In November &
Friendly Cowboy Western String Band
A new public art installation, the Friendly Cowboy Western String Band., is located at Mac Davis Lane and Avenue O (north of the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center) in downtown Lubbock.
The sculptures, by artist B.C. Gilbert, are a four-piece Friendly Cowboy Western String Band previously exhibited through the Public Display of Art temporary exhibition series. Each sculpture was individually displayed on state property in various locations throughout the City of Lubbock.
Gilbert said he found his inspiration in the poet and painter Jake Holster for his design and construction of The Friendly Cowboy Western String Band which is now reunited in one location.
(See Cowboy Western, Page 18)
Big Blue the Friendly Cowboy, the blue lead singer
The Amarillo Kid, the yellow fiddle player
Prairie Rose, the red bass player
Pinky the pink guitar player
‘Raised in My Daddy’s Garage’
Let’s go cruisin’ through the holidays as we hear about the Clay Cafe, Lubbock’s first Paint your own Pottery Studio, featuring a wide variety of figurines, seasonal decor, dishware,and mosaics.
Vanessa Lynch of Denton, Texas, will share her life story of being “Raised in My Daddy’s Garage.”
Join the Christian Women’s Connection at a buffet luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Nov. 12, at the Lubbock Country Club, 3400 Mesa Rd.
Cost is $23, payable at the door by cash or check.
Reservations can be made to Sharen at 806-392-0264 or LubbockCWC@gmail.com. Deadline to reserve or cancel is Nov. 8.
Game Day and Silent Auction
New Neighbors Club of Lubbock will hold its Veteran’s Day Game Day and Silent Auction on, Nov. 8 at the Lubbock Women’s Club, 2020 Broadway.
Games will be played from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m., with lunch around noon.
The cost is $30, with proceeds benefitting local charities. There will be door prizes and prizes for games winners.
Games played include bridge, canasta, Shanghai Rummy, Pennies from Heaven and Samba.
The event is open to the public.
For reservations, email ldtrn1025@suddenlink.net by Nov. 5.
Carpet Tech supports Feed Seniors Now
Carpet Tech is supporting Comfort Keepers of Lubbock’s 14th annual Feed Seniors Now initiative with a donation of five pallets of food.
This shelf-stable, individually packaged food will benefit Lubbock Meals on Wheels’ Weekend Meal Program, which provides weekend sacks to clients in Lubbock and Wolfforth who have no access to food or assistance on weekends.
Because of the growing need, Lubbock Meals on Wheels is now providing weekend assistance to 600 seniors each week (100 more seniors than this time last year).
Lubbock Meals on Wheels is not government funded nor is it a United Way agency. Donations like this allow more than 1,000 homebound people to be fed each weekday. Meals on Wheels also has a breakfast program that reaches almost 800 clients three days a week.
Just one small positive thought in the morning can change your whole day. – Dalai Lama
Never Forgotten, Keeping the Legacy Alive, Nov. 2
Sharon McCullar, curator of Silent Wings Museum since 2016 will present Never Forgotten: Keeping the Legacy Alive at the Silent Wings Museum” from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 2. She will also be highlighting the upcoming events for Veterans Day at the Museum.
RSVP before Oct. 31 for the Nov. 2 meeting to Marie Evans at 806-281-3181 or email MEvans1398@ aol.com.
The Dec. 7 program will be presenting the check for the scholarship at the Honors College, and two students will be speaking.
The group meets at the Carillon Senior Living in
the Pointe Plaza Building in the Cimarron Room next to the dining room. Cost is $18. Pay cash or make the check to Roundtable. Anything extra that is given goes into the scholarship fund for the Honors College.
info.
Once a week, or once a month, use your lunch hour to deliver a hot, nutritious meal to someone who is homebound. www.LubbockMealsOnWheels.org
make yours.
Meals on Wheels
Government is instituted for the common good: for the protection, safety, prosperity and happiness of the people; and not for the profit, honor, or private interest of any one man, family, or class of men.”
- JOHN ADAMS 2ND PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
The Garrison Institute on Aging was established in 1999 and named in honor of Mildred and Shirley Garrison in 2005. Our mission is to promote healthy aging thru research, promote educational and community outreach programs, and serve the community with services and contacts. If you have questions on health issues, aging, chronic disease and mental health, please reach out to us. We can assist in connecting you with the right contact for your concerns.
November is the National Gratitude Month. We have so much to be thankful for.
The heat of summer is gone (at least for now). The first freeze has occurred or will soon. We honor our veterans (we cannot thank you enough), and Thanksgiving is a time for families to enjoy each other and friends and favorite foods and fun.
• The Friends of the Library will combine November and December sale dates into Kris Kringle Sale from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 6-7 at the Mahon Library, 1306 9th St. If you have never attended, you will not be disappointed. Check their website for more information.
• The First Friday Art Trail will be from 6 to 9 p.m. Nov. 1. This is a free selfguided art tour through the Lubbock Cultural District. You can ride a trolley to the various locations. This is really a fun way to start your weekend.
• TTU sports (football, women’s soccer and volleyball) is all in action. Schedules can be found online. Check with ticket office
for ticket availability. With several new additions to the Big 12, this season will be memorable.
• The Cactus Theater, 1812 Buddy Holly Ave, offers a variety of musical productions. If you have never been or it has been a while, take the opportunity to see some great performances.
• The Buddy Holly Hall also hosted several worldrenowned performers. Take the opportunity to see some great productions.
• Holiday Happening is hosted annually by the Junior League of Lubbock and held at Lubbock Civic Center from Nov. 20 to 24.
Breakfast with Santa is Nov. 23. Tickets are limited for this event. Go online to get complete details and tickets.
Celebrate November.
• Nov. 1 is All Saints Day. Remember those that have gone before us.
• Nov. 2 is Election Day. Finally, all the political ads are gone…we hope.
• Nov. 11 is Veterans Day. Thank you is never
TEXAS TECH HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER Garrison Institute on Aging
enough. We appreciate your continued service.
• Nov. 21 is Hello Day. A day to be nice to all.
• Nov. 28 is Thanksgiving. I don’t know about you, but I really do enjoy the leftovers (and of course pecan pie).
Caregiving & Legal Issues
The Care Partner Academy will meet on Nov. 6 at noon. Lee Franks, JD will address Caregiving and Legal Issues…How to Stay Ahead of the Game.
Information will be provided for caregivers on guidelines to handle legal issues as a caregiver.
It is important to ensure all documents are current and follow state guidelines. Bring your questions and concerns you might have.
The session is free and open to the public and is held at 6630 S. Quaker Ave. Suite E at noon.
Light refreshments are served. You can view on ZOOM at https://ttuhsc. zoom.us/j/96798849277. Call 806-743-7821 for additional information.
Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Symposium
The Garrison Institute on Aging will host the 5th Annual Alzheimer’s Disease
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Awareness Symposium on Nov. 19.
This event will feature Allison Applebaum, Ph.D., whose primary focus is addressing the needs of the caregiver.
Focusing on the Caregiver will address this issue and will be held at the Merket Alumni Center, 2521 17th St. The event is free and open to the public.
Reservations are required and seating is limited. A light breakfast and lunch will be provided. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m., and the sessions will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Parking is available next to the building.
Contact the GIA at 806743-7821 to reserve your place.
RSVP: volunteering
RSVP…If you are interested in volunteering, we can help you to find the right location for your time and talents.
A few include Lubbock Meals on Wheels, Friends of the Library and the Veterans Clinic. Other organizations in need are such as SPFB, local hospitals and clinics, Hope Lodge, Ronald McDonald House, churches, civic organizations, crafters, and so many others can use your talents.
A new location is the Refuge Services. They offer the following resources:
Hippotherapy, Therapeutic Riding, Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy, and Veteran Program.
Their services are for all ages and provided in a quiet and controlled environment. They have a variety of activities that volunteers can provide from office assistance to assisting with the horse therapy.
If you are interested in giving back to the Lubbock community, and becoming a part of any of these great group of volunteers.
Or if you are already volunteering, call at 806732-7787 or email at rsvp@ ttuhsc.edu for information on enrolling with this program.
GIA Comprehensive Memory Clinic
In partnership with the Texas Tech University Grief and Response to Illness into Late Life (GRILL) Lab, TTUSC-GIA, introduces the GIA Comprehensive Memory Clinic.
This clinic will provide vital memory care services for persons with dementia and support for family members. Services include assessments, care plan, medication management, caregiver support and education.
For additional resources and information contact at
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806-834.5884 or go to https://www.ttuhsc.edu/centers-institutes/garrison-aging/memory-clinic.aspx.
For information or questions on any of our services at the Garrison Institute on Aging and RSVP, call 806-743-7787 or 806-743-7821.
November Funnies…
What is the most negative month of the year?
• NO-vember.
What happens when potatoes drink too much?
• They get mashed.
What is a vampire’s favorite November holiday?
• Fangs-giving.
We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand. ~ Randy Pausch
We celebrated last night with a couple of adult beverages - Metamucil and Ensure.
Never approach a bull from the front, a horse from the rear, or a fool from any direction.
In my 23 years of teaching, your son is my favorite student to have absent.
Garrison Institute on Aging TEXAS TECH HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER
Commissioner calls for student cellphone ban in schools
BY JADEN EDISON
Texas Education Agency
Commissioner Mike Morath on Wednesday said next year lawmakers should ban the use of cellphones in public schools across the state.
Morath’s endorsement of a statewide ban came during his testimony at a Senate Education Committee hearing, where he called the use of cellular devices “extremely harmful” to student progress.
“If it were in my power, I would have already banned them in all schools in the state,” Morath said.
“So I would encourage
math, a significant cause for concern among lawmakers Wednesday.
People supporting universal cellphone bans note that the devices distract students from learning and are harmful to children’s mental health.
Others worry that banning cellphones prevents young people from exercising personal responsibility and communicating with their parents during emergencies — a growing concern as mass shootings have become more common throughout the United States.
Mike Morath made the recommendation as concerns rise that phones are harmful to students’ mental health and distract them from learning.
you to consider that as a matter of public policy going forward for our students and our teachers.”
Morath’s comments fall directly in line with a debate taking place in school systems across the country, a contentious subject that doesn’t divide neatly along party lines.
The commissioner brought up the topic of cellphones while testifying about student outcomes on national and state exams.
On the most recent state exam, only 41% of Texas students demonstrated an adequate understanding of
if we could do that. But we can’t.
“I mean … how would it look?”
that sought to prohibit smartphone use during instructional time. “It takes leadership.”
During the Uvalde school shooting, where a gunman massacred 19 students and two teachers, children trapped inside the school used phones to call police for help.
Still, some committee lawmakers on Wednesday responded to Morath’s testimony with an openness to the idea.
“Mental health is becoming a bigger and bigger issue,” said Sen. José Menéndez, D-San Antonio.
“I like what you said about if we could get rid of the cellphones, you know. I mean, it would help all of us
Morath pointed out that many Texas school districts already ban cellphones in schools, some outright and others only allowing limited use during times like lunch or traveling in between classes.
“Administratively, this is a very doable thing,” he said.
Sen. Donna Campbell, a New Braunfels Republican, said that “while we will make an attempt” to ban cellphones from class during the next legislative session, it is ultimately the responsibility of school districts to take action.
“Everything doesn’t take legislation,” said Campbell, who proposed a bill during the last legislative session
Seventy-two percent of high school teachers across the country say that cellphone distractions are a major problem in their classroom, compared with 33% of middle school teachers and 6% of elementary school teachers, according to Pew Research.
Seven states thus far have passed laws that ban or restrict cellphone use in schools, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation.
Legislators in California, which has the most students enrolled in public schools in the country, recently approved a bill requiring school districts to develop a policy restricting the use of cellphones by 2026.
But it is unclear whether Texas, where more than 5.5 million children go to school, will soon follow suit.
During The Texas Tribune Festival earlier this month, state Rep. Gina Hinojosa, a Democratic member of the Public Education Committee from Austin, said she doesn’t like the use of cellphones in the classroom, “but it may be that we should leave it to school districts to decide that on their own.”
“I don’t know,” Hinojosa said. “We’ll have to hear the debate.”
Rep. Ken King, R-Canadian, who also serves on the Public Education Committee, said most of the schools he represents have already restricted cellphones.
“I don’t think we need law for everything,” he said.
High school students walk to their next class after the bell rings at Elsik Ninth Grade Center in Houston on March 28, 2018. Credit: Pu Ying Huang for The Texas Tribune
Active social lives help those living with dementia & caregivers thrive
People with dementia and those who care for them should be screened for loneliness, so providers can find ways to keep them socially connected, according to experts at the University of California, San Francisco (USCF) and Harvard, who made the recommendations after finding that both groups experienced declines in social well-being as the disease progressed.
Study participants with dementia, whose average age in the study was 80, had lost their social networks as their failing memories made conversation difficult, and their family and friends grew uncomfortable.
Caregivers, whose average age was 67 and included spouses, adult children, and others, became isolated as their responsibilities mounted.
They also grieved the loss of their relationships with the patients when those relationships were good.
“Unmet social needs negatively impact quality of life, and that can lead to health outcomes like depression and cardiovascular disease, as well as high health-care use and early death,” said Ashwin Kotwal, MD, an assistant
professor of medicine in the UCSF Division of Geriatrics, and first author of the study.
