The County Line - April 2010, v3i33

HP L L a u ib i p r ef p s re i u t n i y e t s of s !

Business & Community Journal --- April First Edition, 2010

Volume 3 Issue 33

w w w. M y C o u n t y - L i n e . c o m

Speak up, join the discussion, take part!

On The Cover

The Easter Lily Inside

How Many Easter Eggs Can You Find?

The County Line Business & Community Journal ● P.O. Box 1156 ● Eastland, Texas 76448 ● http://www.mycounty-line.com

Line Business & Community 2 •County First Edition

APRIL, 2010

Journal ~ APRIL, 2010 v3.33 vol.3 Issue 33

On The Cover:

The

Easter Lily

Contents

April Second Edition Deadline -- 04/09/2010 May First Edition Deadline -- 04/30/2010

E

ach holiday is marked by cherished traditions that bring joy, comfort, and warmth, and provide continuity from one generation to the next. Easter has its share of traditions: egg decorations and hunts; gift baskets and chocolate bunnies, sunrise church services, parades, and, of course, the Easter Lily. For many, the beautiful trumpet-shaped white flowers symbolize purity, virtue, innocence, hope and life - the spiritual essence of Easter.

Easter is April 4th this year.

Be on the lookout for strange bunny rabbits carrying baskets of colored eggs...and remember to honor the true meaning of the celebration ~ Christ Our Lord.

Illustration by mwnorris

In This Issue: Easter Egg Hunt

Growing Up Small Town Daily Devotional Carbon - Then & Now Clint Coffee Ranger Library Tumbleweed Smith Out of the Past Life Planning Issues Rising Star Library Notes Out of the Box EMH Volunteer News 2nd Annual Lake Leon Bass Tournament From the Backside Eastland ISD News

More on the Web...

History, mythology, literature, poetry and the world of art are rife with stories and images that speak of the beauty and majesty of the elegant white flowers. Dating back to Biblical lore, the lily is mentioned numerous times in the Bible. One of the most famous Biblical references is in the Sermon on the Mount, when Christ told his listeners: “Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they toil not, neither do they spin; and yet..... Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.”

Often called the “white-robed apostles of hope,” lilies were found growing in the Garden of Gethsemane after Christ’s agony. Tradition has it that the beautiful white lilies sprung up where drops of Christ’s sweat fell to the ground in his final hours of sorrow and deep distress. Churches continue this tradition at Easter time by banking their alters and surrounding their crosses with masses of Easter Lilies, to commemorate the resurrection of Jesus Christ and hope of life everlasting.

The pure white lily has long been closely associated with the Virgin Mary.

In early paintings, the Angel Gabriel is pictured extending to the Virgin Mary a branch of pure white lilies, announcing that she is to be the mother of the Christ Child. In other paintings, saints are pictured bringing vases full of white lilies to Mary and the infant Jesus.

In yet another expression of womanhood, lilies had a significant presence in the paradise of Adam and Eve. Tradition has it that when Eve left the Garden of Eden she shed real tears of repentance, and from those remorseful tears sprung up lilies. The spiritual principle held here is that true repentance is the beginning of beauty.

A mark of purity and grace throughout the ages, the regal white lily is a fitting symbol of the greater meaning of Easter. Gracing millions of homes and churches, the flowers embody joy, hope and life. Whether given as a gift or enjoyed in your own home, the Easter Lily serves as a beautiful reminder that Easter is a time for rejoicing and celebrating. ~from Texas A&M, Department of Horticultural Sciences

The County Line Published by Mike Norris Wolverine Design

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The County Line is published monthly and distributed in the following cities: Abilene Albany Baird Breckenridge Brownwood Carbon Cisco Cross Plains DeLeon Desdemona Eastland Gordon Gorman Olden Ranger Rising Star Stephenville Strawn Thurber Weatherford Thank you for reading The County Line!

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County Line Business & Community Journal ~ APRIL, 2010 v3.33• ■ Growing

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Up Small Town, Mike Norris The Federalist Papers - As Important Today as They Were Over 220 Years Ago

I am reading the Federalist Papers and I cannot believe...in fact I am utterly befuddled...by the clairvoyance demonstrated by the Founding Fathers in crafting this nation.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with The Federalist Papers, in October 1787, New England newspapers began to run letters from an unidentified writer, calling himself “Publius”, urging voters of the state of New York to ratify the newly proposed Constitution of the United States. The series is comprised of 85 letters, 36 of those criticized the existing form of government under the Articles of Confederation -- the remaining 49 were an in depth analysis of the new Constitution, section by section. It was later revealed that the writer was actually three people -- Alexander Hamilton, John Jay and James Madison.

Alexander Hamilton was born in the West Indies in 1757. He came to the American colonies and was a bold supporter of the American Revolution.

During the Revolutionary War, he was an aid to George Washington and a member of the Continental Congress. He was a leading figure during the Constitutional Convention of 1787 and was the principal writer of The Federalist Papers.

He died in 1804 from a gunshot wound he incurred during a duel with Aaron Burr.

“Schemes to subvert the liberties of a great community require time to mature them for execution. [A group] so large as seriously to menace those liberties could only be formed by progressive augmentations; which would suppose, not merely a temporary combination between the legislature and executive, but a continued conspiracy for a series of time.”

Hamilton continues, “Is it possible that such a combination would exist at all? Is it probable that it would be persevered in and transmitted along, through all the successive variations in the representative body, which biennial elections would naturally produce in both houses? Is it presumable, that every man, the instant he took his seat in the national senate, or house of representatives, would commence a traitor to his constituents and to his country? Can it be supposed, that there would not be found one man, discerning enough to detect so atrocious a conspiracy, or bold or honest enough to apprise his constituents of their danger?”

Hamilton resolves the people’s actions should such a circumstance arise by saying, “If such presumptions can fairly be made, there ought to be at once an end of all delegated authority. The

people should resolve to recall all the powers they have heretofore parted with out of their own hands; and to divide themselves into as many states as there are counties, in order that they may be able to manage their own concerns in person.”

