Reunion News, County News

- Mickey Templeton et al -

Here is the factual report on the Hobbs 2006 Reunion. Pat Porter reported that there were probably more than 200 who attended. They fed 192 and there were some that did not stay to eat. There were 40 people who were normally always there, but for various reasons could not make it this year.

She had a lot of envelopes returned this year due to several reasons, the new "911" addresses, the new post office rules, people moving, people getting married, etc. She is trying to collect all the email addresses, so be sure to contact her with yours.

I hope to get the meeting minutes and some photos from her to share with all of you. Please feel free to send me your photos, also. I hope you recognize the typists in the photo posted above. I know the one in front quite well. The date on the picture reads January 1959.

I found a webpage for the Fisher County Hospital District and I've put the link in the column to the right. I don't know how up-to-date it is, because the phone numbers still have the old area code (new one is 325), and it seems that there should be new names on the staff. It is still informative, though, and has some good links.

A little computer nerd news, now. I have been searching for a photo editor since Windows XP Photo Manager doesn't have all the options I want. I found one that's free and fast to download, called Artweaver. I haven't figured it all out, yet, and probably never will, but it has the extras I was missing.

Anyway, on to the Rotan Advance / Roby Star Record update for October 19, 2006:

• Perryman and Howden Speak to Chamber Regarding Universal Service Fund
• Hargrove Crop Insurance Receives Growth Award from John Deere Risk Protection (Photo of Raford Hargrove)
• Hog Fest BBQ Winners Announced (see bottom for 1st place winners)
• Cake and Pie Winners Announced, Sheila Gruben 1st in Cakes, Wynelle Terry 1st in Pies
• Fisher County Historical Commission Meeting Minutes (First Tuesday each Month, You're Invited!)
• Absentee Voting Started October 23
• Hospital Board Meeting Minutes
• Photo of Larry Callan and 5 foot tall Cotton Stalk, 138 Bolls
• October deemed National Coop Month
• Crystal Marie Templet and Brian Heath Cornutt to wed in November
• Maddey Leigh James Birth Announcement
• Job Listing in Rotan ( get a paper to see what!)
• Lots of Land Listings by Local Realtors
• Joy Walker's Fisher County Round-Up
• Recipe for Caramel Apple Salad
• October 13 Football Scores: Lions 47, Albany 18 - Yellowhammers 25, Hamlin 27
• Page & 1/2 of Hog Fest and Cake & Pie Contest Photos
• "Farmer Wants a Wife" - a search for good-looking, young farmers for new reality show

The Hog Fest cook-off 1st place winners were: Poultry - Rough Creek; Ribs - L'il Rascals; Chili - Bone Cookers; Beans - Hoggaholiks; Wild Hog - Hoggaholiks; Brisket - L & H; Showmanship - Hoggaholiks.

I've left out any activities that have already happened, and all this news is a week old. Now, I appreciate ya'll coming here, but if you want up-to-date info, be sure to subscribe to the Rotan Advance / Roby Star Record. There is a link in the right column that will give you all the info you need to do that. Aloha!

Larry Gruben Dies at age 55

My husband came in Monday and told me, "You're not going to believe this, Grube got stung by a wasp and died today." We don't really know the specifics, but he has had a lot of problems with his heart and perhaps that complicated the situation. He had almost expected to die young as he had a family history of heart disease. His obituary follows:

Larry Eugene Gruben, 55, died Monday, October 23rd in Fisher County Hospital.

Funeral services for Larry are set for 10 a.m. Thursday in the First Baptist Church with Jerry Vincent officiating. Burial will follow in the Roby Cemetery under the direction of Weathersbee-Ray Funeral Home.

Born May 30, 1951 in Rotan, he married Terrye Bennett on March 1, 1974 at Crossroads Baptist Church and moved to Roby.

Larry was retired from the Texas Department of Transportation and a member of the Roby First Baptist Church and was a long-time volunteer fireman in Roby. He was preceded in death by his father, Eugene Gruben; his grandparents; and his father-in-law Herbert Bennett.

Survivors include his wife, Terrye Gruben of Roby; a son and daugher-in-law, Jason and Karen Gruben of Snyder; his mother, Christine Gruben of Hamlin; two brothers and sisters-in-law, Wayne and Deanna Gruben of Farwell and Harold and Debbie Gruben of Rotan; a sister and brother-in-law, Regina and Norman Whitfield of Granbury; a sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Sherrye and David Cooper of Snyder; and several nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Weathersbee-Ray Funeral Home.

