The County Line - August 2011, v4i51 by MyCounty-Line.com

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Front Cover & Back Cover ~ Pictures from the Palo Pinto Fire earlier this year ~ mwnorris The County Line Business & Community Journal ● P.O. Box 1156 ● Eastland, Texas 76448 ● http://www.mycounty-line.com

Monthly Issue

AUGUST , In This Issue: Presidential Papers of Ronald Reagan

Growing Up Small Town by Mike W. Norris

Texas Conservative by Chuck Norris

@Ranger Library

by Diana McCullough

Good Neighbors by Clint Coffee

Special Feature ~ Dean Smith by Jeff Clark

Star Pride

by Ginger Tobin

Tumbleweed Smith by Bob Lewis

Love Lessons

by Vicki Stiefer

Treasure Hunters by Jerry Eckhart

The Breckenridge Wall Local Advertisers

Out of the Box

by Joellen Hodge

Rising Star Bulletin Board Local Advertisers

Ol’ Doc’s Homespun Yarns by Luther Gohlke

This Week In Texas History by Bartee Haile

From the Backside

by Henry J. Clevicepin

COUNTY LINE EXCLUSIVE

Cover photos on front and back cover are from Palo Pinto County after the April wildfires. ~mwnorris

2011

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Presidential Papers: Proclamation 5067 Captive Nations Week June 6, 1983 A Proclamation Twenty-rive years ago, the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights proclaimed that “all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.” This reaffirmed an eternal truth that Thomas Jefferson in 1776 wrote into our own Declaration of Independence. Another great thinker, Edmund Burke, observed simply that “the cause of Freedom is the cause of God.” Some twenty-five centuries before, the prophet Isaiah admonished the world “To bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives.” Free people, if they are to remain free, must defend the liberty of others. As the custodians of a democratic tradition firmly established on this continent more than two centuries ago, Americans are deeply committed to the goal of representative government everywhere. Each year, the United States reaffirms its commitment to the cause of liberty during Captive Nations Week, by reminding all those who are forced to live under the domination of foreign military power and alien ideology that the United States supports their aspirations for freedom, independence and national selfdetermination. The Congress, by a joint resolution approved July 17, 1959 (73 Stat. 212), has authorized and requested the President to proclaim the third week in July as Captive Nations Week. Now, Therefore, I, Ronald Reagan, President of the United States of America, do hereby designate the week beginning July 17, 1983, as Captive Nations Week. I invite the people of the United States to observe this week with appropriate ceremonies and activities and to reaffirm their dedication to the ideals of freedom, which unite us and inspire others. In Witness Whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 6th. day of June, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and eighty three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and seventh.

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RONALD REAGAN

Published by Mike W. Norris d.b.a. Wolverine Design ● P.O. Box 1156 ● Eastland, Texas 76448 ● http://www.mycounty-line.com

3Growing Up Small Town

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, Mike W. Norris

Fire Department Funding - Part 1 City of Eastland News Release, July 11th, 2011 I’ve spoken to a few people about the fire department funding issues around Eastland County and the topic deserves your attention. But it’s too much to cover in one issue, so I’ll take the time to bring it all to The County Line readers as best I can.

July 11th, 2011 - Easltland CITY OF EASTLAND CONCERNED OVER COUNTY FIRE SERVICE FUNDING “We are perplexed at the county’s attitude…” Still reeling from the death of Eastland firefighter Greg Simmons and injuries to Eastland and Gorman firemen while fighting the same fire that took Simmons’ life, the City of Eastland is concerned that Eastland County is refusing to pay for the city’s cost of providing emergency services to rural parts of the county. “The cost to the City of Eastland Fire Department for fighting rural fires and providing other rural emergency service so far this year is considerably in excess of $43,000”, said Eastland mayor, Mark Pipkin. “Considering we still have a quarter of our fiscal year to go smack in the middle of the worst drought in decades, our costs for providing this service will potentially exceed $57,000 by the year’s end. We have offered to continue to provide fire protection, medical responses outside our city limits, response to Interstate 20 wrecks, ice storms and such, next year for half our cost. Yet, Eastland County has set the amount they are willing to pay us at about a third of what it will cost us this year”, he added. Eastland County has a long history of inadequate payment for rural emergency service delivery. Since 2008 this subject has been a matter of intense communication between the City of Eastland and the county. The city’s primary request has been and continues to be that the county make emergency services a priority and to initiate pro-active financial planning to fund it. To date, the request for a proactive approach has fallen on deaf ears at the Eastland Courthouse. “Because the county refused to work with us on a long term solution, in October, 2009, we gave them our own financial timetable which contains a graduated payment scale. Our plan calls for a $30,000 payment for next fiscal year despite our costs far exceeding that amount. We wanted to give them plenty of notice so they could prepare financially. However, at the recent Commissioners Court budget hearing we were given what we interpret as a take it or leave it allocation of $20,000 for next year”, chimed in Larry Vernon, Eastland City Commission member. “We are perplexed at the county’s attitude. County Judge Rex Fields has on several occasions publically stated that based on advice from District Attorney Russ Thomason who also acts as county attorney, Eastland County has the legal responsibility to provide emergency services to the unincorporated part of the county. Yet, they balk when it comes time to properly fund them”, said City Commission member Richard Rossander. There are eight fire departments within Eastland County, each responding to fires and other emergencies via contracts with Eastland County. This year’s contracts allocate $20,000 per department. Following a stipulation in the current year’s contracts requiring the eight fire chiefs to make funding recommendations, the chiefs emphasized that emergency services should be considered a county financial priority and that each fire department should be allocated at least $20,000

for next year. There has been a question over the years of what it actually costs the Eastland Fire Department to provide rural emergency service. Addressing that challenge in 2009, Eastland Fire Chief Phillip Arther developed a rather sophisticated system, approved by County Judge Rex Fields, that accurately captures the major costs of all fire department activity including rural service delivery. “We took a conservative approach in building our cost accounting system. While it captures the major costs of providing service to the unincorporated part of the county, we intentionally structured it not to account for the full cost of doing so. That way, when we show that our costs to date exceed $43,000, our information is irrefutable”, said Chief Arther. Eastland County Commissioners have put forth more direct rural firefighting effort this year than in the past by deploying road graders and water trucks. During recent county budget discussions, there seems to have been an implication that this welcome shift in policy should help quell requests by the county fire departments for more funding. “All the county fire departments agree with us that the additional county assistance by non fire department personnel is helpful”, said City

Commissioner Jerry Mathews. “Welcome as it is, it does not help pay for our cost of providing that service. Non fire department personnel and equipment from the City of Eastland are often involved in assisting with emergency services too. For example, the city expended almost $6,500 of effort outside our fire department in the response to the fire that claimed Mr. Simmons life. Though real, we do not include these costs in our fire department accounting system”, he added. “An argument advanced by Eastland County is that they are paying more per capita for rural emergency services than other counties in the region and shouldn’t pay more. We find that reasoning irrelevant. We are focusing on what this service costs and are asking the county to pay its fair share. We have been beset by horrific fires, a major flood and major winter storms over the past few years and we, along with the other fire departments, have been there every time for our rural neighbors. We know they appreciate it and we want to continue to provide that service. It’s time for Eastland County to pay its proper share of the cost and to become proactive in finding a long term solution to this problem”, concluded City Commissioner Norm Owen. Part 2 Next Month Send Comments to: smalltown@mycounty-line.com

Published by Mike W. Norris d.b.a. Wolverine Design ● P.O. Box 1156 ● Eastland, Texas 76448 ● http://www.mycounty-line.com

