www.MyCounty-Line.com --- MAY & JUNE 2014
Big Country Ce ntr al Texas E d i t i o n
Volume 7 Issue 79
National News and Opinions mixed with Local Small Town History and Story Telling. Representing the Small-Town Conservative Viewpoint, Values & Patriotism!
~Mike Norris, Owner & Publisher
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Monthly Issue
MAY & JUNE , In This Issue:
www.MyCounty-Line.com vol.7 Issue 79
Legislators Look to Help Cut Wait Times at VA Clinics By Alexa Ura -- The Texas Tribune, May 22, 2014
On The Cover Growing Up Small Town Texas Conservative Michael Ramirez Informed Voter Tumbleweed Smith Good Neighbors Treasure Hunters Love Lessons Huddle Up! Breckenridge Wall Distribution Map Cisco Loboes Territory Welcome to Rising Star This Week In Texas History B.C. The Wizard of ID In Sickness & In Health
COVER ART:
Rhett Rutledge (age 13yrs) has owned this 1950 5-Window Chevrolet Pickup for about 2 years. A project vehicle he hopes to have ready by the time he gets his license, the 6-cyl engine runs well with a “three on the tree” transmission. Good things come to those who wait. Photo courtesy of Doris Cozart of Carbon, Tx
I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for All. B:510-152550100200
2014
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Amid recent allegations of excessive wait times for veterans at several VA clinics across the nation, the quality of care at VA medical centers in Texas is getting extra attention. And while the state is limited in what it can do at the federal facilities, legislators are still seeking to take action to help curb wait times. “While our reality is that this is a federally run and funded agency that serves Texas residents, that does not mean that Texas cannot ensure that our veterans are taken care of in the honorable way they deserve and have earned,” said state Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, chairwoman of the Senate Veteran Affairs and Military Installations Committee. “It should not take a whistleblower and numerous deaths to raise the flag on issues like these.” As part of a nationwide investigation, the VA is auditing scheduling practices at its medical facilities in Texas after whistleblowers in San Antonio, Temple and Austin alleged, in recent weeks, that staffers at federal clinics were instructed to manipulate the scheduling documents to reflect shorter wait times for veterans seeking medical services. Continued on page 7, “Informed Voter”...
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3Growing Up Small Town
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, Mike W. Norris
Coast Guard Fishing Trip by Mike W. Norris
As told by cousins Gene and Don....based on true events! Coast Guard Fishing Trip
If you have never been to Galveston or Port Aransas then let me just tell you right now -- some of my most memorable vacations took place right down there on the Texas Gulf Coast...stories and adventures that not only happened to me or I witnessed first-hand, but countless tales of adversity have been told and retold by members of my family for decades. I kinda feel sorry for folks who go on a vacation and come back without a hair raising story of a near-death experience. Where’s the fun and adventure of just laying out on the beach watching suntanned bodies walk here and there; the whole time just trying to enjoy the scenery without getting wet? Sometimes to have a great vacation you have to really commit to the adventure. Like Clark W. Griswold you have to go all in. It’s not a Family Vacation unless it’s worthy of many a story-telling afterwards! It’s too bad National Lampoon never thought to just let the Griswolds spend a quiet week at the beach where nothing could possibly go wrong. Take for instance cousins Gene and Don. These two are prominent story tellers in our family following in the footsteps of the grandmaster story teller, Uncle Hulen. Put these two outdoor adventurers in almost any setting... put in their hands some method to collect or harvest wildlife, wether it be a shotgun, rifle or fishing pole...add a suitable measure of that redneck elixer known as beer...and you have the makings of a story teller’s dreams...or a comedian’s...or an insurance salesman’s. Before I get started, raise your hand if you know what a bass boat is? That’s one of those 200-horse powered, over-sized surf boards with seats bolted on the deck that people claim are designed as the ultimate fishing platform. I use the term “platform” because these boats tend to be very low profile...I assume because at 80mph on the water, a low profile makes it easier to spot the fish. If your eye-level is lower to the water-level maybe it makes it easier to be one with the fish... to see the fish eye-to-eye or to understand the fish. Those of you who prefer to fish from the bank might not realize that running at high speed over the water is a much more effective means of catching fish than sitting still and waiting for the fish to come to you. I mean, that’s just old school there. Who does that? So back in the day, I remember one of the boating manufacturer’s who claimed that their bass boat was “Unsinkable!” I think they even tried to prove this in their advertising with pictures of one of their boats cut in half with a confident fishermen standing in ankle-deep water on top of a mostly submerged, half-a-boat. The picture was pretty
convincing and the boat’s reputation was sound. Enough so that cousins Gene and Don became bass boat owners. Well...I guess one of them was the official “owner” and the other was the “passenger.” I don’t know if “owner” is the correct term here. Perhaps “test pilot” and “copilot” would be more appropriate. So cousins Gene and Don make plans to take the new bass boat out for a trial run. I assume that this trial run involved a freshwater lake. And I also assume that this trial run was highly successful because shortly after acquiring this tried and proven bass boat, cousins Gene and Don decided to take a little trip to The Coast with brand new bass boat in tow. Arriving at The Coast with a brand new bass boat in tow is very much to the fisherman the same as waking up on Christmas morning to a living room full of gifts and presents. You will run right by the bathroom (forgetting to relieve yourself) and then rush right by the kitchen (skipping breakfast) just to dive right into the pile of festive wrapping paper, bows and ribbons to find out what Santa has in store for you. The Coast is the same thing. The air is filled with the sounds of gulls and the smell of salt
water...maybe a whiff of fresh fish...the sun is almost always smiling down on you...bikiniclad vacationers wiggle to and fro. For me, personally, just the smell of suntan lotion takes me back to every moment I can remember about Galveston and Port Aransas. Being at the beach is intoxicating -- no beer required. But that’s not the case for cousins Gene and Don. Beer IS required. So last stop before eternity was the convenience store two blocks from the public boat ramp on the northern tip of Port Aransas. Only moments away from boat in the water, this is the last chance to go over all your preparations and supplies. Just the essentials: fishing rods, check; bait, check; cooler, check; ice in cooler, check; beer in ice, check; fishing license, check; suntan lotion, check; camera, check; gas in boat, check; life jackets, check; Gene, check; Don, check; all systems go, check. Rock-n-roll! The Port “A” boat launch is always chaotic. It’s an orchestrated dance of man and machine that is complicated by adding water, beer, and the undeniable excitement of imminent boat-in-waterness. As a previous boat owner Continued on page 11...