Hamilton was addressing the concern of standing armies in times of peace, and how the legislature might work with the executive branch to gradually build an ever growing army over time to enforce laws upon the people by force rather than them being governed by choice. And in direct relation to such an obvious example, the evolution of social security, medicare and most recently, the Obama Healthcare Plan, have all come together over decades and decades of legislative process, with the ultimate result being an unpopular restriction upon the Liberty of the People.

To follow Hamilton’s advice, it is within the power of the governed to recognize such restrictions and to strip the authority from the government to enforce such unconstitutional restraints on the People’s Liberty.

What do you think? http://www.mycounty-line.com/opinions

John Jay was a conservative colonial lawyer who was born in 1745. He served the young United States as a patriot and foreign minister to Spain.

From 1789 to 1795 he acted as the first Chief Justice of the United States Supremem Court.

James Madison was born in 1751 in Virginia. He worked to serve the Revolutionary effort from the Virginia House of Delegates and as a member of the Continental Congress. During the Constitutional Convention he fought for the adoption of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. From 1809 to 1817, Madison served as the 4th President of the United States.

There is so much that was said during the founding of our country that is still holding relevance to today’s events. For example, I will post an excerpt from Federalist #26 by Alexander Hamilton...

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■ Daily

Devotional, Wanda Lee Beck Skinner

Easter Celebration

Soon we will be celebrating victory. The horrific event of so many years ago has been taught and preached over all that time. Yet the story of the cross is one that brings sadness as we recall a precious baby born of a virgin to accomplish the task only He could complete.

The initial victory came as He rose from the tomb but how many times victory has been repeated.

Someone hears the Gospel with an open heart and accepts Jesus, that is victory. Someone feels the call to follow Jesus in a new path of service, that is victory. The life of a believer is taken from earth to see Jesus face to face, that is victory.

Dwell on the words of the hymn “Victory in Jesus” and have victory as you live in His way, His Word and walk in His path.

Harmony Baptist Church News

Harmony Baptist Church proudly announces that Ray Rodgers has accepted the call of becoming our pastor on Easter Sunday. The church made this decision after much prayer and with the leadership of the Holy Spirit.

Ray and Mickey returned to their home

county after having pastured Baptist Churches for some forty-six years.

They first served churches in the Staff and Cheaney communities; then Scalorn Baptist Church in Mills County; Herren Baptist Church in San Saba; First Baptist Church Moran; Bethel Baptist Church in Graham; Emmanuel Baptist in Weatherford; and they served First Baptist Church on Possum Kingdom Lake for twenty-one and 1/2 years before retiring from the full time pastorate in 2005. They then moved back to Morton Valley.

He has been serving as interim pastor and supplying at churches since his retirement.

Ray is presently serving as moderator of the Tri-County Baptist Association.

We invite everyone to come out and see what the Lord is doing in this small congregation in Morton Valley just five miles north of Eastland, nine miles west of Ranger, nine miles east of Cisco and almost thirty miles south of Breckenridge.

Photos courtesy of Wanda Skinner

The County Line Business & Community Journal ● P.O. Box 1156 ● Eastland, Texas 76448 ● http://www.mycounty-line.com

County Line Business & Community Journal ~ APRIL, 2010 v3.33•

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■ Carbon

- Then and Now, Linda Neeley The Elusive Wolverine

This story is a continuation of the article published in the March 15 issue of The County Line. In that article we discovered how football came into being at Carbon High School and how the school chose the Wolverine as its mascot. This article will go into more detail about the elusive little animal and will show the various depictions

than say a Cocker Spaniel or a Beagle – but that can be deceptive. Wolverines are highly territorial and have the muscular strength to defend it. In fact, although weighing just about 25 pounds it is said that the wolverine has the ability of defending its food from wolf packs, cougars, and grizzly bears. They are thought to be the strongest animal amongst mammals, relative to their size.

The wolverine’s fur is brownish-black in color with light brown stripes along the sides. It is dense and long, and resists water, which is

Sandstorm, 1936

of it in The Sandstorm throughout the years.

Regardless of how the mascot was illustrated, the Carbon athletes took on the true spirit and fighting characteristics of the beloved mascot each time they represented the school in the field of sports. The information is reprinted from Buzzle.com.

Sandstorm, 1939

Looking like a small bear, the wolverine is actually the largest species of the weasel family. The wolverine is not much larger

Sandstorm, 1944

what helps the wolverine tolerate the cold and frost of the environment it inhabits. Some of the other physical features of the wolverine include a stocky build, with powerful limbs, a large head, a short tail and small ears. Its feet are equipped with pads, which enable it to traverse through heavy snow, and it also has large claws. Basically solitary, the wolverine requires a lot of space to roam and has been known to journey 15 miles a day looking for food. Wolverines can be found in the remote regions of the tundra, taiga and boreal forests in the northern parts of North America, Asia, and Europe.

The wolverine by nature is curious, daring, and tough. It is an omnivorous animal, feeding on a wide variety of food. In the summer, it

will eat berries, edible roots, and various plants, although that is only a small part of its diet.

Being tenacious predators, they will travel great distances to get its main food, meat.

The wolverine is basically a terrestrial animal, however it is good at climbing trees and is also a powerful swimmer.

They have great stamina and use a fast lope to travel great distances w i t h o u t breaking for rest. It has poor eyesight, although its hearing and sense of smell Sandstorm, 1956 are very good.

In the past, wolverines were hunted by trappers in North America for their beautiful coat, which was used as lining for parkas.

However, this is not as common these days, with the wolverine being given protective status in several regions.

Carbon Community Center

Quarterly meeting will be held Monday April 5th at 7pm. Future musicals, fund raisers, building maintenance and other business will be discussed.

All interested parties are invited to attend.

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County Line Business & Community Journal ~ APRIL, 2010 v3.33• ■ Carbon

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- Then and Now, Linda Neeley

Sandstorm, 1958

Wolverines would prefer to live in areas not inhabited by humans, which makes it difficult to capture a photo of them.

I think that The Sandstorm Staff did a good job throughout the years of capturing the elusive little creature.

What do you think?

Sandstorm, 1972

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Sandstorm, 1990

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•County Line Business & Community Journal ~ APRIL, 2010 v3.33

■ Clint

Coffee CLU ChFC, State Farm Insurance® Agent Are you financially exposed?