4Texas Conservative

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, Chuck Norris - The Man

A Tragic Time In America By Chuck Norris

Tragically, on Aug. 6, 30 U.S. service members -- 22 of them belonging to the same elite unit that killed Osama bin Laden -- were killed when their CH-47 Chinook helicopter was shot down during fighting in Afghanistan, allegedly by the Taliban. This was the deadliest incident for U.S. forces in the 10-year war. During my two trips to Iraq, I had the honor of meeting many members of SEAL Team 6, and my brother Aaron is very close to many of them, as well. My wife, Gena, and I, along with my brother Aaron and his wife, Becki, send our deepest condolences and prayers to the families of these brave warriors. There are no words to describe the loss these families are facing, and they will need our greatest support, not only now but also in the future. Prior to those 30 additional U.S. deaths, CNSNews.com reported last week that at least 1,019 U.S. troops had died in and around Afghanistan since President Barack Obama’s inauguration on Jan. 20, 2009. What that means is at least 64 percent of U.S. military deaths in Afghanistan have occurred on Obama’s watch. A total of 1,618 deaths have occurred since Oct. 7, 2001, when U.S. forces were deployed to Afghanistan to expel the Taliban, who were harboring al-Qaida. In 2010, 497 American troops died in Afghanistan. Since January this year, 260 U.S. troops have been killed. In July alone, 32 U.S. troops died in Afghanistan. And already in August, 30 U.S. troops have sacrificed their lives. There have been at least 17 coalition and Afghan aircraft crashes in Afghanistan this year. Considering all these casualties of war, one seriously calls into question President Obama’s abilities as commander in chief and this December 2009 promise he made to the nation: “Taken together, these additional American and international troops will allow us to accelerate handing over responsibility to Afghan forces and allow us to begin the transfer of our forces out of Afghanistan in July of 2011.” Retired Gen. John Keane, former vice chief of staff of the Army, testified two weeks ago before the House Armed Services Committee, “The president’s recent drawdown decision of 33,000 troops no later than September 2012 has increased risk significantly and threatens overall mission success.” This past week, myriad people on Facebook talked about how music star Amy Winehouse and yesteryear’s Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and Jim Morrison made front-page news when they suffered drug-induced deaths at age 27. But service members Andrew Found, Daniel Prior, Martin Lamb, Steven Dunn and Graham Shaw -- all killed in action in Afghanistan -- didn’t make the front page when they died at 27. What many people value brings me back to the wisdom of 19thcentury Irish poet and dramatist Oscar Wilde, who said, “Nowadays people know the price of everything and the value of nothing.” Our sincerest gratitude is owed to those serving in the Middle East

and Afghanistan, those who have left family and friends to serve abroad. And the real heroes are those who sacrifice everything for the cause of freedom -- ours and others’. We also owe their families our greatest prayers. With the anniversary of 9/11 on the horizon, we all need to double our efforts to extend our gratitude to them. And don’t forget to thank military support groups, such as Give2TheTroops, which sends continual care packages to our service members abroad, and Blue Star Moms, which has posted banners in the hometowns of many of those who presently serve, for example, Gena’s nephew Andrew Cox, who is on his second tour in Iraq. No one likes war, least of all me. Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman was right; “war is hell.” But Thomas Jefferson was also right; “the tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time

with the blood of patriots and tyrants.” My mother, my younger brother Aaron and I do understand the pain of the families that bear the special grief of losing a loved one on the battlefield. My brother Wieland paid the ultimate price in Vietnam on June 3, 1970. I never will forget when I received the news. I miss him still, all the time. Wieland had a premonition when he was a teenager that he would not see his 28th year. A few months before his 27th birthday, he was killed. His death didn’t make front-page news, either, but his life always will be celebrated in the forefront of our hearts and memories. My brother fought a foreign war, as many of our service members do today. Despite the political chaos behind Vietnam, I refuse to believe that he died in vain. I also refuse to believe that

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 2011 CHUCK NORRIS - DISTRIBUTED BY CREATORS.COM - Reprinted under license by Mike Norris for The County Line. Published by Mike W. Norris d.b.a. Wolverine Design ● P.O. Box 1156 ● Eastland, Texas 76448 ● http://www.mycounty-line.com

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the thousands of valiant warriors who have given their lives in the Middle East did, as well. Their sacrifices bring reality to Jesus’ words: “Greater love has no one than this: that one lay down his life for his friends.” To all of our living service members, we salute you, pray for you and hope for your safe return. But if, by destiny, like my brother Wieland, you should breathe your last breath on the battlefield, rest assured that your sacrifice will not be in vain, for you will have purchased some aspect of someone’s future freedom. Your legacy will continue, and you never will be forgotten. Fight the good fight; keep the faith; and press on for the prize! August 2, 2011 Lead Obama Not Into Temptation

Last week, when President Barack Obama spoke to the National Council of La Raza, he said something that should alarm every American. He confessed that he’d like to “bypass Congress and change the laws” on his own. He added, “Believe me; the idea of doing things on my own is very tempting. I promise you.” He doesn’t need to promise us. We believe him, because we’ve been watching his rogue behavior since the moment he entered office. Way back in February 2010, even The New York Times unveiled his modus operandi, in its report “Obama Making Plans to Use Executive Power.” It summarized, “With much of his legislative agenda stalled in Congress, President Obama and his team are preparing an array of actions using his executive power to advance energy, environmental, fiscal and other domestic policy priorities.”

Obama’s unauthorized war in Libya was just one more wayward decision in a long line of executivepower-run-amok choices, taken despite the fact that top Pentagon lawyers considered his unilateral Libyan invasion to be illegal “hostilities.” And according to congressional testimony, his own lawyers in the Office of Legal Counsel were asked to soft-pedal their views so as to curb any further violation allegations. What alarms me is that these perversions of power are coming from not only the highest office in the land but also Obama’s advisers and team (including his lawyers). In his speech to the National Council of La Raza, the president also explained that he was taking his cues from others: “I know some people want me to bypass Congress and change the laws on my own.” Of course, Obama knew that to do so at the outset of the debt debates would have ensured his political downfall. On the other hand, swooping down in the last hour on Capitol Hill from 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. with his Democratic majority in the Senate to save the economy from hopeless partisan gridlock would surely put him on the front page of Savior Daily! Speaking of the press, what’s equally tragic is that the Obamamania media are jumping on the executive-power runaway express. Just this past Thursday, CNN’s website ran an article by Jack Balkin, a constitutional law expert at Yale, titled “3 ways Obama could bypass Congress.” (Do you think CNN would have extended the same clemency from Congress to former President George W. Bush?) As The New York Times reported at the beginning of last year, Obama’s exploits to bypass Congress are intended to “advance energy,

environmental, fiscal and other take care, that the laws be faithfully domestic policy priorities.” We now executed, follows out the strong can add America’s border problems injunctions of his oath of office, to those, as Obama also elaborated that he will ‘preserve, protect, and last week that the temptation to defend the Constitution.’ The great bypass Congress includes “not just object of the executive department immigration reform.” No wonder is to accomplish this purpose.” the crowd began to chant “Yes, we Wow, how Justice Story’s can!” (Tragically, it seems that too words fly in the face of President many citizens want a Führer more Obama’s thoughts about bypassing than they do a president.) Congress. Do we really want a power-hungry No wonder Thomas Jefferson rogue president who continually is passionately proclaimed: “I wish tempted to bypass Congress? Will it were possible to obtain a single we continue to allow unilateral amendment to our Constitution ... power to our president to follow his taking from the federal government own political whims and desires? the power of borrowing.” Do we want a supreme leader who God, lead Obama not into doingconstantly seeks ways to justify things-on-his-own temptation. dodging our bicameral government Send Comments to: -- the very checks and balances of chuck@mycounty-line.com our republic? When he avoids Congress, is he not also trampling on the Constitution and its mandates for separation of powers and teamwork among our three branches of government? Has the president Fun starts at 10 AM - Bring a lawn chair! forgotten his oath of office, “I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of president of the Art * Crafts * Games United States and will, Horseshoes * Washers to the best of my ability, Bounce Houses * Face Painting preserve, protect and defend the Constitution Bike Run * Car Show * 5K Run of the United States”? Mr. President, I strongly suggest you meditate upon the legal genius of Joseph Story, a justice of the U.S. Sponsored by: Ranger Citizens Task Force Supreme Court from www.RangerCitizensTaskForce.org 1811 to 1845 (appointed by President James Madison). Justice Story Call Diana McCullough @ the Ranger Library for details wrote: “The duty imposed 254-647-1880 upon (the president) to

Roaring Ranger Day!

September 17, 2011 Live Music All Day

Food Concessions Come Hungry!