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4Texas Conservative
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, Chuck Norris - The Man
In God We Trust United We Stand
By Chuck Norris
Follow Chuck Norris through his official social media sites, on Twitter @chucknorris and Facebook’s “Official Chuck Norris Page.” He blogs at http://chucknorrisnews.blogspot.com. Veterans, PTSD and US Government Abandonment
Combat veteran Kryn Miner, 44, served 11 deployments in seven years. He suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder and a traumatic brain injury after a bomb blast in Afghanistan in 2010 threw him into a wall. It was one of 19 blasts he endured over two decades of service to his country. On April 29, Kryn died after being shot by his teenage son, who was acting in defense of himself, his mother and his siblings because Kryn had threatened to kill them and pulled out a gun. Prosecutors ruled that it was a justified shooting, absolving the teen from facing charges. It was a tragic ending to a stellar military career. But according to his wife, Amy, it wouldn’t have happened if the U.S. government were as eager to care for veterans as it is to deploy them overseas in battle. The 39-year-old widow explained to The Associated Press: “The truth of the matter is if we can’t take care of our veterans we shouldn’t be sending them off to war. It doesn’t make sense. Because they’re coming back and this is the result and it’s happening more and more.” Kryn was laid to rest May 2. But other wounded warriors don’t have to be if the U.S. government cares for America’s best as it cared for them on the battlefields of war. About 15 percent of veterans who served in Iraq or Afghanistan suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Though estimates are lower for Gulf War vets, the percentage is even higher for Vietnam War vets. Despite being stereotyped as a military-related illness, PTSD plagues a broad range of citizens (3.5 percent of U.S. adults) who have been impacted by personal assault or other types of trauma. PTSD can occur at any age, including childhood, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. The National Institute of Mental Health defines PTSD as “an anxiety disorder that can develop after exposure to a terrifying event or ordeal in which there was the potential for or actual occurrence of grave physical harm. Traumatic events that may trigger PTSD include violent personal assaults, natural or humancaused disasters, accidents, and military combat. People with PTSD have persistent frightening thoughts and memories of their ordeal, may experience sleep problems, feel detached or numb, or be easily startled.” Speaking of medical military tragedies, who can stomach the latest political farce and cover-up from the Obama administration, the secret record keeping and delays in treatment at veterans hospitals that led to dozens of patients dying while waiting for care? Even Jon Stewart noted this past week, “Here’s what disgusts me: Somehow we as a country were able to ship 300,000 troops halfway across the world in just a few months to fight a war that cost us $2 trillion ... yet for some reason, it takes longer than that to get someone hurt in that war needed medical care or reimbursement -- all while we profess undying love for their service.” Speaking of utter neglect of America’s best, Marine Sgt. Andrew Tahmooressi, a Purple Heart-decorated combat veteran who also suffers from PTSD, has remained in a Mexican prison since March 31, when he accidentally crossed the border into Mexico with three legally registered firearms in his vehicle, according to CNN. The Blaze explained that he had relocated to San Diego just
days before and was still looking for a permanent place to live. That is why he still had most of his possessions in his car when he headed to dinner with friends only 1.7 miles from the Mexican border. Tahmooressi missed his intended exit. He was looking to circle back at the next exit, but it was too late; he had driven across the border. (The Blaze showed how easily this could happen to anyone by shooting video of a journalist on the same route.) And what has been the White House’s response to this Marine’s undeserved and unwarranted incarceration crisis? To wait and watch for 100,000 signatures on a White House website petition asking for Tahmooressi to be freed. The website even explains, “Since incarceration his life has been threatened; sustained a neck wound requiring hospitalization and chained in a 4-point restraint.” Does the president even consider how his present maltreatment is exacerbating his PTSD right now? When the commander in chief resorts to hashtag diplomacy to free a decorated U.S. combat veteran from a groundless and unjust foreign incarceration only miles from our border, it should infuriate even his most ardent supporters. Mr. President, you don’t need to wait for 100,000 signatures by May 31 on a White House petition. You just need to get on the Oval Office hotline today and order Mexican officials to free that U.S. Marine immediately! For Washington to play “out of sight, out of mind” with our veterans’ lives and health is to abandon them and their families in their greatest hour of need. It intentionally delivers them to the wolves of this world and the many other battlefields of war aftermath. America’s best put everything on
the line for us. The very least that we can do for them is ensure that they have proper health care when they return from the battlefields. But if the U.S. government won’t properly care for every last service member who risked it all, then we the people can -- one at a time. Let us start with those in our own families, neighborhoods and communities. Extend (another) hand of gratitude and express your appreciation for those who serve our country. Befriend a veteran. Help veterans’ families. Give to groups such as the Wounded Warrior Project (http://www. woundedwarriorproject.org). And if you or someone you know is being affected by PTSD, you can contact the Veterans Crisis Line by calling 800-273-8255 or by texting 838255. You also can chat confidentially with someone at http:// www.veteranscrisisline.net. Don’t be afraid to call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline’s number is 800273-8255. There are more resources at http://www.ptsd.va.gov/public/ family/resources_family_friends.asp. And for those so inclined, you can help Amy Miner and her children -Lalaina, 18, Macintyre, 15, Trinity, 11, and Piper, 7 -- by sending donations to the Miner Family Fund. Go to http://www.youcaring.com/help-aneighbor/miner-family-fund/170506. Follow Chuck Norris through his official social media sites, on Twitter @chucknorris and Facebook’s “Official Chuck Norris Page.” He blogs at http://chucknorrisnews.blogspot. com. 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.
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5Michael Ramirez ■
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, Political Cartoonist
ADVERTISE NOW -- In Print & Online!!!
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Independent Sales Reps Needed Why is this space empty? Because we need more advertisers!!!
