KILGORE  City leaders have committed to invest in the future by focusing on Kilgore's past.

After an absence of about two decades, Kilgore recently renewed its participation in the Texas Main Street Program, and as of the end of December funded the position of a full-time director for the Kilgore Main Street Program.

"We talked about it for three or four years," Mayor Joe Parker said of the renewed emphasis on downtown.

"We have a beautiful downtown and think downtown is important," Parker said. "What we want to do is help dress it up, fix things like sidewalks, and make it into a place people will want to go."

Mike Joseph, owner of Max Daiches Jewelers in downtown Kilgore for the past 26 years, said he is optimistic the Main Street focus will create positive results for the city. He serves as chairman of of the Kilgore Main Street Advisory Board.

"At this point, I'm just tickled to death the city wants to do something," Joseph said.