Many people realize the need for life insurance but keep putting it off until it is too late. You may think that life insurance is confusing, expensive and complicated. You may think you don’t know enough to make the right decisions for you and your loved ones.

Postponing this decision leaves you and your family exposed financially.

Assumption #1: I’ll always be able to buy life insurance.

You could develop a health condition that makes you uninsurable or could make life insurance too costly for you.

Assumption #2: I’ll get life insurance later when I’m older or have a family.

Life insurance may be needed at all stages of life. Whether married or single, male or female, with children or without, you may have financial obligations that need to be met.

Life insurance provides financial security for you and your loved ones.

You know you need life insurance.

In fact, you probably already know your agent.

Call me and I’ll help you get the right life insurance for you and your family.

Assumption #3: My family and I are covered by the group insurance at work.

To meet the future needs of your family, you need to have 7 to 10 times your annual income. Most group term insurance amounts offered by employers won’t meet this need. And, when

you don’t work for that employer any longer, you usually lose that coverage.

Assumption #4: My husband has life insurance so I don’t need it.

Women often live longer than men but not always. There are countless stories of men who had to shoulder the family financial burden along with the emotional burden after their wife passed away.

Assumption #5: My family can cover funeral and burial expenses.

Burying a spouse or loved one is the most stressful time in a family’s life. Having life insurance can reduce financial concerns for the family.

Take the time now to review your needs and provide adequately for yourself and your family.

For more information or to review your current policy, please contact my office or an insurance professional.

Clint Coffee, Agent 959 E Main St Eastland, TX 76448 Bus: 254-629-1222 clint@clintcoffee.com

Advertise Online and In Print With

statefarm.com® State Farm Life Insurance Company (Not licensed in MA, NY and WI), State Farm Life and Accident Assurance Company P062048 2/07 (Licensed in NY or WI) - Bloomington, IL

Contact Us: (254)631-8407

advertising@mycounty-line.com

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Ranger Library, Diana McCullough Encouraging words...I have enough to share!

Sam Alanis used our library computers last week. He was home for Spring Break. Sam was last year’s RHS Senior who won Lynn and Sharon Garner’s FULL scholarship to the University of Arkansas. I asked him (again), “Do you know how LUCKY you are?” And he replied, “Thank God and thank the Garners.” Incredible. He is a smart young man and he’s doing well.

Another visitor last Friday was a stranger to me, not for long of course! I actually thought at first that she’d come in with Kadentz, and I continued to call out multiplication facts to the kids that hang out here, until I realized this lady was NOT with Kadentz and she needed my attention. I just made one copy for her (ten cents) and I think maybe a toll free fax. She insisted on donating a $20 bill, said she liked how I worked with the kids, and I feel my face flush thinking of her compliment. Sometimes it’s hard to accept gifts, but I did, and I was touched and appreciative. I’ll use her money to buy more apples and oranges and healthful snacks for the kids, kids of ALL ages.

I was not too happy about the damages done during a party two Fridays ago. One of the damages was a completely broken latch on the women’s restroom door.

Bobby Adams sent me TWO new latches, Lions’ Club member Mickey Clark, replaced the latch (AND repaired the broken bench outside), and today a very gifted Community Service Volunteer spackled the holes and repainted the trim. What was broken is now better than it was. I love stories with happy endings!

And I love good books! I even like the boxes they come in, it’s like getting PRESENTS in the mail! Here’s what was in today’s boxes: Shattered

by Karen Robards, Caught by

Harlan Coben, Never Look Away by Linwood Barclay (I’ve actually met this humorous guy), Without Mercy by Lisa Jackson, Think Twice

by Lisa Scottoline, Blood Vines by Erica Spindler, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson, Her Mother’s Hope by Francine Rivers, Twilight: The Graphic Novel (looks neat, think of a hardbound, well-illustrated comic book) by Stephenie Meyer and artist Young Kim, and the non-fiction work of Chip Heath & Dan Heath--Switch: How to Change Things When Change is Hard—it was #1 on a Best Sellers List lately and I’ve talked about it: “Find a ray of hope, and clone it.”

Randy, our UPS man, also delivered our last four Bluebonnet books...these Marc record CDs were easily downloaded into our Athena software program with the technical support of Follett and their employee, Richard--the books from Mackin come practically shelf-ready.

My friend Joy Felan is a great friend of this library! She donated five new audio books

which include The Guardian, Dear John, and At First Sight by Nicholas Sparks; The Reader

by Bernhard Schlink; and Coming Out by Danielle Steel. We also accepted two sacks of nice DVDs from Rose Mary Dennis.

We were VERY pleased with the turn-out for the Kiwanis Fish Fry. For some reason, we feared the worst. It was about 35 degrees outside and snowing. BUT we had a GREAT turn-out!

Thank you so much to everyone who came out and enjoyed the Fish Fry. Also, thank you to EVERYONE who purchased a chance to win the beautiful homemade quilt that was made

by Mary Crenshaw and the Bullock Quilting Club. Terry Simpson, from Lake Leon, was our lucky winner. Our Ranger Citizens Task Force made $867! Thank you, thank you, thank you.

And a big whopping thanks especially to Mary Crenshaw who donated this lovely quilt AND thought of using it for our fundraiser. Mary Crenshaw is a GREAT team player, and we need MORE team players! Go to Startboom. com or call the library to learn how to get on board to help revitalize our community.

The other night after our evening church services, I visited with Dr. Gohlke in the foyer, my 7 month old grandson asleep in my arms. Dr. Gohlke declared, “Ranger IS going to boom again, and I’ll tell you why.” And he did. Doc said that Ranger would rebound because of PEOPLE AND because of our abundant access to water. Yay founding fathers in their foresight to build Lake Leon. Water. Can’t stress its importance too much, my friends. Think of that baby asleep and trusting, we NEED to look to our future.

Another encouraging conversation of last week. One of my fellow citizens who always calls me “Neighbor” came into our library, I hadn’t seen him in a while. Little wonder, he’d spent the past two years in Iraq. He said

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Ranger Library, continued...

