Business & Community Journal --- August, 2010
w w w. M y C o u n t y - L i n e . c o m
Volume 3 Issue 39
Speak up, join the discussion, take part!
The County Line Business & Community Journal ● P.O. Box 1156 ● Eastland, Texas 76448 ● http://www.mycounty-line.com
Monthly Edition
August ,
2010
In This Issue: The Federalist Papers: by James Madison, #10
Growing Up Small Town: by Mike W. Norris
NEW FEATURE! Texas Conservative by Chuck Norris
Law of the Land by Doug Jordan
Good Neighbors by Clint Coffee
Taking BackOur Country by Mike W. Norris
Daily Devotional
by Wanda Lee Beck Skinner
@Ranger Library
by Diana McCullough
Tumbleweed Smith by Bob Lewis
Life Planning Issues by Jim Kennedy
EMH Volunteers
by Kelly Davidson
Dear Carbon High
by Linda Jackson Neely
Treasure Hunters by Jerry Eckhart
Out of the Past
by Luther Gohlke
Out of the Box
by Joellen Hodge
From the Backside
by Henry J. Clevicepin
Next Issue Deadline -- 08/27/10
vol.3 Issue 39
www.MyCounty-Line.com
THE FEDERALIST PAPERS By Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay For the People of New York, 1787
B
y a faction, I understand a number of citizens, whether amounting to a majority or a minority of the whole, who are united and actuated by some common impulse of passion, or of interest, adversed to the rights of other citizens, or to the permanent and aggregate interests of the community. here are two methods of curing the mischiefs of faction: the one, by removing its causes; the other, by controlling its effects. here are again two methods of removing the causes of faction: the one, by destroying the liberty which is essential to its existence; the other, by giving to every citizen the same opinions, the same passions, and the same interests. t could never be more truly said than of the first remedy, that it was worse than the disease. Liberty is to faction what air is to fire, an aliment without which it instantly expires. But it could not be less folly to abolish liberty, which is essential to political life, because it nourishes faction.... he second expedient is as impracticable as the first would be unwise. As long as the reason of man continues fallible, and he is at liberty to exercise it, different opinions will be formed.... he latent causes of faction are thus sown in the nature of man; and we see them everywhere brought into different degrees of activity, according to the different circumstances of civil society. A zeal for different opinions concerning religion, concerning government, and many other points, as well of speculation as of practice; an attachment to different leaders ambitiously contending for preeminence and power; or to persons of other descriptions whose fortunes have been interesting to the human passions, have, in turn, divided mankind into parties, inflamed them with mutual animosity, and rendered them much more disposed to vex and oppress each other than to co-operate for their common good. o man is allowed to be a judge in his own cause, because his interest would certainly bias his judgment, and, not improbably, corrupt his integrity. With equal, nay with greater reason, a body of men are unfit to be both judges and parties at the same time; yet what are many of the most important acts of legislation, but so many judicial determinations, not indeed concerning the rights of single persons, but concerning the rights of large bodies of citizens? And what are the different classes of legislators but advocates and parties to the causes which they determine.... he apportionment of taxes on the various descriptions of property is an act which seems to require the most exact impartiality; yet there is, perhaps, no legislative act in which greater opportunity and temptation are given to a predominant party to trample on the rules of justice. Every shilling with which they overburden the inferior number, is a shilling saved to their own pockets. t is in vain to say that enlightened statesmen will be able to adjust these clashing interests, and render them all subservient to the public good. Enlightened statesmen will not always be at the helm. Nor, in many cases, can such an adjustment be made at all without taking into view indirect and remote considerations, which will rarely prevail over the immediate interest which one party may find in disregarding the rights of another or the good of the whole. he inference to which we are brought is, that the CAUSES of faction cannot be removed, and that relief is only to be sought in the means of controlling its EFFECTS. ~ excerpts from Federalist #10, by James Madison
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The County Line Business & Community Journal ● P.O. Box 1156 ● Eastland, Texas 76448 ● http://www.mycounty-line.com
3Growing Up Small Town ■
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County Line Business & Community Journal ~ August, 2010 v3.39
, Mike W. Norris
Send comments to: smalltown@mycounty-line.com
Mike Looks at the Crisis in the Gulf:
Environmentalists’ worst fears; An Administration out to point blame; A region’s economy in turmoil. This was the Summer of 2010.
Well as you may already know, British Petroleum (BP) was finally able to install a successfull cap on their leaking well in the Gulf of Mexico. Let’s see, I believe that was on Thursday, July 15th. The engineers at BP were able to put a secure cap in place but they refused to celebrate at that time, because obviously we had to wait for pressure tests and a 48-hour evaluation to ensure that the cap would hold. (Since we had all become accustomed to watching billowing clouds of oil gush ~ Reuters, Wed. April 21, 2010 forth from all manner of unrecognizable metal pipes and box frames from the live “spillcams”, we couldn’t believe our eyes could see the people on the shores of the gulf when suddenly there was no oil to look at!!!) coast cleaning up the oil as it washed ashore. That’s what the news agencies were reporting on Friday, Everything was right there for us to see! You July 16th -- I suspect so that we poor saps wouldn’t go into a couldn’t deny that the oil spill was bad. weekend without the possibility of further doom and mayhem But just how bad was it...really? looming over our feeble, insignificant lives. I bet that you have forgotten that the news At that point, I had already grown tired of hearing about the story of the day on April 20th, 2010 had “gulf oil spill”...as I’m sure you were as well. I try to watch nothing to do with an exploding oil platform the news every day and listen to several radio broadcasters in the gulf. In fact, on April 20th, the major throughout the day, and the day-to-day argument over of how headlines circulating around the world were much oil had spilled into the gulf, how many fortunes had about how the volcanic ash cloud that had been destroyed, how many communities might never recover, shut down air travel in Europe might last and how many new regulations the Obama Administration for weeks! Or it might clear up over the wanted to throw at American Industry were all becoming a weekend...they really weren’t sure. blur to me. As always with the news media -- “No good news makes for good news stories!” And then suddenly, almost like a whisper, it was announced that BP had capped the spill. What?!?! Surely not?!?! I could imagine that journalists’ typing fingers and twirling ink pens all around the globe came to a shuddering halt... “No, this can’t be!” When I heard the news as it was first announced, I laughed... “Uh oh, what is the media going to do now?” Well, I have to admit, I was even doing some research at that time for a featured article for this issue of The County Line. I know what you’re thinking, I just wanted to get in on the media’s plot to paint every day as a dark and dreary day, too. Well, that’s not even close to the truth. Actually, I was hard at work trying to put together a cohesive timeline of the event...because I was under the impression that the “real” story of the gulf oil spill crisis wasn’t in the oil spill itself, but in how the media and the Obama Administration was reacting to the oil spill. You see...I think that the oil spill in and of itself was pretty bad...I mean who wouldn’t think that?!?! We could see on television the oil as it was gushing out of the ground...we could see the many, many boats and ships on the surface trying to contain the situation, and we
“The Coast Guard deployed helicopters, planes and vessels to look for the missing workers, sent environmental crews to the scene to assess and control any spill and launched a joint investigation with public and private interests into the cause.”
