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

By Julie Brinkley Soup season is officially here and this recipe for creamy Tuscan tortellini is a family favorite. Heavy cream, chopped kale and shredded chicken makes for a flavorful, creamy and filling dish that will warm you up on a cold night. Click here to watch how it’s made. WHAT YOU NEED ½ diced onion diced 1 leak, diced 3 stalks of celery, chopped 3 cloves garlic 1 can crushed tomatoes 1 box of chicken stock or bone broth Parmesan rind 2

By SARA VANDEN BERGE Officials with the Erath County Courthouse and Erath County United Way have partnered for a program aimed at keeping residents warm this winter. Becky Keith, HR director at the courthouse, said the drive is ongoing through Dec. 20 ECUW executive director Lisa Scroggins said the coats will be boxed by sizes and taken to local food pantries where they will be dispersed. “All the coats stay local and are given to people in Erath County who need them,” Lis

Photo/Lauren Hummert Photography By SARA VANDEN BERGE Erath County law enforcement agencies are wasting no time getting into the holiday spirit. Their working together to raise money for the sixth annual “Shop with a Cop” program, aimed at giving local at-risk youth a merry Christmas. “We are so very blessed by the most loving and generous community and county,” Stephenville Police Chief Dan Harris told Beneath the Surface News . “With such love and support we are abl

By SARA VANDEN BERGE Registration is underway for a festive annual event hosted by the Cross Timbers Business and Professional Women organization. Run with Rudolph will take place at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 6, at Timber Ridge Church. Sign up to take part in a 5K for $25 or a one-mile fun run for $20. Click here to register. Participants must be registered by Nov. 26 to guarantee a T-shirt. All participants will be entered into a drawing for a chance to wi

Hudson Westbrook presented a $100,000 check to the Erath Country Junior Livestock Association after his headline benefit show in Stephenville on Nov. 1. Pictured from left: LV Coffee, Christie Beyer, Lance Gilliland, Hudson Westbrook and Jason Beyer. Photo/Ian Noh Special to Beneath the Surface News Skyrocketing Texas country star Hudson Westbrook headlined a benefit concert in his hometown of Stephenville on Saturday, then donated a whopping $100,000 to the Erath County Ju

By SARA VANDEN BERGE Stephenville will kick off the holiday season with a festive event happening on Thanksgiving weekend. The city’s annual Christmasville will be held in downtown Stephenville on Saturday, Nov. 29. Bring the family for a full day of holiday cheer with horse-drawn carriage rides, Rudolph’s chili cookoff (click here to sign up), live music, progressive bingo and the annual lighted Christmas parade (to participate, click here ). Santa and Mrs. Clause will al

By SARA VANDEN BERGE Ask for Andrea by Noelle W. Ihli was the perfect atmospheric read to get into the Halloween spirit. A ghostly tale centered around three women - Meghan, Brecia and Skye – who were murdered by the same man. The killer was a bad dude. A really bad dude who hunted his victims online, pretending to be an eligible bachelor, though he had a wife and kids at home. After charming his victims, he lures them to a desolate area and un-alives them. The kill

By Julie Brinkley This easy-to-make dish with rice, chicken, French onion soup and cheese is absolutely delicious And it’s pure comfort your family will love! Click here to watch a video on how it’s made. WHAT’S IN IT 2 cups white rice 1 (10.5-ounces) can condensed French onion soup 2 (10.5 ounce) cans condensed beef consommé 8 ounces baby portobello mushrooms, roughly chopped 1 cup grated pecorino romano or parmesan cheese, divided 1 stick butter, cu