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7Informed Voter ■
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, mwnorris
Legislators Look to Help Cut Wait Times at VA Clinics By Alexa Ura, The Texas Tribune (www.texastribune.org) It’s election season...time to get your Google on! Continued from page 2
One proposal being offered to help the state’s 1.7 million veterans is coming from Van de Putte and state Rep. José Menéndez, the chairman of the House Defense and Veterans’ Affairs Committee, who are recommending that the state expand its “strike force team” to include an oversight group that would serve as a watchdog for veterans, operating independently of the VA. The strike force team, which was created in 2012 as part of the Texas Veterans Commission in response to a massive backlog in the federal system of disability claims for Texas veterans, is made up of staffers of the Veterans Commission. The proposal would expand the mission and staffing of the strike force team to gather veterans’ complaints. Under the proposal, the strike force team would facilitate a new hotline or website for veterans seeking assistance with the medical services they are receiving through the VA. The team would also help create a database to collect veterans’ complaints, which would assist in determining which facilities are lagging in its services. The state’s oversight group could provide local, independent oversight of the VA’s medical facilities in the state while serving as an advocate for Texas veterans by pointing out problematic facilities to the VA and holding the department accountable, Menéndez said. The lawmakers intend to hold hearings on the issue, including a Senate hearing slated for June 12 in Houston, to obtain information from the commission and veterans groups about wait times in the state. The proposal would likely require the authorization of Gov. Rick Perry, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and House Speaker Joe Straus. Van de Putte and Menéndez are confident that they will get that approval and that the feds would be open to the creation of the oversight group because of the strike force team’s success in 2012. “It worked for us on reducing the backlog of claims for veterans,” Menéndez said. “This is not a stretch from that.” There are six medical centers, 20 outpatient clinics and 36 community-based outpatient clinics in the state that fall under the VA’s purview. As of this week, the VA had already audited several Texas facilities, including clinics in San Antonio, Temple, Harlingen and Austin. Officials who oversee the facilities were not informed about any issues that came up during the audits, according to Jessica Jacobsen, a VA regional deputy director for public affairs. The Veterans Commission, which is largely focused on assisting veterans in filing claims to obtain benefits, and Texas veterans groups say they are on board with creating additional oversight at VA facilities. But they argue that the problem of lengthy wait times in the state is rooted in the lack of medical providers treating veterans and that those wait times will persist until the system increases the number of doctors available to treat patients. Jim Richman, director of claims representation and counseling for the
Veterans Commission, said that until the federal government addresses the need for more medical providers, the state will continue to hear from veterans about excessive wait times. But state officials’ hands are somewhat tied on that issue. The state cannot provide additional medical professionals to help with the high patient-to-doctor ratio in the VA’s medical facilities, and it has no sort of supervisory role over clinics. Richman said the veterans commission often hears rumors about veterans who are left to wait for months before obtaining a doctor’s appointment. “But we don’t have the capability of ordering clerks to show us the paperwork,” Richman said. “The state of Texas has no authority or jurisdiction over the VA, and we’re not part of the VA.” Bill West, state adjutant for the Texas department of the American Legion, a veterans group that represents all armed services posts in Texas, said that funding for medical service
operations has not kept up with the growing population of veterans, which has almost tripled in the last 15 years. West argued that the current controversy calls for a long-needed boost to properly respond to the demand for more medical providers. “This problem didn’t pop up overnight,” West said. “It’s been going on for the last 10 to 15 years.” This story was produced in partnership with Kaiser Health News, an editorially independent program of the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, a nonprofit, nonpartisan health policy research and communication organization not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente. Disclosure: The Texas Veterans Commission is a corporate sponsor of The Texas Tribune.
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8Informed Voter ■
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, continued...
VA Problems: Update....
“It’s totally unacceptable. Our veterans deserve the best,” said President Obama during a press conference on Friday, May 30th, after accepting the resignation of Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki. “Secretary Shinseki offered me his own resignation -- with considerable regret, I accepted.” What’s totally unacceptable in my opinion, is that President Obama’s wait and see problem solving skills wouldn’t even qualify him to run a cash register at a 7-11. For example, if the register is completely out of $5-dollar bills and he owed a customer $5.75 in change... Obama would likely have to wait until the customer told him that five $1-dollar bills would be acceptable before he could make a decision in how to count out the change. I can hear him now.....”It’s totally unacceptable that the cash register is out of $5-dollar bills. Obviously, the previous shift failed to address the problem and now I’m left with this issue of trying to give this customer his change. Luckily though, the customer said he was willing to accept five $1-dollar bills and I regret that was the only solution we had available at the time.” My next question, though, is what are you going to do about not having any $5-dollar bills in the register, Barry? Are you just going to be a nice little clerk and finish out your shift hoping that tomorrow there’s not another problem? Or how about actually getting proactive and get with the other clerks (or the store manager) and everybody get on the same page of leaving X-number of $5-dollar bills in the register at the end of each shift? You know, like maybe trying to get out in front of the problem? My point is that there is “Problem Solving” and then there’s “Problem Dodging”....there’s “Decision Making” and then there’s “Knee-Jerk Reaction.” Problem Solving and Decision Making are actions carried out by Leadership. These are two very basic traits that any good leader should possess. Over the course of this Administration, Obama has demonstrated only the ability to perform one knee-jerk reaction after another in an effort to avoid having to take responsibility for any problems at all. His prior legislative voting record was a defacto how-to guide on how to pass through the halls of Congress without being held to any kind of voting stance whatsoever. And here he is, waiting for a subordinate to voluntarily step down from a position rather than take the reins of the problem and actually take decisive action of leadership. I just wish I could ask this guy, “Why would you have ‘considerable regret’ over a manager stepping down unless it just makes you look bad because you didn’t have the cojones to fire him when you should have? ~mwnorris www.MyCounty-Line.com
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10Tumbleweed Smith
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, Bob Lewis
By Bob Lewis Backstage at Speeches
I’ve been making speeches to various groups since 1973 when I made my first chamber of commerce speech in Dumas, Texas. Of all the things I do to make a living (newspaper column, radio program, producing commercials and documentaries), I guess speaking is the most fun. It is fantastic to look out at a room full of people and see them smiling and laughing. I love to see lots of teeth as I glance at a happy audience from the podium or stage. All my speeches are about Texas humor and I’ve spoken in nearly a dozen states and four foreign countries. It’s not quite correct to call them speeches. They are more like audio presentations. I use the voices of some of the humorous people I‘ve interviewed the past 45 years. In a 35-minute speech I’ll use about 15 recorded voices of people telling stories or mentioning first person experiences. I do a 55-minute one-man show that is the same format as speeches, only longer, with more voices. Most of the time the audience doesn’t know where the other voices are coming from. I’ll introduce a segment, then another voice comes over the PA system. After a speech I’ve actually had people ask me if I do all the voices. The recorded voices are coming from an Ipod my wife Susan is operating. Usually she sits near me at a speech or near the stage when I do my one-man show. She has just been operating the equipment a few years. I used to do it. I like it this way better. When I first started speaking I used jokes. When I was asked to speak at a Petroleum Short Course at Texas Tech in the mid 70’s I knew oilmen would be in the audience so I got a bunch of my interviews with funny guys in the oil patch, edited them down and put together a program. It went over big. I went home and created a program of humorous Texans from all over the state. My first audience with this new show was my wife and two sons in our living room. They laughed all the way thru it. I was encouraged and have used the voices ever since. We have had some experiences. Once the electricity went off at a chamber banquet in Van Horn. Someone brought in a generator. Another time we made a speech on