Here are two news headlines from that day... “Scenarios: What if volcano disruption lasts weeks, months?” and “Volcanic ash cloud set to clear towards weekend!” Talk about uncertainty in the media. The story of the burning oil platform didn’t even make headlines on April 20th. It came out on April 21st -- “Eleven workers were missing and 17 injured in an explosion at a Transocean oil drilling rig off Louisiana, and crews were fighting the fire 16 hours later, the U.S. Coast Guard said on Wednesday. An estimated 126 people were aboard the Deepwater Horizon at the time of the explosion, reported about 10 p.m. local time Tuesday.” ~ Reuters Now if that had been 126 people on board a Boeing 737, we would have known about it within minutes it had gone up in flames. You know it and I know it. So when the initial event occurred, it was not a major news story and in addition to that, did you know that just a few days before the gulf platform exploded, a 10-inch oil pipeline maintained by Chevron had leaked over 18,000 gallons of oil into the Delta Wildlife Refuge at the mouth of the Mississippi River in Louisiana? In fact, according to Reuters, “Oil leaked despite Chevron quickly shutting down the line and teams have been working to contain and clean up the spill, which
The County Line Business & Community Journal ● P.O. Box 1156 ● Eastland, Texas 76448 ● http://www.mycounty-line.com
Continued on page 11
4Texas Conservative ■
County Line Business & Community Journal ~ August, 2010 v3.39
, Chuck Norris - The Man
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A Model the President Should Follow After President Barack Obama repeatedly and emphatically promised last summer that Obamacare would not use federal funds to pay for abortions (and even signed a supportive presidential order, to boot), last week it was revealed that federal funds are being funneled to provide for abortive services in Pennsylvania and New Mexico. This presidential lie is tragically just one more in an unprecedented string of flat-out falsehoods, reaching back to Obama’s campaign promise to “clean up both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue” with “the most sweeping ethics reform in history.” He repeatedly declared then that “an Obama administration is going to have the toughest ethics laws of any administration in history.” Really? The question that keeps coming to mind is: What about the kids across the nation who have so uniquely looked up to this relatively youthful president? What are they learning from him? Does President Obama naively believe that they never will overhear their parents discussing his array of presidential lies (http://obamalies.net/ list-of-lies)? What happened to the days when presidents — and even sports stars — were role models? Maybe it’s time even our presidents looked up to some new examples of decency and integrity. I’ve got just such a person in mind, and he always will be one of my models and heroes, despite the fact that he died just last Wednesday — 12-year-old Cody Ty Humphries. Cody was one of several Make-A-Wish Foundation kids who visited my Texas ranch in the same month that Obama was elected, November 2008. Though all the children were certainly special and a great blessing to my wife, Gena, and me, Cody stole my heart. Cody was born March 13, 1998. He was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy, which eventually crippled nearly every part of his little body and spawned a series of progressive deteriorations that ultimately would lead to his death. All of the precious children visiting my house that day had a wish to meet me, for which I’m humbly honored. I found out later that Cody waited 2 1/2 years to meet me. The Make-A-Wish Foundation asked him for a second wish, just in case they couldn’t fulfill the first, but he replied, “I don’t have a second choice. You need to ask him. I have to meet him because I am running out of time.” Cody was so proud that his birthday was only three days after mine. Like the other kids, Cody pet our ranch animals and even rode my horse, though it was painful for him to do so. I was so impressed by Cody that I asked him whether he wanted to see my Western collection. He was particularly thrilled to see the Uzi that I used in my “Missing in Action” movies. I gave him a western belt that I received from President Ronald Reagan. And I also gave him one of my authentic Texas Ranger badges. Cody’s stare was piercing, and his eyes sparkled with his love for life and others. What he was incapable of doing with his body he made up for in his heart and mind. He was an amazingly mature, compassionate and bright young man for his age, no doubt in part from enduring what he had for his decade on this planet. Yet he maintained his childlike innocence and was honest to the core. He saw the good in everyone, and nothing got him down, not even his MD. Even as his condition declined, he adapted and always maintained his optimism. He once said that “love and friendship
are something that you can take with you for all time.” As Cody left that November day, Gena and I gave him a big hug. But he wanted to give me one of his “pat-hugs.” Because he was incapable of putting his arms around people, his mother lifted his arms around me, and with his palms resting on my back, he moved his fingers slowly up and down as much as he could to extend his love to me. (I was told he rarely gave pat-hugs.) A year ago last June, I was speaking with him on the phone, and we expressed our love for each other. Then I told him that when we both got home to heaven, he would be my first martial arts student there! This past week, Cody’s mother, Deedee, described a dream he had just before he passed on. The Sunday before last, Cody’s mom held him on the couch as he slept. He later told her that as he was sleeping, he also was standing with his grandpa Gary (who died five years ago), both dressed in white and watching his mom hold him on the couch. Cody told his grandpa that he wasn’t ready to go and that he needed a few more days. Later Cody told his mother, “I just want you to know that I love you and that the next time Grandpa visits me, I’m going to go with him.” Late the next day, Cody said he wanted to hug his mom, so she placed his arms around her. He held her for about 10 minutes and then whispered, “Mom, I’m going to pass away. I love you, and I’ll see you again when it’s your time to come home.” At 5:15 a.m. the next day, Cody departed his earthly body and went to his heavenly home. Now you see why Cody stole my heart — and why I think we all should emulate those young brave souls like him. Of course, Cody is not alone. There are many small heroes all around us — maybe even in your home or community. Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these” (Matthew 19:14). He also said, “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3). Maybe it’s time to quit asking the kids to learn from us and it’s time we learned from them. Maybe we should be more concerned with growing down than with growing up. Maybe even the president would be a better man and leader if he did. Maybe we all would.
To find out more about Chuck Norris and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com. COPYRIGHT 2010 CHUCK NORRIS - DISTRIBUTED BY CREATORS.COM - Reprinted under license by Mike Norris for The County Line. The County Line Business & Community Journal ● P.O. Box 1156 ● Eastland, Texas 76448 ● http://www.mycounty-line.com
5The Law of the Land ■
County Line Business & Community Journal ~ August, 2010 v3.39
, by Doug Jordan
Home Sweet Texas Homestead Law - Part 2 Note - This article is the second in a four-part series reviewing the basics of the homestead protection laws. The information presented is essentially a summary of the combined work of Professor Gerry W. Beyer (Texas Tech University School of Law, Lubbock, Texas), and Katharine L. Smith & Jennifer A. Owens (J.D.s, St. Mary’s University School of Law, San Antonio, Texas) used with their permission and to whom I am most grateful.
As mentioned in Part One of this series, Section 50 of the Texas Constitution protects the homestead from forced sale for the payment of all debts, with limited exceptions (to be discussed in a future article). Part One also defined the types of property (i.e., urban or rural) that may be exempted. In this article, the types of persons who may claim the homestead will be explained. While the claimant is living, the homestead may be classified as either a family homestead or a single adult homestead. As explained in Part One, the size of a rural homestead exemption may vary in accordance with this classification (200 acres for a family, 100 acres for a single adult). Upon the death of the homestead claimant, the homestead exemption will continue to operate for the benefit of survivors of the claimant. However, the rights of survivors differ depending on their status (i.e., a surviving spouse or minor child). Property claimed as a family homestead must be used as a home, or as both an urban home and a place for the claimant to conduct a business. Thus, the family homestead centers on its use as a home. Families are not prevented from owning and using property as their home in excess of the acreage limits (10 acres for an urban homestead and 200 acres for rural), but any excess acreage will not qualify for the family homestead exemption. Under the Texas Property Code, the homestead claimant is entitled to designate which portion shall qualify. Included in the family homestead exemption are improvements made to the land, such as a house, swimming pool, storage buildings, and anything else attached to the land, including growing crops and minerals (e.g., oil and gas). However, the courts have determined that once crops or minerals have been removed, they are no longer part of the homestead property and subject to creditor’s claims. In a 1960 decision by the Eastland Court of Appeals, the court held that unmarried and unrelated persons living together do not qualify for the family homestead exemption. To qualify, claimants must be related by blood or marriage, and the head of the family must be legally or morally obligated to support the other members of the family. In addition, the other family members must actually be dependent on the head of the family for support. This means Bill Gates’ mom probably couldn’t claim a 200-acre family homestead exemption on rural property in Texas if he were to move in with her. A qualifying family can range from the traditional family consisting of a mother, father and their children to the non-traditional family of an older brother caring for his orphaned sister or a grandmother caring for her grandson. All that must be present are the relationship, support and dependence factors mentioned above. The single adult homestead is limited to 10 urban acres or 100 rural acres by the Texas Property Code. The only requirement is that the adult claimant be single at the time the homestead is claimed. An individual separated
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but not divorced will not qualify for a single adult homestead, or for that matter, a family homestead, on new property acquired. For example, if a husband and wife separate and husband acquires and occupies property with another woman, the single adult homestead cannot be claimed because the husband is legally married and the family homestead cannot be claimed on the new property because it is not the family home. However, a single divorced parent may maintain a family homestead, rather than a single adult homestead, if the support and dependence factors are present. For example, a divorced father of three sons may maintain a family homestead if he provides support for (or has an obligation to support) his children as the head of household and the children in turn depend on their father for support. Furthermore, if both father and mother provide support for their children in a joint custody scenario, both may claim a family homestead. Upon the death of either the husband or wife, the surviving spouse is entitled to retain the constitutional family homestead right for life or as long as the survivor elects to use the homestead. This right protects the homestead against forced sale and partition so long as the surviving spouse chooses to use or occupy the homestead. Even if the will of a deceased spouse grants an interest in the homestead to someone other than the surviving spouse, the grant is subject to the lifetime homestead right of the surviving spouse. Upon the death of both spouses, the homestead property will pass according to descent and distribution or under the deceased spouse’s will. However, much like the surviving spouse, any surviving minor children are entitled to a constitutional survivor’s homestead. In asserting the surviving minor children’s homestead entitlement, there is no requirement that the minor children resided with the deceased parent(s) prior to the parent’s death. The homestead right of surviving minor children is also protected against forced sale as well as partition among heirs and will beneficiaries. Unmarried adult children remaining with the family of their deceased parent(s) are not eligible for the homestead exemption. NEXT: Benefits of the Homestead Exemption Doug Jordan is a local Title Examiner and Attorney, Board Certified in Farm and Ranch Real Estate Law for Security Title Company. Question or comments regarding this article may be emailed to the author at: doug@ securitytitleco.com
The County Line Business & Community Journal ● P.O. Box 1156 ● Eastland, Texas 76448 ● http://www.mycounty-line.com
6Good Neighbors ■
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County Line Business & Community Journal ~ August, 2010 v3.39
, Clint Coffee CLU ChFC State Farm Insurance® Agent
Give your grandchildren the gift of Life
the package.
When you are trying to choose just the right gift for your grandchildren, you can have a tough time sifting through the newest trends and fads. Last week it was this pop star, next week it may be a new cartoon character. On top of that, you don’t want to get something that won’t last 10 minutes out of
One gift that will last for many years is a life insurance policy. There are many reasons why it can be an excellent gift for your grandchild. Affordability – The younger the child’s age, the lower the premiums. Protection – Illness or injury may affect a child’s ability to purchase life insurance coverage later in life. Coverage purchased now will continue to provide protection, even if a child’s health changes, provided premiums are paid as required by the policy. Financial Security – Life insurance can be the foundation for a strong financial plan. The child may be able to borrow against the accumulated cash value (with interest charged) to pay for future expenses. While loans decrease death benefits and cash surrender values, the proceeds can be used for important expenses such as a college education or the purchase of a home.
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.
Clint Coffee, Agent 959 E Main St Eastland, TX 76448 Bus: 254-629-1222 clint@clintcoffee.com
Giving a gift of life insurance to your grandchild can be one of the most significant things you do during your lifetime. He or she may not understand at the time how important the gift is, but should grow to appreciate it in the future. Take the guesswork out of your gift shopping. Life insurance is a gift that will last a lifetime.
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
The County Line Business & Community Journal ● P.O. Box 1156 ● Eastland, Texas 76448 ● http://www.mycounty-line.com
7Taking Back Our Country ■
County Line Business & Community Journal ~ August, 2010 v3.39
, Mike W. Norris and others
Beck University: Lessons in American History
Faith 101 - The Seperation of Church and State and The Black-Robed Regiment Presented by David Barton
Every fourth of July, America sets a new world record -- that of being the oldest nation in the world to be governed under its original founding documents. The United Nations is made up of 192 nations and the United States is the only nation out of those that does not undergo a revolution every 30 to 40 years. Our founding ideals have lead to the world coming to recognize and categorize what sets our country apart from all others. The term “American Exceptionalism” was used to describe our country as early as 1831 by French historian Alexis de Toqueville.