“We know from previous research that older adults with higher levels of social isolation have more than double the odds of nursing home placement,” said Kotwal, who is also affiliated with the San Francisco VA Health Medical Center.
The study, which appears in The Gerontologist, included information from two dozen mainly male patients with dementia, and four dozen mainly female caregivers, some of whom were recently bereaved.
“Participating in support groups, in which patients and their caregivers can meet separately, may be low-stress places to socialize and get advice,” said Krista Harrison, Ph.D., of the UCSF Division of Geriatrics, Global Brain Health initiative and Philip R. Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies.
The study’s senior author noted that screenings take minutes and can be done by doctors, social workers or therapists.
“Clinicians should discuss options like community choirs that have been tailored for patients with dementia and their caregivers,” she said.
“Prior research shows that meaningful activities can be enjoyed as the disease progresses. There may be simple ways of adapting activities, like switching attendance from a place of worship to participating in a service by Zoom with a small gathering at home.”
The interviews were conducted for two earlier studies.
1. Dementia Palliative Care, led by Harrison, examined patients with mildto-moderate dementia and their caregivers; and
2. Music and Dementia Caregiving, led by co-author Theresa Allison, M.D., Ph.D., looked at patients with any stage of dementia and their live-in caregivers, including those who had the assistance of professional caregivers.
Other authors included Theresa A. Allison, M.D., Ph.D.; Madina Halim, B.A.; Sarah B. Garrett, Ph.D.; Carla M. Perissinotto; and Alexander K. Smith, M.D., MPH, all of UCSF, and Christine S. Ritchie, M.D., MSPH, of Harvard Medical School.
Funding was provided by the National Institute on Aging, the National Institutes of Health, the National Palliative Care Research Center, and the Hellman Foundation.
Seeds of Hope
Someone designed & put the universe together
Years ago a man who had difficulty believing that God created the universe stopped by my brother’s office for a visit.
As he was sitting there, he noticed his new electric typewriter. After typing a few lines and watching the little ball swirl around and identify the letters of the alphabet that he wanted, he asked, “Where did this amazing machine come from?”
Remembering that he was an atheist, Michael replied, “Oh, a friend of mine just threw a bunch of bars and bolts, guides and keys, nuts and rollers, screws and springs and some toner stuff into a bucket, shook it for a minute or two, turned it upside down and out came this ‘creation.’”
“OK, preacher, I get it,” he admitted. “What you’re telling me is that just as there had to be someone design and put the typewriter together, there must have been someone to design and put the universe together.”
There are many who argue for or against the existence of God. The Bible simply states that “God is.” In Psalm 102:25 we read, “In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands.” This obviously means that God “was” before anything existed.
Love and faithfulness guard us
Dan and his Dad were sitting together looking at a family photograph album. Looking at a picture of a young man who had a head full of hair he asked, “Who’s that guy, Dad?”
“Me,” he replied. “That’s how I used to look.”
“What happened?” he asked, curiously.
Things change. People change. Times change. The universe changes. The heavens, admitted the Psalmist, will grow old. God will change them as a man putting on new clothing and throwing away the old. And then he wrote, “But you will remain the same, and your years will never end.”
Everyone is familiar with change. It is part of life. Sometimes it is welcome, and sometimes we fight against anything that is new and different, untried and unproven.
Some days everything is turned upside down. Some mornings begin with peace and calm and turn into a tempest by lunch.
Is there any news that could be more welcome - more comforting - more desired - more important - more joy producing than the words of the Psalmist: “You - O Lord - will remain the same”? Now and through eternity.
No matter the day or the difficulty, the problem or the pain, his love and his faithfulness guard us.
Covenant partners with foundation to address suicide prevention
Covenant Health partnered with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) in a venture in September to mark Suicide Awareness Month.
In a unified commitment to educate and raise awareness around the vital subject of suicide prevention, the two organizations harnessed both the extensive reach of Covenant Health and the expertise of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention in addressing mental health and suicide prevention.
Nearly 50,000 people died by suicide and 1.6 million people attempted suicide in the United States in 2022, underscoring the critical need for continued action to address this urgent public health matter.
In 2023, Lubbock was reported as having the highest rate of suicide attempts among children in the state of Texas.
“As a healing ministry, Covenant Health has always supported endeavors with community partners that advocate for the health and wellbeing of our neighbors,” said Cayce Kaufman, chief mission integration officer for Covenant Medical Group.
“The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention advances our mission to extend God’s healing love to those who are vulnerable.
“Together with AFSP, we will be able to provide lifesaving resources and support to anyone in need. We are thankful to all those working to advance justice and hope for people in crisis.”
Covenant Health, along with its parent company, Providence, have made mental health wellness a priority, dedicating an abundance of resources to research, education, awareness, and prevention.
In 2023, Covenant Children’s, along with Texas Tech Physicians, opened the Relational Health Center, an outpatient clinic focusing on the mental, social, and emotional health of adolescents and teens.
Save Lives and Bring Hope to Those Affected by Suicide.
- slogan of the AFSP
tember.
Covenant Health participated in the AFSP’s Out of the Darkness Walk in Sep-
Quality End of Life Care
The walk benefits the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) by raising awareness on suicide and depression, raising money for research and education to prevent suicide from taking place, and providing assistance and a safe outlet for survivors of suicide.
The walks are for those affected by suicide, and they send a strong message that suicide can be prevented, and that no one is alone.
If you or a loved one are experiencing a mental health crisis, call 988 or text TALK to 741741.
‘I Can Help’ by Billy Swan; now just await her decision
Billy Swan always maintained that his best songs have come easily and fast.
Case in point: In 1962, at age 20, Swan struck recording gold when a poem he wrote in a high school English class years before morphed into the lyrics of a hastily composed ditty he called “Lover Please.”
It became the last Top 10 hit for rhythm-and-blues legend Clyde McPhatter.
One dozen years later, Billy entered Tennessee record producer Chip Young’s Young’un Sound Studio and, in two takes, recorded a chart-topping tune that had taken him 20 minutes to write.
Music critics pronounced “I Can Help” a neo-rockabilly shuffle, fueled by an irresistible electric organ line; Swan, though, saw it as an up-tempo blues song.
Either way, it became a smash on both sides of the Atlantic.
Born in Missouri, Billy grew up influenced by country artists and such rock ‘n’ roll pioneers as Elvis Presley and Buddy Holly.
By age 14, Swan was drumming in local beer joints, while also teaching himself to play rhythm guitar and keyboards.
He eventually moved to Memphis, where he wrote several songs for established country artists and, in time, cut his record-production
teeth on Tony Joe White’s classic ditty “Polk Salad Annie.”
Billy signed to record for Nashville’s Monument Records.