Hobbs Reunion Sunday

I heard that the reunion was a big success. Dad said that there were 300 or 400 people there and I was amazed at that number. Very amazed, but he said the reunions have been bigger than that. I might set up a hot dog stand outside the next one and make some pin money! I hope to get some statistics and such to report later as to how many really were there, and if any of you have photos and stories to share, please email me and we'll figure out a way to get them on this website.

I am sorry to have missed everyone this weekend. I wanted to look at Don Cave's annuals and have him tell me about the good ol' days, but sometimes life makes schedules without your notice. I attended the funeral of family member Jerri Morgan in Nolan, Texas. Harold Roberts was in attendance along with many others. He has been a long-time friend of the Morgan family. It was a lovely service and Brother Vic presented an inspirational service. Jerri will be well remembered.

I have not been to Nolan since last Thanksgiving and I was amazed at the immense wind turbine field out there. They're as thick as trees and just as close. You could hear them turning throughout the funeral. It was surreal.

Next post will have last week's newspaper highlights and Hobbs Reunion details.

Hobbs Homecoming October 21st

There's 2.8 inches in the rain gauge this morning and it's 60 degrees. I didn't dump the gauge yesterday, so we received 1.3 overnight. I bet there's a lot of smiling at the coffee shop this morning.

I'm going to just print word for word the Hobbs Homecoming letter that Pat Porter sent me. I believe it may be too late to order the throws, but you could email her to be sure.

Hobbs Homecoming Itinerary
1. Entertainment, There is a possibility that Brad Maule may be able to attend this year and provide the entertainment! And we are still hoping to have Ricky Williams to emcee again.
2. Hobbs "Memorial Throws" are still available for $50 each. An order blank is enclosed in this letter. You can order one to pick up the day of Homecoming or you can have it shipped to you. They are wonderful keepsakes. Get one for the children and grandchildren.
3. Registration will begin at 9am and the business meeting and program will follow. As always, there will be plenty of time to visit. There is no registration fee, although donations to help out on the postage are always welcome. This year we plan to notify all exes that we can by email – this will help our postage costs. Please send your email addresses and address changes to Pat Porter. (Also any regular mail address changes need to be sent to Pat.)
4. The noon meal will be catered and you can expect the same great meal as last Homecoming and the same price, $10 per person.
5. If you wish to provide flowers in honor/remembrance of someone, we will display the flowers on stage throughout the day
6. Let Peggy Vernon know of any deaths since October 2004, so they may be recognized during the memorial part of the program. Pictures, obits, etc. may be sent to her at: 1906 KSNY, Snyder, TX. 79549. Items will be displayed in the registration area. ( Peggy’s email: genepeg@sbcglobal.net )
7. If you have questions about Homecoming 2006, call or e-mail this year’s president, Juanelle Brown Jordan, 325/735-3635, email juanellejordan55@aol.com.
8. If you know of anyone to add to the Homecoming list, please send their name and address to Pat Porter by email @ patporter2006@sbcglobal.net or just phone (325)735-3337 - home or (325)735-2469 - school.
9. To sign up for the meal, you can email Pat - or just telephone (325/735-2469 from 8 - 5) or 325/735-3337 (home). If you run out of time - just come on anyway - there's always room for more.
10. Please help spread the word about Homecoming - the new 911 addresses have really been hard on the mailing list this Homecoming. Many exes have not moved - but their addresses have changed. Many of the letters have been returned stating forwarding order expired -
11. If you have already "signed up" please just consider this a reminder.

Please complete and return this form to Pat Phillips Porter, 950 FM 3205, Rotan, Tx. 79546, 325/735-3337 by October 5, 2006 (or any time earlier) and/or e-mail to patporter2006@sbcglobal.net, so we will have your e-mail address in our records.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Class Year_______Name___________________________________________
Address ______________________________________________________
Maiden name_________________Phone#____________e-mail_______________ Attending Homecoming: Yes___No___ How Many____. Lunch: yes____ no____
Number of each: Brisket____ Chicken___ Enclosed $_____ Pay at the door_____.

******************************************************************************
Your order for Memorial Throws: Number to ship_____@$60 each.
Number to pick up day of Homecoming______@$50.00 each.
Check enclosed_ or: Pay at the door______.