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Today we might honor such men as George Washington and Thomas Jefferson with being centrally responsible for those ideals, but if you asked our Founding Fathers who were responsible for such influences, their answers would arguably be individuals such as Rev. Dr. Samuel Cooper and Rev. Dr. Jonathan Mayhew, among others.
claimed that if it were not for the stirrings of those clergymen wearing their black robes while standing behind the pulpit, the United States would still be British Colonies.
The Rev. George Whitfield was centrally responsible for the American Awakening prior to the American Revolution. He accompanied Benjamin Franklin to appeal to British Parliment in the repeal of the Stamp Act.
All of this is introduced in the first 5-minutes of the 35-minute presentation. Barton goes on to present quotes, sermons, and published writings of the inspirational, spiritual leaders who inspired our Founding Fathers in their to strive for Liberty and Freedom...170 years of spiritual leadership before the Declaration of Independence was ever drafted or our Founding Fathers pledged their lives and sacred Honor to secure our Freedoms of today. ~ mwnorris
Both white and black preachers were responsible, as early as 1775, for inspiring the birth of a nation. British officials called the inspirational preachers of the British Colonies “The Black Regiment” and later
Today, we call those inspirational clergymen referring to them as The Black-Robed Regiment.
The County Line Business & Community Journal ● P.O. Box 1156 ● Eastland, Texas 76448 ● http://www.mycounty-line.com
8Daily Devotional ■
County Line Business & Community Journal ~ August, 2010 v3.39
, Wanda Lee Beck Skinner
Ephesians 2:8-9 King James July 12, 2010
“For by grace are ye saved through faith: and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.” Most children love to see a date circled on the family calendar that signifies their birthday. They look forward to the gifts they will receive. But try to imagine the day arrives and the party celebration begins. Games and refreshments are enjoyed by all those in attendance. The party ends and guests leave for their own homes. In a corner sits a pile of unopened gifts. The birthday child missed the opportunity to see the delight on the face of each gift-giver as the gifts were opened. Is it possible many leave the costly gift of salvation unopened and break the heart of God and nail another nail in the hands of Jesus again and again? God is eagerly waiting for you to accept His gift and use it every day for the rest of your life. Do not disappoint Him. Giant Puff Mushrooms July 15, 2010
A couple of weeks ago I looked into the lawn at my church and I saw an unusual site. In the midst of the grass was a white item about the size of a saucer. Upon close observation, I found there was an intricate
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design. In all my years of being in Morton Valley I had never observed something like this. I took pictures and almost forgot about it as it turned dark brown and each time it was touched brown stuff flew into the air. Two weeks later the lawn contained six new ones. Three of these were almost as large as a dinner plate. I wondered if these could be poison. One of these was carried to our county agent. He said these usually appeared when the humidity was very high. The reason I had never seen them was probably because we had never had a year like this one. He also said they were not poison but if any animals ate them they might become ill. He said they were Giant Puff Mushrooms. Does it amaze you as much as it does me of what a wonderful amazing world God created for us to enjoy. Praise God for His wondrous love of man. Genealogy, Let’s Keep It Alive August 1, 2010
I have had so many queries lately from people searching for information on births, deaths and marriages before 1900. How I would love to have a time machine to take me back to the date and place they need. (Please realize I don’t want to stay there, just observe the time, events, pains and sorrows as well as the joy and love those people felt.) Please be one who helps the future generation be able to find their history because you kept pictures (well marked on the back), newspaper clippings, diplomas, awards and other articles of interest. A good three ring binder with protective sleeves is great for keeping these things. If you were to enter my office you would know I have followed this rule a lot. It is important. Those who went before us and have the same blood lines as we do, have a lot to do with who we are and how we act and look. Begin today to help keep your history alive.
LONE CEDAR GOLF COURSE 2010 SCHEDULE July 5 Fire Cracker 5th Draw Scramble July 29, 30 WTJCT championship tourney August 7
Ministerial Alliance 4- Person Scramble
Sept 11, 12 2-Person Shamble Sept 25, 26 Summer League Finals Oct 16, 17 Club Championship
The County Line Business & Community Journal ● P.O. Box 1156 ● Eastland, Texas 76448 ● http://www.mycounty-line.com
9@The Ranger Library ■
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County Line Business & Community Journal ~ August, 2010 v3.39
, Diana McCullough
The Reading Express
Do you know the difference between a cc and a milliliter? A cc is a cubic centimeter, by the way. This was a reference question yesterday at the Ranger City Library. A roomful of computer users didn’t know the answer, and our pharmacy student daughter didn’t answer her cell phone…so I googled. In case you don’t know it, googling is easier than calling a daughter. Lora later texted back: No mathematical difference in a cc or ml. 1 ml = 1 cc. Exactly what the roomful of computer users had already learned! Now you know. Lora is spending the week at South Padre Island with her boyfriend and his family, and I’ve got the dogs. Emma and Ellie are very well-mannered, and politely retreat into our dog pen upon request. I like obedience in children and pets. Right now, I am reading The Search, the newest by Nora Roberts. It’s 488 pages long, and I’m on page 298. Set on an island off Seattle’s coast, the protagonist, Fiona, is a dog trainer and volunteers for canine search and rescue. I’ve been picking up basic tips: Rewarding desirable behavior, discouraging the undesirable. Nora Roberts’ fans will enjoy this book whether they’re dog lovers or not. It’s a complicated, well-rounded story, suspenseful at times.
Send comments to: ranger@mycounty-line.com
The newest by Lisa Gardner, Live to Tell, has arrived and left again, as well as the latest by Tess Gerritsen, Ice Cold. Shadow Zone, by Iris Johansen and Roy Johansen waits processing. All of our Loan Star Grant monies must be encumbered or spent by the end of next month, so our next book order list is really taking shape. Thank you again, Texas taxpayers! The Libri Foundation sent an enticing email today. They gave us a 2 to 1 matching grant in 2007 for children’s books, and we are now eligible to apply again. The top amount for our library’s part is $350. In 2007, we raised $200 and received $600 worth of books. IF we can raise $350, the highest amount, the Libri Foundation will give us an EXTRA $350 in children’s math and science books for a total of $1,400 worth of books for our investment of $350. I replied to Barbara McKillip, Libri president, that I was indeed interested. I do pause to consider processing $1,400 worth of books. Children’s books are expensive and this amount would probably buy about 70 books. It’s a good opportunity! By the time you read this, the Texas Summer Reading Club (2010!) at the Ranger City Library will be history. To be honest, I always kind of dread it, but then I enjoy it probably more than the kids do! This year’s theme is “Catch the Reading Express!” with a strong emphasis on trains and travel and the 2011 Bluebonnet Award winning collection of children’s books, and we’ve been “building” a paper train which is expanding daily along the top of the walls in the foyer, like a wallpaper border. I’m fairly limited when it comes to crafts, but the kids are GREAT sports. I’m fairly good with reading, math, and science, but when it comes to geography and history, I’m…not. Today I dusted off the world globe, and the past two days we’ve taken our “Reading Express” back in time, but first there was Monday. On Monday, we only had six participants, this first day of our Reading Club—but they were six EXCEPTIONALLY outstanding children. Five of them were 10 years old; Carter, a little younger. I read last year’s overall Bluebonnet winner, One Potato, Two Potato by Cynthia DeFelice. I’m lucky to have heard this author read this book when I was at the Texas Library Conference in Houston last year. This is a story of old Mr. and Mrs. O’Grady Continued on page 23
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The County Line Business & Community Journal ● P.O. Box 1156 ● Eastland, Texas 76448 ● http://www.mycounty-line.com
10Tumbleweed Smith ■
County Line Business & Community Journal ~ August, 2010 v3.39
, Big Spring
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Send comments to: tumbleweed@mycounty-line.com
A Love of Model A’s, Land and Cattle Forrest Green is a former state legislator who lives on a ranch near the small community of Emhouse not far from Corsicana. Although he grew up in the city of Arlington, he preferred country life. He moved with his family from the small town of Kirvin to Arlington when he was five months old. During summer months he returned to Kirvin to visit his grandparents. During his growing up years, Forrest’s dad was a car dealer. “Back then, kids didn’t have cars,” says Forrest. “They were lucky to have a bicycle. I wanted a bicycle a long time before I got it. My dad got me a Model A when I was a teenager and I’ve been a Model A man ever since. I’ve got a barn full now, a few of them just about like Henry Ford made them. Seven of them are up to snuff and I’m working on three more.” Forrest, a member of the Dallas Model A club, has driven his vehicles in parades. The Model A was made from 1928 to 1931 and cost between 400 and 600 dollars new. “Now it’s hard to find one for less than $15,000. I’ve got one that I wouldn’t take $25,000 for.” Forrest, named for the famous Confederate General Bedford Forrest, realized he was too small for athletics but loved the outdoors. He got involved in scouting and became an Eagle Scout at age 16. He attended the World Scouting Jamboree in Holland in 1937 and toured Europe on that trip. He flew fighter planes in China during World War Two. His military career took him completely around the globe. “Didn’t cost me a penny. It was a rare experience.” During his war years he bought a 160-acre ranch near Arlington for $75 dollars an acre.
His grandparents gave him some cattle to get started. When the Fort Worth Tollway was built, it went right through 23 acres of Forrest’s land. The money from that gave him enough to make a down payment on the place where he lives now. Forrest had a 13-year career with the post office, first as a clerk, later as a postal inspector. He worked in St. Louis and Des Moines and couldn’t stand the cold, icy winters. One year when he saw ducks and geese flying south he thought to himself, “I’ve got as much sense as those birds.” He mailed in his resignation and came home to Texas to develop a superior herd of Hereford cattle. While he was up north with the post office, big things were happening in Arlington. He found his ranch surrounded by houses, a country club and a shopping mall. “I was paying more in taxes than I did for the land. By the time it was over, I was selling that land by the foot. I feel blessed and not from any talent of my own.” When Forrest learned that the state representative for Ellis and Navarro counties was not going to seek reelection in 1972, he filed as a candidate along with five other people. He served four terms, running unopposed only once. Forrest never married. “I was too busy with my Model A’s,” he says with a smile.