He composed “I Can Help” in the “music room” that his wife, Marlu, had converted from a closet inside the small duplex they shared.
Those cramped quarters held an electric organ, an amplifier and a Rhythm Master drum machine.
“That Rhythm Master had something like 10 preset sounds,” recalls Swan.
“It had mambo, cha-cha, bossa nova, Rock 1 and Rock 2. I used one of those
Blast To The Past!
By Randal C. Hill
rock settings when I wrote ‘I Can Help.’”
Young’un Sound was actually a two-room log house in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, about 35 miles southeast of Nashville.
To record his million-seller, Billy borrowed a portable organ from a session musician in the studio that day.
“Chip set up a vocal mic,” Swan said. “I stood in front of the organ, and what you hear was captured on the sec-
ond take. While I was playing the organ and singing, I was also shaking my leg all through that take; Chip’s little puppy named Bowser was tugging on my pants leg all through what you hear on the record.”
Let’s examine “I Can Help.”
On the surface, a kindhearted man is offering his services to a lady who may appreciate his assistance: I got two strong arms, I
can help
Apparently, nothing is too big a task for him:
If your child needs a daddy, I can help
But the song’s refrain shows a change in focus, and Mister Nice Guy is obviously also interested in establishing a romantic relationship:
When I go to sleep at night
You’re always a part of my dream
Holding me tight and telling me everything I want to hear
Yes, he’s willing to help, but he yearns for more.
You’ve explained yourself, Billy. Now all you can do is await her decision.
Get out the crayons and color!
Cornucopia has Latin origins and Greek history
A cornucopia is a curved, hollow goat’s horn or similarly shaped receptacle (such as a horn-shaped basket) that is overflowing especially with fruit and vegetables such as gourds, ears of corn, apples, and grapes.
It is used as a decorative motif emblematic of abundance. It is also called a horn of plenty.
Cornucopia comes from the Late Latin cornu copiae,
which translates literally as “horn of plenty.”
A traditional staple of feasts, the cornucopia is believed to represent the horn of a goat from Greek mythology. According to legend, it was from this horn, which could be filled with whatever the owner wished, that the god Zeus was fed as an infant by his nurse, the nymph Amalthaea.
Later, the horn was filled with flowers and fruits, and given as a present to Zeus.
The filled horn (or a receptacle resembling it) has long served as a traditional symbol in art and decoration to suggest a store of abundance.
The word first appeared in English in the early 16th century; a century later, it developed the figurative sense of “an overflowing supply.”
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A bit of history
The single biggest thing I learned was from an indigenous elder of Cherokee descent who reminded me of the difference between a Western settler mindset of “I have rights” and an indigenous mindset of “I have obligations.”
Instead of thinking that I am born with rights, I choose to think that I am born with obligations to serve past, present, and future generations, and the planet herself.
November is National Hospice & Palliative Care month
Bridge maintenance project starting on south Loop 289 at Indiana Avenue
Lane/ramp closures to impact Loop traffic
A $1.7 million maintenance project to replace bridge joints and make deck and concrete repairs to various bridges in Lubbock has begun at south Loop 289 at the Indiana Avenue bridges.
Project contractor is ICOS Management, LLC, of Frisco, Texas.
Both east- and west-bound Loop traffic will be reduced to one-lane at Indiana Avenue.
Additional closures include the eastbound on-ramp between Quaker and Indiana avenues and the westbound on-ramp between University and Indiana Avenues.
The closures will give work crews the space needed to stage equipment and safely make the repairs.
Motorists should anticipate traffic delays and are urged to use caution when driving through the work
zones since crews will be working in close proximity to traffic.
Ten area bridges located along US 84, Loop 289, US 62, US 82 and I-27 are included in the project.
Repairs at each bridge location is expected to take approximately 4-6 weeks to complete; weather permitting. The project is scheduled to wrap-up in December 2025.
Barley Soup
Ingredients
• 1 lb. 95% lean ground beef
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1 teaspoon garlic salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• 1 cup each sliced carrots and celery
• ½ cup red wine (or water if you prefer)
• 6 cups low-sodium beef broth
• 1 (14oz.) can diced tomatoes
• ½ cup uncooked barley
• ½ teaspoon dried basil
• 1 bay leaf
• 9 oz. package frozen mixed vegetables
Instructions
1. In large Dutch oven, brown meat; add onion and cook until tender. Add seasonings.
2. Stir in remaining ingredients except frozen vegetables. Cover; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer about 1 hour, stirring occasionally.
Add frozen vegetables; cook 10 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Additional water may be added if soup becomes too thick upon standing. Pick up a print edition at any of our 100+ locations throughout Lubbock or go online to www.WordPub.com click on “Seniors” click on “Golden Gazette” choose a ‘pdf version’ or a ‘ ip-the-page’ version.
Beef
When you find the right supplements, they are fabulous
wonder what they can do for their health. I have to say what appears to be the easiest thing to do is to put a vitamin, mineral or herb in your mouth and swallow it.
You can read books, watch YouTube videos, listen to podcasts, read articles online, or simply ask a friend. But how do you know that is what you need?
It is a good question because when people come to see me, I ask them to bring the supplements they are taking as well as the ones they want to take.
You might be surprised to see the very big pile of pills I get. Sometimes it can be two grocery store sacks full of supplements. I’ve even had a person bring a big suitcase full of supplements in for me to test.
I have to tell you, when I do test them, almost ALL of the supplement’s test as if they should NOT be taking them.
Maybe a few out of many test well.
One person who does a particular kind of work with the brain sends his patients to me to for supplements.
The last ones I treated, he said, “You took them off of all of those supplements they were taking. You are saving them lots of money. They will be patients for life.”
I do take most people off of the supplements they bring in because their body does not want the supplement. My main concern is their health.
Obviously, they wouldn’t be in my office if all of those pills had helped them.
You need to find some way to determine if a supplement is good for you or right for you, and if you don’t know or can’t find out, my choice would be to forgo the supplement.
If you just know you need it, take the supplement for 3 weeks and if it hasn’t helped you, you can be pretty sure you didn’t need it.
Why does it matter if that particular supplement is something your body wants and likes? I’ve heard people say, “It won’t hurt if I take it even if I don’t need it.” Really? Are you certain about that?
Of course it can hurt. Chemistry is a real thing, and your body runs best on the chemistry being right. If it isn’t right, just like a car with a problem, sometimes it will still run, but it is not running optimally.
Even if your body needs a supplement, it will still be particular about how the supplement is made.
When you are in the health food store, look at magnesium. There are many
forms. Which form does your body need? Even if it is the right form, is the supplement put together in a way that your body wants it? Look up what food is rich in magnesium and try eating that food.
Maybe you can see the wisdom in not taking a supplement unless you know it is right for you.
