Local veterans, students and community members gathered at Madisonville CISD for the district's annual Veterans Day ceremony held Nov. 11. The event featured patriotic music from the school band and tributes to veterans from all branches of military service.

WoodmenLife Chapter 4647 presented a $1,000 donation to the Son-Shine Outreach Center food bank. Pictured from left are Son-Shine Outreach Center representative Stephanie Price, WoodmenLife Chapter 4647 President Kevin Counsil, Don Phillips, Kerry Burkett, Terry Clark and Linda Clark.

Madisonville CISD recognized its November Students of the Month at the November board meeting. Pictured from left are board member Jason Cleere, elementary student Eleanor Carmichael, junior high student Jacey Stevens, high school student Jayci Morris and board member Quincy Allen. Not pictured is intermediate student Nilson Quezada.

WoodmenLife Chapter 4647 members delivered 65 care packages containing Christmas socks, snacks and lotion to seniors at Riverwood Healthcare on Bacon Street on Nov. 6. Pictured from left are two Riverwood Healthcare aides, WoodmenLife Chapter 4647 Secretary Dee Barnes and WoodmenLife Customer Service Representative Lois Milstead. The donation was part of the chapter's quarterly Common Bond activity.

The following persons were arrested or booked into the Madison County jail on Sunday, November 9. through Sunday, November 16.

Leslie Blasingame joined the Navy in 1979 when women couldn’t serve on ships and pregnancy meant automatic discharge. She retired 24 years later as a chief petty officer after serving on three vessels.

Richard Blasingame left Houston at 17 with no direction and returned five years later as a disciplined Navy veteran who learned responsibility on one of America’s most dangerous workplaces. Blasingame, 64, served in the U.S.

Peter Campbell had just reenlisted in the Navy when an explosion changed everything. The landing craft blast left him in a coma for 10 days and ended his military career in 1957.

Jason Phillips graduated from Madisonville High School in 2010 with no clear direction. Five years later, he returned home from the Marine Corps with discipline and purpose.