an outdoor stage that had a street in front of it. The audience was in pickup tailgates and lawn chairs across the street. Occasionally a vehicle would pass in front of the stage and the driver would wave and shout greetings to his friends. In Lubbock I was giving a presentation to a historical group and they had come from a party with free flowing alcohol. I usually love a well-oiled audience, but this one was rowdy. Nobody was listening. About 20 minutes into my speech the organizer came up and asked me how much longer I was going to be on stage. I think if she had a hook she would have yanked me off. My most recent speech was to the Texas Retired Teachers Association’s annual convention in Dallas. I discovered the shirt I had chosen to wear for the speech had French cuffs but I had no cuff links with me. Susan whipped out the dental floss, threaded it through the cuff link openings and none of the 1100 people in the audience knew anything about my customized cufflinks. How About Some Honey Wine
At Walker Honey Farm five miles west of Rogers you can get fresh eggs and fresh honey. People bring in their quart bottles or jars and go to an 80-gallon tank and fill up their containers with fresh local wildflower honey. “It’s our BYOB program,” says owner Clint Walker, “bring your own bottle.” Clint is a third generation beekeeper and his sons are helping in the business now. “We’re sitting here about forty miles east of Gause, Texas. That’s in East Milam County on the Brazos River and that’s where my granddad went broke in the grocery business in 1929. When he liquidated his grocery store he had enough money to buy a few hives of bees. He made honey and peddled it out of the back end of his Model A. Our family has been in the honey business ever since. This is our 84th crop that we made this year. My wife and I bought the business from my parents about twenty years ago. We have dedicated ourselves to growing the business in the same way that my grandfather and dad did.” Walker Honey Farm has several
buildings on the property. One is a store where you can buy all sorts of honey products including items made with Texas-grown pecans and peanuts. “We bought some equipment to make peanut butter sometime ago. We take some of our homemade peanut butter and add honey to it and put it in a jar. We’ve had people tell us it’s the best peanut butterhoney combination they’ve ever tasted.” Some of his products are for sale at HEB and Natural Grocers. Clint runs about a thousand hives of bees. They are all on pallets and can be forklifted onto trucks and taken to fields between Waco and Austin where the bees forage and produce honey. Four years ago Clint started making honey wine and created Dancing Bee Winery. He says it’s the oldest alcoholic beverage, pre-dating grape wine by a couple of thousand years. “Honey wine is called mead and we are trying to revive the old craft of mead-making. In the renaissance it was the beverage of choice. During King Arthur’s day and the Knights of the Round Table that was the drink on the table. Our mead is different from the mead served in that era. We use different types of honey to produce different kinds of wine. We can take our beautiful, light, Central Texas clover honey if we want a light, crisp taste and can ferment it very dry like a dry white wine. Our oldest son Clinton is our head vintner now.” On Monday of Memorial Day weekend, the farm has a festival that attracts thousands of people. “We have honey tastings and wine tastings and about thirty local artists and craftsmen bring in their artworks for display and sale. Food vendors are on the property. The purpose of the event is to promote the local farm communities.” Clint is a well-educated beekeeper. He has a PhD in Theology with a specialization in ethics. “My dad used to say, ‘if that boy reads one more book he’ll be worthless.’ He wanted me to be a beekeeper.” Tumbleweed Smith rolls around Texas looking for people with unique stories. Contact him at ts@tumbleweedsmith.com
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11Growing Up Small Town
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, Continued...
myself, let me just explain that the excitement of imminent boat-in-waterness is unquenchable. It is the adrenalin that pumps through a prized fighter as he approaches the ring. It is the electricity in the air of a highschool football game with the home team down by two in possession of the ball on the 1-yard line with 10-seconds left in the game. The feeling of imminent boat-in-waterness overrides all cares, both real and imaginary. It is why those waiting in line at the boat ramp get agitated and it is why every year many tow vehicles go swimming. The feeling you have the moment your boat touches the water for the first time each year, is why boat owners own boats. It’s not the cruising around the lake with the wind in your hair. It’s not the fish on the hook in that one sweet spot that nobody else knows about. It’s the heart-pounding, gut wrenching, adrenalin rush of successfully backing your prized vessel down a slippery incline, in front of thousands of fellow boaters and water enthusiasts, and stopping at precisely the right point so that the boat gently lifts free of the trailer without bumping anything or anyone, or in some way infringing on the boating rights of your fellow boaters; and not least of all, without doing something incredibly embarrassing in front of all these other people that might leave someone with the impression that you have no clue what you’re doing. By comparison, everything that happens on the water is much less stressful or exciting as getting the boat in the water to begin with. That’s what I’m talking about. In those precious seconds that every boat owner must endure, the single, most important thing that all boat owners must remember to do...is put the plug in the boat. Cousins Gene and Don have been around boats almost all their lives. They are not newcomers to the boating experience. This is NOT a story of forgetting to put the plug in the boat at the boat launch. No. Let me assure you, cousins Gene and Don successfully manage to get the new bass boat into the water and safely exit the marina and enter the Aransas Pass shipping channel. And I can assure you that once that brand new bass boat
pointed down the channel toward the Gulf waters that were waiting just minutes from the marina, all two hundred horses were up to the challenge of getting there with all expedience. It’s about a mile, maybe two, from the marina to the jetty. Even just cruising it takes 5- maybe 10minutes to get from the marina to the open waters of the Gulf of Mexico. I mean you’re in the open ocean before you can finish your first beer and on a brand new bass boat that distance goes by even faster than that. The problem about Aransas Pass is that the jetties block all the waves from entering the ship channel...which is odd because I always thought the jetties were for people to fish off of who didn’t have boats. I never knew as a kid that their true purpose was to protect the shipping channel from the waves and rough water of the actual Gulf. Who knew?!!? So back to the story, once you commit to driving your boat beyond the jetties, you basically HAVE to deal with whatever the Gulf of Mexico has on its mind for the day. It’s not always evident on the way out of the channel just exactly how upset the Gulf of Mexico is at that exact moment. What may seem to be just the wake of the casual passing oil tanker may actually be the broken remnants of 15foot swells out beyond the jetty. I have to point out that slower boats have a little more time to judge the water and waves before exiting the protection of the ship channel. And I should also point out that if there’s nobody out on the jetties enjoying a wonderful day of fishing, it’s possible that maybe there’s a reason for it. I should also mention that if you’re on a boat that sits pretty low in the water, it may be more difficult to see the waves out in front of you...especially if you can’t see over the wave that you’re heading into right at that particular moment. There’s also a situation where a boat is steered intentionally into an oncoming wave so that the boat isn’t capsized or rolled over by the wave itself. It’s a tricky thing to deal with and to judge in the heat of the moment. You start to realize that the incoming waves from the Gulf are possibly larger than what you and your boat might be able to handle... confidently, but...the fear of getting rolled forces you to make the decision to keep heading out so that your small boat keeps its head into the waves.