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Published by Mike W. Norris d.b.a. Wolverine Design ● P.O. Box 1156 ● Eastland, Texas 76448 ● http://www.mycounty-line.com

7@The Ranger Library

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, Diana McCullough

Texas Summer Reading Program By Diana McCullough

What a great week! For a number of reasons, but mostly because this is the week of our Texas Summer Reading Club--“Dig Up a Good Book” is our theme and that is why the big shovel is the “centerpiece” amid our large display of new children’s books. Our library owns these 80 new books thanks to the Libri Foundation, Ranger’s 47 Club, the Warren Cozbys, and in memory of Aaryn Williams, Billie Dean Beck, and Helen Graham—I’ve reminded our young readers of our benefactors every day. Gratitude is a virtue. Other contributors to this year’s Texas Summer Reading Club are the Ranger Lions Club who donated $25, Lawrence Brothers IGA who donated 150 popsicles, Ranger Dairy Queen who donated 24 coupons for ice cream cones (their coupons say “Reading is cool…Just like DQ!), Boomtown Pizza for the pizza delivered on “Fraction Friday”, and to Bill and Sandi Herod for providing pool passes to the City Pool. Also due my appreciation are Irenee Shubert and Lisa Sisson, Ranger Citizen Task Force volunteers, who have helped out on the library side of the building while I have been reading to children in our Community Room. Monday was the first day of our Summer Reading Program. We had nine children—seven boys and two girls. We started with a simple book called The Night Worker where a young boy goes to work with his dad and sees all of the different machinery—like bulldozers and cranes, and the children listened attentively. THEN we read a more complex book called Living Sunlight, learning how we depend on sunshine and photosynthesis for oxygen and life. Planting marigold seeds in clear plastic cups was our act of faith, and I believe a few little sprouts are starting to emerge. Each day of our Summer Reading Club concludes with popsicles (thank you, IGA) and some of the children select library books to take home. Tuesday was especially fun. Our numbers doubled and we had 18 children present and two adults. We started with one of our new children’s math books: A Second is a Hiccup; then we progressed to two of my favorite books by Peter H. Reynolds: “The Dot” that we already owned, and “Ish”, one of our new books. Let me tell you a little about “Ish”: Ramon loved to draw. Anytime. Anything. Anywhere. It’s what makes him happy, until his older brother pokes fun of the picture he is drawing—a vase of flowers. Ramon crumples his artwork and loses interest in drawing…until in anger he chases his younger sister, Marisol, into her room and to his astonishment sees a whole gallery of his “crumpled artwork” taped to her bedroom walls. Marisol points to her favorite, and Ramon says “That was supposed to be a vase of flowers, but it doesn’t look like one.” Marisol exclaims, “Well, it looks vase-ISH!” Ramon looks more closely at his crumpled artwork and sees his drawings in a whole new way. “They do look …ish,” he says. Ramon starts to draw his ish feelings and his new attitude effects his writing too—“kind of poem-ish”, and in the end Ramon lives ishfully ever after. THEN our 18 children took blank papers and made their own “Ish” drawings. Keylie drew a mirror and wrote “Mirror-ish”, one boy drew a house and wrote “houseish”, and well, you get the gist. Their “Ish Artwork” is on proud display in our adjoining Community Room.

is needed—like a horn for Little Boy Blue. It’s a clever book. Another clever book followed it: Two Little Trains by Margaret Wise Brown and illustrated by Leo and Diane Dillon, and we have an autographed copy of this book at our house so I’m quite familiar with it. I’ll spare you the details, but you can come check it out! We finished up with Book Fiesta! A bilingual book by Pat Moya. We talked about the value and importance of books and reading and then each child colored their own Aladdin’s Lamp, part of this year’s Texas Reading Club’s clip-art. Tomorrow is quickly approaching, and here are my ideas: Patriotism and good citizenship. We already own two beautifully illustrated books that I like to sing: My Country, Tis of Thee and O Beautiful for Spacious Skies, then I plan to read one of our new books called “Nubs: The True Story of a Mutt, a Marine & a Miracle”, followed by Cookies: Bite-Size Life Lessons.

I’m planning on having a Math Day, emphasizing whole numbers then fractions—we’ve got some cute new books! Anita Squyres at Boomtown Pizza is delivering a pizza and I’ll bring my own pizza cutter. Cutting pizza is the tastiest way I know to illustrate fractions! Next week is the Texas Economic Development Summer Meeting in Abilene and I actually “won” my $200 registration when my name was drawn. Therefore…our library will need to close early on Wednesday for the Welcome Events, I’ve asked Bob Davis to sub for me on Thursday afternoon, and we’ll close the library on Friday. Please plan ahead—everyone needs a good book! I’ll close with a quote from the author of Harry Potter, J.K. Rowlings: “No story lives unless someone wants to listen.” Please take care, and as always…ENJOY READING!

We’ll finish up on Friday and

Today we had 22 children present. Because of yesterday’s fun with “Art” books, I started with The Neat Line: Scribbling through Mother Goose. “Once upon a time there was a scribble. The scribble was only a baby.” (Turn the page.) “But the scribble practiced and practiced and practiced…until one day it grew up to be a Neat Line.” Then the book proceeds with Mother Goose rhymes and the Neat Line saves the day by turning into whatever Send Comments to: rangerlibrary@mycounty-line.com

Published by Mike W. Norris d.b.a. Wolverine Design ● P.O. Box 1156 ● Eastland, Texas 76448 ● http://www.mycounty-line.com

8@The Ranger Library

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, Diana McCullough

From the Texas Economic Development, Summer Meeting Conference

Sometimes I wish I had a better memory, although some things are good to forget. Remembering what is good and right and important and forgetting meaningless slights and embarrassments. If I could remember all of the details and facts that I’ve heard in the past 30 hours, I’d be a GENIUS! But I’m not. I am writing from the MCM Elegante Suites in Abilene. Tonight I joined a bus load of Economic Development people and ate supper at Perini’s Ranch in nearby Buffalo Gap. We had a wonderful time. The Jim Sadler Band entertained us with mostly Country music. I invited the band to Roaring Ranger Day and they did NOT say, “No.” I sent live videos to several people and have Jim Sadler’s phone number entered into my phone, as well as Amber’s-the girlfriend of the guitarist.

Amber joined our table tonight, this exceptional night. We’ll see! I attended every possible session today and the Welcome Event last night-making friends with people from all over Texas. I’m real lucky to be here. One thing that slightly irks me is how much money is available in Texas for SOME projects--like 14,000,000,000 and a few million can’t be found for the nearly 500 public libraries in this great state of ours? I may be shy and hesitant at times, but I wasn’t on this subject. Carlton Schwab, president of the Texas Economic Development Council, agreed that the Economic Developers came out well this legislative session, better than the schools and the nursing homes. Chin up, I think. Surely worthy solutions will rise to the top. The second session of the morning pertained to wind energy, which was very interesting but also very technical. (Megawatts are over my IQ.) Some of my notes include these fun facts: those giant wind turbines in

■ Good

the wind farms are 300 feet tall--that’s as tall as a football field is long! No wonder they look so gigantic. Oncor is the largest distributor in Texas, with 15,000 miles of transmission lines. There are 18,000 pounds of tension on each wire. The new transmission poles are 125 feet tall, depending on the terrain. Helicopters are being used more and more to pull what they call rope and what I call wire. The poles without guy wires are called selfsupporting structures. Acronyms are common. Guess what BST stands for? “Big Steel Thing.” 850,000 pound transformers are manufactured in Austria and transported by ship, rail, and truck to their final destinations. The load is so heavy that the trucks have 130 tires and a driver in the front and a driver in the back. Water trucks disburse water ahead of the shipment to help the asphalt stay on the road. 64 more tires are added to create a dolly effect to cross county bridges, redistributing the weight of the load. Time and space will spare you the

sessions on solar energy, construction, and making our towns desirable for retirees. Lots of notes here! I whispered to the woman beside me, “I hope there won’t be a TEST.” How can this information help our town? I don’t know, but I think that it MIGHT. More important than the information are the CONTACTS. These friendly Texans share what they know and what works for them. I brought Thank You notes but I haven’t written a one. But I will! We now have several sponsors for Roaring Ranger Day and our Ranger Citizens Task Force will be inviting MORE participants. Vendors continue to turn in forms and money at the library. I’ve been distributing our flyers here--to the towns that are interested in helping us advertise. Please go to RangerCitizensTaskForce.org for more information or call our library. More classes in the morning! Please take care and as always...ENJOY READING!

Neighbors, Clint Coffee CLU ChFC State Farm Insurance® Agent

Don’t rely on others for your retirement Recent debates about Social Security and the increasing number of employers reducing or eliminating employee pensions have underscored the need for a sound retirement plan. Gone are the days when employees were guaranteed a percentage of their salaries once they leave a company. While Social Security may or may not change, it was never intended to be the sole source of retirement income. Retirement planning is something everyone needs regardless of their existing situations. If the current financial debates tell us anything it’s this: the only funding you can count on is that which you do yourself. Some of the options you have are individual retirement accounts (IRAs) or an employer-sponsored plan such as a 401(k). Contributions you make to a 401(k) can reduce your federal income tax burden and

the contribution limits are higher than those of an IRA. Plans are available for any size of business, be it a large corporation or a small mom and pop operation. Contributions to traditional IRAs may be income-tax deductible. While Roth IRA contributions are not deductible qualified distributions are received free from federal income taxes. An IRA is something you can set up with the help of a financial professional. There are a number of options available when choosing how you want to fund your IRA. No one can be sure what the future holds in store. Making preparations for a number of possibilities can begin with careful planning. You can start by contacting a financial professional to discuss your goals and how to reach them. Send Comments to: neighbors@mycounty-line.com

Published by Mike W. Norris d.b.a. Wolverine Design ● P.O. Box 1156 ● Eastland, Texas 76448 ● http://www.mycounty-line.com

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Published by Mike W. Norris d.b.a. Wolverine Design ● P.O. Box 1156 ● Eastland, Texas 76448 ● http://www.mycounty-line.com

10Special Feature ■

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, by Jeff Clark

The Dean Smith Story “I’ve had a lot of ups and downs,” Dean told me. “I’ve been slapped around pretty good a couple of times. I got out by pulling myself up, getting my butt back in gear.”