CRUISING ON THE BIG SHIP
I went cruising the other day with some of my friends, about 6,200 of them to be more specific. In addition there were some 2,500 crewmembers to make our trip enjoyable. We were on Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas, the largest cruise ship in the world, nearly four football fields long. The ship has nearly everything you can imagine. It’s a combination of big city sophistication and Disneyland. It was built at a cost of one billion dollars and has 9,000 pieces of art displayed throughout the ship, 7,000 of them commissioned. The ship’s original name was Genesis, but was changed because of its religious connotations. It is truly a floating oasis. The ship has a carousel with handcrafted horses, zebras, ostriches and other wildlife made from wood and painted in bright colors. It has special engineering to accommodate the ship’s
movement, even though the ship moves smoothly through the water and we had a hard time realizing we were on a ship. Steady she goes. The ship’s ice rink offers ice skating to passengers and quality entertainment by extremely talented athletes and artists. The lights, music and costumes make for an enchanting evening. The Aqua Theater offers productions similar to acts by Cirque du Soliel. Some of the divers have been in the Olympics and won national honors both in collegiate and professional competition. They show incredible strength and some dive into the small pool from a perch seven stories above the water. It is a thrilling spectacle. The Aqua Theater is also the location of the belly flop competition, one of the best attended attractions on the ship. The Opal Theater offers Broadway-style entertainment. We saw the musical Hairspray. Late night opportunities include a comedy club and dancing to live music. The spa, climbing wall, zip line, surfing area, jogging track, miniature golf course and a dozen hot tubs and swimming pools (some salt water, some fresh water) are among the diversions offered. A parade moves through the Royal Promenade that makes you think you’re at a circus. The Rising Tide Bar rises 2 stories while you sip your favorite beverage. You can stroll along Central Park or the Boardwalk to shop and dine. There are 24 restaurants and 20 bars on board. Nobody got hungry or thirsty for very long. People celebrated birthdays, quinceaneras, weddings, anniversaries and family reunions, with plenty of activities for kids. We cruised in the Caribbean with stops in Nassau, St. Thomas and St. Maarten. Passengers had the opportunity to go to a beach or take a tour. Shopping Shelby, the shopping consultant, offered suggestions about where to buy diamonds, black coral, tanzanite and ammolite. For the most part, though, people took the trip to experience the ship. Seventy-five countries were represented. We talked to people from Rome and Rio who flew to Florida to board the ship in Fort Lauderdale for the week-long trip. Royal Caribbean is building another ship like the Oasis. We just might have to try it.
The County Line Business & Community Journal ● P.O. Box 1156 ● Eastland, Texas 76448 ● http://www.mycounty-line.com
11Growing Up Small Town ■
County Line Business & Community Journal ~ August, 2010 v3.39
, Continued
at one point affected 160 square miles, officials said. Officials have described wildlife impact as minimal.” ~Reuters, April 20, 2010. Wildlife impact as “minimal”? Inside a wildlife refuge area? Wow! How in the world is that even possible compared to what the media has said about the BP spill? I bet you also didn’t know that a portion of the United States’ second largest oil production facility on Alaska’s North Slope was shut down just a few days before the gulf rig disaster. The reason? A transport pipeline had developed a small, “onegallon” leak which required the pumping facility to be shut down so that clean up and repairs could be completed. The 15,000 barrel-per-day production was haulted for one day while repaired. Those stories were never given much fanfare and neither was the gulf disaster at first. For example, on Thursday, April 22, it was reported that the Deepwater Horizon had sunk and the 11 crew members were suspected to have been unable to escape from the rig. On Friday, April 23, reports claimed that an underwater remote vehicle had inspected the well head and the sunken rig and found that no oil leaks were evident. In fact, the oil slick at the site was reported to be about 1-mile wide and about 5-miles long and was “contained.” But on Saturday, April 24, four days after the initial event, and the day after most reports indicated a crisis was averted, the media had it’s fingers on a real show stopper! The U.S. Coast Guard reported that the well was leaking at a rate of approximately 1,000 barrels (42,000 gallons) per day. The Coast Guard was classifying the leak as a “very serious spill” and the media was on board with comparisons to the Exxon Valdez spill of 1989 of 11-million gallons. (Notice how they use the millions of gallons figure instead of the less significant 260,000 barrels.) The Coast Guard’s initial estimates might have been conservative...which would seem to run counter to common sense. I’m not sure how hard it is to watch an oil plume in an unrestricted water column billow from a pipe and guess how much oil is being released...but if I were in charge I would have taken the best guess possible and doubled it, just to be safe! When you’re responding to an ongoing disaster, it would seem prudent to err on the safe side...don’t you think? And the media weren’t the only ones who were suddenly taking notice of the events in the gulf. On Sunday, April 25, Senator John Kerry announced that the much anticipated “Cap-and-Trade” legislation would not be unveiled on Monday as
expected. He pointed the finger at Republican Lindsey Graham, but also made the comment “regrettably, external issues have arisen that force us to postpone.” By Tuesday, April 27, we had a full-fledged crisis on our hands. Weather forecasters were predicting that the oil slick on the surface would impact the coastal shorelines by the following weekend. The Homeland Security and Interior Department launched a joint investigation, with a separate probe announced by the House Energy and Commerce Committee. In a letter to BP and Transocean, committee members stated, “A striking feature of the incident is an apparent lack of an adequate plan to contain the spreading environmental damage.” That was quite a statement given the fact that the oil had not even made landfall yet and was still 20-miles offshore. Just exactly who was in charge of the clean-up plan in the first place? Wasn’t the Coast Guard in charge of the spill containment effort at that point? They were the only ones having press briefings and putting out the “official” accounts of the response efforts. The media was reporting these events, but at that point they were still using the same firefighting photos that were provided by the Coast Guard. I know you’ve seen the pictures...the rig on fire with several Coast Guard ships gathered around it shooting water into the flames and smoke...that’s the one. The media didn’t even have pictures of the spill at that point...no underwater video either. There were no photos of oil-covered wildlife. Hmm...if only they had jumped on that Chevron incident from a few weeks ago and got some stock photos from that oil spill. Those would have come in handy. Naaah...forget I said that. That’s a bit too conspiritorial. I mean you have all this oil spilling out in the gulf -- it’s just a matter of time before we have oil on the beaches. Why even consider trying to make a bigger issue out of the spill than it really was. Even with landmark legislation like Cap-andTrade hanging in the ballance...it just wouldn’t be a good idea to try to hedge your bet on a well-timed environmental crisis. Absolutely no motivation there whatsoever. Forget I said anything about it. Oh, by the way...the Coast Guard considered following the industry-standard, and governmentapproved, spill containment and response plan of burning off the surface oil while they had it contained, and in some cases it was reported that they did so. But even though that was the established response policy, it was stopped...I wonder why?