One time a septic tank was
(See The right supplements, Page 16)
Make your final tax-saving moves before Dec. 31
Proactive investors know that the months before year-end can be an ideal time to make strategic adjustments.
While keeping in mind your long-term investment goals, meet with your advisor and coordinate with your tax professional to examine nuances and changes that could impact your typical year-end planning.
Mind your RMDs
Be thoughtful about required minimum distributions (RMDs) to ensure that you comply with the rules – especially as some of those rules have shifted throughout the pandemic.
Investors who reach a certain age are required to take RMDs from their IRAs.
You’ll face a hefty 25% tax pen-
alty on amounts not withdrawn from your IRA to meet the RMD, so be sure to speak with your advisor to ensure you’ve met your obligations.
Note: If the RMD is timely corrected within two years, the excise tax rate could drop to 10%. A few reminders for future distribution planning:
• RMDs can be automated with your advisor to help ensure you don’t miss applicable deadlines.
• Your first RMD can be delayed until April 1 of the year after you reach 70 1/2, 72 or 73 (depending on your year of birth). If you delay, however, you must also take your second RMD in the same tax year. This can inflate your income, which may affect your tax bracket. Check with your advisor to determine what is applicable and best for you.
• Subsequent RMDs must be taken no later than Dec. 31 of each calendar year.
• Qualified charitable distributions allow traditional IRA owners who are 70 1/2 and older to gift up to $105,000 from their IRA to a qualified charity.This is a non-taxable distribution from their IRA and can be used to satisfy an RMD.
• Be mindful of how taking a distribution will impact your taxable income or tax bracket. If you are in a low tax bracket, discuss with your financial advisor and tax professional about taking an additional strategic distribution at that lower rate.
To harvest or not to harvest
Evaluate whether you could benefit from tax-loss harvesting – selling a losing investment to offset gains.
If your capital losses exceed your capital gains, your excess losses up to $3,000 (single or married filing jointly) can be used to offset ordinary income.
Any additional losses can be carried forward to future years.
With your advisor, examine the following subtleties when aiming to decrease your tax bill:
• Short-term gains are taxed at a higher marginal rate; aim to reduce those first.
• Don’t disrupt your long-term investment strategy when harvesting losses.
• Be aware of “wash sale” rules that affect new purchases before and
Tax-saving moves before Dec. 31
(Continued from Page 14) after the sale of a security. If you sell a security at a loss but purchase another “substantially identical” security – within 30 days before or after the sale date – the IRS likely will consider that a wash sale and disallow the loss deduction. The IRS will look at all your accounts – 401(k), IRA, taxable, etc. – when determining if a wash sale occurred.
Manage your income and deductions
Those at or near the next tax bracket should pay close attention to anything that might bump them up and plan to reduce taxable income before the end of the year.
• Determine if it makes sense to accelerate deductions or defer income, potentially allowing you to minimize your current tax liability. Some companies may give you an opportunity to defer bonuses and so forth into a future year as well.
• Certain retirement plans also can help you defer taxes. Contributing to a traditional 401(k) allows you to pay income tax only when you withdraw money from the plan in the future, at which point your income and tax rate may be lower or you may have more deductions available to offset
the income.*
• Evaluate your income sources – earned income, corporate bonds, municipal bonds, qualified dividends, etc. – to help reduce the overall tax impact.
Evaluate life changes
From welcoming a new family member to moving to a new state, any number of life changes may have impacted your circumstances over the past year. Bring your financial advisor up to speed on major life changes and ask how they could affect your year-end planning.
• Moving can significantly impact tax and estate planning, especially if you’ve relocated from a high income tax state to a low income tax state, from a state with a state income tax to one without (or vice versa), or if you’ve moved to a state with increased asset protection. Note that moving expenses themselves are no longer deductible for most taxpayers.
• Give thought to your family members’ life changes as well as your own – job changes, births, deaths, weddings and divorces, for example, can all necessitate changes – and consider updating your estate documents accordingly.
Next steps
Consider these to-do’s as you prepare to make the
most of year-end financial moves, and discuss with your financial advisor and tax professional:
• Manage your income and deductions, paying close atten¬tion to your marginal tax bracket.
• Evaluate your investments, keeping in mind whether you could benefit from taxloss harvesting.
• Make a list of the life changes you and your family have experienced during the year.
*Withdrawals from qualified accounts, such as an IRA, prior to age 59 1/2 may also be subject to a 10% federal penalty tax. RMDs are generally subject to federal income tax and may be subject to state taxes. Consult your tax advisor to assess your situation. Raymond James does not provide tax or legal services. Please discuss these matters with the appropriate professional.
Zach Holtzman financial advisor
Texas Tech Football Schedule
The right supplements
(Continued from Page 13)
emptied, and they found many supplements, in pill form, that had never dissolved. They went through the body without ever being broken up so you can safely say they were not useful to the body.
Lots of people point to “you wasted your money.” Maybe, maybe not. To me, the money is not as important as your health.
People blow money on all kinds of things, and if in trying to be healthier, a person spends money that could have been used more wisely, well, so be it.
Go look in one of your closets or drawers, and I will bet you have a few things that were not wise purchases. We all do.
But if my health suffers, I am judgmental about that. I do not want my body to have any stress from taking supplements I didn’t need.
The point is, there are many ways to determine if a particular supplement is compatible with your body. Find one of those ways. I test supplements using muscle testing. It isn’t the only way, but the proof is in the pudding.
A young woman came in with a huge sugar craving as well as gut issues. I gave her a few supplements (average I give is 4-5 supplements) and a diet.
She came back numerous times, and her final visit told me, “I don’t crave sugar anymore.”
Another woman came in with depression being her biggest complaint. After about 6 or 7 treatments, she had no depression. Certainly, better than a drug.
It isn’t as if they don’t work. They do. However, most people need someone who is experienced to help determine which supplements you need. Ask around.
When used correctly supplements are fabulous.
‘Wicked’
the early story of the Witches of Oz
“Wicked” tells the early story of the Witches of Oz.
The tale mainly focuses on Elphaba Thropp (Emmy, Grammy and Tony winner Cynthia Erivo), who’s rejected by many because of her unusual skin. (It’s green!)
She also has yet to discover and appreciate her true power.
Elphaba is the polar opposite of the gorgeous, spoiled, fawned-over and overly ambitious Glinda Upland (global superstar Ariana Grande), who has grown up basking in the warmth of privilege and power.
The pair meet at Shiz University in the Land of Oz, and that’s where they form an unlikely but rock-solid friendship.
Following an encounter with the Wizard (Jeff Goldblum), that friendship eventually reaches a crossroads, with the two women’s lives taking very different paths as a result.
