Cherokeean Herald (Rusk, Tex.), Vol. 156, No. 52, Ed. 1 Wednesday, February 15, 2006 Page: 2 of 16
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Page
HERALD
February 15,2006
COLUMNS
EDITORIAL BOARD
Whitehead Enterprises Inc.
publisher
Marie Whitehead
editor
Terrie W. Gonzalez
managing editor
Texas' Oldest Continuously
Published Weekly Newspaper
Established as the
Cherokee Sentinel, Feb, 27,1850
Consolidation of The Cherokeean,
The Alto Herald and
the Wells News & Views
I
Good News
I really don't like being in
the middle.
I was told, many years
ago by a very wise man, that
only two things were in the
middle of the road — dead
armadillos and a yellow
stripe.
I don't want to be either.
But sometimes I do ffeel
pulled to the left or right.
The Good News is, if I am
in the middle of my life, I will
live to be about 100. That
sounds fine to me, but I do
retain the right to renegotiate
later.
It seems like I always gravi-
tate toward the middle. I am
not a person of extremes,
either politically or person-
ally.
I'm pretty bland and boring
when picking clothes — I wear
mainly blue, brown and gray.
I just am not flashy.
I call it, my "Witness Pro-
tection Outfit.'' I just blend
in.
I think it comes from my
longtime job as a journalist.
At times I feel hke I am more
of an observer than a Writer.
I have spent over half my
life covering sports events
and happenings in the com-
DON WALLACE
chreporter@mediactr.com
munity — watching children
run and play, while I wrote
stories and took photos. I was
always secretly proud of what
they did, if it was winning
district or the playoffs, or just
giving the effort to win. But I
was a detached observer.
I don't think you can write
well if you are rooting. I do
my rooting or pulling for
a team inside, away from
prying eyes. Then I try to
write a fair and impartial
story. Each time I ask myself,
"Have you told both sides?
That's because I cover it
from the middle. I'm not a
guy who lives it, just a mild-
mannered man who observes.
I have always tried to add
[facts some fans might miss
and put in something that
[even a fan at the game might
have overlooked.
Take the game between
Rusk and Central the other
night.
I think Central missed a
httle detail, like forgetting
that Justin Sturns is left-
handed. A minor thing you'd
think, but I think it cost
them several buckets while
they went to his right side
to guard him, and he'd go
left and drive the hoop for a
basket.
It's the httle things I
observed, sitting on the side-
lines. It's gotten so bad that I
have a hard time watching a
game without taking notes.
But I have to be optimistic.
Being in the middle is sure
better than being on the
bottom.
I have always had enough
to eat, clothes to wear and
somewhere Warm to lay my
head at night.
Maybe being in the middle
is a good thing. I have a great
view — you can see me stand-
ing near the armadillo and
the yellow stripe.
V:' .
Jim Hogg
Historical Park,
Rusk
Caddoan Mounds
State Historical Site,
Alto
Texas State Railroad
State Historical Park,
Rusk
kealty
OA) (W
Scene In Passing
Oh my, how blessed our
area was last Thurs-
day when we received
rain estimated at 1-1/2 to two
inches of the wet stuff. Every-
body was dancing on the ceil-
ing. It didn't take away from
the pain some were experi-
encing, but better reports are
being heard.
We learned of successful
surgery for Sharon Fisher;
also good news for emergency
surgery for Johnny Jennings.
He is the son of our Gloria,
who moved in a hurry to Trin-
ity Mother Frances in Tyler.
He had bypass, following a
determined blockage of 99
percent in one artery and 75
percent in another.
We can all be thankful that
these two Ruskit.es are on
the road to better health.
Another on the mending
hst is Bob Stallings, who
continues to amaze all who
know him. Special prayers
also this week for Leahmon
Hassell who has experienced
ill health for a lengthy time.
Fairy Grigory reported that
members of her ailing family
are hanging in. These include
Sheriff Joe Max Taylor at
Galveston, doing nicely and
John Taylor, still strugghng.
MARIE WHITEHEAD
editor@mediactr.com
Her mom, Mrs. Dessie Bolton,
is still surprising everyone
with her longevity, and sister
Helen Cromwell is recuperat-
ing very well following treat-
ments. Ruth Ross, Rusks
only councilwoman, is back
in action at city hall, having
attended last week's regular
meeting. She fell victim to
the painful shingles. Bro. Tim
Timmons returned to the hos-
pital after surgery for a bum
knee last we^k. There was
a blood clot, which is never
taken hghtly.