■ Tumbleweed

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Smith, Big Spring

Dell City’s Community Bar

that he’d really intended to email me, but they were pretty busy over there and he never got around to it. He said that he really appreciated reading my weekly “Library News”, because it was like...a letter from home. He felt like he knew what was going on. I think this is about the sweetest compliment I’ve ever heard. And I appreciate HIM! While I’m feeling appreciative, let’s add Vasquez to my list. Vasquez is kind of like “Cher”--one name and we all know exactly who we are talking about! (I had to go back and add the “z”. We don’t say the “z” in Ranger, but they do in Eastland, just so you know.)

Anyway...getting into my car Tuesday morning, I noticed my front left tire looked low, but it always looks low to me, so I proceeded to back out of my garage. I QUICKLY realized that SOMETHING was not right. I had the flattest tire I’d ever seen, I think I may have knocked it off of the rim. Whatever I did, Vasquez took care of it. He went the extra mile.

Heartfelt thoughts to Garlan Cunningham in the loss of her husband, Weldon, and to our mayor, Margaret Green, in the loss of her dear sister-in-law. These people will be missed.

One last encouraging thought: God doesn’t call those who are equipped, he equips those He calls. Take care everybody, and as always...ENJOY READING!

Dell City is a little place in Hudspeth County that sits in the shadow of Guadalupe Peak. When I first went to Dell City years ago I noticed a big sign on a building that read “Sheepherder’s Bar.” I ventured into it the other day and met the owner, Bonnie LaRue. She has had the place thirty years and knows nearly everybody who walks into the place.

“My dad and I pastured anywhere from fifteen to twenty thousand head of sheep on these fields around here,” says Bonnie. “Some Basque people from California came here and leased some pastureland so I had a lot of sheepherders and decided to name it the Sheepherder’s Bar.” She says when she was growing up on a sheep ranch there was no telephone or television. “We used our imagination. We’d park on the road and play guitars and fiddles, dance and sing, maybe do some illegal drinking. We had a good time.”

Her bar is a full bar, selling beer, wine and spirits.

She says sometimes it gets pretty spirited around there. “We’ve had a couple of fights in here, but they don’t last long. I’m meaner than they are.

Most of the time we have a congenial crowd and we just sit around a kitchen table I’ve brought in and we visit. Nobody sits in my chair, though.”

Bonnie’s place is Dell City’s Community Center.

She opens at four in the afternoon and stays open from four to ten hours, depending on the traffic.

“I look out at the street and if there’s not any cars driving up and down, I close.” She knows what

everybody drinks. If it’s just beer, the customers wait on themselves. “I don’t let them get their whiskey. They might get too generous.”

The bar has a fireplace, but is seldom used because wood is hard to come by. She has some interesting things on the walls of her place like a framed potato sack. “People are always amazed to see all my junk.” The highly polished bar is made of wood that had been discarded from a local dairy’s feed pens. She dug most of it from a pit and used some of it to frame her walls. A local artist spent hours creating western scenes on the bar.

She then covered it with layers of preservative.

Less than four hundred people live in Dell City.

“In the late fifties and early sixties this place was booming. There were thirteen bars, five mercantile type stores, a drug store and a John Deere dealership.

We just had a lot of stuff. We had a cowboy polo team that won the world championship. Team members drove Cadillacs with matching horse trailers. Money was flowing. That was during the bracero program, when thousands of people would come from Mexico to work cotton.”

Not all her patrons are local. “I’ve had them from Japan, Germany, Belgium and just all over the place. This is an agricultural area and lots of people come here.”

Bonnie has lost some customers. “All my buddies are dying. When you get my age, my social life is going to funerals.”

My folks homesteaded around here in the early nineteen hundreds.

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■ Out

of the Past, Luther Gohlke The Guinea Fowl

I believe in Jehovah God. I also believe that He is all powerful, everyplace at the same time and knows or is aware of everything (omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent). It is also my belief in the Genesis story of creation. How He created heaven and earth and everything therein in 6 days, resting the 7th day.

I also believe God must have a sense of humor. He created some of the most unusual looking creatures - giraffes, anteaters, and a multitude of funny looking and acting insects.

What an imagination He has.

To me one of the funniest ones is a guinea fowl. They come in grey or white colors and move continuously. Walking at times, but mostly running, eating insects, moving together in a flock. They are noisy, shouting alarms at any unusual noise or thing or motion.

They roost in trees and lay their eggs in hidden nests. They are antisocial and stick with their own kind and will fight any barn yard creature such as chickens, geese, or turkeys. Of course, the larger fowl win the battle, but the feisty guinea will still make a challenge.

As young boys at grandma’s house in the country, my brother and I were into many situations that we should not have been in.

Mischievous? Not really, just willing and ready to explore, investigate every inch of that old farm, it’s woods, barns and all the inhabitants therein. Bare footed, we went every place and not infrequently got ourselves in a heap of trouble, like being chased by a black racer snake. When we stopped, he stopped, fortunately we didn’t stop but one time and ran as fast as we could to the house, leaving that old racer behind.

Of course, we had a favorite tree, a huge one at about a 30 degree angle that even grandma’s dog Fido could climb. This was our hide out, our haven of safety.

We spent hours in that old tree, just outside the barn yard area.

We also had slingshots, homemade of course, and a pocket full of smooth, round rocks, just in case a “monster” jumped out. We had to have protection!

Expert shots, we could hit about any target first shot.

Near grandma’s house in an adjacent pasture was another one

of her old barns which at that time was not being used. It had the usual hayloft, dog run, and rooms filled with old harnesses and junk.

Exploring this old barn was always fun. Up and down into that old hayloft, into every room, examining every board, every hole, every nook and cranny, sling shots in hand, ever aware of the possibility of a wasp nest or snake.

On one particular day when messing around that old barn we found an abandoned nest of eggs. We checked them out and found they were rotten, because when you shook one there was a sloshing sound inside. These were guinea eggs. Compared to a chicken egg they were smaller, tapered on one end, a slightly bluish hue, with a hard shell. There were about 20 eggs and no telling how long they had been there. Before we knew it, we were in an egg fight, chunking each other down with those rotten eggs at close range. For about 15 minutes, each with 2 or 3 eggs, ducking in and out of that old barn, around corners. We had a fun time. Each with several direct hits, laughing and wrestling in the hay, it seemed like the thing to do with all those good missiles.

