TexasBank recently announced that over $79,000 in scholarships are being given to local area high schools and colleges through the Doss Foundation.

“TexasBank is proud to be affiliated with such a significant investment in furthering the education of the youth in the markets in which we serve,” said Greg Dodds, President and CEO of TexasBank. “Commitment to the education of our future leaders is of great importance to our Board and Ownership as evidenced in the nearly $350,000 given by the Doss Foundation over the past six years.”

School districts including Brownwood, Early, Bangs, Blanket, Brookesmith, May, Zephyr ISD, Comanche, Gustine, Sidney and Goldthwaite received a total of $24,000 in funding for scholarships.

The Brownwood Jaycees will host a Membership Drive Social from 6-8 p.m. on Thursday, May 16 at the large pavilion at Riverside Park.

Stephanie Traugott, the Shoot for 30 National Program Manager, will be giving a brief program on what the Jaycees are and the benefits of becoming a member.

Free BBQ sandwiches and drinks will be given to those who stay for the program. Family games will also be provided. Anyone from the ages of 18-41 are welcome to attened. Past members are also encouraged to participate.

The Jaycees is a Non-profit organization that strives to provide young adults with the opportunity to build their leadership skills while serving their community. Anyone between the ages of 18 and 41 can join the Brownwood Jaycees.

Howard Payne University will graduate approximately 138 undergraduate and graduate students at its spring Commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 11, at 10 a.m., in the Brownwood Coliseum.

Dr. Ellis Orozco, senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Richardson, will deliver the charge to the graduates. The undergraduate degrees will be conferred by Dr. Bill Ellis, university president; Dr. David L. Lowrie, Jr., chairman of HPU’s Board of Trustees and senior pastor of First Baptist Church in El Paso; Dr. W. Mark Tew, provost; and Lana Wagner ’97, registrar. Graduate degrees will be conferred by Drs. Ellis and Tew; Dr. Lois Patton, director of the graduate program in business administration and professor of business administration; Dr. Leslie Plagens, dean of the School of Business and professor of business administration; Dr. Joe Robinson, director of the instructional leadership graduate program and associate professor of education; and Dr. Michael Rosato, dean of the School of Education.

Other program participants will include: Corey Ash ’92, director of bands and associate professor of music, directing the Howard Payne University Instrumental Ensemble; Rev. David Cozart ’96, president of HPU’s Alumni Association and minister of education/administration at Meadowbrook Baptist Church in Waco; Tyler Matthew Heidelberg, graduating senior; Ryan David Hogan, graduating senior; Dr. Ronny Marriott, member of HPU’s Board of Trustees and senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Corpus Christi; Dr. Justin Murphy, dean of the School of Humanities, professor of history and director of the Academy of Freedom; and Dr. Elizabeth Wallace ’71, faculty president and professor of music.

The Brownwood Area Chamber of Commerce and Convention and Visitor's Bureau will host their annual open house on Thursday, May 9th at 600 E. Depot to recognize National Travel and Tourism week.

"This year we want to recognize and bring awareness to everyone working in the travel and tourism industry locally," said Chamber Tourism Manager Sunni Modawell.  “Tourism has a direct impact on the jobs of those working at restaurants, lodging, convenience stores, and museums as well as city workers who help set up for special events.”

The Brownwood Chamber will recognize an outstanding employee in the tourism industry based on nominations from the public.  They will also unveil a new tourism promotional video called “I Am Tourism” highlighting local travel and tourism jobs.

"The Outstanding Tourism Employee of the Year will be announced on Thursday, May 9th during our annual open house and honored during our monthly luncheon on Friday, May 17th at the Brownwood Country Club," Modawell said.

Author Monique Moore Berggren visited with Woodland Heights Elementary kindergarten and 1st grade students about her book, Pick of the Litter, on Monday, May 6th.

The 6th grade Intermediate Choir had the chance to perform at the Spring in the Park Music Festival in Arlington on Friday, May 3rd.  They prepared 2 pieces to sing in front of a group of judges, who gave them a rating of “Superior,” the highest honor given.

“They also came home with the Best in Class award and a large trophy that they are very proud of,” said music and choir teacher, Amber Jones.  “They were rewarded for all their hard work with a trip to Six Flags afterwards.  I was very proud of the way they represented Brownwood everywhere we went.”

The Brownwood Area Community Garden's 2013 class series continues this Saturday, May 11th, with Edible Landscaping.

The class will focus on plants that are native or well-adapted to Central Texas and will be taught by Debra Mathis.  Cost to attend the class is $10.  The class will start at 11:00 a.m. under the shade arbor at the garden.

Those wishing to visit or volunteer at the Garden may come anytime between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., as usual.

Following a hospital stay, nearly every patient has a story about a special caregiver: their comforting touch, their listening ear, their warm smile or their ability to remember the name of a grandchild or a favorite pet. Nurses play an important role as caregivers, and much more.

More than 3.1 million registered nurses help to save lives and maintain the health of people around the country. At Brownwood Regional, they are an integral part of keeping Brownwood and the surrounding area healthy.

National Nurses Week, May 6-12 is a time set aside to highlight the many ways that nurses work to improve health care. The annual recognition, sponsored by the American Nurses Association, is timed to coincide with National Nurses Day, and the birthday of Florence Nightengale, who is known as the “founder of modern nursing.

“Nurses are remarkable people,” says Chip Camp, CEO of Brownwood Regional Medical Center. “They have a passion for caring, and a commitment to quality and patient safety. They work tirelessly to ensure that our patients’ needs are met, and seldom get the recognition they deserve. They want to make a difference in other people’s lives.”

According to Brandy Harper, BRMC’s 2012 Nurse of the Year, “It is a privilege to witness those very intimate moments in the life of a patient and their family and give them support and care that they need, or to help them celebrate joyful occasions, such as the birth of a child.”

Texas Scottish Rite Hospital announced, on April 24th, that Brownwood High School Student Cheyenne McFall will receive a $3000 scholarship for the 2013-2014 academic year.

Brownwood High School principal, Bill Faircloth, and counselor, Jenny Williams, congratulated McFall and her father, Marty in a presentation of the award letter on Monday.