A happy scene was enjoyed
at First United Methodist
Church Sunday. The Men
of the Church prepared a
feast to honor the Women of
the Church. Fun and fel-
lowship were shared with a
[former pastor. Rev. Everett
McCollum and wife Lor ene.
They tripped up from Trin-
lity so that he could serve as
our featured speaker for the
gathering. Many of us wished
we had recorded his talk,
[because there were so many
laughs in his words that we
would have hked to pass on.
Both of them looked remark-
ably well, considering then-
recent Serious illnesses. He
had major surgery and she
had an attack of shingles.
Remember the Cherokee
Civic Theatre's presentation
this coming weekend. It reads
like a great time for theatre-
goers according to press
releases. The talented Sheila
O'Heaney is the production's
director.
Some of those sending
words our way include a
former resident. She is
Eloise Cauthen who with
her spouse, Clyde, operated
a furniture and appliance
store on the east side of the
square in the 50s. She resides
in Waco and sends greetings
to all of us who remember
them. Another is the sister
of our late friend, Virgil
Schochler. Inez Spears lives
in Nacogdoches and feels a
close kinship to Cherokee
County citizens, especially
those in Alto.
A special friend, Wilma
Hansen of Houston, sent a
recent report of their mini-
reunion at the home of her
brother and his wife, the Billy
Ray Johnsons. She writes, "I
look forward to getting my
Herald every week. I meet
the postman. He always
says, 'I have your paper. If
he doesn't, I give him a hard
time."
With her sisters and several
cousins from Oklahoma,
they enjoy the barbecuing
and fish frying of Billy Ray.
She reported that her sister,
Wanda Marcus, sold her farm
after 51 years of ownership.
That had been their tradi-
tional gathering place. She
says she serves as guard-
ian for our mutual friend,
Flo Sullivan, who is now 91
years.
Mrs. Sullivan's husband
was responsible for tipping
us off to the possibility of
this newspaper being for
sale. Long story short, that's
kind of how we were guided
to this forever-after home.
In his later years we sort of
adopted Jerry and he hved
the remainder of his time in
Rusk.
He was happy with the
thought of staying here when
that time came. He is at rest
in the Oakland Memorial
Baptist Church cemetery.
The members of that
church were so very kind and
considerate, which he ;ippre-
ciated.
It was also good to hear
from recently displaced
Ruskites. Thomas Northcutt
and spouse Letha are getting
settled in at Jefferson. Mr.
Northcutt had been the Rusk
State Park superintendent
for many years. Not sure how
many, but it's hard to remem-
ber the camping facihty out
Highway 84 West when he
wasn't there. They are wished
everyone's best.
When I get this feeling of
having forgotten something
to report to you, I usually
have. But this is the best I
can do on this beautiful, sun-
shiny day.
For your inspiration, medi-
tation or whatever, here are
words from a friend, Emily
Matthews. "When we count
our many blessings, it isn't
hard to see that life's most
valued treasures are the
treasures that are free. For
it isn't what we own or buy
that signifies our wealth. It's
the special gifts that have no
price— our family friends and
health.''
Keep smiling.
High Points From El Camino Real
Folks along El Camino
Real found themselves
blowing the dust off
their firewood and loading up
the fireplaces and Wood heat-
ers after that, norther blew
in Friday night. We can't
complain too much because
we've had a pretty mild
winter so far. With the high
cost of keeping warm these
days, I don't know what we
would have done if the tem-
peratures dropped down into
the single digits. Four bits'
worth of news is a pretty good
deal when you consider the
fact that you can light it up
after you get through reading
it and add a little warmth to
your house.
Becky Grammer Burrows
was laid to rest on Thursday
with a huge Crowd in atten-
dance at the funeral. She left
us earlier than we expected
her to, but none of us know
how many days we have on
this earth when We get here.
She will be greatly missed in
our community and espe-
cially by her family. A fund
raiser to help with Beckys
medical expenses has been
in the works for a couple of
weeks and it was held Friday
night at the Alto Fire Sta-
tion. A huge crowd showed
up to support this much-loved
family in our community.
There were so many people
you had to wait your turn
for a place to sit down and
..m
CHRIS DAVIS
elcaminoreal@consolidated.net
eat. It reminded many of us
of the old days when we all
gathered for Lion's Club Fish
Suppers and fire department
fund raisers. The generosity
of everyone is surely some-
thing that will warm the
hearts of the family for years
to come. It was certainly
uplifting to see so many
people working together to
help where they could.
