Jayce Gazaway poses for a picture during his recovery. By SARA VANDEN BERGE   Jayce Gazaway is fighting hard to get his life back.   The 17-year-old Stephenville High School senior is recovering from having a heart transplant at Children’s Medical Center Dallas in October.   Now, nearly two months later, Jayce continues to recover with his family right by his side every step of the way. “Jayce is doing fantastic,” his mother Haley Esslinger told Beneath the Surface News . “

Special to Beneath the Surface News   Members of the Stephenville High School Yellow Jacket Band traveled to Graham on Saturday for the ATSSB Region 7 All-Region band auditions.   “This is the first round of all-state auditions,” said SHS Band Director Michael Childs.     “The band was very well represented with 21 students earning placement in the bands and 19 of those advancing to the area round.”   Those students will participate in the ATSSB Region 7 clinic and concert a

Get festive with this beautiful holiday cocktail. By SARA VANDEN BERGE It appears that I am set to be the hostess with the mostest for the third year in a row thanks to this fancy winter cocktail I’ve mastered. The Brandy Ice. If you’ve never enjoyed one of these, you’re missing out. This holiday cocktail made with Blue Bell vanilla ice cream quickly became a fan favorite in our home a few years ago. The festive cocktail is perfect for a crowd. Here’s the recipe to make Brand

Photo/Tim O'Keefe TSU Media Relations Special to Beneath the Surface News   Chart-topping, multi-platinum country star, Parker McCollum, has announced dates for the second leg of his 2026  Parker McCollum Tour .     Known for being one of the busiest touring acts in country music, McCollum is bringing fans his No. 1 hits and fan-favorite tracks to cities across the U.S. including a stop at EECU Center in Stephenville on Sept. 24.   Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased

By Julie Brinkley   If you have any leftover turkey you need to use, you’ll want this recipe for turkey and wild rice soup.   This creamy dish has all the feels you want on a cold day.   Click here to watch a video on how it’s made.     HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED   3 tbsp butter   1 medium onion   2 medium carrots   2 stalks celery   3 cloves garlic   1 cup wild rice   6 cups chicken broth      2 cups cooked turkey   1 tsp dried thyme (2 tsp fresh)   1 tsp rosemary (2 tsp fresh)  

By Sarah Weaver   If your Thanksgiving Day table calls for a pumpkin pie, making one is easier than you think.   This is how you do it! (And for pre-made goodies, follow Flour Riot , located in the heart of Dublin, Texas.)   WHAT YOU NEED   One premade pie shell   15 oz. pumpkin (1 can)   12 oz evaporated milk    1/2 cup sugar    1 tsp cinnamon 1/2 tsp salt    1/2 tsp ginger    1/2 tsp nutmeg   1/2 tsp vanilla    2 eggs    HOW TO MAKE IT   Prepare pie shell and set oven to 42

Photos courtesy James Pylant/ Blood Legacy ; reprinted with permission. By SARA VANDEN BERGE   It’s a story that lives on in infamy; one so gruesome that books have been written about it and tales of the grizzly homicide have been handed down from generation to generation.   In fact, Francis Marion Snow , the man dubbed the “Butcher of Stephenville,” has his own Wikipedia page that outlines the murder, discovery of the bodies and the trial.     I sat down with Janae Smith wit

By SARA VANDEN BERGE An Erath County grand jury indicted 16 people Thursday on a variety of charges ranging from family assault and abusing an elderly person to theft and drug possession. The following list of indictments was released by the office of District Attorney Alan Nash.  •  Johnny Charles Allen for assault (family violence) with previous conviction, a third degree felony.   •  Kendon Dawayne Baker for assault of a peace officer and manufacture or delivery of a subst

Tarleton student Hannah Reyling is back on campus after a serious bout of bacterial meningococcal meningitis. Photo/TSU Media Relations TSU Media Relations Special to Beneath the Surface News Life is full of unexpected twist and turns, with some being bigger challenges than others.    Hannah Reyling experienced this firsthand on Feb. 29, 2024. Two days earlier, bouncing back from a bout with allergies and a sinus infection, Reyling was feeling good enough to play in a kickbal

By SARA VANDEN BERGE   Chief Deputy Tye Box with the Erath County Sheriff’s Office  said an old scam where someone pretends to be a local deputy asking for money has resurfaced, but the latest victim, he said, didn’t fall for it. “We got a call from an elderly resident who said they received a call from someone pretending to be Deputy Southerland,” Chief Box told Beneath the Surface News . “The scammer said there was a warrant out for their arrest and that they owed the sheri