The November release of “Wicked” is the film version of the stage musical of the same name by Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman.
Their creation hit Broadway in 2003 and became the first
great musical of the new century.
“Wicked,” of course, drew from L. Frank Baum’s enduring 1900 novel “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.”
Jon M. Chu directed the movie. In 2022, he decided that what is coming in November will be termed “Wicked,” while the second part will release in November 2025 as “Wicked Part Two.”
“As we prepared the production over the last year,” Chu said, “it became impossible to wrestle the story of ‘Wicked’ into a single film without doing some real damage to it
as a source of inspiration for the “Wicked” use of the largescale sets and special effects that bring many onscreen elements to life, including 9 million tulips in Munchkinland, an actual yellow brick road, and a life-sized Art Deco-inspired train used to transport Elphaba and Glinda to the Emerald City.
“We dreamed very, very,
Movie Preview
By Randal C. Hill
“As we tried to cut songs or trim characters, those decisions began to feel like fatal compromises to the source material that has entertained us all for so many years.
“We decided to give ourselves a bigger canvas and make not just one ‘Wicked’ movie but two!”
In addition, Chu cites Steven Spielberg’s 1991 film “Hook”
very big for ‘Wicked,” Jon said. “A magical land of sights and sounds that will astonish, and performances that will lift your spirits…and occasionally break your hearts.”
See “Wicked” in theaters beginning Nov. 22.
P. S., Be prepared to be bombarded with a wide range of “Wicked” merchandise in time for the holiday season, as marketing promotions will include toys, apparel, books and beauty products waiting to be thrust into eager young hands.
Graham Nash to perform in Lubbock, April 13, 2025
Two-time Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee and founding member of both the Hollies and Crosby, Stills & Nash, Graham Nash is adding a spring leg across the East Coast, Southern U.S. and West Coast to his critically acclaimed North American tour.
Graham Nash will perform on April 13, 2025 at the Cactus Theater in Lubbock.
Tickets are available at grahamnash.com
Nash will be joined on stage by Todd Caldwell (keyboards and vocals), Adam Minkoff (bass, drums, guitars and vocals) and Zach Djanikian (guitars, mandolin, drums and vocals), performing favorites from across his 60-year career.
Nash’s first studio album of new material in seven years, Now, is out now on BMG. Produced by Nash and longtime touring keyboardist Caldwell, the album is the subject of extensive critical praise from The New York Times, The New Yorker, USA Today, The Broken Record podcast, SPIN and many more.
In addition to his two Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductions (with Crosby, Stills & Nash and the Hollies), Nash is a two-time inductee to the Songwriters Hall of Fame—as a solo artist and with CSN—and a Grammy Award winner.
Towering above virtually everything that Gra -
ham Nash has accomplished in his multifaceted career stands the litany of songs that he has written and introduced to the soundtrack of the past half century.
Nash’s remarkable body of work began the Hollies opus from 1964 to ’68. His contributions to Crosby, Stills & Nash and Déjà Vu are lightning rods embedded in our DNA, starting with “Marrakesh Express,” “PreRoad Downs” and “Lady of the Island” from the former and “Teach Your Children” and “Our House” from the latter.
Nash’s career as a solo artist took flight in 1971 with two albums further showcasing the depths of his abilities as a singer and songwriter, yielding “Chicago/We Can Change the World,” “Military Madness,” “I Used To Be A King” and “Simple Man.”
His passionate voice has long been heard in support of peace and social and environmental justice.
The No Nukes/Musicians United for Safe Energy (MUSE) concerts he organized with Jackson Browne and Bonnie Raitt in 1979 remain seminal benefit events.
In September 2013, Nash released his long-awaited autobiography Wild Tales, which landed him on The New York Times Best Sellers list.
In recognition of his con-
(See Graham Nash, Page 18)
Cowboy Western String Band
(Continued from Page 2)
The band is comprised of the Amarillo Kid, the yellow fiddle player, Prairie Rose, the red bass player, Pinky, the pink guitar player, and Big Blue the Friendly Cowboy, the blue lead singer.
Each sculpture measures 13’ tall, and weighs 1,000 –1,200 lbs.
Gilbert’s first experiences in welding began in his dad’s welding shop, located off of Route 66 just outside of Amarillo, Texas, where he became familiar with the materials and machines he now utilizes to create his lasting artwork.
Gilbert received his Master of Fine Arts from Texas Tech University. Along with sculpture, Gilbert also works in painting, print, and mixed-media. Gilbert currently resides in Wichita Falls, Texas.
Jacqueline Bober, the municipal museums director, explained how the statues got to where they ended up.
“Civic Lubbock Inc. contacted the artist and made the arrangements to purchase them from him. And when we decided to find a site for them, the artist expressed his preference to have them together,” Bober said.
Gilbert described the way he built the statues and what he modeled them after.
“The arc forms themselves are based off of smaller type of folk-art figurines that people like my grandfather used to make out of horseshoe nails or square head nails,” Gilbert said.
“I wanted them all tied together, and you know, as you probably figured out by now Lubbock is a pretty big music town,” Gilbert said. A lot of musicians have come from there. I know a lot of musicians and songwriters, and so I just kind of used that as inspiration.”
Graham Nash April 13
(Continued from Page 17)
tributions as a musician and philanthropist, Nash was appointed an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) by Queen Elizabeth II.
While continually building his musical legacy, Nash is also a renowned photographer and visual artist whose work has been shown in galleries and museums worldwide.
Most recently Nash released A Life In Focus: The Photography Of Graham Nash (via Insight Editions), in which he reflects on more than fifty years of an extraordinary life in an extensive collection of personal photographs and artistic stills.
Golden Gazette Crossword Puzzle
ACROSS
1. Second letter of the Greek alphabet
5. Antiaircraft fire
9. Pertaining to sound reproduction
14. Greek goddess of the rainbow
15. Solitary
16. Pry
17. Deities
18. Youthful
20. Eccentric
21. Momentous
22. Column in the form of a man
24. Fairyland
28. Primordial giant in Norse myth
29. Lees
31. Conclusion
32. Pitcher
33. Commmunication medium
34. Magazine
35. Ireland
36. Leg of lamb
37. Sector
38. Hurried
39. Peculiarity
40. Dreadful
41. Inquire of
42. Robust
43. Metal containers
44. Stanza of six lines
46. Hide
49. Remains of a ruin
52. Monetary unit of Romania
53. Outward show
56. Web-footed aquatic bird
57. Chirp
58. Horse of mixed color
59. Continent
60. Containing tin
61. Springing gait
62. A person that uses
DOWN
1. Intolerant person
2. Become eroded
3. Children’s game
4. Donkey
5. Taste
6. Water-repellent cloth
7. Soon
8. Salmon that has spawned
9. Relieve
10. Aunt’s husband
11. Female deer
12. Electrically charged atom
13. Choose
19. Result
21. Islamic chieftain
23. So be it
25. Merciless
26. Silly
27. Verge
29. Motherless calf
30. Public disturbance 32. Efface
33. Phial
35. Periods of history
36. Abrading tool
37. Bluish white metallic element
39. Treatment of disease
40. Inhabitant of Denmark
43. Believable
45. Between
46. Source of cocoa
47. Lofty nest
48. Pertaining to the moon
50. Vehicles
51. Gnarl
53. Statute
54. 21st letter of the Greek alphabet
55. Writing instrument
56. 19th letter of the Greek alphabet
Solution on Page 21
Winter Safety Tips
To help keep your home and family safe during winter weather follow these safety tips:
• Never use an oven or a gas stovetop to heat your home.
