Texas
Deep East Texas community raising 77 foster care kids gets movie made about them
POSSUM TROT, Texas (KLTV) – In the Pineywoods of Shelby County resides a community of families that embraced some of the most difficult-to-place kids in the foster care system. Over 20 years later, they’re getting a movie made.
First Lady of Bennett Chapel Baptist Church, Donna Martin, said it all started back in 1998 in the small town of Possum Trot.
“It was a hurting… and a calling,” Martin said.
A calling to adopt. With the support of her husband, Bishop W.C. Martin, they started the process, ultimately taking in four kids on top of their two biological ones.
“Because no child, no child, anywhere in this world deserves to not have a loving, caring home,” said Lady Martin.
But that mission to change the life of these kids grew into something much bigger than they ever expected.
Over the years, their example and building of community for adoptive families within their church led to 22 families adopting 77 kids.
“They saw what we as leaders, were not just preaching but setting an example,” Martin said.
Nearly all kids within their local foster care system ended up getting a home. Bishop Martin recalls hearing the moment a worker shared the impact they’d made.
“Susan said, ‘Well, Bishop Martin, I’m telling you that there’s not another child within 100-mile radius of Possum Trot.’”
CPS Regional Director Lori Sutton-White was involved in connecting a group of five sisters to one of the families. She says she’d never seen anything like Possums Trot’s movement.
“At that time, we just did not have the kind of movement where you saw an entire church or entire community come together,” Sutton-White said.
This community’s mission is to serve as an example of a possible solution to the current foster care crisis.
Bishop Martin said, “If every church would take two or three children. Every church. I don’t care if you got 20,000 members or you got two members, if every church would take two, we would empty this system… just like that.”
That’s something Sutton-White agrees with.
“We wouldn’t have a need for foster care. We would have more than enough for our children,” she said.
That message is now coming to the big screen. The Martins said Sound of Hope has been in the making for about 10 years and will depict their real-life experiences, and even reveal where some of the adopted kids are today.
As for the ones they took in, Lady Martin shared they’re doing great. She said some are currently practicing their careers while others have started families of their own.
“The greatest reward that we receive is to look at their lives where they are today,” she said.
Sound of Hope will come out in theaters July 4th.
For more information on East Texas kids available for adoption, please email hello@heartgalleryetx.org.
Copyright 2024 KLTV. All rights reserved.
The Texas Longhorns entered the 2025 season with more expectations than any team has had to deal with in recent memory.
Many among the media were ready to crown the team and quarterback Arch Manning before they even played one game. Of course, those unrealistic expectations were never met, even though the team finished with a 10-3 record and a Citrus Bowl win over the Michigan Wolverines.
2026 is heading in the same direction for the Longhorns. Many believe head coach Steve Sarkisian has the most talented team in the country. But in order to fix the issues from this past season, the Longhorns needed to fix one issue that has cost them in the past.
Changing The Narrative
One of the biggest issues the Longhorns had last season was the play of the offensive line. It was apparent in the first game of the season against the Ohio State Buckeyes that Manning didn’t have the pocket time needed to make big plays.
This offseason, Coach Sarkisian went out and found two massive transfer portal additions that should completely change the narrative on this offensive line.
It starts with potential starting right tackle Melvin Siani. Siani has spent time with the Temple Owls and last season with the Wake Forest Demon Deacons.
The Longhorns are set at left tackle with Trevor Goosby, who could play himself into being a top 10 pick in the 2027 NFL Draft. If the team can get competent play from Siani, the offense will be able to open up the playbook, and the world may finally see Manning at his college peak.
The Longhorns also went out and found a potential fix at left guard for the 2026 season. Western Kentucky Hilltoppers transfer Laurence Seymore could be another strong patch for the holes in the offensive line.
After spending the first two seasons of his college career with the Miami Hurricanes, Seymore made stops with the Akron Zips and the Hilltoppers.
Of course, the one concern with Seymore is wondering if he can compete at the SEC level coming from the C-USA.
This season for the Longhorns starts and stops with the play of Manning. Coach Sarkisian and the rest of this coaching staff understood that protecting their quarterback was the most important goal when building the 2026 roster.
The Longhorns are going to be leaning on veteran talent to protect their quarterback, and it may very well be the best decision they made this offseason.
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U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico promise to serve all in El Paso
U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico discusses key public issues in Texas during the first stop of his Frontera Tour July 11, 2026 in El Paso.
The two candidates vying for the U.S. Senate seat in Texas are making stops across the Lone Star State this week.
Democrat James Talarico and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton will head to South Texas as the two go head-to-head in the Nov. 3 General Election to replace U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas. Cornyn lost his reelection bid to Paxton in the Republican Primary Election.
The campaign tour continues for Talarico after hosting townhalls in El Paso and Marfa as part of his “Frontera Tour,” while Paxton is holding a “Rally in the Valley” in McAllen.
Here’s where the candidates will be in Texas.
Paxton heads to McAllen for ‘Rally in the Valley’
Paxton is heading to McAllen for his “Rally in the Valley” event at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 14. He’ll be joined by National Border Security Council President Paul Perez, TX-28 Nominee Tano Tijerina, and TX-34 Nominee Eric Flores.
The all-ages event will take place at University Draft House Townlake McAllen, 100 West Business 83, and spots can be reserved at eventbrite.com.
Talarico to visit Del Rio, Eagle Pass, Laredo
Talarico continues his “Frontera” tour with a stop in Del Rio on Monday, July 14.
“Gather with your family, friends, and neighbors to hear from James about taking his fight against Big Money and corruption to Washington. Together, we can win back power for working people in a system that’s rigged for the ultra-wealthy,” the event page states, adding that the program will be short and voters can greet Talarico after.
Here are the stops on Talarico’s “Frontera” tour:
Monday, July 13:
- 3 p.m. Memo’s Restaurant, 804 E Losoya St. in Del Rio
- 7 p.m. International Center For Trade, 3295 Bob Rogers Drive in Eagle Pass
Tuesday, July 14:
- 6 p.m. La Posada – San Agustin Ballroom, 1000 Zaragoza St. 107 in Laredo
Natassia Paloma may be reached at npaloma@gannett.com, @NatassiaPaloma on X, natassia_paloma on Instagram, and Natassia Paloma on Facebook.
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