In fact, we were having so much fun, the smell was hardly evident to us.

The battle over, we headed home. Our mother and grandmother met us at the yard gate. Even a block or two away they had caught wind of our odor, which to us was also becoming quite evident.

“Get those clothes off,” our mother shouted.

“Don’t you come near this house,” our grandmother shouted with anger.

In broad daylight, we were stripped to our

skivvies, stinking, humiliated.

“Take those clothes to the wash pot, bucket in some water, get wood under that wash pot and paper and matches from the smoke house!”

Mother and grandmother kept shouting orders while holding their noses and keeping a safe distance. “Put that big bar of lye soap in the pot, stir those clothes around” By this time we were sweating. Now we realized that sweat, dirt and rotten guinea eggs do make a smell! A really bad smell.

Next order from our Mom, “Get over to that shower and get your underwear off, get that lye soap and scrub down and I mean scrub down!”

“But mother we will be naked” I exclaimed.

“I don’t care, do as I tell you,” she countered.

Had we not stunk so, I would have feared capital punishment, a tail busting, but we were safe, so safe that not a soul would get near us.

There we were in the shower area, one pipe out of the base of a large cistern with an adjacent windmill. Water warm? Not on your life, it was cold as ice and I mean cold. Broad daylight a few shrubs sort of giving about 30% privacy. This was the shower area where each household member took a shower every night in the summer darkness. No bath tub, no hot water, only one pipe to the shower, one to the house and one to the cow trough. Winter time was a problem for cleanliness and warmth, wood stove only.

We scrubbed for about 30 minutes but it seemed like an eternity. When we started for the house some 25 yards away, mother demanded we scrub some more. About 1 1/2 hours later we were allowed near the house and dry off, and put on clean clothes, but ordered not to enter the house.

Fifty percent of the odor was gone, but it took about 4 or 5 days with cold showers twice daily to finally get rid of that wretched smell. In the mean time, no one would get close to us, our food was served outside and we slept on the back porch.

After all that, I can assure you there were no more rotten egg fights. To this day I still think of a guinea fowl as a funny looking fowl whose rotten eggs can have a very foul odor.

The County Line Business & Community Journal ● P.O. Box 1156 ● Eastland, Texas 76448 ● http://www.mycounty-line.com

County Line Business & Community Journal ~ APRIL, 2010 v3.33• ■ Life

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Planning Issues, Jim Kennedy Retirement and Taxes

As a retirement and life planning firm, one our primary goals is to “Help people retire successfully and stay successfully retired.”

Retirement is a life changing event that demands thorough planning and the discipline to follow a plan for success. Life changes in many ways when you retire. So it should come as no surprise that taxes during retirement change as well. The key; however, is planning. A little tax planning can often go a long way towards keeping your payments to Uncle Sam at a minimum throughout your golden years.

The first thing you need to know is your potential tax liability for this year and possibly the next 2 to 3 years. This begins with how different types of income are taxed. Below are various types of retirement income. These do not include any royalties or other investment or working income that may apply to your situation during retirement.

Social Security benefits, for example, are tax-free or partially taxed depending on your overall income. However, your overall income is not as simple as it was before retirement to calculate. The calculation is the sum of your adjusted gross income (AGI), tax-free interest, and ½ of your Social Security Benefits.

Pension distributions, qualified retirement plan distributions and IRA distributions are all fully taxable unless a portion of the contributions made to these plans are after-tax or non-deductible. Roth IRA distributions and

Roth 401(k) distributions, on the other hand, are tax-free.

Distributions taken from an annuity are partially taxed. This calculation is made with consideration of the amount you contributed to the annuity (cost basis) and any growth in the annuity (gain).

And last, but definitely not least, required minimum distributions (RMDs) that begin at age 70 ½ are fully taxable.

Once you have an idea of where your tax liability will be, then you can begin the planning process. Here are just a few ideas and tax tidbits to get you started: Don’t forget to take your personal exemption amounts and standard or itemized deductions.

Your primary residence mortgage interest payments, real estate taxes, medical expenses and charitable inclinations, etc. all count if you are itemizing your deductions.

During 2010 there are still many tax credits you can take advantage of that will perhaps coincide with some of your retirement goals.

The homebuyer’s tax credit is available to anyone who has lived in their home 5 of the last 8 years and can be as high as $6,500.

Additionally, you can exclude up to $500,000 in capital gains from selling your primary residence if you are married ($250,000 if you are single).

Energy tax credits are available in 2010 to update your home to a more energy efficient living space. These credits can be applied for installing everything from new windows

and doors to metal roofs to insulation, air conditioners and water heaters.

Don’t overlook tax-free income strategies, such as income from municipal bonds, and tax-advantaged investments, such as natural gas and oil investment programs. Section 263 of the tax code allows investors to deduct 100 percent of the intangible expenditures of drilling, which is usually 65 to 80 percent of the well, during the year the investment was made. Additionally, tangible drilling costs are 100 percent tax deductible and may be deducted as depreciation over a seven-year period.

Last, the time to start is now and get help!

Tax planning is not as cut and dry as you might imagine, and if you wait it might be too late to do anything. Every year your situation could change, Uncle Sam changes his mind, and the same strategies that worked the year before might not work again. 35+ years of working in various fields of Life Planning has shown me that most people don’t plan to fail –they just fail to plan. And remember—once paid, Uncle Sam really doesn’t like to give your money back.

Jim Kennedy is a Registered Representative with VSR Financial Services, Inc. Kennedy Financial is independent of VSR Financial Services, Inc. Securities & Advisory Services offered through VSR Financial Services, Inc., a Registered Investment Adviser & Member FINRA/SIPC. VSR does not provide tax or legal advice.

The County Line Business & Community Journal ● P.O. Box 1156 ● Eastland, Texas 76448 ● http://www.mycounty-line.com

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•County Line Business & Community Journal ~ APRIL, 2010 v3.33

■ Rising

Star Library Notes, Ginger Johnson Tobin Hello Rising Star Library Patrons!

