All Aboard for Prague!

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The Career Development Office has been given an opportunity to host a course, and guess what, it’s a study abroad leadership course to Prague, Czech Republic! It’s going to be focused on career development, your own career choices, and how those fit in the global workplace. Everyone who will take part in this amazing opportunity will travel to five industrial sites in Prague where everyone involved will talk with the leadership and human resources teams. Students will also be connecting with Prague college students who will be sharing how they get jobs there. Similarly, A&M students will share how they can get jobs in America. “I am hoping the students that go with us will return back for an internship or a study abroad course over there,” says Tina Boitnott, Director of Career Development. She also “hopes it opens up the world a little bit more to students and lets them see how they fit into that global workplace with everything they’re learning right here at A&M-Texarkana.” So if you’re curious and interested in traveling to Prague, Czech Republic make sure to stop by our Career Development Office with any questions you may have.

Closed Mic; Open Hearts — Poetry in Performance

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The ENG450 Studies in Genre: Poetry cohort is hosting a spoken word event on Wednesday, December 12, 2018. Students, faculty, staff, and community members are invited to attend a closed-mic poetry recitation that will take place in Eagle Hall from 10:30 a.m. to noon.

The event is sponsored by The Red River Innovation Lab for the Humanities and is organized by Dr. Jaime Cantrell, Assistant Professor of English at Texas A&M Texarkana.

Attendees can expect to hear passionate, inspiring, and thrilling renditions of poetry ranging from well-loved classics by Edgar Allan Poe and William Blake, as well as contemporary poets including Dudley Randall, Carol Ann Duffy, and Sharon Olds.

Dr. Jaime Cantrell

In addition to student performances, our Dean of the College Arts, Sciences, and Education, Dr. Del Doughty, has agreed to share a few of his favorite Shakespearean sonnets.

Ana Bourgeois, an undergraduate dual-majoring in English and History said, “Poetry has a long reach and this event is a unique showcase of that variety. My classmates and I have chosen surprising and powerful pieces that crack open the universality of sex, death, faith and in one case: a dang good book. Dr. Cantrell has used this class to explore the wide accessibility of meaning in poetry and I hope our performances reflect that.”

Click the Play button below to hear Dr. Cantrell’s message for Eagle Eye readers:

Training a Better Workforce

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Photo by Allison Hall

Looking for a way to start your career in the industrial workforce? You’re in the right place! On November 27, 2018, Texarkana College (TC) took a large step toward engaging the community in the workforce world of Texarkana. The local community college, using mostly in-house production, built a new industrial workforce building designed to nurture the future careers of high school students, and prospecting and employed industrial workers.

Photo by Allison Hall

They opened the building Tuesday at around noon under the title ‘Betty & Buddy Ledwell Workforce Training Center’ and TC has equipped the facility with loads of technical supplies to help train people who are looking for this type of career. A large portion of the community showed up to witness the unveiling and to show their support.

 

Photo by Allison Hall

This center is hoping to jump on the expected economic growth here in Texarkana. A growing workforce means a growing rate of employment and Texarkana College is predicting to certify more students in this type of program over the next few semesters than ever before. Maybe it’s’ for this reason that the center decided to use local stories to design the building that and Ledwell’s massive record for employment in this town. They have coated atrium entrance in the story of Mr. Buddy Ledwell, a local manufacturer, and the blueprints he created as a young man studying. They want to establish a good sense of work ethic in anyone who enters the doors and have their students leaving having a rich array of skills in their field.

Photo by Allison Hall

According to the above linked TC article, the program currently has more than 670 workforce students: near 100 of them being enrolled in Industrial Maintenance or Construction Technology. They are expecting growth in program participation, especially with the mention of classes being held during the day and evenings to provide a nice window for any situation, whether that person be employed or not.

Photo by Allison Hall

The goal is to promote enthusiasm and prosperity for this type of skill. An already certified welder, for example, might be more likely to gain a job than one who needs training. Our very own Dr. Cutrer is even working diligently to help these students prosper along their academic careers. Texas A&M – Texarkana and Texarkana College are working together to ensure that students who are attaining their two-year degree at TC, and wanting to further their education, can have a smooth transition to a four-year university, like TAMU-T.

