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The sixth-annual reading of the Northeast Texas Poetry Contest will be held on†Friday, Sept. 6 at 11 a.m. in the foyer of the Whatley Center for the Performing Arts on the campus of ��«����Ƶ.†

The two adult and four student winners will read their poems and receive awards. †Elaine McFeely, Executive Director of the Franklin County Historical Association, and Julie Ratliff, Professor of English at ��«����Ƶ, will also share their experiences with living in Northeast Texas.

The reading is devoted to help people address a most-frequently asked question:† where are you from?† Besides the original poems on facets of life here, the two speakers will provide diverse perspectives. †McFeely was reared in Mount Vernon, has worked in the dairy business of Franklin County, and attended Texas A&M University-Commerce. †Ratliff, on the other hand, received her M.A. in literature at Truman State, Missouri, and has studied extensively in Pennsylvania. She has presented work on American popular culture at academic conferences throughout the United States and Canada.

Admission is free and the public is invited to attend.† Those still wanting to enter the contest have until noon on†Friday, Aug. 30 to submit poems to Dr. Andrew Yox, ��«����Ƶ Honors Director,†ayox@ntcc.edu.† The poem, of any style or length, should evoke the life or culture of Northeast Texas.† There will be cash prizes both for the adult and student divisions.† For more information call 903-434-8229.