Sorry I was “silent” last week but I was on vacation… in Ireland…and missed the BIG Irish holiday celebration that Rising Star MUST have had while I was gone! Unfortunately, I also missed the one in IRELAND as March 17 was a travel day for me…that’s not really LUCKY, is it, considering that I have an Irish background.

Being in Ireland always makes me feel closer to my Gr-gr-gr grandfather, John Sloan, Sr. who was born there and immigrated to this great country around 1800 or so.

Since I am always asking YOU to share YOUR genealogy with the library’s genealogy department, I’ve been thinking about that for MYSELF. I’ve already entered my JOHNSON ancestors in the library information, but now think that perhaps it would be good to enter the SLOAN information, just in case SOME PERSON were to stop at the Rising Star Library and be looking for that very surname.

Well, enough about genealogy…except that I urge each of you to contribute YOUR family history to our growing collection at the library.

Someday, our small library will be WELL KNOWN in the area for its collection…take my word for that! If you haven’t started your genealogy search, come by and we can talk about it, any Monday afternoon.

There are several books in the genealogy section dealing with the collection of information; many of the books discuss Irish ancestors, but the process is similar for most ancestors, irregardless of the country of origin.

Since I’ve been gone, I am not aware of what’s new at the library, but Monday afternoon is my volunteer day, so next week, I will catch you up on what’s happening there.

While in the mother country (that’s what some of us Irish call IRELAND), I was able to get the SLOAN family crest and a printout of the SLOAN family name history and meaning.

Both items are already framed and on my wall at home. Now, where can I make a COLOR COPY in town???? I will put the family crest copy in the genealogy department at the library also.

The County Line Business & Community Journal ● P.O. Box 1156 ● Eastland, Texas 76448 ● http://www.mycounty-line.com

County Line Business & Community Journal ~ APRIL, 2010 v3.33•

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Stephens County Frontier Days &

Bob Drake Memorial Chuckwagon Cook-Off Sponsored by the Breckenridge Chamber of Commerce

Friday, April 30th & Saturday, May 1st Breckenridge City Park Don’t forget to enter the Stick Horse Races, 42 Tournament, Horseshoe Pitching Tournament, Bake-off Contest, Tug of War, Pet Parade, & Cow Patty Bingo!

We’ll also have carnival rides, the 4th Annual Breckenridge Idol Talent Search, carnival rides, pony rides, tons of vendors, loads of entertainment, the Friday night “Concert in the Park”, and much more!

Concert in the Park!

Friday Night – 7:00 pm Featuring the Matt Stapp Band!

Chuckwagon Cook-off – Saturday at noon!

Tickets on sale APRIL 19th $8.00 (Ticket includes: chicken fried steak, potatoes, beans, bread, dessert & drink)

To reserve a booth space, purchase tickets for an event, enter an event, or for a schedule of events, please contact the Chamber of Commerce at 254-559-2301.

The County Line Business & Community Journal ● P.O. Box 1156 ● Eastland, Texas 76448 ● http://www.mycounty-line.com

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•County Line Business & Community Journal ~ APRIL, 2010 v3.33

■ Out

of the Box, Joellen Hodge Crocheted Bunnies

Spent the entire week working on something I think is very important. I wrote, and created a crocheted bunny rabbit pattern for two sweet babies. There is a sink full of dishes on the counter in the kitchen and laundry waiting to be washed. And I have skipped those chores to sit down and write out a crochet bunny pattern for two little babies that are not even related to me.

In the scheme of things, I suppose washing up and tucking away would have been the proper thing to do. Spending hours and hours working out the numbers of rows and chain stitches required to make a simple toy for two people who cannot even talk or walk as of yet may be out of whack with what I am SUPPOSED to be doing. And frankly, I just do not care right now.

The babies are the grandchildren of two of my school mates. I adore their mother and wanted to make something that would be very special for these two children. I suppose I could have just gone to the store and bought them something, along with a note that said “Even though I know how to make something for you, Auntie Jo just did not want to take the time to do so this week. Your presence has been acknowledged, but not in such a way as to actually slow down the process of scrubbing eggs off the dishes.”

I used to do that a lot, you know. I let the world get in the way of what I should have paid more attention to. We all let so many events, large and small, slip past with just a glance up because we are too busy to stop and take note. My kids missed my face at important ball games and school performances because the schedule of work and paycheck could not be broken. How many birthday cakes were store purchased when we could have made them at home together? When did I move Christmas dinner to

Christmas lunch because it was a quiet afternoon at the office where I could work on the billing? I did this and just like some of you, convinced myself and my family that it was for the good of all. More money meant a better way of life and a better way of life meant a happier home.

It is easy to fall into the traps that are set for us by modern life. Just because your job gives you the stability of your earnings, it does not mean it will give you a stable home life. Use your presence and talents to ground your family life. Your job is only the means to the end…and your end should be about people.

It’s not that any of us are bad or that we love our families less or our jobs more. We just let so much get in the way of what is real. The really important parts of us are not at work, not in the neatly organized linen closet or perfectly manicured yards. The important

parts are held in the hands of chubby babies, or caught in left field with leather baseball gloves. The most glorious seconds of life come without paychecks and check marks.

They smell like birthday cakes that lean to the left and kind of look like high school plays performed on stage by forgetful teens in bad make up.

Maybe I am getting old and my perspective is slipping to the sentimental side. It doesn’t really matter…as long as two little people get two little bunnies made just for them by their Auntie Jo, who isn’t really their Auntie, but who cares? They should know they were more important to me than dishes and laundry…and that is a legacy I can be proud to leave. There is a legacy that people are more important than chores and sometimes crocheted bunnies are more valuable than paychecks...

Advertise Online and In Print With

Y’all go be nice to each other!

Check out the website: w w w. b b o x l a d y. c o m Write me a note: johodge@ bboxlady.com

Contact Us: (254)631-8407

advertising@mycounty-line.com

The County Line Business & Community Journal ● P.O. Box 1156 ● Eastland, Texas 76448 ● http://www.mycounty-line.com

County Line Business & Community Journal ~ APRIL, 2010 v3.33• ■ Footnotes, Announcements

■ E.M.H.

