The Flare Online

KC-Longview recently marked four areas of campus as designated smoking areas. Smokers are now prohibited from smoking anywhere on campus with the exception of these four areas.

The main campus in Kilgore, still requiring smokers to remain at least 30 feet away from all building entrances, has not followed in the footsteps of its sister campus to restrict smokers to specific areas of campus.

If smokers would actually abide by these current guidelines, it would be tolerable. However, smokers seem to feel that they have the right to enjoy their habit wherever it is convenient. In doing so they are endangering the lives of those around them who may not wish to have their health compromised.

As set forth in The City of Kilgore Ordinance No. 1430, smoking is prohibited in public places within the city of Kilgore, with some exceptions.

This week we saw a rare occurrence at KC when two labs were named in honor of two exemplary instructors.

Wednesday morning several dozen people were on hand to witness the unveiling of the Bettye Herrington Craddock Journalism Center and the O. Rufus Lovett Photography Center in the Communications/ Automotive Building.

Since I arrived at KC for the Spring 2008 semester, I’ve seen each of these two instructors dedicate their heart and soul to this college and the students who attend here. Over the last 25 years, Craddock (since 1984) and Lovett (since 1977) have worked together to help build two phenomenal programs, one award-winning paper and two outstanding reputations.

This past June, my best friend and I drove 14 hours from Houston to Columbus, Ga. It was the first time for either of us to drive that far without our parents. For most college-aged people, a road trip seems like a freeing adventure. In reality, it is.

Prior to our departure, we had taken all appropriate measures to assure we would get to our destination without getting lost. We programmed a GPS and made sure it was fully charged before we hit the road. Knowing that we should never fully rely on technology, we printed directions from MapQuest and made sure we also had some old-fashioned maps handy.

Smokers beware.

Due to smokers’ disregard to a policy restricting smoking within 30 feet of doorways, a pilot program aimed at confining smokers to four designated areas has been put in place at KC-Longview. According to Dr. Julie Fowler, dean of KC-Longview, similar action could be possible for the Kilgore campus as well.

Photo by Rick Gray

After KC squandered chances to take control in the first quarter, the Navarro Bulldogs did not waste their chances in the second. Navarro, ranked No. 3 in the national junior college poll, reeled off three second-quarter touchdowns and ran away from the Rangers with a 42-17 victory Saturday night at R.E. St. John Memorial Stadium.
The loss drops KC to 0-3 for the first time since 2005, and the road ahead does not get any easier. The Rangers face No. 1 Blinn College Saturday at Blinn.