Enrollment for spring of 2019 is currently open for Texarkana College and Texas A&M – University. To learn more about these course and programs, visit or call Enrollment Services at TC to set up an appointment. You can also visit the TC website, www.texarkanacollege.edu, to discover more opportunities.

Majic 93.3 Welcomes DJ Godfather

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Majic 93.3’s radio host, Keeta “King” Hodge poses with soul blues radio host, DJ Godfather. The soulful show will begin Saturday morning 9 a.m.-2 p.m. December 1st. Photo Credit: Dodson & Glover Photography.

Texarkana’s Majic 93.3 welcomes DJ Godfather to their urban R&B station. The well-known radio personality kicked off his new show Saturday, December 1st 9 a.m.-2 p.m. with great music, entertainment, and a special guest for local southern blues soul listeners.

“We will debut the hottest Southern Soul, Blues and Zydeco show in the Ark-la-tex starring the legendary DJ Godfather. The Godfather of Southern Soul, Blues & Zydeco has a new home after 26 years and we are kicking off the party with celebrity guest and Southern Soul Sensation, Jeter Jones”, said Majic 93.3’s radio host, Keeta Hodge King.

DJ Godfather’s new Soul, and Southern Blues show kicks off December 1st. Photo Credit Dodson & Glover Photo Credit/Majic 93.3.

As a youthful, yet throwback R&B station, the local radio station believes this radio veteran will add a new flavor for Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas listeners. “We are an Urban AC [Adult Contemporary] station that plays Today’s R&B and Throwbacks with a few ‘Classic Hip Hop Throwbacks’. The Godfather will bring a fresh soulful edge with the best Southern Soul and Blues”, said King.

DJ Godfather will also have a special weekend position. “He will also be the station’s only live voice on the weekend. He plays music that caters to the bike club world, trail riders, blues lovers, and southern soul fans”, said King.

Before joining the Majic 93.3 radio family, DJ Godfather worked as a competing radio show host. “DJ Godfather has been a household name for many years due to the personal approach he takes to DJing, however he was on the competitor station, KTOY 104.7 FM”, said King.

Majic 93.3’s DJ Godfather and Keeta “King” Hodge. Photo Credit: Dodson & Glover Photography.

Despite working as Majic 93.3’s former competitor, it did not stop Hodge from listening the soulful radio host with the up most respect. “Even then, I listened to him on Saturday mornings as far as I could on my drive home, and I always thought how I awesome it would be if I could bring him to Majic 93.3. As fate would have it, we were able to make that happen officially on Dec. 1st”, said King.

With R&B as her first love, King could not resist the soulful sounds of the blues after a particular working memory. “I started with R&B. However, one night when working at a nightclub call Mr. D’s, the club owner came up and said to me, “DJ Godfather you going to have to start playing some blues or I’m going to replace you with someone else.” To keep my job, I started playing Southern Soul and Blues, and I fell in love”, said King.

Majic 93.3’s Southern Soul and Blues radio host, DJ Godfather. Photo Credit: Dodson & Glover Photography.

Like King, newcomers and Southern Blues and Soul listeners will enjoy the new sounds the passionate radio host will bring to the Ark-Tex-La area. “Nobody does it like DJ Godfather, and everyone in the surrounding areas, near or far knows when the Godfather Southern Soul, Blues and Zydeco Show comes on, it’s time to party and move your feet”, said King.

The soulful blues man looks forward to bringing his talents and his famous saying ” to magical station. “The general public will enjoy seeing & hearing how HE, himself, enjoys what he does. He is very passionate about his audience and his music! He brings excitement to the mic every show and people can look forward to him getting them up and moving on Saturday mornings with the best of the best Southern Soul, Blues and Zydeco”, said King.

Tune in Saturdays! “I am that humble man who has a love for music, a love for people and entertainment. All my glory goes to God”, said DJ Godfather.

To catch DJ Godfather’s new show or for upcoming events:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/majic933

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/majic933/

Majic 93.3’s radio logo. Photo Credit: Majic 93.3.

You can also download the radio’s app, Majic 93-3 for music news alerts, weather, and traffic updates.