Angel Food Ministries Cut-Off Date 14th

Wednesday April

Distribution Saturday April 24th Call Ilene (254)442-1969 You can now order online from our website: www.angelfoodministries.com

Volunteer News, Kelly Davidson

The EMH Volunteers are hosting a scrub sale on May 14th from 7:00am to 6:00pm. It will be held downstairs in the new Board Room beside the SunShine Gift Shoppe. Everyone is invited to come by. There will be cute new patterns on the scrubs and wonderfully comfortable shoes for sale!

The ‘Shades Of Hope’ section of the SunShine Gift Shoppe will be changing colors for the month of April. April will feature the color blue to highlight awareness for Autism.

Stop by the gift shop Monday thru Friday from 9:30am-5:30pm.

The volunteers are mailing out sponsorship

letters to local businesses in April. We hope that we will be well received when we come to you for your continued support during the months of April and May. Our community has always given so generously to this event. It is greatly appreciated. The golf tournament will be on Saturday, June 5th.

If you would like to make a contribution to the EMH Volunteer Golf Tournament please send it to: Eastland Memorial Hospital % Leisha Hodges, EMH Volunteer President @ P.O. Box 897 Eastland, Texas 76448. Thank you for you help and support.

RETIREMENT MAY BE FAR OFF, BUT THE APRIL 15 DEADLINE FOR

IRA CONTRIBUTIONS ISN’T. You have only so many years to prepare for retirement. That’s why contributing to your IRA is so important. Fortunately, you still have time to maximize your 2009 IRA contribution before the April 15 deadline.

By contributing now, your retirement savings can have more opportunity to grow. Even if you already have an IRA elsewhere, it’s easy to transfer it to an Edward Jones IRA and begin receiving the face-to-face advice you deserve.

To learn more about the advantages of an Edward Jones IRA, call or visit today.

Leeann Barron Leeann Barron Financial Advisor Financial Advisor .

Eastland, TX 76448

Cisco, TX 76437 254-442-1564 254-442-1564 www.edwardjones.com

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Member SIPC

The County Line Business & Community Journal ● P.O. Box 1156 ● Eastland, Texas 76448 ● http://www.mycounty-line.com

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•County Line Business & Community Journal ~ APRIL, 2010 v3.33

■ 2nd

Annual Lake Leon Bass Tournament, Mike Norris It’s time to do some FISHIN’!

Terry Rose, owner of Outdoor Specialties, in partnership with L.V. Coffee of First Financial Bank of Eastland, are once again proud to announce the upcoming 2nd Annual Lake Leon Bass Tournament May 15 & 16, at La Mancha Lake Ranch on the shores of Lake Leon.

Top prize for the Adult Division is guaranteed $3,000 with cash payouts to 10th place. Prizes will be awarded for the Kid’s Division from 1st through 5th place. And a Big Bass cash prize of $500 will be awarded for each day of the event.

Early registration opens this week and early registrants save $35 per entry now through April 30, 2010. The early registration fee is $100 per entry for adults. Children 14 and under can fish for free with a paid adult entry. A portion of the entry fees collected will be donated to support the Eastland County Children’s Advocate Center and the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Cross Timbers Area, Inc, which serves as a voice for abused and neglected children in Bosque, Eastland, Erath, Hamilton and Palo Pinto counties.

After April 30, 2010, registration remains open up until the morning of the event.

Regular registration fee is $135 per entry. See the registration form for complete rules and details.

This event is the second annual fishing tournament to be held on Lake Leon to benefit area abused and neglected children. Terry Rose of Outdoor Specialties is proud to be able

to work with L.V. Coffee and First Financial Bank of Eastland to once again coordinate this event and offer this opportunity to area anglers to benefit our local children’s advocacy programs.

Last year’s event was a success with over 225 anglers competing and thousands paid in winnings and collected in donations.

“This year, we’re going to try to do better!” says Rose. “I’ve been talking to L.V. and he’s excited to bring this tournament back again this year! We’re both excited!”

Again this year, the organizers have selected KATX 97.7 as their radio coverage sponsors and KATX will provide on-location coverage both days of the event this year!

The County Line is proud to be a part of the media coverage again this year and plans to provide expanded coverage of the event including on-the-water photos and video and will host a dedicated event website.

The 2nd Annual Lake Leon Bass Tournament is sponsored and supported by the following businesses, organizations and individuals.

Sponsorships are still welcomed. Please contact Outdoor Specialtes (254)629-8877 or First Financial Bank (254)629-6100 to inquire about helping to sponsor this event.

Outdoor Specialties - (254)629-8877 First Financial Bank, Eastland - (254)629-6100 La Mancha Store & Cabins - (254)747-3651 State Farm Insurance, Clint Coffee - (254)629-1222 Stanley Ford, Eastland - (254)629-8986 Bird Electric - (254)631-0567 Security Title - (254)629-1300 Good Neighbor Pharmacy - (800)333-7347 D2 Construction - (254)433-1249 Bryans Signs - (254)629-2631 BuckWheat Resources - (254)629-8514 Days Inn - (254)629-2185 Bonilla Fence Farm & Commercial - (254)631-0720 Lago Vista Storage Safe & Secure - (254)631-7762 MOTEC Ltd - (254)629-2244 Lighthouse Hospice - (254)629-1268 AlphaGraphics - (254)629-2071 Fullen Motor Co. - (254)629-2636 Main Street Oil & Lube - (254)631-0660 BASIC Energy Services - (254)442-2715 Tackle Extreme Custom Rods - (254)629-2348 Crowder Construction - (254)629-1688 Guardian Title - (254)629-3548 Higginbotham Bartlett Co. - (254)629-1311 Chicken Express - (254)631-4156 Blake Fulenwider - (254)629-631-0333 The Gold Lantern - (254)629-2600 Eastland Drug - (254)629-1791 Sterling Monument - (254)653-2363 I-20 Pawn Shop - (254)629-3333 Greer’s Western Wear - (254)629-3989 J&J Air Conditioning - (254)629-2251

The County Line Business & Community Journal ● P.O. Box 1156 ● Eastland, Texas 76448 ● http://www.mycounty-line.com

County Line Business & Community Journal ~ APRIL, 2010 v3.33• ■ From

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The Backside, Henry J. Clevicepin Obama’s Healthcare Plan ~ a case of beer, a big chief tablet and a #2 pencil...