There’s nothing really good about that particular situation. There’s a point where it’s not really so much fun as it might be terrifying. There’s also a point in there somewhere that experienced boaters, even hairy, burly men of questionable judgement, will put down their beer and attempt to put on their life jackets. Cousins Gene and Don had arrived at that point. As the waves came over the bow, the two hundred horses went out the back...leaving only our two adventurous fishermen clinging to floating cushions and rugged fixtures of their trusty, unsinkable, brand new bass boat. Witnesses on the jetty made the call to the Coast Guard who dutifully responded with one of their 82ft Point-class Cutters. When they arrived on the scene, cousins Gene and Don were hoisted aboard and the brand new bass boat was lashed on for a tow. Everything was still in good order at that point. Only a few items had been lost or were floating free of the bass boat itself. Most everything was still intact. So as the USCGC Point Baker turned back for the marina, cousins Gene and Don could only watch in stunned silence as the new bass boat rolled over in the cross waves behind the cutter and dissappeared. Cousin Gene says, “It just went under.” But cousin Don elaborates, “It looked like one of those rattle trap fishing lures, you know the ones that shake back and forth and dive deep? That’s what it looked like.” Cousin Gene always shakes his head, holding back a tear as he recalls, “It did that two or three times on the way back to the marina. It would come up and roll over again and down it would go.” Cousin Gene sips his beer and contemplates, “When we got back to the marina and they pulled it up alongside...there was nothin’! Even the carpet was gone! It was just the hull, no seats, no cushions, nothin’ but the hull.” Cousin Don shares his pain, too “Yea, I lost my camera or else we would have taken pictures. That was a $300 camera!” ~mwnorris
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Neighbors, State Farm
Most of us, even if we’re lucky enough to own our own boats, don’t spend the majority of our time on the water. That general lack of familiarity and experience is why when you do set out in a watercraft — whether for fishing, swimming and water skiing, or just cruising — it’s extremely important to familiarize yourself with the rules, requirements, and recommendations of boating safety. The following tips and guidelines are compiled from state and national boating safety organizations, including the U.S. Coast Guard. The Easiest Boating Safety Tip: Wear a Life Jacket Statistics show that most boating fatality victims weren’t wearing a personal floatation device (PFD) and that 9 out of 10 of those water deaths might have been prevented with a PFD. A life jacket should be available for each person aboard and be worn or properly stowed. Jackets should fit snugly and be the appropriate size — remember that adult jackets will not work for children. Check the PFD laws in your state, and test your jackets once a year for leaks and buoyancy. Other potentially life-saving tips: Dress for the water temperature, not the air temperature. Hunters and fishermen boating during colder-weather months should remember that cold water can kill. If you can’t swim, take lessons. Even a few rudimentary lessons could someday mean the difference between life and drowning. If your boat capsizes, stay with it. Not only will it provide floatation assistance, but it’s easier for rescuers to spot. Keep a Clear Head Be aware of carbon monoxide. All internal combustion engines produce
carbon monoxide, an odorless, colorless, and poisonous gas. Poor cabin ventilation, blocked exhaust outlets, and faulty equipment can contribute to the problem, but carbon monoxide emissions can affect the boat’s swim platform and other areas near the engine. Be especially careful when moving slowly, idling, or stopped, and when you’re near another boat’s engine emissions. Install carbon monoxide detectors on your boat and be aware of the early symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning, such as headaches, nausea, weakness, and irritated eyes — stay alert for symptoms that might initially seem like simple seasickness or intoxication. Speaking of intoxication, don’t drink and boat. The use of alcohol is involved in about a third of all recreational boating fatalities according to the U.S. Coast Guard. Boating under the influence (BUI or BWI) is as serious a legal offense as driving while intoxicated. Additionally, the detrimental physical effects of drinking while boating can be even more severe — the motion, noise, sun, wind, and spray on the water is more exhausting than usual, accelerating the intoxicating effects of alcohol. Plan Ahead Know the rules. Before launching your boat, learn the nautical “rules of the road” by taking a boater safety class. They are a large part of boating safety, especially when meeting, crossing, or overtaking another boat. Learning the meaning of buoys and other water markers, maintain a safe speed, and keep a watchful eye on the waters for smooth sailing. Take a boating safety course. Boating safety courses are quick, inexpensive, and effective. Check the U.S. Coast Guard Boating Safety Resource Center for approved boating courses. Have a float plan. If you’re Continued on page 18...