Everybody come on out to Hobbs on Saturday! Bring your cameras and get ready for a good time!

Hog Fest to Rest, Rain on the Plain

Hog Fest is now behind us, and thankfully it wasn't today, because it has been pouring cats and dogs. Our rain gauge is sitting right at 1.5 inches. Although

- Dylan M. & Zach B. -

sympathy and praise should go out to all who are having to break down the festival site today.

We stopped by for just a half our or so yesterday. They had just been drenched by a cloudburst, but it looked like everyone was shaking it off and getting back into the mood. The funnest part was probably the concert, but all that takes place way past my bedtime.

If you click on Zach's back, to the right, you can look at some photos we took while we were there. Darned Zach wouldn't let me take a picture of his face. I don't know why, he looks like a young Tom Berenger.

Okay, here are the highlights for the October 13, 2006 Rotan Advance / Roby Star Record:

• Three articles regarding Hog Fest
• Commissioners Court Approves Funds for Roby Library Building and Faith in Action Funding
• Photo of Rotan Homecoming Queen and King, Keila Robinson and Adrian Daniel
• Rotan Pep Rallies to begin at 3 p.m for Rest of Season
• October Designated Breast Cancer Awareness Month, photo of Judge Marshall Bennett and Brandi Stauvell
• Fisher County Health Fair, Oct. 18th, Senior Citizens Center
• Senior 4-H Council Photo: Tyler Stevenson, Sara Haley, Ashley Alton, Aerial Thane and Alyssa Hood
• Roby Honor Roll
• Jarris Davis Graduates Sam Houston State University
• Announcement and photo as Lupe G. Casas and David Walter Anderson Exchange Vows
• Rotan School Board Meeting Minutes
• National Fire Prevention photo of Robin Cleveland and Jalin Allen, very cute!
• Help Wanted at Heritage House
• Obituary for Maxwell Fancher Garland
• Pecan Cream Pie Recipe
• Roby City Council Meeting Minutes
• Lions and Yellowhammers Reviews
• Track, Football and Volleyball Photos
• Notice of Sheriff's Sale
• Roby School Board Meeting Minutes
• Roby Lions Club to meet Oct. 16, Invites Community to Discuss Texas Universal Service Fund
• General Election to be held November 7, VOTE!
• Absentee Voting begins October 23
• Large photo montage of Fisher County 4-H

There are two little stores with good causes that I would like to promote, and those are the Clothes Closet in Roby and Faith in Action Country Store in Rotan. These are second-hand thrift shops and will set the heart of any garage and estate saler on fire. I've made some very good finds in both places.

The football scores from October 6th were: Roby 6, Roscoe 69; Rotan 27, Winters 28.

Remember, elections are coming up soon. A good resource for Voter Info is Texas Online. This site has information in English and Spanish. Did you know you can register to vote when you are 17 years and 10 months old? You have to be registered 30 days before the election, so if you're not registered by now, it's too late for the Nov. 7th election, but go ahead and get registered for future elections.

Tomorrow the Hobbs Homecoming itinerary will be posted here, so come back to visit and get that info. 10-7 for now, good buddy.

Boot Scoot & Wild Hog Fest Starts Tomorrow

Hog Fest kicks off tomorrow at the Fisher County Airport with Gospel entertainment, a steak dinner, silent auction and pie and cake contest. Gospel group 4th Day will start off the festivities at 5 p.m., followed by the featured group, New Directions at 6 p.m. The cake and pie contest judging will also begin at 5:00. Andrew LaFavers and other famous locals will be on hand to judge. Winners will be announced at 7 p.m. when the silent auction begins. Bob Spikes will be the auctioneer.

Saturday is an all day event with Free Airplane rides to begin at 9 a.m., hosted by the Young Eagles. Isn't that amazing and exciting, and I would have never believed it, except that I kept seeing it in print. Airplane rides! There are also all kinds of other activities for the kids, as well as vendors booths.

There is also a big BBQ cook-off, and according to the Fisher County Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture website, serious competitors will start their fires at midnight on Friday.

Big entertainment is scheduled for Saturday night beginning at 6 p.m. with Border Town, the Hogg Maulies and featured artist Gary P. Nunn providing music for your boot-scooting fun. Sounds like a big, big time is in store for all who attend! Call 325-735-3175 or 325-735-2562 for Ticket Info.