Recipe by Sarah Weaver   With the holidays upon us, there’s a good chance you’ll need to whip up some buttercream icing or homemade whipped cream to top off those big mugs of hot chocolate.   The good news is that both are simple to make. Click here to watch a video on how I do it and keep scrolling for the full recipes. BUTTERCREAM ICING; WHAT YOU NEED   1 cup unsalted butter (2 sticks), softened   4 cups powdered sugar    1 tbsp. pure vanilla   2-4 tbsps. whole milk or hea

Lonn Reisman taking the oath of office Tuesday at Stephenville City Hall. By SARA VANDEN BERGE   Lonn Reisman is officially mayor.   Reisman was sworn into office during Tuesday’s Stephenville City Council meeting.     Reisman told Beneath the Surface News that since he was elected on Nov. 4 , he has received at least 50 calls from residents about a variety of issues.   “My phone hasn’t stopped ringing with people expressing concerns and offering ideas on what they think nee

By Julie Brinkley   This salad made with shaved brussels sprouts, pomegranate and candied pecans make a delicious Thanksgiving Day side.   Click here to watch a video on how it’s made.   WHAT YOU NEED   12 ounces brussels sprouts   1 ½ cup pomegranate seeds   1 ½ chopped Honeycrisp apple   1 cup candied pecans   ¾ dried cranberries   ¾ cup parmesan cheese   VINAIGRETTE   3 tbsp olive oil   1 ½ tbsp lemon juice   1 ½ tbsp apple cider vinegar   2 tbsp Dijon mustard   1 tbsp ma

The Erath County Courthouse. By SARA VANDEN BERGE   The filing period for the March 3 Primary Election is underway now through Dec. 8, and several Erath County officials up for another term have already filed for re-election.   Erath County Judge Brandon Huckabee is seeking his second term.     “It’s been an honor to serve the citizens of Erath County during my first term and help move our county forward in many areas. It has taken partnerships and collaboration from local go

By SARA VANDEN BERGE With the holidays upon us, I ordered ingredients to whip up one of our favorite holiday appetizers that’s the perfect crowd-pleasing dish. I stumbled upon this recipe a couple of years ago, and now it’s a staple at holiday gatherings. I made a big crockpot of these festive cranberry meatballs for a recent Friendsgiving and they were gobbled up fast! HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED 1 can (14 ounces) jellied cranberry sauce 1 bottle (12 ounces) chili sauce 3/4 cup pac

Click the link below to watch the video.

This wine will be center stage on my holiday tables this year. By SARA VANDEN BERGE   If you’ve ever dreamed of wine tasting your way through Northern California’s epic vineyards, Napa is likely the place you plan to visit.   And while Napa is a gorgeous place you shouldn’t skip, Paso Robles offers a different, but equally incredible experience.     The Husband and I just returned from a three-day trip to Paso, where our long-time friends from high school opened Creekcut Win

Recipe by Sarah Weaver   The holidays are upon us, and if you’re like a lot of people, making a pie crust can be a little intimidating.   The good news is that it’s not as hard as you think. Follow these steps to make the perfect crust for your holiday pie and click here  to watch how I make it. HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED   1/2 cup shortening or butter    1 1/2 cups flour, plus 1/2 cup for surface  1/2 tsp of salt    1/2 cup ice cold water        HOW TO MAKE IT   Start by adding fl

By Alexis Rochester   Before you know it, the holiday season will be in full swing.   Between Thanksgiving and Christmas, there are endless activities happening, and if your home needs a quick refresh, these chemistry-based cleaning hacks can make a big difference.     At Chemistry Cachet , I love bringing science into everyday life, especially when it comes to cleaning smarter, not harder.   Here are a few of my favorite tricks that use simple ingredients you already have at

Photo credit – Marathon Photos Live/Cowtown Marathon By SARA VANDEN BERGE   Stephenville resident Lexi Nelms is running for angels.   Literally.   The 20-year-old is running in the Dallas Marathon on Dec. 14 and is raising money for H.O.P.E.’s angel trees. “My parents have always adopted a bunch of angels during Christmas, so it was always near and dear to my heart,” Lexi told Beneath the Surface News . “When I was little, we adopted an angel from a nursing home and I got to