I met a man today who changed my life. Stuntman Dean Smith’s journey includes Olympic gold medals, John Wayne friendships and the love of a beautiful woman. But at his core, it is the man Dean Smith who got my attention. Dean was born in 1932 at Breckenridge, raised in Eliasville. He went to high school in Graham, the captain of his senior track team, state 100 yard dash champion and All-State half back. Offers flooded in from many colleges. Dean chose the University of Texas at Austin. Legendary UT coach Clyde Littlefield was a great sprint coach, was later Dean’s Olympic coach. Dean became All Southwest Conference 100 yard dash champ for 1953, 1954 and 1955. He was named All-American in 1952, 1954 and 1955. Dean won the 1952 Olympic 400 meter relay team gold medal in Helsinki,

Finland. I’m hitting about 25 percent of what’s on his resume. He was half back on the Southwest Conference Champion UT football team before playing briefly for the LA Rams. Dean left the Pittsburgh Steelers to enter motion pictures. To be a stuntman. To walk tall in Hollywood, working shoulder to shoulder with most of the greats. When I arrived at his ranch, one of two he has between Graham and Breckenridge, he was still five minutes from home. Surrounding me in his living room were photos with James Garner, Dale Robertson, Roy Rogers, John Wayne, Ben Johnson, Red Stegall and many others. Dean made ten movies with John Wayne. Dean’s many films include Auntie Mame, The Alamo, How the West Was Won, True Grit, Three Days of the Condor, The Birds, The Sting and the Cheyenne Social Club. He’s been directed by Steven Spielberg, Alfred Hitchcock, Otto Preminger, John Ford, Howard Hawks, Sydney Pollock and Blake Edwards. Dean’s TV career made stops on Gunsmoke, Maverick, Have Gun Will Travel, Mannix, Simon & Simon, Fantasy Island, Six Million Dollar Man, Ironsides and Walker-Texas Ranger. He’s a member of the Texas Sports Hall of Fame, Stuntman’s Hall of Fame, UT Hall of Fame, Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame and other awards word counts prevent me from including. To me, all those victories and that fairy tale life of his were just Dean getting warmed up. Dean was raised on this ranch as a kid. “I didn’t have a bicycle. I used to chase this old yellow mare on foot to keep her from going under that underpass, so I could catch and ride her.” Dean had a great career in the movies, but came home when the westerns started dying out. He’ll be 80 next January 15. He walked in, shook my hand with gusto. Dean is a weathered, strong strikingly handsome man with two sparkling clear eyes that focus in telling and listening to stories. “Hollywood’s a different place,” he

told me. “The reason I could handle everything out there, I was raised by a wonderful grandmother and grandfather. My mother died when I was two, so I lived with them. I loved my dad, but he had a bad drinking problem. It was a drain on me. Sports were my way out, not that I wanted to get off the farm, but it was my way to make something of myself.” Dean’s hard wrought youth bred discipline. “I was able to ride, run and jump with anyone in Hollywood.” His father’s alcoholism prevented Dean from having anything to do with liquor. “I was a good competitor. I had a winning spirit, a competitive heart. I had this reputation and every Saturday I had to put it on the line.” Continued on page 13...

280 ac.+/- 400 ac.+/- 393 ac.+/- 73 ac.+/- 93 ac.+/- 180 ac.+/- 15.91 ac.+/- 7.15 ac.+/- 115 ac.+/- 100 ac+/- 301 ac.+/- 105 ac.+/- 73 ac.+/-

Springs, tanks, house, $2,450/ac. woods, pasture, water Hunting, fishing, $2,450/ac. pasture woods Cowboy cattle ranch SOLD Eastland Co. Deer hunter’s dream, heavy $2,800/ac woods, tracks everywhere Native, hunting retreat SOLD Eastland Co. Wildlife galore, water, woods $2,450/ac. Trees, coop water, road 2 sides $2,451/ac. Road frontage on 2 sides, cut into $3,916/ac. homesites, city util Hunting hidaway– Eastland Co. SOLD Cattleman operation – Eastland Co. SOLD Cultivated/cattle spread SOLD Stephens Co. Improved Klein Grass – Stephens Co. SOLD Pasture with trailer – Stephens Co. SOLD

2 AMAZING LAKE LEON lakefront homes + prime treed builder lots. See pix on website. I-20 PAD SITES. Motel, restaurant, gas, liquor, office pad sites between Ft. Worth & Abilene. See website for land plan and more info.

BANK SAYS SELL! Truck wash with I-20 access. Bank will consider financing. See website. EXECUTIVE PARTY HOME on 5 acres. Updated with amazing designer interior. WOW pix on website. www.GoRangerRealty.com

Published by Mike W. Norris d.b.a. Wolverine Design ● P.O. Box 1156 ● Eastland, Texas 76448 ● http://www.mycounty-line.com

11Star Pride ■

www.MyCounty-Line.com ~ August Issue, 2011 v4.51 ~ www.facebook.com/MyCountyLine

, by Ginger Tobin Yards of the Month for July!

Star Pride is a group of local and area citizens who are committed to volunteering and working to improve Rising Star and make it a more beautiful and pleasant town in which to live. The wonderful support which local citizens have given Star Pride in its mission is greatly appreciated by members. Anyone who wishes to become a member is welcome to attend meetings which are usually held on the 2nd Tuesday of each month at the Rising Star Library at 4:00 p.m. By Ginger Tobin & Laura Quinn

Summertime in Texas is always a challenge in every area, but trying to maintain an eye-pleasing site in one’s yard has been a true struggle this year. “Star Pride”, an organization in Rising Star, began recognizing efforts of residents in that city beginning in May of this year. Nominations for yards which have “caught the eye” as one travels down the streets of the town are discussed among the judges, and three per month are selected as “Honor Yards”. A sign is placed in those yards for the month following their selection. The selections for the month of July are: James and Suzie Allen, 510 S. Main, Rising Star, TX. This residence just looks “cool” when one passes. Like a refreshing, and inviting place to stop and cool off on a hot day. Thank you Mr. and Mrs. Allen for the obvious time and effort we know you folks commit to keeping such a pleasant view for all to see. Betty Fisher and son Jim, 400 S. Anderson, Rising Star, TX. This corner lot has a well established yard, and no matter which direction one approaches this residence, one’s attention is drawn to it. Billy and Tricia Nall, 706 W. Austin, Rising Star, TX. This yard just makes one want to remove one’s shoes and run through the lush grass which surrounds the home. How do they manage such a green vision? Thanks to all the residents who provide such nice scenery to view. The list is still very long, and the decisions getting tougher, so please keep making it hard for the judges to choose! Entries for “MOST IMPROVED PROPERTY” are still available if a resident wants to be considered for this award. Please contact Barbara Medley at 254-643-1977; or Nancy Bostick at The Antique Mall 325203-0311, if you or someone you know is interested. Send Comments to: starpride@mycounty-line.com

Published by Mike W. Norris d.b.a. Wolverine Design ● P.O. Box 1156 ● Eastland, Texas 76448 ● http://www.mycounty-line.com

12Tumbleweed Smith

www.MyCounty-Line.com ~ August Issue, 2011 v4.51 ~ www.facebook.com/MyCountyLine

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, Bob Lewis

The Ponta Weather Station By Bob Lewis

Ponta is a small place northeast of Rusk in Cherokee county. It is pronounced Pon-TAY. It got its name because of its location where two bridges crossed Mud Creek. Leroy Sessions has a farm just outside Ponta and he says it used to be quite a place. “They tell me Ponta is the word for bridge in some language. We used to have lots of stores and stuff. Not much here now.” Leroy and his wife raise fruits and vegetables and sell them at a large, impressive shed on Highway 110 that is open every day except Thanksgiving and Christmas. The late fall and winter seasons are when he sells lots of greens and cracks pecans. He has two cracking machines. He says his hours are from can to can’t. “We get here early and leave late. On our farm we grow tomatoes, peas, beans, okra; okra is a big thing in the fall of the year. We grow lots of squash. Our Muscadine grapes come off in late August. You see all these trophies and blue ribbons here. I won ‘best tomato’ three years in a row at theTomatofest in Jacksonville.” His fruit and vegetable stand has become a popular stopping point for people passing by. Although it has been open only about ten years, it has become a landmark for folks from Rusk, Jacksonville and Tyler traveling on Highway 110. The locals enjoy it, too. Leroy smiles a lot and is a good host. “Just about every morning around here we have coffee and folks come by and visit. I enjoy that. If you don’t have time to enjoy yourself, you ought not to be here.” A sign near the highway on Leroy’s place carries the words PONTA WEATHER STATION. A rope hangs by the side of it. Leroy says it is guaranteed to be accurate in telling weather conditions. Leroy read the sign for me. “If the rope is wet, that means it’s raining. Dry rope means it’s fair. White rope means snow. Swinging rope means wind. Invisible rope means fog. If the rope is gone, there’s a thief in town.”