To catch Keeta Hodge King:
IG: It’s_KeetaKing
FB: Keeta Hodge King

For DJ Godfather:
IG: d_j_godfather
FB: Curtis Muldres (DJ Godfather Ent)

Long Live “The Lion King” (Next Summer)

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Disney released a trailer for a remake of everyone’s animated childhood movie, The Lion King on November 22, 2018. The first trailer began with Simba’s father’s Mufasa’s (James Earl Jones) speech “Everything the light touches is our Kingdom”. The trailer included memorable cinematic scenes previously released in 1994. The live action movie was directed by The Jungle Book‘s remake director Jon Favreau and will be released July 2019.

Disney’s Lion King cast will star in the summer 2019 childhood live remake. Photo Credit: Disney.

Rapper and actor Donald Glover will star as Simba, with Beyonce Carter-Knowles as Nala, Alfre Woodard as Sarabi, and James Earl Jones as Mufasa. The movie will also include everyone’s favorite characters such as Pumbaa (Seth Rogen), Zazu (John Oliver), Kamari (Keegan-Michael KEy), and everyone’s favorite lion villian, Scar (Chiwetel Ejiofor), so mark your calendars and relive your childhood with your children and families.

Adequate Beasts: The Crimes of Everyone

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If you’re looking for questions, I’ve got your answer. The second part of the newly hatched Fantastic Beasts series, Fantastic Beats: The Crimes of Grindelwald (2018) series opens a lot of new doors and doesn’t close any on its way out. Granted, it does a fine job at following upon the first film and does offer some important plot development, but all in all it’s just far too nonlinear to measure up to the awe of the first. The main issues resonate in the plot.

*SPOILERS*

Compliments of IMDB

Beginning the story, it becomes clear very quickly that there is no central focus to the film. This is because of the number of main characters present. Returning characters are Newt Scamander, Gellert Grindelwald, Jacob Kowalski, Queenie Goldstein, Portpentina Goldstein, and the once dead Credence Barebone (among other side characters). Normally this wouldn’t be a problem. Audiences love familiarity. However, these characters each have their own storylines going on alongside what’s assumed the main plot. Because of this, its hard to tell who the main focus of these movies is. Newt? Grindelwald? Credence?

Recall from the first films the sequence of events. The audience begins by following Newt through New York to capture released beasts. Due to Credence’s magical abilities as an “Obscurial” (something thought of as dangerous to the wizarding world), Newt seeks to capture him in order to prevent magical authorities from harming him. Grindelwald, a wizard seeking power, develops an interest in Credence because of his power. Everything is circular and all stories tie into one. Here, there still is not a central character per se. Newt would be a protagonist, Grindelwald the antagonist ad Credence somewhere between as he has not chosen any side.

Compliments of CNet

The second film, however, rips this premise apart. Credence is on a search for his mom, Newt is trying ultimately to replenish his lost relationship with Porpentina, Grindelwald is trying to coerce credence while also grow a magical regime, Jacob and Queenie are trying to hash out their muggle non-muggle relationship, and somewhere along the line Albus Dumbledore, another main character brought in from the original Harry Potter series, enters the scene to create another story line regarding his relationship with Grindelwald.

In a few side notes we also learn  that Credence is not the son of a Lestrange (a point also brought up in this film, not the first), another characters switched him with a Lestrange on a boat as an infant and is actually a dumbledore, we don’t know where his real mom is, Grindelwald remains interested (presumably because of his lineage but that was never answered), Dumbledore has a pact with Grindelwald which prohibits their fighting, and so on. That’s just a few new tidbits offered in a 2 hour-long movie.

Compliments of threeifbyspace.net

The problem with all of this is that it creates too many stories presenting themselves to the audience at once. It is a lot to remember and a lot to take in. Granted, much of this might be hashed out in future films (the ending set up a continuance), but it doesn’t resolve the fact that all of this information becomes muddled due to the sheer volume of new facts. It might have been better as a season on Netflix or Hulu.

This is definitely a lot to register, but it’s worth seeing. It is very well done in terms of casting, directing, graphics, and much more. It is a beautiful piece. The plot line just muddles things a bit. However, there is no doubt that there will be answers to all of questions presented to us and if you’re a Harry Potter fanatic, the series is worth your time.