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On Wednesday, April 28, it was reported “As the oil spill grows, so does the chance that it will affect efforts by the U.S. Congress and President Barack Obama to open more offshore areas to limited oil and gas drilling.” “This brings home the issue that drilling despite all the advancements in technology is still a risky business,” said Athan Manuel of the Sierra Club. Keen observations there. It was also reported on April 28th, by Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Thad W. Allen, that a relief well was in the process of being drilled (Already, on day 8?) but that process could take between 45 and 90 days. BP was reported to be working with underwater robots to try to cap the well using a valve that was already in place at the time of the incident, but was having difficulties. On Thursday, April 29, it was all-hands on deck for the media circus. This day set the stage for the next 90+ days. The Obama Administration was talking publicly about halting efforts to expand offshore drilling - which was a provision of the proposed Cap-and-Trade bill - and the Administration was considering the provisions of an oil production moratorium similar to that which was the result from a 1969 spill off the coast of California. Lawsuits were already being filed in Louisiana by a group of fishermen against BP, Transocean and others for negligence. And Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal declared a state of emergency as the oil slick approached within
The County Line Business & Community Journal ● P.O. Box 1156 ● Eastland, Texas 76448 ● http://www.mycounty-line.com
12Growing Up Small Town ■
County Line Business & Community Journal ~ August, 2010 v3.39
, Continued
3-miles of the Louisiana shoreline. The icing on the cake - it was announced that the Coast Guard’s initial estimates of the oil spill were incorrect. Reports upped the spill from 1,000 barrels per day to 5,000 barrels of oil per day - or 210,000 gallons...meaning that upwards of 45,000 barrels (or 1.89 million gallons) of oil were already in the gulf and more was coming. Now we have a crisis on our hands! By May 1st, Louisian, Alabama and Florida had all declared states of emergency for portions of their coastlines. On May 2nd, commercial fisheries along the affected coastal areas were closed - halting commercial fishing efforts and endagering the livelihoods of thousands of coastal families. Pesident Obama took a tour of the Venice, LA U.S. Coast Guard facility and announced “Let me be clear: BP is responsible for this leak. BP will be paying the bill...We are dealing with a massive and potentially unprecedented environmental disaster.” Later that evening, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said on CNN, “Our job basically is to keep the boot on the neck of British Petroleum.” Salazar also went on record as saying “The worst case scenario is we could have 100,000 barrels flowing out (per day).” Whoa! Where did that number come from? How do you go from 1,000 barrels per day, to 5,000 barrels per day, and then out of the blue a government administration official goes on record with 100,000 barrels per day??? I can understand the Coast Guard’s initial estimate being “conservative” and them having to revise their numbers up from 1,000 to 5,000. But I don’t believe for a second that BP and Transocean engineers, oil and gas drilling experts and Coast Guard officials on the scene can miss an estimate by that order of magnitude. That’s an Exxon Valdez tanker going the way of the Titanic every two days! If that were the case, not only would this disaster
be monumental, but it would also bring into light the amount of oil and gas reserves that are waiting to be tapped in the gulf region...while we sit around on our thumbs importing oil from hostile foreign nations! That’s when I declared a mistrial in my mind on the gulf oil spill. The Obama Administration was taking shots at, making threats towards, and badgering BP. Keep in mind, this was before Obama called BP in and demanded they set up a $20-billion dollar response fund...this was before congress called BP executives in to testify before them...and this was before BP’s first “dome” cap was even attempted and later failed to contain the oil. Keep in mind, that by May 2nd, the Obama administration had done nothing...absolutely nothing...to curtail the oil spill. How could they? The U.S. Coast Guard was reacting to the spill according to plan, with the exception of halting controlled burn efforts as called for in industry spill response plans, they were doing everything that they could. So...here we are...and what has changed in the last 90+ days? To this day, as of this writing, BP and Transocean have not been able to fully investigate the root causes of the explosion and all the investigations in the world cannot ascertain the causes simply because all the evidence is still at the bottom of the ocean! It all sank on Day-3, remember? And it was still on fire when it went down. So there has been no true investigation... no true fact gathering. All we know is that the blow-out preventer failed to work as intended after the drilling platform sank in the gulf. But the root Continued on page 14
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 ~ August, 2010 v3.39
The County Line Business & Community Journal ● P.O. Box 1156 ● Eastland, Texas 76448 ● http://www.mycounty-line.com
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14Growing Up Small Town ■
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County Line Business & Community Journal ~ August, 2010 v3.39
, Continued
cause of the fire is still unknown. the root cause for the blow-out preventer failure is still unknown. But on Friday, July 30th, just before taking 6-weeks vacation from sitting in session, the U.S. House of Representatives pushed through H.R.5626 -- The Blowout Prevention Act of 2010. “This legislation is about safety, about establishing new safety standards, safety for the workers on the rigs,” said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, which would lead one to conclude that they found out what went wrong and have put into place some corrective measures to prevent it from happening again. But that’s hardly the way the bill reads to me. It sounds to me like it could have been written back in 1969 as a result of the spill off California. But something I did make note of is this: in addition to the worker’s safety, which is never directly mentioned in the bill, it contains an ammendment to the Clean Air Act specifically giving power to “The Chemical Safety Board” for the authority to “facilitate the Board’s investigation of the facts, circumstances, and causes of an accidental fire, explosion, or release involving an offshore oil or gas exploration or production facility (regardless of whether there is a resulting marine oil spill).” Is it just me, or does it seem a little bit odd that Congress would be empowering the EPA with such a specific authority in response to such a singular, outstanding event...and then not even mention it to the public...in fact, go so far as to try to bury it by claiming it is for worker’s safety? Why not just come straight out and say “Now that the spill has been stopped, we are turning this over to the EPA for a full investigation.” I guess their logic escapes me. But I do agree that we should send in the EPA to assist BP and Transocean in their investigations...I mean, wouldn’t it now be in everyone’s best interest to find out what went wrong and maybe ascertain how to prevent it from happening again? If this Administration really wanted to protect oil
industry workers, shouldn’t it be interested in helping their employers make their working conditions safer ? Also, in order to satisfy environmental concerns shouldn’t this Administration help the oil industry improve its technology and help the industry come together to prevent such disasters from happening again? That would be great...but I don’t think that is their goal. It seems to me to be more like a prosecution rather than a risk assessment or cause analysis. I don’t get the feeling that they really care about BP moving forward; it seems more like crime and punishment time. And that’s one of the biggest problems I have with this Administration. I really don’t see where this Administration is leading by example or demonstrating true leadership in any form. It appears to me that this Administration cares only about sensationalizing the events in order to stir up public opinion. That way, no one will give pause or thought to another evil capitalist corporation being brought before the American people and sacrificed on the altar of socialism. That’s the only thing this Administration is good at -- pointing fingers and exacting social justice against the accused. I wonder...How many industries and how many more jobs can we afford to lose at the hands of this Administration before we have a real crisis in America? ~mwnorris
To reply with comments to this article, please send me an eMail: mike@mycounty-line. com
By the way, in the past two weeks since the oil leak was capped, evidence of the spill has become harder to locate. Industry experts and environmentalists have theorized that since the oil was in its unrefined, natural state, that Mother Nature was able to deal with the spill on her own, given enough time. I agree. Speaking in terms of volumes, the last estimates put the oil spill at between 35,000 and 60,000 barrels (2.5 million gallons) of oil per day. By contrast, the Mississippi River dumps 388.2 billion gallons of fresh muddy water into the gulf every 24hrs. As traumatic and harmful as we would like to think of ourselves on the Earth’s ecosystem, the gulf oil spill at the height of it’s unrestricted flow, amounted to only 0.000644% of the flow of the Mississippi River. So in other words, if you rubbed 2.4ml of suntan oil on your body just before jumping into your swimming pool -- every day, for 100 days -- you would put the same ratio of oil into your swimming pool as BP leaked into the gulf. Sunscreen anyone?
Back to School Days! Gift Certificates Available! Angelia Honea
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Facials, Microdermabrasion
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(254)629-2220
The County Line Business & Community Journal ● P.O. Box 1156 ● Eastland, Texas 76448 ● http://www.mycounty-line.com
15Life Planning Issues ■
County Line Business & Community Journal ~ August, 2010 v3.39 ■ Eastland
, Jim Kennedy
Regrets
We live our lives and are encouraged to live life fully and to not have regrets. Though in fact, that word itself establishes a negative frame of mind. However, we have found that this same word can produce a positive outcome with the addition of a simple adjective: unacceptable. At the end of your life, what would be a regret that you absolutely do not want to have? An Unacceptable Regret is just this: a regret that you absolutely do not want to have. So today’s article is a little different than most. If you don’t have a lot of time right now, save this for later. If you do, grab a pencil. I have a few questions to help you explore the Unacceptable Regrets in your life. First, think about this question again and write down any and all things that come to mind. Just leave some space under each of these. At the end of your life, what would be a regret that you absolutely do not want to have? Then, answer the following questions for each of these regrets: What would be so unacceptable to you about this regret? What are you doing, or not doing, right now that might bring about this regret? What has to happen as soon as possible to avoid this possibility? By what specific date, at the latest, does this have to change? What measurable achievement or result would convince you that you won’t have this regret?
Ninety days from now, what progress will you have made regarding this achievement or result? What is the first action you are going to take? I have found this is a great way to set goals, not only life goals, but yearly goals, quarterly goals, monthly, weekly, daily, etc.—whether they are personal goals or business goals. Merely change up the question a little. e.g. At the end of the year, what would be a regret that you absolutely do not want to have about your career? Spend some time with this. I promise you will find it worthwhile and very fulfilling. When you complete this exercise, think on these two questions: What is the biggest insight you’ve had from focusing on this topic? What single improvement is immediately going to occur as a result of this focus? When I first completed this exercise for myself, I could immediately pinpoint the biggest priorities in every aspect of my life. Moreover, it gave me clear insight as to where I should spend my time and how to spend it—both at work and in my personal life. It was truly amazing how this negative word became a tool to inspire and motivate me. Life Planning is about so much more than money, investments, insurance, taxes, debt, etc. Those are just the tools to make it work. Life Planning is about living Life on purpose, which means no regrets!
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.
Memorial Hospital Volunteers, Kelly Davidson
EMH Volunteers would like to extend a huge THANK YOU to the following sponsors of our 4th Annual Charity Golf Tournament. A SPECIAL Thank You goes to Taylor & Jenni Ford and Rod Straw for allowing us to use Lakeside Golf Course. Also, special thanks to Frito Lay (Gilbert Hernandez), Brookshire’s and Ben E. Keith for the wonderful meal, and to the Lakeside Ladies Golf Association for their immeasurable assistance in preparation for the tournament. We would also like to thank the 100 golfers that braved the heat to come and support their local hospital. This year’s event raised over $16,800 and all proceeds will be used toward medical equipment purchases needed by the hospital. Our success could not be possible without everyone’s continued support and generosity which make this wonderful event possible. Miracle Sponsors ($500 or MORE):
Billye Bradley, Kennedy Financial Services, Mike Norris – The County Line, Jenni & Taylor Ford, Emergency Staffing Solutions, Jeff & Vicki Bradley, EBAA Sales, Inc., Financial Corporation of America, Kass Land Services, EBAA Iron, Inc. , Jim & Leslie Keffer, Ken & Sammie Blades Recovery Sponsors ($300 or MORE):
Robert DeLuca, DO, Moylan Const. Co. (MOTEC), First Financial Bank, Crowder Construction Co., Eastland Drug Co., B&W Clinic, Insurance Partners of Texas, W.B. Byrd & Associates, Jim Farrar, Lone Cedar Golf Club, Omer & Martha Pigeon, Summit Staffing, Inc., Ben E. Keith,
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Diagnostic Management Group Wellness Sponsors ($200): Ag Texas, Atlas Equipment, Bill & Helen Meyer, Davis & Wilkerson, PC, Elwyn & Kelly Davidson, W. H. Hoffmann Estate, Ronnie Barton Construction Hole Sponsors ($100): Sterling Monument, Fullen Motor Co., Security Title, Dessie McCarroll, Lazy 3 Animal Care, Hanlon Gas, Gary D. Peak, Edwards Funeral Home, Rhonda Reeves, E&E Kustoms, Eastland Co. Tire & Auto, Blake Fulenwider, Bentgrass of Texas, Russell’s Auto Sales, Kinnaird Rossander & Perry, Higginbothams, Parrish, Moody & Fikes, J&J Air Conditioning, I-20 Bail Bonds, Raymond James & Associates, Clint Coffee State Farm, Guardian Title, Hank & Vicki Smith, Café Rico, Edward D. Jones, Bryan’s Signs, Hip Chick Boutique, Frac Tech Services, www. microplexnews.com, Tucker Farm Eagle Sponsors ($75): Aaron Insurance Agency, Joel’s Paint & Body, C&H Monogram, American State Bank – Cisco Hole-In-One Sponsor: Dr. Simpson and Family Raffle Donors: Greer’s, Everisto’s Tire Service, Cooky Petree, Coat’s Furniture, SunShine Shoppe Door Prize Donors and other Sponsors: Scott Body Works, Beaty Travel, LaQuinta Inn & Suites, Images,
YOU Missed a Spot!!!