The sign is one of the most photographed items in East Texas. Leroy has a pea sheller that he bought from a retired farmer in Athens. People bring in peas by the bushel and the machine shells them. People pay five dollars a bushel to have their peas shelled “It’ll hold about two bushels at a time. Takes about five minutes to shell two bushels. It’d take all night for one person to shell a bushel of peas by hand. It’s not practical for people to own one of these things, so they just bring their peas down here and I shell them. I use the discarded hulls for mulch.” During the hot summer weather Leroy gets out in the field early, does some farming, then goes to his fruit and vegetable stand. He returns to the field about seven PM and works until dark. He’s had home gardens for years, then decided to build the shed and sell produce for extra money. A LIFETIME IN PICTON

Picton, a small village southeast of Sulphur Springs, must have had a shortage of creative thinkers when it came to naming the place. A committee was formed to pick a name and it came up with “Pick Town.” The Louisiana, Arkansas and Texas Railroad, which started the town, changed it to Picton. The Picton post office opened in 1881. The community thrived for years. In 1948 it had a ten-teacher school, three churches, two cotton gins, two banks, two garages, a blacksmith shop, a café, shoe shop, barbershop, tailor shop and eight stores. Pauline Hayden has lived in Picton all of her ninety-nine years. She spent some time in the cotton patch. “I started when I was five years old,” says Pauline. “Mother made me a cotton sack out of a flour sack. The cotton was as tall as I was and I’d stay out there all day picking cotton and putting it in that sack. I quit picking when I married.” In 1929, her daddy waited just a little too long to sell his cotton. “He always thought he’d get more if he’d keep it for a while. Daddy was

offered forty-two and forty-three cents a pound, but he wanted forty-five. But the buyers wouldn’t pay that. So he took his cotton to the cotton yard and it stayed there until Christmas. There was no money for Christmas, no money for taxes, so he had to sell his cotton, every bale, for five cents a pound.” Pauline walked two miles to school. At recess, she played softball. Her mother made the ball. “My mother saved all the twine she got from opening flour sacks and feed sacks. Then she would take a hickory nut and put it in the toe of one of Daddy’s old socks. She’d sew that nut in there and wind twine all around it. She’d let us take it to school so all of us could play with it. We’d wear it out in a day’s time nearly. Didn’t have a bat. We just used a plank.” Pauline taught third grade fiftynine years. She played piano or organ at her church for seventy-seven years and taught piano for fifty-four years. She was in school when World War One ended in 1918. “The teacher told us to get some of the cans we used as toys and some sticks. We had a parade through town and we banged on those cans and yelled THE WAR IS OVER, THE WAR IS OVER. Some people didn’t know it because we didn’t have news like we have today. After the parade, we were dismissed from school. “ Pauline remembers her aunt seeing her first car. “She and another lady were on the road in my aunt’s horse-drawn buggy. They heard a racket and wondered where it was coming from. The horse got scared and pulled the buggy down into a ditch. My aunt got out and was holding the horse’s reins when the car came into sight. The lady who was riding with my aunt said, ‘Ida, look. Yonder comes a buggy without a horse.’” Send Comments to: tumbleweed@mycounty-line.com

Published by Mike W. Norris d.b.a. Wolverine Design ● P.O. Box 1156 ● Eastland, Texas 76448 ● http://www.mycounty-line.com

13Special Feature ■

www.MyCounty-Line.com ~ August Issue, 2011 v4.51 ~ www.facebook.com/MyCountyLine

, by Jeff Clark

Dean’s voice turns serious. “Alcohol or drugs will never ruin me. This bone marrow cancer has been trying to kill me, but I’ve been beating that. My biggest thing now is to see my little son Finis go through these next six years through high school, then college. I’ve done about everything a man can do.” He looked toward the window. “We sure need a rain.” I ask about the great men he’s worked with. “I’ve had so many inspirations. Jim Garner, Bob Mathias, John Wayne, Ben Johnson, Dale Robertson. It seemed like I had a whole parcel of guys from Oklahoma. My mother’s buried up there. I’ve always been close to everybody.” Dean wanted to act more, but his stunt abilities kept him too busy with TV series and movies. “I was more in demand making somebody else look good, than them giving me the chance to run with the ball acting.” He’s had some really good roles. “I believe I will still get some good parts. I can’t run and jump over a six foot fence like I used to, but I might be able to fool you playing some little part.” I haven’t done the math, least not exactly. That would be impolite between new friends. But the almost 80-year-old force of nature sitting across from me has a gorgeous young wife. Their son together is only 12. I’m impressed. I’m hopeful. “I’ve had a lot of ups and downs,” Dean told me. “I’ve been slapped around pretty good a couple of times. I got out by pulling myself up, getting my butt

back in gear.” Pay attention. Here it comes. “One thing about running a race, if you’re running a short race, you can’t look around. You look back too long, you’re going to lose. You always look up front, look forward.” Dean rides and ropes still. He’d like to be able to run more, but his bone marrow cancer creates circulation issues in his legs. “I lifted weights yesterday. I love the running, but I’ll let little Finis do that. He’ll be 13 on December 7. Swell little boy. Debby is the delight of my life, a country girl like I’m a country boy. The Lord works in mysterious ways. As many things as I’ve had go wrong, you just got to keep working through it, like you’re going through a maze. You’ve got to keep looking forward, see where your path is.” Dean’s not known as an actor. “I came in as a cowboy, a stuntman, doing falls and fights. It’s harder to make one line of dialogue work. The most important thing in acting is listening. If you listen to someone, you know what to do. With stunts, I had to pay attention or I could’ve gotten killed. I did that for 40-something years.” Dean was doing stunts after he was 60. “I was the kind of guy people thought should be able to run and jump over a horse, that I should be in the same shape as when I was young. They always expect you to be what you were in the beginning. I’ve kept myself in pretty good shape.” I ask about Finis. I ask about cancer. “If you don’t have discipline and you don’t have a spirit, you’re done. You’ve got to believe in the Lord. The kindred spirit is so important. Debby and little Finis keep me going. I have good doctors there in Ft. Worth. I want to live. I’m not ready to go. Just let me wait a little while, because I don’t have it all in there yet.” He looked toward the back door. “I love this farm.” Near the end of our time together, he said “I think I’ve pretty well done what I was supposed to have done. I don’t have any weevils in my wheat.” Dean’s not ready to ride off into the sunset. “I thought I was there a time or two. I’ve had horrible injuries and yet God has let me eke it out. I want to keep this farm in shape and to help Finis. You learn as you go along how to be a good family man. It hasn’t been all autographs and sunglasses.” Dean’s younger son is much in his thoughts. “I want Finis to live a good life, excel, don’t be lazy, have goals in his

life. Just don’t be satisfied with skipping by. Running gave me an inspiration to be somebody. When I thought I was somebody, I could channel that into being anything. I want him to have something like that. Every father wants his child to follow in his footsteps, would like him to win races. You better get a jump ahead and don’t look back. You can’t let somebody get a step on you and expect to win.” We dig through boxes in his back

bedroom looking for photos, cutting up like little kids. How did Dean Smith change my life? He looked at me, an old cardboard box on his lap. We’d talked about important things that aren’t in this story. He looked squarely at me and said, “You know, you don’t win the race worrying about other people, by looking around. You look toward the end, the ribbon. Never take your eyes off that.” Jeff may be reached at jeffclarktexas@gmail.com

Published by Mike W. Norris d.b.a. Wolverine Design ● P.O. Box 1156 ● Eastland, Texas 76448 ● http://www.mycounty-line.com

