Area marching bands advance to state marching competition
<p>BY JONATHAN CANNON
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<p>HERALD DEMOCRAT
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<p>Two area marching bands will advance to state after competing in their area competition on Saturday.
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<p>Whitewright and Howe marching bands will march at the Alamodome in San Antonio for the state marching band contest on Nov. 3.
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<p>"They've been working very hard to get better and better," said Whitewright High School Band Director Mike Reddell said.
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<p>He added that it has been 20 years since the band advanced to state. 
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<p>Howe Band Director Angie Cavender said it has only been six years since Howe advanced to state and that they, too, owe this year's success to the devotion of the band's members. She said the band's success has also been helped by the leadership of its senior members.
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<p>"This year the kids have worked so hard," she said. "We've battled swine flu and rain and all sorts of things."</p>