Check out the trailer!

From Grand Opening to Really Open

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Texas A&M University – Texarkana students are excited about the Patterson Student Center. This new student center will be a great addition to student life, providing students opportunity to engage with others. The facility includes a full size basketball court, weight room, Starbucks café, multi-purpose classrooms, and offices for coaches and staff.

The grand opening for the student center was October 4th. Texas A&M Chancellor Sharp attended the event, speaking to an excited crowd. Sharp expressed great thanks to Cari Patterson, who made sure budget cuts, which would have postponed the addition of the new facility were not made to A&M – Texarkana after a visit with Governor Abbott.

However, the new student center was still not open for students’ use until now, while the university was still in the process of getting a permit to allow use of the new center.

The state-of-the-art facility will provide new opportunities for students.  Athletes are excited about the new weight room and fitness center, and other students are ready to use the full-size basketball court. While many are excited about the athletic equipment, some are excited about the comraderie provided by a Starbucks and a lounge area for students to get together. Having a Starbucks on campus will be convenient for students and staff in a morning rush and do not have time to stop for coffee.

The first big event held at the Patterson Student Center will be the Fall 2018 commencement ceremony, on December 14th.

The new student center is a symbol of growth for the University. The grand opening of the student center was a groundbreaking moment for the university. It is the first building dedicated strictly to student life on the campus. It will provide students a place to stay on campus but get away from the stress of school. Not only will it be good for students, the student will play a key role in recruiting future students when giving tours. This is just one step for A&M-Texarkana, as the campus continues to grow. The University is excited for now about the newest addition to campus. However, it is important to continue to develop the campus and look forward to future advancements.

Get Ready to GO TXK!

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Compliments of Leadership Texarkana’s Facebook Page

How many times have you said “There is just nothing to do in Texarkana?” It’s a common assumption in many communities in Texarkana that there just isn’t anything to do besides eat or see a movie.  Is there really nothing to do or is the town just not the greatest at getting the word around? To answer this question, Leadership Texarkana, a local organization to help leaders learn and grow, have started a movement and created one website for all of our community event needs. They call it GoTXK and its edging toward ending your Saturday night snooze-fest.

Compliments of goTXK’s Facebook Page

The purpose is to create an interactive hub where individuals can discover upcoming events and provide insight into what’s going on in the local community. It’s easy to navigate and it hosts anything from blog posts and newsletters to a web-wide social feed. Anyone who uses the #goTXK hashtag has their post pulled to the website’s front page for all to see. This way, users can easily engage in their community and more readily gain information about what’s happening around them.

They also host a ‘What’s to Love TXK Blog’ where they discuss what people think makes Texarkana a great place. This blog has categories such as Fave Foods, Did You Know? And T-Town Top 10, all offering fan picks for trending restaurants, interesting facts, and the best things to do each week.  

Compliments of Leadership Texarkana’s Facebook Page

For college students, this is a life saver. In the halls of TAMUT, you can hear the grumbling of brain-dead students looking for anything to distract them from their next homework assignment.

It’s great for parents, too. It’s hard to find events for children sometimes, but this way one can easily sort through all the things people are doing and decide what works.

And its realistic. It’s not an event host telling you to come to their event. It’s your fellow Texarkanians telling you whether or not it’s worth the drive. A few upcoming events listed on the social media feature include the Smash Bros. Ultimate Pre-Release Party at the Wyndham Garden Hotel on December 6, a 1950s game night hosted at the Discovery Place Interactive Museum, and much more.

They have a few community partners already, and  are hoping to grow, increasing audience interaction and spreading positivity across the town for all types of events. To learn more and receive notifications about upcoming events, visit their website to sign up for their newsletter and follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Family Drama on Stage This Weekend

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“When their heart is hurt, especially in that age range they feel like it’s the end of the world. It is so depressing,” says Producer Brigette Talbert, who will be showcasing the stage play Outside Child (Inside Pain) in the Sullivan Performing Arts Center, on Saturday December 1, 2018.