14Love Lessons Learned So Far

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, Vicki Stiefer

How to Spot the Good Man Under the Bad Habits By Vicki Stiefer

You’ve got a man, and you love him, but you don’t love the dirty clothes he leaves on the floor. Maybe he refuses to put his dishes in the dishwasher or fails to take out the trash, even if it is sitting on the porch. I was shocked the first time I watched my husband walk past a full trashcan. Why didn’t he bag it up and put a new liner in there? Can’t he see it’s full? The truth is he CAN see that it’s full, but it’s not a priority to him at that moment. Men are simple creatures. Full belly, roof over the head, etc…and they are pretty much happy. He’s not a dead beat when he walks past the over flowing trash can. From one controlling wife to another, I had to learn that men work on their own timeline. I know your timeline has gotten you through many a hard time and kept the exact number of clean underwear necessary in your dresser drawer at all times, but men don’t have a lot of choices in life. Think about it. They can basically work or go to jail. Maybe they choose the American dream, but who pays for it? Yes, women work, but some still deal with the glass ceiling and that’s tough. My Mom only made about half what her male peers made doing the same job back in the 80’s. Women have a lot of choices. They can work or stay at home or do both whether they have kids or not. So a man stays primarily focused on bringing home the bacon. When he does get home, the first thing he’s not thinking about is the trash or any other chore you see needs to get done. I am by no means telling you to let your man come home and veg-out on the couch because he brought home the bacon today. There’s a difference between blatantly ignoring household chores and a difference of opinion. So do that chore yourself or learn how to fit it in to his timeline. How about asking? Patience is a must! It drove me bonkers to let the trash build up for even a day. I want that mess taken out every single day, but not my man. He would rather take it out when the bag has reached maximum capacity. I would put that in quotes, but he would kill me for exposing his secret. Is it an excuse? Maybe, but so what if it is? Life is too short to argue about the little things. Pick your battles and learn to let things go. I know I’m asking a lot. I struggle with this every single day. Men and women are so very beautiful together when things work out. They dance this amazing choreography together and they are the only two people in the world who hear the music. Have you ever noticed the older couple sitting down to a meal and they don’t

really speak at all. If you watch them, though, they dance out the choreography. He passes her the salt shaker while she hands him a napkin. After that first bite she instinctively knows he needs the ketchup and he passes the creamer for her coffee because he knows she takes 3 instead of 4. It’s about being together and just knowing the other person. Take a minute and reflect on why you got married. There’s more to marriage than nit-picky do this and do that. Things will get done eventually and they don’t have to be done the second you see that they need to be done. You are a lucky woman if you have a good man and the only thing you can find wrong with him is his lack of organization and his uncanny ability to memorize sports stats but forget your birthday. He

comes home to you every night and that says a lot about him. He’s faithful, loyal and isn’t that one of the main reasons you married him? Not to mention that he made you laugh and he liked the way you smiled? You can admit it. I bet he still loves those things about you. So give your big strong man a break. He’s got his own timeline and it’s not wrong, it’s just different than yours. It’s worth sitting down to discover. Send Comments to: lovelessons@mycounty-line.com

Published by Mike W. Norris d.b.a. Wolverine Design ● P.O. Box 1156 ● Eastland, Texas 76448 ● http://www.mycounty-line.com

15Treasure Hunters ■

www.MyCounty-Line.com ~ August Issue, 2011 v4.51 ~ www.facebook.com/MyCountyLine

, Jerry Eckhart

The Dancing Skeletons By Jerry Eckhart To see more of Jerry’s treasure finds, search Facebook for “Jerry Eckhart”

Almost everyone likes a ghost story, but when that ghost story is associated with lost treasure it becomes doubly interesting. J. Frank Dobie reported a number of ghostly lost treasure stories in his books on Texas. He made no claims as to their truthfulness, but reported them as interesting folklore. The following story does not come from J. Frank Dobie, but from a reputable news source, The Cisco Roundup, May 2, 1913. When I first read the story, I was interested, but could find no association with lost treasure, until several old timers made mention of it. Here it is, as I originally wrote it in my book, “Seven Years With A Ghost.” The headline: “Human Skeletons Unearthed” Cisco Roundup May 2, 1913 “W. H. Mangum and sons ,who live on the H. P. Brelsford place about one and a half or two miles northwest of town, found seven skeletons Tuesday of this week. They were buried under a big rock and from the position in which they were laying when found they had been piled in most any way. They all looked to have been grown people except one, which showed to have been a child about 6 or 7 years old. Two of the larger ones showed to have been of very old people and the skulls were a very peculiar shape. The bones of the largest skeleton showed him to have been a man about seven feet tall. (Some think they were white people, others think they were Indians. It is near the old Fort Griffin Trail) Old settlers who have lived here half a century have no recollection of such an incident. There was nothing found with them or anything to tell how they died, except one flint arrowhead and a piece of another. A Mexican named Ernest, who lives on the place and who found the first skull, tells how he came upon the rock. The large rocks were on a hill overlooking the field where he was working. He saw a man and woman thinly clad jumping from rock to rock. They made signs to each other. He took his dogs to where they were, but they disappeared. While looking for their tracks, he found the skull.” That is the end of the newspaper account, however the mention of the man and woman jumping from rock to rock eventually transformed to skeletons dancing on the rocks. The treasure end of the story came about through speculation that the people were travelers who had been murdered as they traveled the Fort Griffin Trail. It was common practice for travelers to bury their money when they arrived at their night time campsite, then dig it up the next morning before moving on. Speculation is that these travelers were murdered without revealing their treasure site. These stories are not uncommon because incidents such as this happened frequently along all trails leading west during the early days. A number of caches have been found along the westward trails in the past.

This story has two other interesting side notes. About this same time, an old man came from Mexico with a map which showed treasure buried a few miles south of the location. He searched for several months and then disappeared, leaving a number of deep, unfilled holes behind. In this same general area, a farmer plowing his field came across a large oblong boulder. When he got down from his tractor to move it, he discovered that it was a crudely carved head that resembled Mexican Olmec carvings. He later gave this to a local man who graciously loaned it to the Lela Lloyd Museum in Cisco. It is on display at the museum. Remains of humans over seven feet tall are not uncommon in West Texas.

During the 1950’s, a couple from north of Abilene were climbing the Double Mountains near Aspermont. Near the top, they found and entered a cave. Inside, they saw three bodies, all over seven feet tall. They were wrapped in animal skins and almost perfectly mummified. They were identified as being two men and one woman. Although they reported the find to one of the colleges, as far as I know, the remains were never investigated nor removed. There are many such strange stories in West Texas, but perhaps this is one of the strangest of all. Be careful when you are roaming around northwest of Cisco. You might run on to the Dancing Skeletons. Send Comments to: treasure@mycounty-line.com

Published by Mike W. Norris d.b.a. Wolverine Design ● P.O. Box 1156 ● Eastland, Texas 76448 ● http://www.mycounty-line.com

www.MyCounty-Line.com ~ August Issue, 2011 v4.51 ~ www.facebook.com/MyCountyLine

If you do business in Breckenridge, contact The County Line to advertise here for an unbeatable low, monthly cost!

Published by Mike W. Norris d.b.a. Wolverine Design ● P.O. Box 1156 ● Eastland, Texas 76448 ● http://www.mycounty-line.com

www.MyCounty-Line.com ~ August Issue, 2011 v4.51 ~ www.facebook.com/MyCountyLine

Angel Food Ministries Ordering Cut-Off Date Friday August 19th

Go online to Order: www.angelfoodministries.com ***Check the Online Specials***

Distribution Saturday August 27th7:00-7:30 AM at FBC Activity Bldg. W. 8th. and Ave. E.

Rising Star Trade Days April through October 4th Weekend each month Call 254-643-1611 for details

Business For Sale

Established downtown bookstore and gift shop with complete inventory, display shelves and cases. Turn-key. I’m ready for retirement and would like to see someone continue this enjoyable and social business. Call for details: (254)559-2770

In Ranger at COGOP church. Food is for anyone who wants to order. Food Stamps questions, call Ilene. Call Ilene for more information

(254)442-1969

Published by Mike W. Norris d.b.a. Wolverine Design ● P.O. Box 1156 ● Eastland, Texas 76448 ● http://www.mycounty-line.com

18Out of the Box ■

www.MyCounty-Line.com ~ August Issue, 2011 v4.51 ~ www.facebook.com/MyCountyLine , Joellen Hodge

