basketball court. It is at 309 Love St.

Holland Lake Park offers something for everyone. It has a large stock pond for fishing. It is also the home to several ducks, who love to be fed. Holland Lake is surrounded by swings, great for relaxing and watching the ducks. There is a playground for children, and covered picnic tables available. There are both nature trails and paved trails to enjoy. It is also home to several softball fields. It is at 1419 Holland Lake Road.