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Continued on page 18
16Dear Carbon High ■
County Line Business & Community Journal ~ August, 2010 v3.39
, Linda Jackson Neeley
Carbon High School 2010 Homecoming
The voices and laughter of students once again echoed through the halls of the Carbon School building on Saturday, July 10. These voices and laughter belonged to approximately 350 schoolmates and classmates , spouses, teachers and friends who gathered at the old school house to share memories of their days at Carbon High School. The theme, “Memories in Pictures”, was carried out throughout the building. The attendees who had pre-registered picked up name tags printed not only with their names but with a copy their senior photos. Computer slide shows of the Wolverine sports teams, Carbon teachers, student organizations and activities were playing as the attendees entered the building and auditorium for the program. The program began at 10:30 with a welcome from the 2010 Reunion Chair, Linda Neeley, Class of 1965, followed by an invocation given by Dale Jackson, Class of 1971. Cindy Millican, Class of 1975 led the audience in the pledge of allegiance which was followed by the singing of America The Beautiful and the school song, Dear Carbon High, both led by Angie Bryant Clower, Class of 1965. Pat Jackson Sims, Class of 1957 accompanied on the piano. The Military veterans were recognized by Linda Neeley and Cindy Millican. Reba Campbell Reeves, Class of 1956, recognized the Carbon Volunteer Department for its part in fighting the wild fire that spread across the area on January 1, 2006. Carbon Teachers were acknowledged by Nancy Justice Naigle, Class of 1966, and those teachers present were presented with a coffee mug inscribed with “Carbon Wolverines.” Jerry Clower, Class of 1959, presided over the induction ceremony for the Class of 1960 into the Carbon Golden Exes. Jerry May responded on behalf of the class of 1960. Arleta Campbell Shirey, Class of 1935, was recognized as the student from the oldest class present. She shared with the audience her early days of school at Carbon. Brian Fortenberry, Class of 1983, took the honors for the student who traveled the farthest to attend. He lives in Vancouver, Washington, which is just over 1900 miles from Carbon. Addie Campbell Walker, Class of 1965, read the names of the classmates who died over the past five years and the program was closed with a benediction given by Dwaine Clower, Class of 1965. Following the program, the attendees adjourned
to the dining hall for a delicious meal catered by John Mayer and arranged by Mittie Rone Bledsoe, Class of 1959. The tables were beautifully decorated in the theme of “Memories in Pictures” by Mittie and her committee. Black table cloths draped the tables. The centerpieces consisted of vases filled with small tree branches painted white on which small senior photos were attached with black ribbon. These were interspersed with vases of white flowers. The military veterans were recognized. Each veteran present was “pinned” with a lapel pin representing the branch of the military in which he served. Reba Campbell Reeves gave a tribute to the members of the Carbon Volunteer Fire Department for their service to the community. The department was presented with a book filled with thank-you letters from the attendees. Seated behind Reba are Angie Bryant Clower, Cindy Millican and Nancy Justice Naigle. The teachers were honored by Nancy Naigle and those present were Opal Little, Martha Wood, Bill Sandlin, Doris Joiner, Becky Norris, Jill Freedman and Ken Norris, John Rodgers and Wanda Bryant. Wanda was the school secretary for 20 years. The Class of 1960 was inducted into the Carbon Golden Exes. In attendance were Delores Johnson Walker, Ann Stephenson May, Lorene Lewis, Colleen Campbell Lamb, Linda Johnson Sadler, Benny Frazier, Linda Eaves Lorance, Charles “Bo” Caraway, Jerry May, Charles Bryant and Kenneth Taylor. Arleta Campbell Shirey represented the Class of 1935, which was the oldest class represented at the reunion She will be recognized with a plaque in the Carbon Community Center. She was presented this honor by Linda Jackson Neeley, Chair of the reunion. Bryan Fortenberry, Class of 1983, traveled 1,913 miles from Vancouver, Washington, to attend the event and will be recognized with a plaque in the Carbon Community Center for his long journey back to Carbon High School. A special thanks to Eddie
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King, King Sign Company of Carbon, for contributing his time and materials to paint a new reunion banner. Another special thank you to Brookshire’s Grocery Store of Eastland, for contributing bottled water for the reunion attendees. I want to take this opportunity to extend my appreciation to all who worked to make the 2010 Carbon High School Reunion a success. It was good to see old friends again and to share stories of our exploits at Dear Old Carbon High. Editor’s Comments: This year was the first Carbon High School reunion that I have attended. I graduated from Carbon in 1988 and what struck me the most as soon as we passed the corner and the school came into view was the shear number of cars and trucks parked on the old school grounds. My daughter, to whom I was already recounting stories of my high school days when I was her age, noticed that I became speachless when we rounded the corner. My wife commented, “Oh my gosh!” and Sherrie took one look out at all the cars parked across the old baseball field and all along the rock wall and she questioned, “Dad, I thought you said this was a small school?” To which I replied, “It was always a small school, but it’s been here for a very long time.” Thank you, Linda!
The County Line Business & Community Journal ● P.O. Box 1156 ● Eastland, Texas 76448 ● http://www.mycounty-line.com
17Treasure Hunters ■
County Line Business & Community Journal ~ August, 2010 v3.39
, Jerry Eckhart
Treasures of Eastland County
Folks around Eastland County have called it. “The Gateway to The West” for years. Others place us in West Texas. Geographically, Eastland County lies more in North Central Texas than in West Texas. However, West Texas lies in the heart and minds of those who use the term rather than just being an area on a map. It was here that those hardy pioneers of the mid and late 1870’s left their eastern roots behind and struck out for the great, unknown West. There were miners surging for the goldfields of California, settlers intent upon the promise of new lands and entrepreneurs with an eye on a rich, unspoiled prairie with the treasures it might contain. All passed through this county we call home. Eastland County, with its small settlements of the time was the last symbol of civilization before the wide unknown. Even the railroads didn’t reach here until the 1880’s. Eastland County was a rich area, and many were willing to brave the dangers of Comanche and Kiowa in order to build cabins and plant crops. The fertile lands of Eastland County, when tamed by the plow yielded bumper crops. It was occasionally billed as the “Garden Spot of the West.” My great, great grandfather Beene was one of those pioneers who chose to bring his family to this untamed section. He came here before the Civil War, chose a spot about 12 miles northeast of Cisco, and settled in to raise kids and crops. Family legend says Beene selected a home in the middle of an oak grove where his cabin was hard to see by passing Indian bands. Indians were so populous in the county that Grandfather Beene used a bow rather than a gun to kill game in order to feed his family. Somehow, he survived, and his family grew. As the Indians thinned and drifted away, or were transplanted to Fort Sill in Oklahoma, other settlers moved in. At one time, homesteads dotted almost every quarter section except for that land claimed by large ranches. Little remains of these early pioneers except a few tumbled foundations and an occasional lone, stone chimney. There are also a few remains of buffalo hunters’ camps and forted places where the settlers gathered for mutual protection against Indian raids. As the county grew, the old places faded into the sand and rocks.
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Editor’s note: To see more of Jerry’s treasure finds, visit his Facebook profile. Just search Facebook for “Jerry Eckhart”
It is no wonder that searching for these little known areas with my metal detector has become a passion. Each time I locate one, I recover a piece of the past. I have searched around the area where my great, great grandfather settled and once recovered an Indian Head penny from a foundation site. That penny spoke volumes to me. I could imagine a child playing beneath the tree where I found it and losing it in the sand. He or she may have searched in vain for that coin which bought much more than a penny does now. An old buffalo hunter camp a few miles away gave up old cartridges and other artifacts of the 1870’s and 1880’s. Other abandoned homes gave up secrets until each brought a picture of their life to mind. These are not the only places in Eastland and surrounding counties that can be found. It seems that just about every quarter section of land contains an old, forgotten homesite. Long gone communities such as Union Center, Long Branch, Romney, and many others have their secrets yet to reveal. Indian camps are also scattered through the area. The Lela Latch Lloyd Memorial Museum in Cisco features many of the artifacts that have been donated by area residents, as well as some found by local metal detector users. One display features Spanish artifacts found within a 50 mile radius of Eastland County. There is another of Indian artifacts and several featuring tools used by our pioneer forefathers. We truly live in an historic area where past lives surround us. Each
long time resident has a story to tell, and most of them are just as exciting as those passed down through my family. It is our duty to record and save those stories so that we can pass them down to our children and grandchildren. Most are stories not recorded in history books but need to be saved anyway. Each of those old homesteads and battle sites need to be searched, the artifacts found need to be recorded and the stories included with them. That is something no one, not even archaeologists can do. Those of us who are directly associated with the stories must make the effort to salvage what personal history is available.. Genealogy is great, and it is important that we trace our ancestors. Most of us are not trained geneaologists, but we can record the stories of our ancestors. We can write down what we have learned from our parents and grandparents. If we cannot write well, we can make recordings of the tales and let someone else do the writing. The stories are just as important as a family tree. Each time I go to a place with my metal detector, I not only search for the lost artifacts, but search for the story connected with them. Only when we have saved the stories can we save this part of our past. I encourage every one to begin recording those stories as you remember them and pass them on. In doing so, you will be uncovering buried treasures of the best kind, right in your own family. It helps to have a metal detector to find the artifacts, but the real treasure lies in the story that goes with them. Editor’s Note: Jerry is conducting a “Night Hunt” this month as a way to bring people from all over Texas and surrounding states to participate in a fun, nighttime metal detecting challenge. I hope to bring you a report in next month’s issue detailing the outcome of the event. Please stay tuned...