Eating Rich By Joellen Hodge

Just a thought... Lately, we have all seen prices at the grocery store get higher and higher...the price of gasoline goes up and down like a roller coaster at one of those super amusement parks none of us can afford to go to any more. I know dozens of people out of work or working at jobs below their educational/skill levels. It is ugly out there. The only things that seems to be growing in this country are our waistlines and the amount of reality shows on television. In my opinion and with a nod of thanks to Jonathan Swift, there may be a way to decrease our rampant obesity while decreasing the number of people “starring” in the “reality” genre. We could eat them. I mean cook them down and stir in a bit of onion in a big community pot in every neighborhood in the country. Add some carrots and a bit of garlic for flavor and crunch. I happen to like a bit of rice or pasta as well, but barley can be nice, too. Think about it...get past the ‘OMG, SHE IS TALKING ABOUT CANABILISM!” These people are really taking up way too much of the time and thought process of the so-called American Culture. They are on magazine covers, making the headlines on television news programs, and hawking products all over the place. Without any real talent or other redeeming factors, they have become celebrities. Look at the “Real Housewives,” “Jersey Shore,” “The Bachelorette,” “Teen Mom” and the list goes on and on. What exactly do these people add to the world? They may be perfectly nice people in their real reality. Unfortunately, what we see after the editing, producing and directing is something akin to a family reunion of junkies and drunks in the third day of captivity. They become so numb to the idea that we are watching, it no longer seems necessary to hide the warts and itchy parts from the world. If all these reality “stars” knew they would be the major part of a communal stew supper, they would never sign up for the shows in the first place. Chances are, they would, instead, shut their mouths and try to be a little more concerned about keeping their personal business out of the limelight they so desperately seem to grovel and emote to capture. Now...I have not forgotten about our fat butts, widening waistlines and ever expanding tummies that I mentioned a few paragraphs ago. By eating the “celebrities” we are all going to lose weight. Look at them... save for a few; they are all pretty skinny people. You watch and wonder if some of them ever quit drinking long enough to get a bite to eat. The only weight on some of those bodies is found evenly divided between their livers and breasts. They would all probably taste like an expensive bottle of some wine that costs more than a week of substitute teaching could ever put into your pocket. So, because of their small size, they will certainly not put much weight on us...and we have established that by eating them, we could take off

some of the pressure of high food prices and hopefully turn to higher forms of entertainment...like talking to each other or reading a book. Maybe we can clean up our nasty and cluttered houses before a camera crew shows up to chronicle obscure mental problems that only exist for lazy people with way too much time and money on their hands.

If we get too skinny...we always have politicians and television preachers. They certainly seem to be full of themselves and look well fed. Oh, well...I told you it would all change. Yall’ go be nice to each otherSend Comments to: outofthebox@mycounty-line.com

Published by Mike W. Norris d.b.a. Wolverine Design ● P.O. Box 1156 ● Eastland, Texas 76448 ● http://www.mycounty-line.com

20Ol’ Doc’s Homespun Yarns

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, Luther & Pat Gohlke

Some Memorie of Denison Schools From 1939 to 1951 By Luther Gohlke

The Denison, Texas school system was a good one, much better then average. We were fortunate as students in the forties and fifties to have teachers of such good caliber. I say this not to belittle the system before and after my tour of duty in the Denison Public school system (19391951). I am therefore relating my remarks to this time period, leaving the other time periods to those students who actually witnessed them. Teachers were in control aided by parents who backed them up. Students were in school to learn and stay out of trouble. Most parents of this era, including my own had little education and were quite anxious to see their children obtain an education. So, if I got in trouble at school, a greater and harsher problem was waiting for me at home. My parents made this abundantly clear. This was a blessed time for educators. I know that teacher salaries were low. I also know that most of the ones I had were very dedicated to the profession. The “board of education” could be used by teachers for unruly students. One reason for few discipline problems, another was being expelled for a period of time, and finally most of us as students did not want to let our parents down. Family and Christian values were foremost in our young lives.

my knuckles rapped with a ruler by by a 4 foot 1X4 with a 10” handle Ms. Cornell. It was just a spit ball and 3 or 4 holes in the end of it. The usual 2 or3 trouble makers made incident and a tattle-tail. their mistake about 3 days later. In Mr. Taylor was an excellent grade front of the whole class, ankles held school principal. He was always in tight as they bent over, tight jeans control, very respected by students across their rears, three licks for and colleagues. A disciplinarian each with a snap you could hear a with good judgment and fair half a block away. Men didn’t cry minded. We all respected the back in those days, but tears were wrath of his “board of education” running down their faces. There as students. Discipline problems were no more discipline problems for the rest of the year. were few if any. High school teachers were of the same caliber as the grade school teachers. I can’t think of a bad one. They too, were in control of the student body backed by parents.

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I will mention a few who for me At Peabody grade school I can still remember some of my teachers: really stood out but reaped little Miss Berry, 1st grade, Ms Rhodes 3rd grade, Ms Hersinger 5th grade, Ms. acclaim. Cornell 7th grade, Mr. Redwine 8th grade and Mr. Taylor principal. Mr. McDaniel was superintendent They were all compassionate, caring and excellent teachers. Mr. of schools in Denison, Texas Redwine was my favorite because he was interested in boy’s sports and during my era. He seemed to have really helped shape my life. He was not a coach by training, just an a handle on the system, a man of ordinary person with common sense and a caring and positive attitude. good reputation. By the way, I got no licks in grade school or high school. I did get

I’ll start with Concey Woods my freshman wood shop teacher. I well remember the 1st day in his shop class. There were about 20 of us boys present. He began by outlining each of our responsibilities when we came in. Each student had a nice, work table with a vise. We were informed to check the work list for each day. Some students would be responsible for clean up, some tool room, some for the glue-pot, and so forth. We were to use hand tools only, there was to be no horsing around. This was a dangerous place to work. His instructions were to be backed up

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Published by Mike W. Norris d.b.a. Wolverine Design ● P.O. Box 1156 ● Eastland, Texas 76448 ● http://www.mycounty-line.com

21This Week In Texas History

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, by Bartee Haile

Sam Houston Was a Tough Act For Son, Temple, To Follow By Bartee Haile

Paralyzed and partially blind, Temple Lea Houston spent his fortyfifth birthday on Aug. 12, 1905 waiting for death to put an end to his suffering. Sam Houston was 67 years old and fighting a losing battle to keep Texas in the Union, when his eighth and last child (and the first born in the governor’s mansion) came into the world. Driven from office by the secessionists seven months later, the hero of San Jacinto did not live to celebrate his son’s third birthday. Practically full grown at age 12, Temple left his sister’s home at Georgetown to roam the range from the Mississippi to the Rockies. At New Orleans in 1874, an influential friend of the deceased General took the young wanderer under his wing, pulled a few important strings and secured his appointment as a page in the United States Senate. The Washington experience kindled in the footloose teenager a burning desire for knowledge. Temple returned to Texas to enroll in the new Agricultural and Mechanical College and later finished law school at Baylor University in a whirlwind nine months. In less than two years of private practice, the legal whiz kid so impressed Brazoria County voters they elected him district attorney. But Temple soon answered a higher calling, an 1882 plea from Gov. Oran Roberts to serve as the Panhandle’s first prosecutor. On the rough and ready frontier, a fast gun was as much a requirement as a law book. In a shooting contest that may be more fiction than fact, Temple supposedly put Bat Masterson and Billy the Kid to shame. At 20 paces he perforated the tiny tin star on a plug of tobacco tossed high in the air by Masterson. The Kid conceded defeat with a shrug and asked, “Who could do better?” Panhandle voters sent Temple to Austin in January 1885. With his shoulder-length hair and flamboyant attire, he cut a colorful figure in the state senate. Three years later at the dedication ceremonies for the new capitol, Temple lived up to his growing reputation as the finest orator in the Lone Star State. His memorable remarks were hailed in the press as “an able and worthy address from the worthy son of a most distinguished sire.” The stirring speech accelerated a drive to draft the 28 year old

spellbinder for a U.S. Senate seat. To an audience of enthusiastic supporters, Temple expressed doubts of his ability to win a statewide contest. In a clumsy attempt to boost his confidence, an overzealous partisan blurted out, “Just stand on your father’s name and you will win.” Outraged by the suggestion that he ride the coattails of his immortal parent, Temple retorted, “A man is only what he makes himself!” He stormed out of the meeting and refused to make the Senate race. However, he did ignore his own advice to run for attorney general and lost the statewide election. Temple often declared, “I care not to stand in the light of reflected glory. Every tub must stand on its own bottom.” This gnawing need to escape Sam Houston’s giant shadow led him to abandon Texas for Oklahoma in 1894. Hanging out his shingle in the town of Woodward, the fiery barrister crossed swords with the Jennings clan, a father judge and four lawyer sons. The dispute finally came to a violent head in October 1898. During a debate at the bench over a point of law, Ed Jennings suddenly lunged for Temple’s throat. Guns were drawn, but a quick adjournment averted bloodshed. The showdown was merely postponed until that night in the Cabinet Saloon. Temple and a companion shot it out with Ed and John Jennings, killing one and seriously wounding the other. Temple’s arrest for murder

provoked a storm of irate letters and telegrams from the southern side of the Red River, but the subsequent trial appeased angry Texans. Eyewitnesses testified the victim was accidentally slain by his own panic-stricken sibling, and a sympathetic jury found Temple not guilty. Known far and wide for his wry sense of humor, Temple sometimes went to hilarious extremes. As he headed for an adjoining room to confer with an accused horse thief, the prosecutor joked, “Give him your best possible advice.” When the pair failed to return, the curious district attorney found Temple sitting alone in front of an open window. Pressed for an explanation, he slyly replied, “Well, after hearing his story, I did as you told me and gave him my best advice.” Temple contracted Saint Anthony’s fire, an incapacitating disease that eventually left him completely paralyzed and nearly robbed him of his sight. In August 1905 three days after he turned 45, a brain hemorrhage mercifully ended months of bedridden agony. The Dallas Times Herald criticized the illustrious native son for moving to Oklahoma, an unpardonable sin for which he never asked forgiveness. Worse yet in the eyes of most Texans, Temple failed to live up to his vast potential. As the Big D editor put it, “A chip off the old block, he had great gifts and strong passions. The gods were kind to him -- he was not kind to himself.” Send Comments to: texashistory@mycounty-line.com

