Melty cheese stuffed inside this sweet potato is delish. By SARA VANDEN BERGE I don’t know what it is about Courtney Cook, but I’m obsessed. The TikTok sensation has gained a cult following with her quirky recipes and I have now made her cheese-stuffed sweet potato three times. (Not counting the one I am eating for dinner tonight.) I was never a big fan of sweet potatoes despite their serious health benefits. These nutrient-dense potatoes offer high amounts of beta-

By SARA VANDEN BERGE If you’ve ever dreamed of seeing the Harlem Globetrotters perform in person, your chance is coming. The Globetrotters will be at Tarleton's EECU Center in Stephenville on Feb. 13, 2026. From gravity-defying dunks to game-changing tricks, experience the team that redefined basketball! This is history you can feel! Score your tickets by clicking here .

By SARA VANDEN BERGE If you’re on TikTok, you’ve certainly fallen on the side of Courtney Cook, you know the charming young mother who has gone viral for her interesting recipes. Courtney makes strange, but delicious-looking concoctions that have made her a TikTok sensation. She makes these Korean eggs that look so delicious I couldn’t wait to try them. I mean, what’s not to like about boiled eggs soaked in soy sauce and green onions and topped with kewpie mayo? I m

By SARA VANDEN BERGE The filing period for the March 3 Primary Election is over and Erath County Judge Brandon Huckabee will sail into a second term without an opponent. “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 governments and the public to make that happen and we still have work to do,” Huckabee told Beneath the Surface News . O

By Julie Brinkley Not only is this pasta filling and easy to make, it’s incredibly flavorful. Made with Italian sausage, chicken stock, heavy cream and parmesan cheese, this delicious recipe is rich, creamy and the perfect end to a long day. Click here to watch a video on how it’s made. WHAT YOU NEED 1 lb ground Italian sausage (mild or spicy) 1 onion, diced 1 green bell pepper, diced Minced garlic, to taste 3 tablespoons tomato paste 1 can (8 ounces) tom

Daniel Slocomb's mugshot from the Erath County Jail. By SARA VANDEN BERGE An Erath County grand jury on Thursday indicted a Stephenville man accused of repeatedly sexually assaulting a teenager. Fifty-six-year-old Daniel Slocomb was indicted on four counts of sexual assault of a child (enhanced), sexual performance by a child (enhanced) and two counts of indecency with a child (enhanced). All charges are second degree felonies. According to the official complaint ob

TSU Media Relations Special to Beneath the Surface News Tarleton State University is expanding its successful partnership with Opal’s Farm to offer urban agriculture education across all campuses. What began as a grassroots effort to improve access to fresh, healthy foods in one Fort Worth neighborhood has developed into an innovative education model that Tarleton State is now bringing to Stephenville, with course instruction also available online to make the program more ac

A German Christmas market in the heart of Munich's Old Town. By SARA VANDEN BERGE You might have noticed that things have been a little slower than usual the past couple of weeks on Beneath the Surface News . That’s because The Husband and I took a few days off to explore the famed Christmas markets in Paris, France and Munich, Germany. The good thing about getting a little older is that once you’ve raised kids and helped them through college, there’s a little extra

By Sarah Weaver Is there any better combo than chocolate and cherries? This recipe combines the two for a perfectly delicious cookie. WHAT YOU NEED 2 1/2 cups flour ¼ tsp salt 1 cup softened butter ¾ cup white sugar 1-2 tbs cherry juice from jar 1 tsp vanilla ½ c chopped cherries (from jar) ½ mini chocolate chips HOW TO MAKE THEM Place butter and sugar in mixer and let whisk until light and fluffy. In separate bowl, combine flour and salt; a

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