On the Line

DOUBLE FEATURE: Texarkana, Arkansas, Mayor Allen Brown • Texarkana, Texas, native and horror author Robert E. Stahl

Starbear Studio — Fri, 24 Oct 2025 19:17:20 +0000

In the 100th episode of "On the Line," host Karl Richter speaks with Texarkana, Arkansas, Mayor Allen Brown as he explains the November 2025 city bond issue election meant to fund street and drainage improvements.

At the 51:30 mark, horror author Robert E. Stahl talks about his journey as an author and his debut collection of short stories, "Show Me Where It Hurts."

LOCAL HISTORY | Food in Texarkana around 1900

Starbear Studio — Thu, 09 Oct 2025 18:02:46 +0000

Dr. Laura Sikes returns to discuss what a typical Texarkana family would have eaten each day around the turn of the 20th century. Where did their food come from? How was it preserved and prepared? Dr. Sikes answers those questions and many more. Get ready to get hungry!

LINKS

Email Karl

Email Laura

Rep. Nathaniel Moran returns

Starbear Studio — Thu, 24 Apr 2025 19:46:40 +0000

U.S. House Rep. Nathaniel Moran (TX-1) sat down with Karl on Monday, April 21, 2025, for his second "On the Line" interview. Topics included the economy and tariffs, separation of government powers, tax policy, and more, including some questions raised by Texarkana Gazette readers.

Talisha Ingram, two-time Texas powerlifting champ

Starbear Studio — Fri, 11 Apr 2025 05:01:00 +0000

Mallory Wyatt talked with DeKalb (Texas) High School's Talisha Ingram, who recently won her second consecutive state powerlifting championship. Ingram and her coach Troy Zeringue about her preparation, her attitude and what's next in her athletic career.

Introducing ‘150 Years of the Texarkana Gazette’

Starbear Studio — Fri, 28 Mar 2025 17:47:23 +0000

If you like "On the Line," give this a listen. It's the latest episode of our new podcast "150 Years of the Texarkana Gazette."

Karl Richter and Dr. Laura Sikes, history professor at" TAMU-Texarkana, chat about the Gazette's February history special section. It's filled with news stories that happened in Februaries over the course of the Gazette's 150 years.

ENCORE | Jennifer Lacefield, Executive Director, Randy Sams Outreach Shelter

Starbear Studio — Fri, 28 Mar 2025 17:47:00 +0000

UPDATE: Randy Sams' annual dueling pianos fundraiser is April 24, 2025.

Karl spoke with Jennifer Lacefield, executive director of Texarkana's Randy Sams Outreach Shelter, about what the shelter does, who the local homeless population is and what they need, and what we all can do to help.

LINKS

Randy Sams website

Randy Sams Facebook page

DOUBLE FEATURE: Hailey Wright of “The Voice” • The history of Arkansas newspapers

Starbear Studio — Fri, 07 Mar 2025 13:59:44 +0000

In this two-part episode, Karl first speaks with Redwater, Texas' own Hailey Wright, who is appearing on NBC singing competition show "The Voice."

Then Arkansas State Historian David Ware and Katie Adkins, project director/archivist of the Arkansas Digital Newspaper Project, tell Karl about the history and preservation of Arkansas newspapers.

LINKS

"The Voice"

Chronicling America - Library of Congress newspaper archive

Email Karl Richter

LOCAL HISTORY | Railroads

Starbear Studio — Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:47:00 +0000

Karl talked with Dr. Laura Sikes about railroads' importance in the founding and early development of Texarkana.

OTHER LOCAL HISTORY EPISODES

The Caddo Nation, Part 1

The Caddo Nation, Part 2

The Great Red River Raft

LINKS

Email Karl

Email Laura

The Texarkana Gazette Community Journalism Project

The Gazette at 150

Podcast: 150 Years of the Texarkana Gazette

Texas State Railroad (Palestine-Rusk round trip)

Texarkana Public Library turns 100

Starbear Studio — Fri, 07 Feb 2025 21:43:40 +0000

Olivia Poulton, executive director of Texarkana Public Library, and Mallory Wyatt, member of the TPL Centennial Committee, talk about celebrating the 100th anniversary of the library's founding in 1925. Fun monthly events through the year will lead to a black tie gala, and there's a lot more.

They and Karl also discuss the various — and sometimes surprising — services the library offers the community.