• Minimize the risk of frozen pipes. Leave faucets running at a trickle, leave cabinet doors open, and close all doors and windows to keep heat inside.
• Make sure smoke detectors and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms are in working condition.
• Snow and ice buildup can damage gas meters and pipes and make them difficult to reach in an emergency.
• Carefully remove snow and ice from meters and pipes by gently using a broom or brush.
• Do not use ice-melting chemicals, salt, shovels, or sharp-edged tools. Never kick or chip snow and ice away with a hard object.
• Make sure that external vents for dryers and other natural gas equipment are clear. Blocked vents for dryers and other gas appliances can lead to a dangerous buildup of carbon monoxide gas. If you have questions about proper venting, contact a licensed plumber or qualified contractor.
• Make sure the meter is visible to snowplow drivers if it is near a street or sidewalk.
• Make sure snow and ice from your roof does not land on or bury your gas meter.
• Repair leaky gutters and make sure water does not drip onto the meter and freeze.
• If you think you smell gas, act fast! Leave the area immediately and from a safe distance call 911 and the Atmos Energy emergency number at 866.322.8667.
Energy Saving Tips
Because colder weather may impact the amount of natural gas you use, consider implementing these energy-saving tips where safe to do so:
• Lower your thermostat to 68 degrees during the day and 58 degrees when you are away from home.
• Reduce your shower and bath time. Showering and bathing can account for 40 percent of your home’s hot water use.
• Operate your clothes washer, dryer, and dishwasher only when fully loaded.
• Unless a fire is burning, close your fireplace damper to prevent warm air from escaping up the chimney.
• Do not use a pool heater. Instead, run your pool pump during the coldest part of the day to circulate the water and prevent freezing.
• Customers in Colorado, Louisiana, Mississippi, and parts of Texas can take advantage of rebates on high-efficiency natural gas appliances, energy-saving devices, and weatherization upgrades.
- Information provided by Atmos Energy
Boost your immunities
1. Keep a positive TB12 mindset
(expect the best)
(TB12 is a holistic diet and lifestyle program created by American football quarterback Tom Brady and his body coach Alex Guerrero.)
2. Stay hydrated
3. Eat your vegetables
4. Consume vitamin D
5. Consume essential fatty acids
6. Skip added sugar
7. Move for 30-60 minutes each day
8. Get extra vitamin C
9. Add zinc to your diet
10. Eat lots of protein
11. Sleep
12. Get probiotics into your diet
Hope, Help, & Healing Conference
The Crime Victim Coalition of West Texas is hosting the Hope, Help, and Healing Conference for those in the West Texas area who work with victims of crime.
This year’s conference will feature speakers from the Children’s Advocacy Center of the South Plains, the Texas Association Against Sexual Assault, and Texas Tech University.
Topics will include:
• Creating Hope and Healing for Victims and Their Families Using EMDR
• Crisis Management Skills for Trauma Informed Care
• Understanding the Psychological Impact of Criminal Victimization
The Coalition invites victim advocates, law enforcement, and attorneys to join them for this free conference on, Nov. 13 from 1 to 5 p.m.
The Texas Department of Public Safety is hosting the conference in their facility.
Please note that an RSVP is required.
For additional information or to RSVP, contact Kristi Thompson, president, at 806775-1720 or kthompson@ lubbockcounty.gov.
The Crime Victim Coalition of West Texas is a coalition of local agencies working together to empower and comfort the broken hearted who have been impacted by crimes by providing free assistance, information, support and referrals.
A 2nd century begins
“100 Reflections,” the all-class centennial gift, was given to Texas Tech University as part of the first homecoming of the second century of the university.
The sculpture is located between the Student Union building and the Southwest Collection/ Special Collections Library on the campus. It was dedicated in a special ceremony on Oct. 19, 2024.
The art consists of 100 pillars with 100 polished, reflective Double Ts symbolizing each of the 100 years of Texas Tech’s history.
Learn more about “100 Reflections” online at www.texastechalumni.org/CentennialSculpture.
• Want Ads • Want Ads • Want Ads •
volunteer I ng?
Covenant Health and Covenant Children’s are in need of volunteers. Donate a morning or afternoon each week to help serve patients and families! If interested, call 806-7250465 , or email parkss1@ covhs.org 3/19
f or s A le by o W ner 2 burial spaces in Resthaven Cemetery, Lubbock, TX. Bargain price! $2,750 for one; $5,000 for both. Call Lynn at 806-787-8474 or 806-6870077 9/23
l ook I ng for volunteers
University Medical Center is looking for volunteers to work as messengers, pop popcorn, and work at the information desk. If you would like to meet new people, socialize, be appreciated, and have all the free popcorn you can eat, call 806775-8760 6/1
Subscription Form
s en I or hA n Dy M A n
Exclusively for seniors. Will work around your schedule. It’s a free etimate. Trustworthy, honest. Let me know what needs repairing. Call James 806-777-6454. No job too small. Have a nice day! 5/24
Po W er Ch AI r
Power chair is 9 months old with battery charger, swing away joy stick; runs great and shows little wear. $2,500. In Denver City, TX. Call 806786-3769 .Original price $20,000. 9/24
Welcome to Texas Winter is at 6 a.m. Spring starts at 10 a.m. Summer is at 2 p.m. And fall starts around 4:30-ish. Dress accordingly.
Well, you can buy your wife jewelry, an expensive purse or perfume for Christmas, but she will never, ever forget the Christmas you gave her a mop. Never. Ever.
There is nothing like a grandchild to put a smile on your face, a lump in your throat and a warm feeling in your heart.
Be good enough to forgive people, but don’t be stupid enough to trust them again.
C A n’t re AC h your toes? ... I CA n!