The County Line Business & Community Journal ● P.O. Box 1156 ● Eastland, Texas 76448 ● http://www.mycounty-line.com
18Eastland Memorial Hospital Volunteers
County Line Business & Community Journal ~ August, 2010 v3.39
■
, Continued
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Door Prize Donors and other Sponsors continued: Diamondback Golf Course, Solar Nails, Pulidos, Eastland Co. Vet Clinic, Bealls, Great Times Furniture, Francie’s Fountain & Deli, Janie’s Beauty Salon, Kelly Davidson, Angelea Honea – Mane Street Salon, Higginbotham’s, Kathy Beggs – Cutters, White’s Ace Hardware, SunShine Shoppe, Andrea Watts, Vanessa – Mane Street Salon, Sandy Terrell
Thank You!
There are many ways to volunteer at the Eastland Memorial Hospital. You can work in the SunShine Gift Shoppe, help with fundraisers, work in various departments of the hospital, read to or visit with patients and the list goes on. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, please contact Rhonda ReevesDirector of Volunteers at 631-5350.
The County Line Business & Community Journal ● P.O. Box 1156 ● Eastland, Texas 76448 ● http://www.mycounty-line.com
19Out of the Past ■
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County Line Business & Community Journal ~ August, 2010 v3.39 , Luther & Pat Gohlke
Send comments to: thepast@mycounty-line.com
Newspapers
I never in all my life would believe that I would be writing a story about newspapers. This, as are all my spur of the moment explorations in short stories, is another true chapter in my life. This one goes back to the early 1940’s, Denison, Texas, 230 West Texas Street, a rented house, average or below, on the corner across the street from the Nazarene Church. It was a tumultuous time in history and a tumultuous time in our lives. World War II was in full force and heavy on our hearts and minds. We as a family and like all families of that era were patriotic and very much so. Pledge of Allegiance, prayer in school, fear of God and self-sacrifice were daily occurrences in our schools and homes. Respect of government, older people, soldiers and church were very much a way of life for us. We prayed every night for our armed forces, the allies and victory for freedoms sake. We were daily over shadowed by fear of the unknown relative to the war. Each man, woman and child did their part to help in the effort by buying saving stamps and bonds, saving tin foil, victory gardens and the like. Nothing was wasted, actually there was not much to waste. Our family, like most all families in our neighborhood, was of minimal to modest means. We may have been poor in physical things, but we were rich in spiritual values. Another rich quality of the people of this time was a work ethic you wouldn’t believe, whether you were young, middle aged or old. Being of German descent, my family was no exception. Seems as though I was born working and have never stopped. My brother Gene and I were depression babies and we knew the value of a dime. To keep us busy and out of trouble, my parents had endless chores for us. To make a few dollars and help the war effort we went from house to house collecting newspapers, tin cans, scrap iron, tin foil, but particularly old newspapers. Seems like every day, summer or winter we had a
wagon load of newspapers collected from the local neighborhood folks who were ready and willing to aid the war effort. One of us would pull the other would push that old wagon while holding those newspapers down so they wouldn’t slide off. Upon reaching home the newspapers were neatly bundled into stacks we could carry, tied with string and stored neatly under our house. Now our home was a pier and beam type foundation with a 3’ by 3’ scuttle hole in the rear. Just right for 2 young boys to crawl into and under and a great storage area for bundled newspapers. Then periodically on a Saturday we and our dad would load all these papers on a trailer and haul them down town Denison to an old man who would pay cash for them. Something like .20 cents per 100 lbs. I use this figure facetiously since I don’t remember the exact amount, but it was cheap and hard work. At that price, 2000 lbs would be $4.00, which was a lot for 2 young boys in 1942-43. Now the story takes a different twist. We had a best friend neighbor boy named Douglas Fletcher. He lived about ½ block away and we three played a lot together – peashooters, rubber guns, marbles, tree climbing or what ever. One summer it came over us that the place where the neatly stacked and tied newspapers were would be a good hide out, sort of like
a fort. This was a mistake. Our strong work ethic began to wax and waver. We wrestled, we fought battles, we threw newspapers, hid under them to a point of time when the hide out became a den of rowdiness – total havoc with newspapers scattered and wadded under that entire house. We had a ball – we loved it. Newspaper collecting became a thing of the past, war effort, what was that? Then one Saturday, a little free time on his hands, trailer hooked to the pickup and ready to haul a couple loads of bundled newspapers was, you guessed it, our dad. A day of reckoning had arrived. “OK boys, let’s go. Get those newspapers out,” he ordered like an army general. Gene and I stood silently staring at each other. What were we going to do? The second time our dad said, “Come on boys open up that trap door and lets get going.” This was a rarity for our dad to have to tell us to do something a second time. We couldn’t move, we were petrified in our tracks, our hearts beating fast, a feeling of thump, thump, thump in our throats. Finally when he opened the scuttle hole trap door the scene that unfolded under our house was total chaos. Thousands of pages of papers not
neatly bound, but in an array as if a tornado had just passed through. As I mentioned earlier in the story, World War II was in progress abroad and we knew it was about to break out in our back yard. Our dad, the general, did all the talking and gave all the orders to the two of us privates who were now slick sleeves. “I want you boys to get this mess straightened up and in order beginning now!!” We both took a nose dive to that scuttle hole barely clearing it and began folding and bundling and stacking about 3 weeks later with our friends help the job was complete and papers sold. We escaped a busting by a hair. We still had our hide out and we again began the arduous task of newspaper collecting, hauling and bundling. By the way, the hide out could have been appropriately called “Fort Neatly” because that’s the way it stayed. The message here is a good one. Our lives can be and often are the same way. You know the way, the scheme as well as I do. It’s like the parable of the sower or of the man who built his home on solid ground. A few very few keep their lives in order and accord with the Master. A lot of us may start off that way, but drift off with the ever present temptations and pleasures of this world. Many are like the prodigal son - wasted life on wine, women, high living and winding up in a pig pen or the gutter. Larry Gatlin has a song he wrote to this effect about how he was not satisfied with his earthly father’s ways, he even went so far as to forsake his heavenly Father. He like the prodical made a mess of his life and wound up,not in a “newspaper havoc” like us boys, but lower down in the pig pen or gutter. Then guess what - it finally comes to us. How? A prayer from a friend, a parent. The touch of an angel sent by God, a miracle from God Himself. We come to our senses - we get the ravelled “newspapers” of our lives sorted out and neatly rebundle all by God’s grace. Thank you God for a loving father giving loving commands to obey and not busting our seats as we deserved.
The County Line Business & Community Journal ● P.O. Box 1156 ● Eastland, Texas 76448 ● http://www.mycounty-line.com
20Out of the Box ■
County Line Business & Community Journal ~ August, 2010 v3.39 , Joellen Hodge
Send comments to: thebox@mycounty-line.com
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Summer Time and the Living is Sweaty!
Here we go into the third lap of summer. The month of August is breathing hot steam down our collars and I hope you are all ready. Get your fans ready and put on your shorts and sleeveless shirts. It’s gonna’ get hot and nasty our there. As a Texan, I take a lot of pride in many of our traditions and idiosyncrasies. Our food is some of the best in the world, and we have a knack for looking good in boots and a hat. Other people just look kind of dorky…like they won the hat at Six Flags pitching balls through a hoop. All said, I can do without the Texas version of August. It’s as close to being cooked alive as I will ever want to try. Best as we can figure, our ancestors must have shown up here in the spring or mid fall. You know when the trees are all pretty and the breeze plays with your hair. Little bunnies skipping around the meadows, dancing butterflies hanging around. Perfect place to put down stakes and raise a family. Then, along comes August, sooner or later, and those little bunnies are running around outside wearing fire retardant gear. The butterflies have melted and our people were too stressed to move. Actually, the horses refused to leave the barn. So, they had to stay here. That is why you and I call this place home. I have no reason to complain. We have ac in the house and lots of running water. Going outside becomes a taboo activity on my list. Kind of like eating grub
worms and taking up knife juggling. My preferred bustling about will be limited to sitting in front of the fan and drinking lemonade. I will take some time to admire how nice my boots and hat look….even if it’s to darned hot to wear anything else.
Ambers & Just Silver Bullet Guns
RETIREMENT SALE All items at Ambers Excluding Tyler Candles & Sterling Silver Prices being lowered each week Until all items are sold!
Just Silver Bullet Guns All Items Excluding Consignment Guns & Personal Collection
Marked Down!!! No Trades. Cash or Check Credit/Debit Cards plus 3%
Open Mon-Fri 10a ~ 5:20p Open Saturday 10a ~ 1p 113 West Main St - Eastland, Texas North Side of the Square
The Gorman Peanut Festival & 7th Annual Shin Oak Springs BBQ Cook-Off
Call before you come over and try to keep cool! In the meantime, yall’ go be nice to each other. If you have an idea about an article, e-mail me: johodge@bboxlady.com
Saturday, September 11th downtown Gorman “THEN. NOW. FOREVER.” BBQ contest will begin at 5:00 Friday evening before. A parade will kick off the festivities at 10:00 a.m. followed by a Tug-of-War Tournament between the local Fire Departments, car show, bake-off, 42-tournament, food and craft booths and entertainment all day long. Plans are pending for a Ranch Rodeo that will begin at 5:00 Saturday evening. Free street dance from about dark til’ it’s over. Anyone and everyone is welcome to attend. If you have any questions, please feel free to call the Gorman City Office at (254)734-2317 We hope to see ya’ there for a good time with good food and great company!!!!!