“It’s a learning experience, it’s about old secrets. Learning how to love again through heart ache, infidelity and lies, the Outside Child (Inside Pain) setting is an African-American community, portraying a family learning to love again, overcoming infidelity, while saving a lost tradition. This play can relate to any race. Think about all of the single parent households, they don’t have to be black”.

Brigette Talbert has been involved in radio, film and production for over 15 years. This will be Bridgette’s second play to independently write and produce. “I’m always nervous when its time to hit the stage, because you know what you have written, you know what your words are and how you want them to be portrayed. You know that it tells a story. You just wondering if that audience is picking up the story that you’re trying to tell.”

Brigette casting role involves plenty of personality and experience that makes the play better. “When you have a cast that feels like family then you’ve cast the right people.” The cast includes Fel Davis, Sharnette Hyter, Jousha Fitzpatrick aka J-Fitz, Jordon Ballard, Alicia Gulley-Malone, Nikki Wadley, and Amanda Virtuous Henderson.

“Community should support community.We’re bringing entertainment to the community,It’s a small town setting and there’s not really a lot going on. There will be lots of laughter, crying, you’ll feel every emotion while having a learning experience”.

Get your tickets today at the Golden Lady Restaurant in Texarkana, Texas, KZRB studios in Hooks, Texas or from cast members Lisa Gulley-Malone and Amanda Henderson. PayPal is accepted. betalbertproductions@gmail.com

For more information about the play click here.

War Is Hell, Overlord Is Just OK

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Image Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

Despite the prospect of WWII soldiers going up against twisted Nazi experiments being an exciting premise, audiences may want to temper their expectations.

Image Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

Produced by J.J. Abrams and directed by newcomer Julius Avery, the film tells the story of a small group of soldiers who barely make it into France as D-Day approaches. Their mission is to destroy a communications tower near a Nazi-occupied village to clear the way for their oncoming troops. However, things become complicated as they uncover the secret of what the Nazis are doing to the people of the village: creating an undead, superhuman army for Hitler’s Thousand-Year Reich.

The premise alone was enticing enough to inspire attendance, but, unfortunately, the film’s balance between war drama and horror schlock tends to lean toward the former.

There are some positives to the film worth addressing. The action scenes, especially the way in which the film opens with the soldiers in a plane being fired upon, and visuals are impressive and atmospheric. When the film does get down to the nitty gritty horror aspect, it does unleash some impressively startling visuals. The acting was also very commendable, with Jovan Adepo, as the wide-eyed, pacifistic lead character, Wyatt Russell, as the battle-hardened soldier in command, and Pilou Asbæk, as the film’s deliciously sadistic antagonist, the standouts. Even when the film dedicates its time towards being a war film it manages to engage with legitimate emotion and tension.

Despite this, that’s not exactly what the film advertised.

Image Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

While the film does well enough with both sides of the equation, one is given more time than the other. For instance, the film lingers often on Adepo’s character objecting to leaving people behind to die or torturing the enemy for information. It’s executed fairly, but the problem lies with the fact that it’s difficult to take the moral quandaries and the horror of a war as seriously as the filmmakers want when the villains are cartoonish in their deviousness and the characters are going up against zombies with super strength. When you have a villain with half of his face blown off, sneering like a supervillain at a certain point, it puts the first two acts of the characters going through what feels like a different film into perspective. The film even opens with a title sequence that harkens back to the days of pulp adventure stories, something the film does evoke later when it does get to the zombie experiments attacking people, so one would think the filmmakers would’ve opted to go for something less serious and just go for over-the-top spectacle. It’s especially disappointing considering the unique opportunity that Bad Robot had with such a unique premise that normally wouldn’t be given such high production value.

Image Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

Overall, while the film has its moments of gory fun, impressive visuals, and a somewhat engaging cast to keep the film grounded and watchable, it feels as though it shies away from what audiences may have been hoping for. While not terrible by any stretch, I dare to say that it is a mostly good film, it’s one that should be approached with certain expectations in mind before seeing. If you enjoy war films, you’ll be pleasantly surprised. If you enjoy horror, it has it’s spots, but you may not be satisfied.

6.5/10

Overlord is currently playing in cinemas.