Professional manicures & pedicures. Top quality products & services. Promoting healthy nails. 20 years experience. Call Alicia at 806-3175226 2/17
Profess I on A l Iron I ng
Professional Ironing $1.50 most items. Flexible hours and quick turnaround. Call 806748-6266 3/24
Defens I ve Dr I v I ng
In-person or Online LubbockClass.com. 10% insurance discount for 3 years OR for speeding ticket. Call 806781-2931 1/24
$10 for up to 30 words 10¢ per word above 30 Ads must be received & paid for by the 20th of the month for the next month’s issue. Email: maedwards@wordpub.com Mail to:
Publications P.O. Box 723 Tahoka, Texas 79373 FREE ADS Local personal items for sale. Maximum of 15 words, merchandise priced $100 or less, will be run FREE OF CHARGE.
Another couple of Friday treats
Since Friday is always a meatless day for us, I am always on the “lookout” for a new place to eat. So now I must inform you of my newest “find.”
First is the most delicious fried cod from Red Robin. The fish is flaky and moist -- not dry and not greasy. Then don’t forget their famous fried onion rings. These delicious “sides” are huge! If you can consume all of them – you deserve a trophy. My “max” is only the small ones, that’s it.
Another Friday fish treat is the grilled salmon from Outback Steakhouse. It’s served with delicious remoulade sauce. Oh, so good. The salmon is perfectly grilled and very moist. While the special sauce is not really needed, it makes it very special.
I recently found out that Red Robin also offers grilled salmon on their menu – I’ll keep you informed.
Since Daughter and I are always on the lookout for great Friday fish entrees, these mentioned are at the top of our list – so far.
FYI -- we use Door Dash for delivery. They’re always prompt, and the food is always hot. Never a problem with DD.
Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, 485 S Loop 289 806-794-4800, RedRobin.com
Outback Steakhouse, 4015 S Loop 289 806-788-0035, Outback.com
Happy, Safe Thanksgiving… Enjoy all the fall colors, Cathy
‘I have a bomb’ - it’s still unsolved
Daredevil or courageous hijacker
It was on a stormy Thanksgiving Eve in 1971 that a person who called himself Dan Cooper leaped into legend in a bizarre escapade that remains history’s only unsolved commercialairline hijacking.
The night that changed aviation history began in Portland, Oregon, when a well-dressed 40ish man carrying a briefcase approached the flight counter of Northwest Orient Airlines and gave his name as Dan Cooper. (In Canada, “Dan Cooper” was a comic-book hero.)
He became D. B. Cooper of popular culture later, when a reporter covering the hijacking mistyped the name from a police source.
Never asked to show identification or to open his briefcase, he paid cash for a one-way ticket on a Boeing 727 to nearby Seattle.
As one of 37 passengers, he sat alone in the last row.
Once airborne, Cooper passed a folded note to 23-year-old Florence Schaffner, an attractive steward accustomed to men hitting on her.
When she tucked the unread message into her purse, the soft-spoken stranger said, “Miss, you’d better look at that note; I have a bomb.”
The note confirmed his threat, and Cooper ordered
Schaffner to sit beside him. When she did, she asked to look inside the briefcase. There she saw a tangle of wires, a battery and six round red sticks.
The passenger said that,
1970s 1970s
once they landed in Seattle, he wanted $200,000 cash in a knapsack, as well as back and front parachutes. If his demands weren’t met, he warned, he would blow up the plane.
Schaffner took the note to the captain. When she returned, Cooper had donned wraparound sunglasses.
It was raining hard when the plane touched down in Seattle. The requested cash was brought onboard, the 727 was refueled, and the remaining passengers were released.
The hijacker then ordered the captain to fly to Mexico City.
Cooper was obviously familiar with the aircraft. He ordered the pilot to fly the plane below 10,000 feet and with the wing flaps set at 15 degrees. (This would keep the 727 under 200 knots—230 miles an hour.)
Cooper soon strapped the
cash to himself, then slipped on the parachutes. He promised a frightened steward that he would dismantle the bomb or take it with him later, but he did neither.
Over the rugged terrain of
southwestern Washington, he moved to the aft stairs, which allowed passengers to disembark from the rear of the airliner. He then leapt into the darkness amid a howling rainstorm and into an area of dense forests, canyons and white-water rapids. He was never seen again.
Rivaling an Alfred Hitchcock fantasy, the Cooper incident has achieved cult status in a Robin Hood sort of way.
Never mind that the hijacker threatened to murder people, or that he made off with today’s equivalent of $1.5 million in cash.
Some folks have pronounced him a harebrained daredevil, jumping to certain death in the worst imaginable weather.
Others, though, have maintained that D. B. Cooper deserves to be seen as a courageous establishment-beater who’s possibly still alive.
Save energy this winter
Colder weather may impact the amount of natural gas you use. To save energy and money, consider these energy-saving tips where safe to do so:
• Lower your thermostat to 68 degrees during the day and 58 degrees when you are away from home.
• Reduce your shower and bath time. Showering and bathing can account for 40 percent of your home’s hot water use.
• Operate your clothes washer, dryer, and dishwasher only when fully loaded.
• Unless a fire is burning, close your fireplace damper to prevent warm air from escaping up the chimney.
• Do not use a pool heater. Instead, run your pool pump during the coldest part of the day to circulate the water and prevent freezing.
- from Atmos Energy
I married my wife for her looks, but not the ones I’m getting lately.
I accidentally swallowed a load of scrabble pieces. My next trip to the toilet could spell trouble.
Salesman: This car seats 6 people without any problems. Me: I don’t think I know six people without any problems.
Sometimes you have to tell the negative committee that meets inside your head to just sit down and shut up.
At the Cactus
1812 Buddy Holly Ave.
Caldwell Entertainment: Tribute to Journey, Bon Jovi, Foreigner and Aerosmith - Nov. 2
American Aquarium - The Fear of Standing Still Tour - Live - Nov. 3
West Texas Exiles with special guest Jenni Dale Lord - Live - Nov. 6
The Isaacs - Tribute to the Grand Ole Opry Tour - Live Nov. 7
Even It Up - The Ultimate Heart Tribute + Burning Sky Band - Live - Nov. 8
Kin Faux - with special guests Jaret Ray Reddick and Paige Lewis - Live at the Cactus - Nov. 14
A Taylor Experience - ReCreating the Magic of the Eras Tour - Live - Nov. 15
Caldwell Entertainment: West Texas Tribute to Neil Diamond and the EaglesNov. 16
NEW DATE! - Sue Foley
- Lady Plays the BluesDebut Performance, Live at the Cactus - Nov. 17
Morgan James - Pop, Soul, Broadway and More! - Live at the Cactus - Nov. 22
Texas Flood - #1 Touring Tribute to Stevie Ray Vaughan - Live at the Cactus - Nov. 23
Sounds of West Texas: 7th Annual Home For the Holidays - Nov. 30
I went to the paint
Applebaum, Ph.D., FAPOS