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13Treasure Hunters ■
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, Jerry Eckhart
By Jerry Eckhart To see more of Jerry’s treasure finds, search Facebook for “Jerry Eckhart” How I Became a Metal Detectorist
Before 1975 I had no metal detector and used a pick, shovel and hoe for my treasure seeking. I would find a likely spot near an old homesite, scrape away the surface soil and weeds. If I turned anything up, I would dig and sift for treasure. My favorite locations were cellar holes or the ruins of burned country homes. I sometimes used a long iron probe that I would punch down into a suspected dump or outhouse site in order to learn what was down there. You would be surprised at just how much you can tell what is underground by using a probe. I found quite a lot of coins and jewelry among the ashes of burned homes. I continue this practice to this day. Surprisingly, I have found most of my good items where either the front porch or back porch were located. I have found the ground under the back porch to be the most productive. I think that is because the back porch was usually the center of activity for the family. The front porch was usually reserved for company. The back porch was where all the outdoor gear was stored. Kids played there during rainy days so just about anything could be lost. You can learn more about how rural families lived by ordering my book, “Relic Hunting Tips.” Many of the early settlers used the cellar to store old canning jars, which in the 1970’s were bringing good money. I seldom sold any, and built up quite a collection. I had old round bottom bottles, bottles with marbles inside, hand blown and machine made bottles. Many of them dated as far back as 1840. Later, when I moved to Abilene in 1984, I sold more than 3 large toilet paper boxes at a very low price. I gave away just about as many as I sold. Some of the more rare ones, I still have. In 1976, I was planning a trip to southwestern Oklahoma to dig out the cellar on my Grandmother Woodward’s farm and happened to mention it to a friend of mine. “Why don’t you take my metal detector along?” He suggested. Now, I never had much use for a metal detector and ranked them among gadgets and gizmos. I really didn’t think a metal detector would find anything. How wrong I was! I took his detector, mainly so I wouldn’t hurt his feelings. It was an old Beat Frequency Oscillator made by Garrett. I think it was called the Hunter. He showed me how to tune it and I spent the entire weekend playing with the detector and never did dig the cellar out. I didn’t find any money with it, but did dig up plenty of farm relics. By the time the weekend was over I had a good working knowledge of a metal detector. Some of artifacts I remembered from the time I spent growing up on that farm. That was the start of my career in metal detecting. At that time, there were no discriminators. If it was metal, the detector would detect it. A sensitive detector was one which would detect a half dollar
four inches deep. Today, that type of sensitivity would be laughed at. In spite of that, there was money everywhere. The parks were full of silver coins because no one was searching for them. Just about everywhere was untouched territory. The few who were searching, found coins wherever they looked. It was considered a bad day if a person did not return with at least 50 silver coins and no less than a hundred pennies. Sometimes, I would simply get tired of digging coins, quit and go home. Of course, there was an abundance of trash as well. Pulltabs, just as today were everywhere, as were rusty bottle caps. When the first discriminating metal detectors came out, I thought I had died and gone to heaven. I couldn’t wait to get one. They would tell the difference between iron and non-iron objects. That meant I no longer had to dig those iron bottle caps. I could reject most small bits of rusted iron and nails. As such, the only problem I had was the aluminum tab. I still picked up those and disposed of them and any other trash I found. I would encourage everyone today to do the same. Not only does it make the area cleaner, but it also impresses the authority figures and convinces them that you are taking care of the place. There is a third reason for picking up your trash, and that is because each time you remove a piece of trash, it opens up the area below. Often, I have removed a piece of trash and when checking the spot a second time, found a coin where the trash once was. It
does pay to pick up your trash. From then until now, I have always had a metal detector around and have introduced others interested to the hobby. Most of the time, I have trained those beginners in proper metal detector use and how to respect the hobby. That time spent has paid rewards in friendships and a renewed respect for treasure hunters in my community. Our present club, Southwestern Searchers, which I started in 1992, has grown to around 50 members and has some good times. We meet each month at a local museum, have a program, swap tales and share refreshments. It is a good group and we have a lot of fun. Many do not want to share their experiences, hints and tips. I urge every treasure hunter to share what he knows with others so they may reap the benefits of them. After all, you cannot take it to the grave with you. As we grow older, we gather experience and that experience should be shared with others in a responsible way. I have metal detected almost every day for at least a short period. If I wasn’t metal detecting, I was studying about or writing about it. When my finds accumulate to the point I have no room, then I sell or give away those I am not firmly attached to but I still run out of room. I try to photograph most of my finds so I can have a record of them. ~je www.MyCounty-Line.com
Published by Mike W. Norris dba Wolverine Design ● PO Box 1156 ● Eastland, Texas 76448 ● http://www.mycounty-line.com
14Love Lessons Learned So Far
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, Vicki Stiefer
By Vicki Stiefer The Way to a Man’s Heart
Yes it is true what they say. The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. Now there are other ways that you can wiggle your way in but putting something fresh from the kitchen in front of his face and he is one fish that’s been hooked! Exhibit A-my husband, my partner, my life mate, my hunny bunny decides he is not going home for Thanksgiving one year because he has to work on the holidays. I whipped up my famous hash brown casserole and viola! Wedding bells are a chiming! I also had a friend of mine make her delicious truffles and when I presented them to him I passed them off as my own. He was thrilled, savory and sweet all in one week! We definitely had chemistry before the hash brown casserole worked it’s hash browny magic so there wasn’t that much work to be done, but putting your husband’s favorite dish down in front of him says more than “here is something to fill your belly”. When your husband proclaims his favorite meal and you take note, guess what, you are listening. I know that is a foreign concept for most women. We like output instead of input but your hunny bunny needs to know he has been heard. You can’t put pizza down in front of him every night and walk away. You are a complex person and he needs more human interaction that he normally gets grunting with his buddies all day. If he likes meatloaf then you make him a mean meatloaf and put that in front of him proudly. Think about the extra touches that go along with what you are serving him and make it happen. You are a resourceful woman! Surely there is extra room in your brain next to Dancing with the Stars! Everyone works hard, I’m no stranger to a double income so this doesn’t have to be an everyday thing. Even if you are a stay at home Mom you can’t do this every night. I heard in a news story that if stay at home moms were paid money for their job, the salary would be a little over $100,000 according to www.salary.com. Also, if you cook him up his favorite treats every night they aren’t treats anymore. Keep it special and pick your moments. Now there are some pitfalls you will want to avoid. First is his mother. She cooked for him years before you started to and she knows exactly what her baby boy likes to chow down on; so ask him to explain his favorite food memory. If it involved mommy you should steer clear of it at all costs. You are a pirate on the stormy seas of life sailing to keep your land-lubbing man in your bed. His mom’s cooking is like the rocks at dead man’s curve. If you try to recreate her masterpiece you’re running aground on the first try. My husband loves his mother’s pot roast. It is his favorite Sunday after church meal. His description is so perfect that one would think the meal sits in a museum under glass for all to marvel. Green beans, macaroni and cheese and blessed pot roast. The pièce de résistance that won him over and mom became a momdejour. He’s