Now, here are the hot topics for the Rotan Advance / Roby Star October 6, 2006 issue:

• Newly Formed Co-op Purchases the Longworth Gin
• Rotan Homecoming King and Queen Nominees
• Rotan Homecoming Activities
• Rotan Dollar Store in State Competition for Halloween Decor
• Photo of Fisher Co. Ambulance Damaged from Run-In with Deer
• Commissioner Court Minutes
• Dr. Maurice Callan Speaker at Gamma Tau Meeting
• See You at the Pole Photo
• Obituaries for Robert Allen Browning, Ruth Parker, Gerald Whitley and Donna Sue Adams
• Rotan Honor Roll
• Emergency Farm Loans Available at FSA
• Lions and Yellowhammers Football Rundown
• H. Govan Reminisces About Yellowhammer Football
• Historical Photo and Article of Early Rotan High School Days
• Fisher County Hospital Open House October 18th, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

This issue is jam-packed with photos and information, what I have here is a mere sketch. This is one that would be worth back-ordering.

The football score from the September 29th game where Rotan played Roby in Roby was 24-20, Yellowhammers.

Keep your calendar open for next weekend, because that's the Hobbs Homecoming. Details coming soon!

Watch Thy Step!

Everyone is starting to trade rattler stories, a sure sign of the change of seasons. Of course, around here everyone's always got snake stories, because we've always got snakes. Where are those sign toting, soft-handed, liberal goody-two-shoes when you really want to show them something? (Otherwise referred to as animal activists at the Rattlesnake Round-Up). Really, I have no preference either way, but there are a lot of snakes moving around to get denned up for the winter. We found one in our front yard the other night, or rather, our dogs, Hank and Sue found one. We have 90,000 (translate to 7) cats around the house, so I was surprised that a snake would get that close. We do usually find one or so each year, though. One of the cats kept doing this spazzy trembling dance in front of the snake, which was coiled and rattling. I kept thinking the snake had bitten the cat, but I guess it was some instinctual thing the cat was doing. It was weird.

Anyway, on to other things. I heard that Rotan lost their homecoming game by one point Friday night. And how about that gubernatorial debate the other night? Kinky kept trying to do his bit and Carole was pathetic. Did you notice how Rick only addressed Chris Bell as his competition? I don't know whether to feel sorry for Kinky and Carole, or to think Rick and Chris are just slick-talking politicians, which they are, but does that make them more qualified to be governor?

Okay, on to the newspaper highlights. That's some information we can rely on.

Rotan Advance / Roby Star Record, September 28, 2006 Issue:

• Neugebauer to Attend Gospel Night 5 p.m. Oct. 12 at Airport
• Cockrell Building Opens @ 113 Sammy Baugh Ave.
• Cake & Pie Contest Rules 325-776-2809
• B Bar S Chuckwagon Participate in Hog Fest
• Immunization Clinic Oct. 18th 325-773-5681
• New Interim Healthcare Staff Article & Photo, D'Linda Benham, Mitch Whitefield and Ramona Williams
• FSA Redesigns Website www.fsa.usda.gov/tx
• Rotan City Council Meeting Minutes
• Eilene Cave Celebrates 89th Birthday, Photo of Eilene, Sue, Sara Jane and James
• Region 14 Education Service Center Receiving Applications for Certification of Special Education Teachers
• Bids Being Taken for TxDOT Fisher County Mowing Contract www.dot.state.tx.us
• Photos from Fun Friday in Mrs. Lucas' Class
• Gay Nell Cherry Named Outstanding Citizen by Sweetwater Chamber of Commerce
• Obituaries for J.L. Whitley, Jr. and Frank Verlon Beauchamp
• Joy Walker's Fisher County Round-Up
• A very long Sheriff's Report
• Roby and Rotan Football Reviews
• More Results from West Texas Fair & Rodeo, Koby Hood Photo
• USDA Extends Emergency Grazing
• Oct. 2 USDA to Begin Issue of Conservation Reserve Program Funds
• 51 Items to be Auctioned Oct. 12 for the Fisher Co. COC & Ag Auction
• DAR Meeting Minutes
• Random Photos of Rotan and Roby Athletics Events
• Letter to the Editor from James Ogle jamesogle40@juno.com and a fantastic family photo taken in 1940

I'm going to hang onto the October 6 issue until this week's paper comes out. Remember that the Hogfest is this Thursday and Saturday. For more info go to http://www.fishercountychamberofcommerce.com/.