I stopped by Lindsey's
Barbecue on Friday to have
lunch and the place was
quieter than usual. I didn't
see Marion Lindsey anywhere
and quickly reahzed the
reason for the silence. When
I inquired about his absence,
they told me he had just come
from the dentist where they
had pulled all his teeth. I
was afraid that something
hke this was going to happen
after Marion opened up his
barbecue restaurant several
years back. A person learns
how hard to bite down on a
I sandwich as they grow up
and the brain tells the jaws
how much pressure is needed
to cut through the bread and
the meat. If you bite down
on a sandwich that doesn't
have much meat on it, then
your teeth pass through the
bread too quickly and crash
together. This eventually
causes loose teeth and you
have to get them pulled. I
would suggest that Marion
put more meat, on his bar-
becue sandwiches before
everybody in Alto ends up
with false teeth. Good luck
with your new store-bought
choppers. Marion!
J.R. Grammer is celebrat-
ing his 11th birthday Feb. 15.
J. R. is the son of Bob and
Jeanie Grammer. He had
friends and cousins over on
Saturday to help him cel-
ebrate his big day. I wasn't
invited to the party and I
plan to let him know about
it the next time I see him.
J.R. is in the fifth grade at
Alto Middle School. Happy
birthday J.R.
One of our nicest young
laches, Michelle Smith, is
having a birthday on Feb. 16.
She celebrated it on Sunday
with a packed house of
friends and family at the Rio
Grande Mexican Restaurant
downtown. Michelle will be
turning 42 tomorrow. She is
a special person and I want to
wish her happy birthday.
I had the honor of speaking
to the members of the Mt.
Selman Methodist Church
Saturday night at their Val-
entine banquet. I met Elsie
Whatley while we were serv-
ing on jury duty a few years
back, and I guess she decided
that she wanted to hear
some more of my tales, so she
invited me for their banquet.
There was plenty of fellow-
ship, barbecue and great
desserts. All I had to do in
order to eat was tell a few of
my wedding stories that I've
accumulated over the years.
They have a beautiful church
family and the wife and I had
a great time. We've got some
of the nicest people around
here, and its always great to
get out and meet some more.
If you didn't remember
your Valentine sweetheart
yesterday then chances are
you aren't having a very good
day. I can remember my
elementary school days and
how exciting it was to deco-
rate our sacks and exchange
Valentine cards. A few
years into elementary school
someone invented those httle
candy hearts with writing on
them. If you got a card with
a couple of those things in it,
hfe was really great. It made
Valentine's Day more like
Halloween.
The boxes of assorted
chocolates that came in the
heart-shaped box could cause
major confusion if they didn't
have the little map in the
top that told you what each
piece was. I never figured
out why they mixed some of
those weird orange-centered
ones in with the good stuff.
Roses were always a big plus
to give to your sweetheart in
high school, but they cost way
too much. Now you'd have to
take out a bank loan to buy a
dozen roses. As I get older I
find that I'm more of a real-
ist. Now I give a card and
say, "Look darhng I bought
you this nice card and I was
able to pay the light bill, so
you can read it." Well maybe
it isn't that bad, but the
kids today sure wouldn't be
too pleased with a couple of
candy hearts in an envelope
like I was in my day. At 46
I'm beginning to think more
about heart attacks than
candy hearts and if I spent
too much on the wife, she'll
think I'm up to something.
Well, I wish I had more to
tell you, but if much more
happened around here, every-
one would be trying to move
in to enjoy the excitement. IE
you don't have your potatoes
planted, you are already
behind. They'll still do fine,
but my late neighbor, Virgil
Schochler, always told me
that potatoes Were supposed
to be planted by Valentine's
Day. I just thought I needed
to pass on that httle tidbit of
gardening wisdom. Maybe
planting them early gives
you a head start on the fire
ants. I'll see ya next week!
And remember. Success is
not defined by position or
pay scale, but by doing the
most of what you do best.
Cfyerokeeai}
HERALD
Published weekly on
Wednesday by
WHITEHEAD
ENTERPRISES, INC.
Texas' oldest continuously
published weekly newspaper,
established as the
Cherokee Sentinel,
Feb. 27, 1850
Consolidation of
The Cherokeean,
The Alto Herald and
the Wells News & Views
USPS 102-520
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Whitehead, Marie. Cherokeean Herald (Rusk, Tex.), Vol. 156, No. 52, Ed. 1 Wednesday, February 15, 2006, newspaper, February 15, 2006; Rusk, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth152718/m1/2/: accessed May 1, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Singletary Memorial Library.