been out of her house for some time and can still smell the aroma when his mind opens the Crockpot lid. Being a new bride I tried to recreate a masterpiece only to receive a lack luster response and no request for a second helping. Ladies, perfect your own dish and work on it until it is so good that Jesus wants to come back early to have a helping. The second pitfall is exposing your creation to others. You can’t gossip about the Frankenstein lab known as your kitchen. Love is not just chemical. Keep your mouth shut when discussing your vials of garlic powder and homemade steak rubs. Other women need to figure it out on their own. You can throw them a hint or two Heloise, but that clam up and only reveal your rank and serial number. If his buddies start bragging about how good their wife’s steak diane is when you put yours in front of the table it will not be well received. Show him he is special. Let him know you would pick him all over again. Kiss him and remind him that he makes you feel like a woman. Above all else, show him you are listening to him and notice how hard he works for
his family. Make him his favorite meal this weekend. While your man is happily chomping down on his heart’s desire in the kitchen, this is a good time for you to think about taking care of yourself. Women by nature tend to take care of everyone else before they take care of themselves. It’s normal and very natural because that’s how the good Lord made you, but I want you to remember, if you are in poor shape you can’t continue to take care of those that have come to depend on you. Spring is a great time to think about your routine and not only spruce your home and kitchen up, but take some time to look at yourself. Are there things about yourself that make you unhappy? We all weigh too much, we don’t like our wrinkles and sags but take heart. You’re beautiful and confidence is just as sexy out of the kitchen as it is in the kitchen! So make a plan and get with it. Let me know how it goes. ~vs
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15Huddle Up! ■
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www.MyCounty-Line.com ~ MAY & JUNE 2014 v7.79 ~ www.Facebook.com/mycountyline , Matt Swinney
By Matt Swinney The NFL Draft Feeding Frenzy
The spring months have arrived and for fans of the NFL that means only one thing, the NFL Draft. The draft is held every year at Radio City Music Hall in New York. This year’s draft had two major storylines: Who would the Houston Texans select at number one? And Where would Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel go? Well, those two questions were answered in day one of the draft. The Texans selected South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, and Johnny Manziel will take his talents to the state of Ohio as he will more than likely be the starting quarterback for the Cleveland Browns. Cleveland felt it had to move up to pick 22 in the first round in order to get Manziel. I know a lot of people are asking about the Dallas Cowboys. Well, in round one, they had a shot to get Johnny Manziel, but they opted to go safe, in my opinion, to go after one of their draft needs, and get offensive tackle Zack Martin from Notre Dame. Martin is 6’4” and weighs 308 pounds. In his career for the Fighting Irish, Martin played 52 games, the most in Notre Dame history. For the Cowboys 2nd selection, they selected Boise State defensive end Demarcus Lawrence. They traded up in order to get Lawrence, who expects to be the replacement of DeMarcus Ware. The Cowboys next selection came in Round 4 where they picked up Iowa linebacker Anthony Hitchens. In Round 5, the Cowboys got a skilled player in Pittsburgh wide receiver Devin Street. In Round 7, the Cowboys had five selections as they selected Stanford defensive end Ben Gardner, Texas Tech linebacker Will Smith, Baylor safety Ahmad Dixon, Northern Illinois defensive tackle Ken Bishop, and Oregon cornerback Terrance Mitchell. As for the other Texas NFL team, the Houston Texans, as I told you earlier they drafted Jadeveon Clowney for the number one pick. For the Texans 2nd selection, they selected UCLA offensive guard Xavier Su’a-Filo. In Round 3, the Texans had two picks where they selected Iowa tight end C.J. Fiedorowicz and Notre Dame nose tackle Louis Nix. They got Louis Nix in a trade from the Philadelphia Eagles. In Round 4 they picked up a skilled player and possible
their quarterback of the future in Tom Savage from the University of Pittsburgh. In Round 6, the Texans had three selections where they picked up Alabama defensive end Jeoffrey Pagan, LSU running back Alfred Blue, and Auburn fullback Jay Prosch. And, in Round 7, the Texans wrapped up the 2014 NFL Draft with two selections as they picked up Vanderbilt cornerback Andre Hal and Memphis defensive back Lonnie Ballintine. Also, Michael Sam, the first openly gay college football player from
Missouri, got drafted to the St. Louis Rams in Round 7. Also, for the first time since 1937, no player from the Texas Longhorns got drafted. Now, that the draft is over, we’ll see if these can make an impact in the NFL. Here’s wishing the best of luck for the Houston Texans and the Dallas Cowboys. Happy Reading!!!!! ~ms
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18The County Line
■ , Mike W. Norris The County Line Distribution Area
Published by Michael W. Norris d.b.a. Wolverine Design P.O. Box 1156 Eastland, Texas 76448 http://www.MyCounty-Line.com info@mycounty-line.com
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Neighbors, Continued...
going to be on the water for a couple hours, make sure someone on land knows where you’re going and when you plan to return. If you’re heading out for a longer stretch, leave a written float plan with the marina or a friend that can aid rescuers in case of an emergency. (You cannot file a float plan with the Coast Guard.) In addition to the where and when information, your float plan should include identifying details about your boat, a passenger list, and your boat’s safety and survival equipment, including radio information. Appoint an assistant skipper. Don’t be the only person on your boat who knows how to operate the vessel and where the safety and first aid equipment is stored. Make sure someone else can get your boat back to shore if you can’t. Check the weather. Consult local forecasts before heading out, especially during hurricane season. If you do run into dark clouds, increasing winds, or sudden extreme temperature drops while on the water, head back to shore. If you do get caught in a storm, put the PFDs on and keep everyone low in the boat. Have communication options. Bring a mobile phone sealed in a water resistant bag, but don’t rely on it completely. Ideally, you should have a VHF marine radio with DCS (Digital-Coded Squelch) that can give the Coast Guard your position in an emergency. Use a kill switch lanyard. On a power boats and personal watercrafts, this simple tether between you and the ignition key shuts the engine off if you fall overboard or lose your balance while driving, reducing the potential for harm to you or others in the water. Check your equipment and supplies. Take time to go over the condition of your important safety, signal, and survival gear, including: Additional clothing, such as warm clothes, a hat, and foul weather gear Anchor and extra line Bailer or bilge pump Boat trailer Charts of the local area and a compass Fire extinguishers First-aid kit Food and water
Fuel and batteries Paddles Personal items (sunscreen, medicines, sunglasses) PFDs Lights Sound producing device (for signaling other craft and potential rescuers) Visual distress signal Tool kit for repairs Get your boat inspected. If you’re not sure your boat is safe, get a Vessel Safety Check (VSC). A VSC is a free examination of your boat courtesy of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary to verify the presence and condition of all required safety equipment. Unlike our automobiles, most of us find ourselves on a boat in order to enjoy some relaxation and recreation. Just don’t let your quest for fun on the water make you complacent about boating safety. Know and follow the rules so that everyone has a good time and gets back to dry land safe and sound. The information in this article was obtained from various sources. While we believe it to be reliable and accurate, we do not warrant the accuracy or reliability of the information. These suggestions are not a complete list of every loss control measure. The information is not intended to replace manuals or instructions provided by the manufacturer or the advice of a qualified professional. Nor is it intended to effect coverage under any policy. State Farm makes no guarantees of results from use of this information. We assume no liability in connection with the information nor the suggestions made. GOOGLE ADDITIONAL READING