LINKS

Texarkana Public Library website

Texarkana Public Library Facebook page

Gazette at 150 and a look back at 2024's interviews

Starbear Studio — Thu, 09 Jan 2025 21:28:25 +0000

The year’s first episode looks back at 2024 and forward to 2025.

Gazette GM and Editor James Bright explained the new Texarkana Gazette Community Journalism Project and its goal: to raise $150,000 in honor of the Gazette’s 150th anniversary in 2025. Proceeds will be used for the sole purpose of supporting professional local news reporting.

In part two, host and producer Karl Richter takes listeners through a review of 2024’s “On the Line” interviews, introducing a clip from each.

ENCORE: Thanksgiving cooking with Chef Cory House

Starbear Studio — Mon, 25 Nov 2024 19:40:00 +0000

Karl got some cooking advice from Cory House, executive chef of the Texas High School Culinary Arts Academy.

From his preferred turkey roasting method to making the perfect mac and cheese, House shared tips meant to reduce the stress that can come with one of the biggest meals of the year.

Norm Lewis, Broadway star

Starbear Studio — Thu, 07 Nov 2024 21:27:00 +0000

Karl talked with Norm Lewis, the acclaimed singer and actor who will perform his solo show "Blockbuster Broadway" with the Texarkana Symphony Orchestra at the Perot Theatre on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024.

LINKS

Norm Lewis official website

The Perot Theatre

Texarkana Symphony Orchestra

ENCORE: "Rocky Horror" superfan Larry Viezel

Starbear Studio — Fri, 18 Oct 2024 14:36:00 +0000

Larry Viezel has been passionate about “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” for three decades and is president of the Official Fan Club.

In 2022, he and Karl talked about the show's history, cast, music and what's made it so special to generations of fans.

Texarkana's Perot Theatre will present “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” on Friday, Oct. 18, 2024.

LINKS

Tickets: "Rocky Horror" at the Perot

"The Rocky Horror Treasury: A Tribute to the Ultimate Cult Classic"

LOCAL HISTORY | The Great Red River Raft

Starbear Studio — Fri, 30 Aug 2024 21:00:16 +0000

This episode is the third in our new local history series featuring Dr. Laura Sikes, assistant professor of history and director of the Red River Center for Regional History and Culture at Texas A&M University-Texarkana.

Laura continues the series with the history of the Great Raft, a miles-long logjam that blocked travel and shipping via the Red River for centuries.

LINKS

Source — "No Hope! The Story of the Great Red River Raft," by Mitchel Whitington

Send Karl an email

Send Dr. Sikes an email

High School Football Preview

Starbear Studio — Mon, 19 Aug 2024 19:20:00 +0000

Texarkana Gazette Sports Director Jason Hopkins and reporter Austin Litterell talk about the 2024 edition of "The Audible," our comprehensive local and regional high school football preview magazine.

Follow "On the Line" with your favorite podcast app

Listen to previous episodes of "On the Line" and other Starbear Studio podcasts

Dr. Jenny McCormack Walker, Literacy Texas executive director

Starbear Studio — Thu, 25 Jul 2024 18:37:53 +0000

In January 2024, Dr. Jenny McCormack Walker became executive director of Literacy Texas, a nonprofit that supports adult education efforts statewide. She previously was executive director of the Literacy Council of Bowie and Miller Counties in Texarkana, Texas.

She and Karl talked about her new role, the upcoming annual Literacy Texas conference, and her views of the adult education landscape across the state.

LINKS

Literacy Texas

Literacy Council of Bowie and Miller Counties

Matt Solomon, Historic Preservation Officer, Texarkana, Texas

Starbear Studio — Fri, 28 Jun 2024 05:01:00 +0000

Texarkana native Matt Solomon became the Texas side's Historic Preservation Officer in January 2024, and he wasted no time getting to work compiling a survey of the city's historic markers.

He and Karl talked about his plans to replace and reinstall some local markers, as well as people and places worthy of future markers. They also spoke about Texarkana, Texas, City Hall, and preparations to celebrate the 100th anniversary of its official opening in 2025.

Allen Brown, mayor of Texarkana, Arkansas

Starbear Studio — Fri, 14 Jun 2024 05:01:00 +0000

Second-term Arkansas-side Mayor Allen Brown and Karl talk about a variety of topics including economic development, hiring for key city government positions and street repair.