Bartee Haile lives in Friendswood, TX and is the author of one of the most long established Texas History newspaper columns in the state. Column collections available at twith.com or request list from Bartee Haile, P.O. Box 152, Friendswood, TX 7754

Published by Mike W. Norris d.b.a. Wolverine Design ● P.O. Box 1156 ● Eastland, Texas 76448 ● http://www.mycounty-line.com

www.MyCounty-Line.com ~ August Issue, 2011 v4.51 ~ www.facebook.com/MyCountyLine

Published by Mike W. Norris d.b.a. Wolverine Design ● P.O. Box 1156 ● Eastland, Texas 76448 ● http://www.mycounty-line.com

23From The Backside

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, Henry J. Clevicepin

Little Johnny, A Dead Mule & Idiots In Washington By Henry J. Clevicepin Collaborated by Nellie Frecklebelly and Agnes & Ophilia Fudpucker

Holy mackerel Andy….is it hot or is it hot….and dry !!!! We have slap dab wore ol Nellie Frecklebelly out doing a nude rain dance out behind the Buzzard’s Roost Bar & Grill. I’m tellin ya, that is a lot of shakin going on….if that don’t bring tears to rain from God’s eyes , nothing will. It is so hot here in Buzzard’s Roost that me an’ ol Estee K. Bibbles, my mule barn partner, actually saw a hen lay a fried egg the other day and we been feedin the chickens crushed ice just to keep them from laying boiled eggs. Talking about stories ol Estee K. was telling me about a mother here in Buzzard’s Roost that was worried about her little boy walking to kindergarden. He didn’t want his mother to walk with him and she wanted to give him the feeling of independence, so she ask a neighbor friend if she would walk way back behind him & watch him. Her friend told her since she had to get up early with her toddler she would do it since it would be good exercise for her. So she started following little Timmy and a little neighbor girl that always walked with him. After about a week the little girl ask Timmy “have you noticed that lady following us every day….do you know her”? Little Timmy said, “yeah, I know who she is…..that’s Shirley Goodness and her daughter, Mercy. Every night after my prayers, Mom reads the 23rd Psalm to me and it says that Shirley Goodness & Mercy will follow me the rest of my life, so I guess I will just have to get use to it.” There shore ain’t been any goodness and mercy going on up in Washington lately has there. Them politician sapsuckers up there are fightin over that debt ceiling like two old tom cats with their tails tied together and slung over a clothes line. Them House Republicans pass something and ol Harry Reid & Nancy Pelosi tell’em it’s deader than a door nail cause it ain’t gonna pass the Senate. I don’t know why they spend time passing something if they know it is going to be shot down. The thieving sapsuckers don’t need more money to spend and they have known this was coming for a long time, but they wait til now to try to fix it so they holler “CRISIS” !!!!! And why do them suckers always try to scare the old people and start threatening to cut social security, medicare & the military pay. Why don’t them k-niving suckers cut their own pay and their staff’s pay ????? Now, me and ol Estee K., we’re believers in the 10 Commandments so we came up with the 5 Commandments: 1. You cannot legislate the poor into prosperity by legislating the wealthy out of prosperity. 2. What one person receives without working for…another person must work for without receiving. 3. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else. 4. You cannot multiply by dividing. 5. When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they worked for, that is the beginning of the end of any nation !!!! AMEN !!!!

Essential Air Service. $150 million And I promise you if annual savings. they give in and give Obama a raise in that debt ceiling he will go spend it Technology Innovation Program. and we will be having this same fight in 6 months or 1 year. Why can’t they $70 million annual savings. just cut spending ????? Manufacturing Extension And here is where they could start Partnership (MEP) Program. $125 million annual savings. ………………………………. Corporation for Public Broadcasting Subsidy. $445 million annual savings.

Department of Energy Grants to States for Weatherization. $530 million annual savings.

Beach Replenishment. $95 million Save America’s Treasures Program. annual savings. $25 million annual savings. International Fund for Ireland. $17 million annual savings.

New Starts Transit. $2 billion annual savings. WHAT IS THIS???

Legal Services Corporation. $420 million annual savings.

Exchange Programs for Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and Their Historical Trading Partners in Massachusetts .. $9 million annual savings. What the hell is this anyway…?

National Endowment for the Arts. $167.5 million annual savings. National Endowment for the Humanities. $167.5 million annual savings.

Intercity and High Speed Rail Grants. $2.5 billion annual savings.

Hope VI Program. $250 million annual savings.

Title X Family Planning. $318 million annual savings.

Amtrak Subsidies. $1.565 billion annual savings.

Appalachian Regional Commission. $76 million annual savings.

Eliminate duplicative education programs.. H.R. 2274 (in last Congress), authored by Rep. McKeon, eliminates 68 at a savings of $1.3 billion annually. U.S. Trade Development Agency. $55 million annual savings.. Woodrow Wilson Center Subsidy. $20 million annual savings. Cut in half funding for congressional printing and binding. $47 million annual savings. Community Development Fund. $4.5 billion annual savings. Heritage Area Grants and Statutory Aid. $24 million annual savings. Cut Federal Travel Budget in Half. $7.5 billion annual savings. DUH!!! Trim Federal Vehicle Budget by 20%. $600 million annual savings.

Economic Development Administration. $293 million annual savings. Programs under the National and Community Services Act. $1.15 billion annual savings. (continued on back cover...) Send Comments to: backside@mycounty-line.com From the Backside Sponsor

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Published by Mike W. Norris d.b.a. Wolverine Design ● P.O. Box 1156 ● Eastland, Texas 76448 ● http://www.mycounty-line.com

■ From

The Backside, Henry J. Clevicepin

Applied Research at Department of Energy. $1.27 billion annual savings. Close Dept of Energy…

payment plans for taxpayers) to the Treasury, instead of allowing payments to remain as part of its budget. $1.8 billion savings over ten years.

FreedomCAR and Fuel Partnership. $200 million annual savings.

Require collection of unpaid taxes by federal employees. $1 billion total savings. WHAT THE HELL…! FIRE THE BASTARDS…

Energy Star Program. $52 million annual savings. Economic Assistance to Egypt . $250 million annually.

Prohibit taxpayer funded union activities by federal employees. $1.2 billion savings over ten years. TAXPAYER FUNDED UNIONS…. COME ON!!!

U.S. Agency for International Development.. $1.39 billion annual savings.

Sell excess federal properties the government does not make use of. $15 billion total savings.

General Assistance to District of Columbia . $210 million annual savings.

Eliminate taxpayer subsidies to the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. $12.5 million annual savings.

Subsidy for Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. $150 million annual savings. Presidential Campaign Fund. $775 million savings over ten years. No funding for federal office space acquisition. $864 million annual savings. Stop Growing Government…!

Eliminate Market Access Program. $200 million annual savings. USDA Sugar Program. $14 million annual savings. Subsidy to Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).$93 million annual savings.

TOTAL SAVINGS: $2.5 Trillion over Ten Years My question is, “What THE HELL is all this crap doing in the budget in the first place? Is there anything listed here you cannot do without?” Holy cow, that was longer than a well rope, but I just had to get that off my chest and show ya just what some of the crap they spend money on and then want to threaten us ol geezers with cutting our Social Security!!!! I’ve already give ol Congressman Nagabauer a piece of my mind for voting yes the other day so why don’t you do the same. Ron Paul is the ONLY Texas Congressman who had the conjones to stand up to them suckers and vote NO on raising the debt limit. Thank you Ron !!! Words of wisdom from Henry J. : You can starve Obama supporters by hiding their food stamps under their work boots !!!!

End prohibitions on competitive sourcing of Eliminate the National Organic Certification government services. Repeal the Davis-Bacon Act. Cost-Share Program. $56.2 million annual savings. You can email ol Henry J. at: More than $1 billion annually. Eliminate fund for Obamacare administrative henryjclevicpin@aol.com costs. $900 million savings. IRS Direct Deposit: Require the IRS to deposit fees for services it offers (such as processing

Front Cover & Back Cover ~ Pictures from the Palo Pinto Fire earlier this year ~ mwnorris