U.S. Coast Guard Boating Safety Resource Center Recreational Boating Industry’s Boating Safety Tips (Discover Boating) Sea Tow Foundation’s Safety Resources ~mwnorris
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Visit www.MyCounty-Line.com Published by Mike W. Norris dba Wolverine Design ● PO Box 1156 ● Eastland, Texas 76448 ● http://www.mycounty-line.com
20This Week In Texas History
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, by Bartee Haile
By Bartee Haile Bloody Last Act of East Texas Feud
When the sun rose over San Augustine on Jun. 4, 1900, two dozen or more early-bird snipers already encircled the courthouse. The curtain was about to go up on the last act of a long-running East Texas feud, and there would be bodies to bury on both sides before the bloody day was done. The private wars Texans once called feuds were waged by a breed that believed the only justice worth having was up-close and personal. Warrior clans that showed no mercy and asked for none were plentiful around San Augustine in the late 1800’s. In one corner were Buck Wall and his five brawling boys George, Pez, Ney, Brune and Eugene. Stubborn to the core and fearless to a fault, the Walls could count on their blood kin, the Robertses and Tuckers, as well as a legion of loyal friends. In the other corner were two fighting families united by marriage, the Borders and the Broocks. Their acknowledged leader was Curg Border, who in spite of his small size was a human wildcat. Backing up Curg were his brother George and the three Broock cousins -- John, Ben and Moses. The feud originated with schoolyard scraps between the competing broods. Regular as clockwork the Walls squared off against the Border brothers and the Broocks. But the hot-tempered youths never outgrew their mutual hatred and carried giant chips on their shoulders into adulthood. The election campaign of 1894 got the deadly ball rolling. Breaking away from the Democratic Party, to which the Borders and Broocks remained faithful, George Wall and his father Buck ran for sheriff and county commissioner on the Populist ticket. Curg and George Border displayed their displeasure at the Walls’ double triumph by trading shots with members of the victorious family. Despite occasional threats and minor scuffles, the ensuing years were comparatively peaceful. But the arrest of Curg Border by Sheriff George Wall in the spring of 1900 changed all that. Although the charge did not merit incarceration, the lawman made an exception in the case of a Border. When Curg finally got out of jail, he was fit to be tied. A few days of freedom failed to calm him down, and on an April afternoon he shot the sheriff to death in the middle of town. After Noel G. Roberts, a nephew, filled the vacancy, Eugene Wall set out to avenge his slain brother. Since Curg Border was lying low in Beaumont, he had to be satisfied with a Broock, namely Ben, and gunned him down on Jun. 2. Summoned home by telegram, Curg rallied his kinfolk in the early hours of Jun. 4. As dawn broke over San Augustine, the all-volunteer army took cover around the courthouse and waited for their prey. The three Robertses -- Noel the sheriff, Sid the school superintendent and Felix the notary -- soon showed up for work. It would, however, be anything but business as usual. The appearance of Sid Roberts on the courthouse steps gave the
sharpshooters a clear target, and he died in the opening volley. Drawn to a window by the gunfire, Felix Roberts was killed by a single bullet to the brain. Noel Roberts ran for his horse, but a hail of lead forced him to retreat to the safety of the courthouse. Although numbers and firepower were on their side, the attackers hesitated to storm the building. After weighing his options for several hours, Sheriff Roberts again made a break for his horse and this time did not look back until he reached Nacogdoches. “This town at once went wild and many flew to arms,” reported a newspaperman at the neighboring county seat. “All people who know the parties predict more killings.” The governor immediately called out the Stone Fort Rifles, the Nacogdoches militia, with orders to put San Augustine under martial law. The citizen soldiers headed straight for the Walls’ place, where more than 200 men were arming for a counterattack. At the last minute, a fierce battle was averted when Eugene Wall agreed to surrender and face the music for the murder of Ben Broock. He knew there was little to fear from a jury, and he was absolutely right. His trial, and all others stemming from the San Augustine mayhem, ended in acquittal. The coolest head was on the shoulders of Brune Wall, who packed up and moved to Oklahoma. But old Buck and his two other surviving sons would not budge preferring death to the dishonor of turning tail. So death it was for Pez and Eugene Wall, murdered within the year by unknown assassins, and another helping of grief for Buck, who spent his last days far from the troubles that claimed four
of his five children. Curg Border wound up the winner by sheer attrition, but he eventually found a way to lose. Elected sheriff, he later lost the job and went gunning for his replacement. Familiar with Curg’s dangerous reputation, the new county cop took the sensible precaution of shooting first. His killer’s name was not Wall or Roberts, but Curg Border was dead all the same. ~bh Bartee Haile welcomes your comments, questions and suggestions at P.O. Box 152, Friendswood, TX 77549 or haile@ pdq.net and invites you to visit his new web site at barteehaile.com. Order your signed copy of “Texas Depression-Era today at barteehaile.com or for $26.65 to “Bartee Haile,” Friendswood, TX 77549.
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www.PeachyTurtle.org
May & June 2014 Third Time’s the Charm?
There has not been very much new to report in Ruthie’s recovery efforts since the March and April issues. Most notable is that she underwent a third fistula surgery as the doctors are trying to get her on track for a more reliable dialysis access. If you remember, she had her first fistula surgery back in 2012 before she had the stroke. That first fistula surgery was performed at Lubbock University Hospital and it failed. It was never used. Ruthie suffered the heart attack and the stroke shortly afterwards and up until this year she had
very little problems with her sub-clavical catheter. But this year has been very exhausting and she has have five procedures to replace clogged and unusable catheters. So earlier this year, Ruthie went in for her second fistula surgery. Her first fistula surgery was performed in Lubbock and it was in her left forearm. The second was performed in Fort Worth and it was placed in her upper-left arm. After several weeks of evaluations and hoping for good results, the second fistula also failed. The general reason for Ruthie’s difficulties with the first two fistula surgeries has been attributed to her abnormally narrow blood vessels -- which
Ruthie and Sherrie exchange worried glances as we wait for Ruthie’s doctor to evaluate her on Monday, June 2nd, 2014 in Fort Worth.
are a result of her lifelong challenges with Type-1 Diabetes. The vascular surgeon encouraged us to opt for the third attempt but he admitted that the blood vessels in Ruthie’s right arm were less favorable than those of her left. With our options limited, we chose to go with an artificial fistula, commonly called “a graft”. On May 7th, we reported back to the Fort Worth Plaza Medical Center and she had the artificial graft installed in her upper-right arm. We had far fewer problems with that procedure, although Ruthie experienced much more pain and soreness than she had with the two prior procedures. Just this week, on Monday June 2nd, we returned to Fort Worth to have her graft evaluated by her doctor. He OK’ed the graft for initial use starting the week of June 9th. So by the time you are reading this, Ruthie should have experienced her first dialysis session using the graft in stead of her catheter. If all goes well....(of course we know how that’s worked out so far)....the dialysis center will have no problems with the graft and we will go to another follow-up visit back to Fort Worth. Her doctor will then schedule her for a procedure to remove her catheter and she will once again be able to take a normal shower or a full immersion bath without taking extra precautions to avoid infection. It’s also possible that Ruthie may even get to go swimming sometime this summer...which she hasn’t done since 2011! Wish us luck and say a prayer or two for all to go well. God Bless!
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