By Henry J. Clevicepin Collaborated by Nellie Frecklebelly and Agnes & Ophilia Fudpucker

Well, Buzzard’s Roost missed that last little snow storm or as we call it, some more of Al Gore’s global warming.

But I think that storm up in Washington the last week is going to turn out to be a major catastrophe. They better just go ahead declare the whole United States a disaster area, cause this Healthcare Bill is going to be one them, wake your buddy up cause he ain’t seen a wreck like this one.

What happened to this sending our representatives up there to vote like we want them to, instead of all of the kniving, bribing, crooked deals going on in closed rooms.. Ol Estee K., my mulebarn partner & beer drinking buddy, said he was thinking about going back to school and becoming an orthopedic Doctor.

He allowed as how there was a severe shortage of them in Washington to handle all of the cases from all of the heavy arm twisting done by Obama and the gang up there.

Now me and Ol Estee K. we got us a case of beer, a number 2 pencil and a big chief tablet out the other day and started trying to figure out how in the cornbread world this healthcare bill was going to lower premiums.

First of all, the insurance companies are gonna have to start covering people with pre existing conditions…..that’ll be a little add on to the premium.

Next they cain’t have a maximum cap on the coverage….that’ll be a little add on. Then they got to cover children up to age 26 on their parent’s policy…..that will be a little add on.

Use to be when a kid was 21 he was grown….. before long they will be able to draw medicare before they have to leave home.

By this time we were drunk and figured the premiums had about doubled !!!! And how about this little deal where if you don’t have insurance they can fine you. As Ol Estee K., being the astute scholar he is, said he thought that might be a little unconstitutional, but I don’t guess that matters to Obama, Pelosi, Reid and their little gang. But I guess there are

several States that have filed lawsuits kinda think Ol Estee K. might be right. And I guess what a lot of idiots in this country don’t get yet, is, that they are gonna start taxing us now and most of the good stuff don’t kick in til 2014.

That’s like selling an ol boy a mule and telling him he can’t have him for 4 years. And what really takes the cake, is they are gonna cut medicare….well duh…..these are the people who need heathcare the worse.

Now my Mama raised an idiot, but it wasn’t me….it was one of my brothers, but I just can’t see how this deal is going to work. I think these little employers rather than having to furnish employee insurance is gonna lay people off faster than a dose of salts thru a widow woman.

That bunch up there are a piece of work ain’t they ?????? It’s gonna be interesting in November how many these sapsuckers get’s their butt kicked out. I hope the first ones on the wagon leaving Washington is Pelosi and Reid. I am still in a quandary over who voted Obama in there. Before the election they were everywhere and now I can’t find anyone to admit they voted for him.

Me and Ol Estee K. was reading the other day where Oregon State University was kinda in a bind and was thinking about firing their head coach, but all of a sudden they received about a 17 million or so government grant money, so they decided to keep the coach. Well, as it turns out their little coach just happen to be Michelle Obama’s brother……..Imagine that……..now there is some more of that “change we can believe in” BS popping up again.

Now, as I have told you’ll, Ol Estee K. is From the Backside Sponsor

Joe Bond Construction Fencing, Metal Buildings, Dirt Hauling Motorgrading Roads

Call: 254-631-2658

quite a scholar and now he has taken up potry.

If fact I wouldn’t be surprised if he don’t get nominated for one of them Nobel Prizes for Potry next year. Now here is a little ditty he came up the other day...

It is titled: A REDNECK LOVE POEM Susie Lee done fell in love She planned to marry Joe She was so happy bout it all She told her Pappy so Pappy told her, Susie gal You’ll have to find another I’d just soon yo ma don’t know But Joe is yo half brother So Susie put aside her Joe And planned to marry Will But after telling Pappy this He said, there’s trouble still You can’t marry Will , my gal And please don’t tell yo mother But Will and Joe and several mo I know is yo half brother But Mama knew and said my child Just do what makes yo happy Marry Will or marry Joe Cause you ain’t kin to Pappy (kinda brings a tear to your eyes don’t it ???)

Words of wisdom from Henry J : Life is like a jar of Jalapeño pepper. What you do today might burn your butt tomorrow !!!!!! Might better pass this on to Obama !!!!

Email Henry J at : henryjclevicepin@aol.com From the Backside Sponsor

Life Settlement Investments Average return for 18yrs = 14.07%

$50,000 minimum investment Low, Low Risk

Call: 254-433-1928

The County Line Business & Community Journal ● P.O. Box 1156 ● Eastland, Texas 76448 ● http://www.mycounty-line.com

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•County Line Business & Community Journal ~ APRIL, 2010 v3.33

The County Line Business & Community Journal ● P.O. Box 1156 ● Eastland, Texas 76448 ● http://www.mycounty-line.com

County Line Business & Community Journal ~ APRIL, 2010 v3.33• ■ Eastland

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4th Grade All Stars, Rebecca Hallmark

3 Time Medalists!

The Eastland Youth Basketball Association had a great bunch of 3rd and 4th grade boys this season. The boys worked on fundamentals. Great competition was shared amongst all teams. Pictured above are the 4th Grade All Stars who were 3 Time Medalists in their 3 post season tournaments.

This group is a hardworking and dedicated bunch of boys that show promise as future Mavericks. A special thank you to all the parents who assisted with the team and practices throughout the season and post season tournaments.

Pictured at right: Front Row (left to right): Seth Thayer, Blake Sharp, Gage Fullen, & Brayden Malloy Back Row (left to right): Coach Jerry Fullen, Tanner Twitchell, Jayton Hallmark, Bo Browning, Brodi Forrest, & Coach Rebecca Hallmark

■ Supporting

Photo courtesy of Rebecca Hallmark

Our Local Schools, by Mike Norris

Subscribe to The County Line and have your copy mailed directly to your home!

A portion of every subscription fee goes to help our local schools!

Please visit TEAM-WOLVERINE.COM to learn more. Thank you!

The County Line Business & Community Journal ● P.O. Box 1156 ● Eastland, Texas 76448 ● http://www.mycounty-line.com