LOCAL HISTORY | The Caddo Nation, Part 2

Starbear Studio — Fri, 24 May 2024 05:01:00 +0000

This episode is the second in our new local history series featuring Dr. Laura Sikes, assistant professor of history and director of the Red River Center for Regional History and Culture at Texas A&M University-Texarkana.

Laura starts the series with the history of the Texarkana region’s original residents, the Caddo Nation.

LINKS

Source — “Caddo Indians: Where We Come From,” by Cecile Elkins Carter

Caddo Indian Pottery Collection at Northeast Texas Community College

Caddo Mounds State Historic Site

Send Karl an email

Send Dr. Sikes an email

LOCAL HISTORY | The Caddo Nation, Part 1

Starbear Studio — Fri, 10 May 2024 18:05:03 +0000

This episode is the first in our new local history series featuring Dr. Laura Sikes, assistant professor of history and director of the Red River Center for Regional History and Culture at Texas A&M University-Texarkana.

Laura starts the series with the history of the Texarkana region’s original residents, the Caddo Nation.

LINKS

Source — “Caddo Indians: Where We Come From,” by Cecile Elkins Carter

Caddo Indian Pottery Collection at Northeast Texas Community College

Caddo Mounds State Historic Site

Send Karl an email

Send Dr. Sikes an email

SPECIAL EDITION: Lloyd Jackson, superintendent, Texarkana Arkansas School District

Starbear Studio — Thu, 25 Apr 2024 20:25:22 +0000

The Gazette's Mallory Wyatt spoke with Lloyd Jackson, the recently hired superintendent of Texarkana Arkansas School District. Jackson talked about his background, his educational philosophy and his plans for the district.

Introducing Local History with Dr. Laura Sikes

Starbear Studio — Wed, 24 Apr 2024 19:43:22 +0000

On the Line's new local history series begins May 10, 2024.

Dr. Laura Sikes, assistant professor of history and director of the Red River Center for Regional History and Culture at Texas A&M University-Texarkana, will join Karl to discuss the story of our city and region.

Scott Dikkers, comedy writer, co-founder of The Onion

Starbear Studio — Thu, 18 Apr 2024 20:48:05 +0000

Gazette reporter Mallory Wyatt joined Karl to talk with Scott Dikkers, a comedy writer and comedy writing teacher best know as a co-founder and longtime editor of the satirical newspaper The Onion.

He was in town to speak at Texas A&M University-Texarkana, where the interview took place.

Scott talked about his background and career, as well as his perspective on comedy in a time when daily life can be all too serious, whether there's anything out of bounds to joke about, how to be funnier and a lot more.

LINKS

scottdikkers.com

How to Write Funny website - Scott's resources for aspiring comedy writers

How to Write Funny podcast

Fouke Monster expert Lyle Blackburn

Starbear Studio — Fri, 29 Mar 2024 20:07:50 +0000

Thanks to the movie “The Legend of Boggy Creek,” the Fouke Monster is one of the most famous creatures ever to strike a chord in popular culture.

That’s why the annual Fouke Monster Festival remains a tradition in Southwest Arkansas. This year, it’s April 26 and 27.

The festival wouldn’t be the same without Lyle Blackburn, the researcher and documentary filmmaker who literally wrote the books — plural — on the monster.

Lyle joined Karl from his home in Fort Worth to provide a little Fouke Monster 101 and talk about the sasquatch phenomenon in general.

LINKS

Lyle Blackburn's website

2024 Fouke Monster Festival

Janet Ivey-Duensing, science educator

Starbear Studio — Thu, 14 Mar 2024 19:54:25 +0000

Students can visit our planetary neighborhood this month — without even leaving the Perot Theatre.

“Janet’s Planet: A Tour of the Solar System” is a show with a purpose, to encourage children to engage with STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) subjects.

Longtime science educator Janet Ivey-Duensing, the show’s creator and host, knows how to make the process a blast.

She and Karl also talked about how to prepare for the April 8, 2024, total solar eclipse and what to expect when it happens.

The show is just one part of the Janet’s Planet brand, which also includes online programming, a podcast and summer camps. Based in Nashville, Tennessee, Ivey-Duensing has won multiple awards and honors for her work, most recently the American Astronomical Society’s Sally Ride Excellence in Education Award.