The County Line Business & Community Journal ● P.O. Box 1156 ● Eastland, Texas 76448 ● http://www.mycounty-line.com
21From The Backside ■
County Line Business & Community Journal ~ August, 2010 v3.39 , Henry J. Clevicepin
Send comments to: backside@mycounty-line.com
Naked Rain Dancin’ and Other Ways to Get Attention By Henry J. Clevicepin Collaborated by Nellie Frecklebelly and Agnes & Ophilia Fudpucker
Well, it got so hot and dry here in Buzzard’s Roost, my beer drinking buddy & mulebarn partner, Estee K. Bibbles and ol Nellie Frecklebelly got up on the hill behind the Buzzard’s Roost Bar & Grill and did a naked rain dance. Whew, what a sight. They was wiggling around all over the place. They both looked like they needed worming. I guess it brought tears to the rain Gods eyes cause the next day we got 2 inches of rain. Now ol Estee K. ,being the humorist that he is, told me a little story about an old cowboy that arrived up in heaven and Saint Peter met him at the Pearly Gates. Saint Peter welcomed him to heaven and ask the old cowboy if he had done anything of particular merit while on earth. The old cowboy said , “well I can shore think of one thing I did”. He went on to tell Saint Peter that he was driving up thru the Black Hills of South Dakota and ran upon a big biker gang assaulting this young lady. The old cowboy told Saint Peter “ I stopped and yelled at them bikers to stop and they didn’t pay any attention to me, so I went over to the biggest, most tattooed sucker in the bunch and slapped him right up beside the head. Then I kicked over his bike, pulled out his nose ring, threw it on the ground and told all of them if they didn’t quit, I was gonna kick their butt all over South Dakota. Now ol Saint Peter was quite impressed and he ask the old cowboy “when did this all happen?” The old cowboy looked at Saint Peter and said “about 2 minutes ago !!!!!!!!”. Now speaking of getting someone’s attention, come November we better get them yahoos in Washington’s attention. This ol economy ain’t getting any better, we still got almost 10% unemployment, 13 trillion in debt & they’re spending 1.5 trillion more each year then they got coming in. Now folks, when we run out of money we have to quit spending…….why don’t the government do the same thing. I heard a story about an old drunk that stumbled into church one From the Backside Sponsor
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time just as the preacher shouted out “the Lord giveth & the Lord taketh”…..the drunk hollered out, “I’ll kiss your butt if that ain’t a square deal !!!!” Well, our danged ol government is taking a lot more from us than it is giving out. I’m amazed at people who think government ought to pay for stuff….where in heck do they think the government gets their money. The government don’t have any income except what they steal from me and you. And now they want to raise the age on when you can draw Social Security again, up to age 70. Them sapsuckers already stole all our money out of that little pot. A lot of people won’t live to be 70 so the government gets to keep all the money they have put in for years….now that just flat ain’t right. Did you know if a 21 yr old put the same amount of money that he puts into Social Security, into an annuity earning just 6% he would have over 1 million when he retires and if he dies his family gets it? Now compare that to the governments little ponzi scheme !!!!! And now our illustrious First Lady is going to take the kids to Spain for a little vacation. Can you imagine what they will cost with all of the secret service and security that has to go along. She reserved 30 rooms over there in some fancy smancy hotel. Her room cost over $2000 a night. Has she not ever heard of Motel 6 where they leave the light on for you? I think their lights are all out !!!!!! Well, I’m gonna go down to the Buzzard’s Roost Bar & Grill and have a beer and see if ol Estee K. & Nellie Frecklebelly are doing any more dancing. They were talking about getting the Fudpucker sisters to dance with them this time….we may have a flood if they do that !!!!!!
■ Footnotes, Mike Norris
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While you’re out enjoying a scenic drive around the southern reaches of Eastland County, be sure to take a spin through downtown Rising Star. In fact, it’s going to be kind of hard to miss Rising Star since the center of the town lies at the intersection of Highway 36 and US Highway 183. Nancy Bostik, of the Rising Star EDC, encourages travelers to stop by. With so much traffic passing through town on a regular basis, the townsfolk try to be sure to cater to folks who are on the go. For example, Larry Hollis just recently reopened the downtown, full service gas and service station. Larry says that he and his brother ran the station several years ago until his brother past away. At that time, the station employed four full-time servicemen. For now, the station is ran by Larry and his righthand man, Gary. Larry handles parts and service and mechanic work, while Gary mans the gas pumps, sees to customer’s needs and helps Larry keep things moving. They are the only full-service station in town and eventually will be offering new tire sales and state inspections in addition to the general auto repair work they already provide. The station is open Monday through Friday, 7am to 5pm and on Saturday from 7am to 2pm. Larry also offers 24hr service via his cellphone (254)433-1172.
Words of Wisdom from Henry J : Nothing sucks more than that moment in an argument when you realize you are wrong !!!! You can email ol Henry J at : henryjclevicepin@aol.com From the Backside Sponsor
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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 ~ August, 2010 v3.39
ARNOLD LOCKSMITH SERVICE 24 Hour Emergency Service Exit 349 Ranger, TX (254)647-3800 Closed Tuesday’s Open 10am till 9pm Mon, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat Open 10am till 3pm Sun Brisket * Sausage * Chicken * Ribs * Daily Desert 6900 I-20 (West-Bound Side Access Rd)
254-442-1878 • 254-488-1935 1308 W. 14th St. • Cisco, Tx 76437 Certified/Insured
TX Lic B15738
The County Line Business & Community Journal ● P.O. Box 1156 ● Eastland, Texas 76448 ● http://www.mycounty-line.com
23@The Ranger Library ■
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County Line Business & Community Journal ~ August, 2010 v3.39 ■ Footnotes, Mike Norris
, Continued
who had very little and shared everything, and longed to have friends with whom to talk about babies and root rot. One day Mr. O’Grady, while digging the last potato, uncovers a pot buried beneath the soil, and then discovers that anything that falls INTO the pot will be replicated. The one potato became two, the one hairpin became two, the one gold coin became two (then four, then eight, then sixteen!), so…what would YOU do with a pot like that? This year’s overall Bluebonnet winner is Help Me, Mr. Mutt, and I listened to sisters Janet Stevens and Susan Stevens Crummel read this one in San Antonio at the Bluebonnet luncheon. We laughed until we nearly cried. The authors had their family at one of the luncheon tables and asked their retired military father to come up to the podium to wear “dog ears” and “bark” at the appropriate times—easy to see where these sisters get their good humor! Unfortunately, I wasn’t really thinking and checked our copy of this book out last Friday, otherwise, I’d have read this one on Tuesday—but not as well as the sisters and their dad! On Tuesday, Monday’s six participants turned into twelve. And they were WONDERFUL listeners. I brought an old oil-burning lamp to “illuminate” a time in America’s history when “The Pack Horse Library Project” was founded in the 1930s as part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Works Progress Administration in order to bring books to remote regions where there were few schools and no libraries. These
librarians would travel, by horse or by mule, the same arduous route every two weeks, carrying a load of books—in good weather and in bad. “That Book Woman” tells the story of Cal who lives high up in the Appalachian Mountains of Kentucky who is “not the readin’ type”. It’s a powerful and moving story, as well as an Accelerated Reader. Its reading level is 4th grade and it’s worth half a point on an AR test. It’s worth a whole lot more to me. Today, Wednesday, we had EIGHTEEN children. I read All Stations! Distress!, the story of April 15, 1912, the day that the Titanic sank. We made it through okay, but it was a challenging voyage with that many kids. Tomorrow’s book, God willing, is simpler—The Fantastic Undersea Life of Jacques Cousteau. Friday is undecided, a mystery. Plans are booming like a freight train in our quest to re-start our Roaring Ranger Day, September 18th. We need sponsors. Right now, our 501(c)3 is not complete, although it IS getting closer, so I’m only asking potential sponsors for $100 each. Next year, with our tax incentives in place, I’ll ask for more! (Doesn’t hurt to ask, or at least it’s not fatal!) Would YOU like to be a sponsor of our resurrected Roaring Ranger Day? There’s LOTS of ways to help Ranger! It’s late and I’ve got to go. Can’t keep Jacques Cousteau waiting in the morning! Take care, and as always…ENJOY READING!
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Cisco AARP Chapter 2447
4th Friday Night Musical 1007 Humble Ave Hillside Village Come join us for a night of fun & fellowship Greet old friends, meet some new friends, and listen to some Good Country & Gospel music. The doors open at 4:30 PM. We start serving at 5:00 PM. Music starts at 6:00 PM. Admission is free. The only cost is food & drinks. Our menu is Red Beans & Cornbread, or Sandwiches and assorted Deserts. The drinks are Coffee, Tea, Cokes, Dr Pepper, & Bottled Water. We hope to see you there! We are a Smoke free, Alcohol free, and Drug free establishment.
FOR SALE North Star Industrial Power Pressure Washer 110/220v, Diesel Burner $1,500 1993 Oldsmobile V6 Auto with 180k miles $1,000 See Larry Hollis Rising Star Service Station 109 E. College 254-643-0078
Angel Food Ministries Ordering Cut-Off Date Friday August 20th
You can now order online from our website: www.
angelfoodministries. com
Distribution Saturday August 28th
Call Ilene for more information (254)442-1969
Cisco AARP Chapter 2447
Regular Monthly Meeting Hillside Village Wheatley Community Center 1006 Humble Ave Come join us for a potluck supper. Drinks, paper plates, & cutlery are furnished by the Chapter. We eat at 6:00 PM. Come join us for Fun, Food & Fellowship. Followed by a brief business meeting We hope to see you there.
The County Line Business & Community Journal ● P.O. Box 1156 ● Eastland, Texas 76448 ● http://www.mycounty-line.com