The Day of the Bird

Apparently, winter is here. I say that because there is white in the air and I believe that signifies a change in the season, although it was in the 80's two days ago.

There's a 22-pound turkey roasting in my oven, right now. I woke up late, so, of course, that will set lunch behind an hour, since I didn't get the bird in on time. I'm just afraid my dad will choke if he's eating during the Cowboys game.

I want to mention a couple of places around Sweetwater that I've heard people talking about. Two new places to eat are Blondie's on the north side of the square and a new restaurant in the establishment formerly known as Rick & Carolyn's on Broadway, I think it's called the Cattleman. The food is supposed to be good and inexpensive at both places.

I also want to mention the Hallmark store in the old J & J slot between Jack's Liquor and the Computer Shack on Hailey. They just recently got in a huge load of merchandise and you're sure to get a good welcome when you go in. It smells good, too, with all the Yankee Candle products. My favorite is the sage & citrus car fresheners.

The Health Food Store next to Brookshire's is another place you need to go into at least once. I shop for one of my clients there regularly and I always want to stay and pore over every item. You can also purchase fresh eggs there.

It's a special treat today, I have the past two weeks of headlines for the Rotan Advance / Roby Star Record. Let's get started!

November 15, 2007:

• Rotan ISD Honors Veterans (photo)
• Benefit for Gabriel Frausto
• Rotan Christmas Celebration & Parade
• Fisher County Gin Report
• Roby CISD Board Discusses New Athletic Complex, Agrees to Contact CADCO Engineers
• USDA Reminds Farmers to Sign Up for Livestock & Crop Disaster Programs
• Obituary for Mildred (Grubb) Boen
• Fisher County Commissioners Court Approves Resolution to Amend Fisher County Abatement Guidelines
• Fisher County Constitutional Amendment Election Results
• Rotan School Board Meeting Minutes
• Rotan ISD Honor Roll
  
• Fisher county Sheriff's Report
• Derwayne & Barbara Rasco Celebrate 50th Wedding Anniversary this Sunday (photo)
• Community Meeting in Sweetwater (photo)
• Classifieds 735-2562
• Rotan Yellowhammers Sports Review (photos)
• Roby Lions Sports Review (photos)
• Engagement Announcements for Mindy Ann Gaspar to Kasey Lee Murphy, Tasha Nicole Carrillo to John Michael Soto (photos)
• New Roby CISD Board Member (photo)
  
• Fisher County Schools Weekly Calendar
• Joy Walker's Fisher County Roundup
• Patricia Rebecca Daniel Chosen All USA Candidate
• Randy Neugebauer Newsletter
• Tax Planning by Rick Rodgers, CPA
• Highway Patrol Urges Thanksgiving Drivers to Obey Traffic laws
• Newsbriefs: Men's Breakfast
• The Newspaper Office Open House Dec. 6th During Parade, Hot Chocolate, Cookies & Door Prizes
• Cheryl Kelly Taking Appointments at the Clearfork Health Clinic
• Texas Municipal League Presents Representative Joe Heflin with a TML Distinguished Legislative Service Award
• FCHC Meeting Minutes

November 22, 2007 Issue:

• Commissioners Court Contracts Alan Carmichael to Negotiate with Airtricity
• Meek Blood Drive
• DAR Honors Good Citizens (photos)
• Letter to the Editor from Dale Stowe
• Roby City Manager Mickey Kelly Briefs Roby Council with Problems Concerning Meter Tampering
• Fisher County Political Calendar
• Notice of Public Meeting On Agency Plans
• Obituary for Avanelle Joy (Turnbow) Harmon
• Notice of Public Hearing by the Fisher County Commissioners Court
• Neugebauer Joins West Texas Colleagues to Introduce One Year Extension to 2002 Farm Bill
• New email for the Newspaper Office: radvance@rotanadvance.com
• Roby FFA Contest Results (photos)
• Fisher County Food Show (photo)
• Fisher County Roundup by Joy Walker
• Rotan School Library to Host Book Fair
• Legal Notice Burn Ban
• Classified Ads
• Fisher County Basketball Report (photos)
• How to Cook a Thanksgiving Turkey by Roby Kindergarten Class 2007 (funny!)
• New in Roby, One Way Student Ministries
• Fisher County FSA Reminds Voters of 2007 County Committee Election
• Fisher County Weekly Calendar
• Rotan City Council Still Waiting on Audit, Fields Reports from Rodney Denton
• Protect Against Diseases when Hunting or Enjoying Outdoor Activities
• Fisher County Foster Children Wish List
• USDA Seeks Public Comment on Emergency Conservation Program
• USDA to Report Market Gains on IRS Form 1099-G

TxDOT is on their way out to start treating roads here in Fisher County. It looks like we're in for a good one and snow is accumulating on bridges, so be careful and have a good holiday!

Williamson Tack & Saddle

Hey, I wanted to pitch for one of my neighbors. Glenn Ray has a saddle shop a couple of miles west of us, up towards Camp Springs. I made a web page to showcase a few of the items for sale up there on the hill. There's a pair of snazzy pink rhinestone spurs with matching headstall and reins that I would like for myself and he always has plenty of saddles. Look at the few items on the site, but for sure stop by and talk to Glenn if you're out this way.

Honoring Veterans

- Haskell Templeton -

I want to mention the veterans in my family whom I am grateful to for their military service.

SSG Fred Schmidt, US Army (retired), 1983 to 2004. He served as a Platoon Sergeant and a M1A1 Tank Mechanic, did two tours in Germany during the Cold War and was also a member of the Canadian Armor Trophy Team (CAT Team). He is a combat vet of Operation Desert Storm and was stationed at White Sands Missile Range for a Homeland Security Mission.

PFC Mickey Templeton, US Army, 10th Artillery, 1961 to 1963. His job was firing a 105 Holister cannon. He spent 18 months at Fort Benning, Georgia after basic training.

Bill Tucker, Fireman 1st Class, US Navy, 1948 to 1950. He was a metalsmith (welder) aboard the USS St. Paul, a heavy cruiser whose homeport was Long Beach, California.

Les Templeton, S2 USNRF, WWI.

Haskell Templeton, US Navy, WWII. He was a water tenant aboard a liberty ship. His photo is above.

I'm not very comfortable writing about military ranks and such, so please forgive me if they are out of order or misspelled. Thanks to all the veterans out there for your service and sacrifice.

I wanted to mention some things I've noticed around Hobbs this week. There's an oil rig platform across from the school on the backside of that cotton field to the north. There isn't a lease sign up, so I don't know who is drilling, but the Railroad Commission of Texas has a searchable drilling permit database that can be perused using many different parameters.

I noticed the Hobbs School put a new tin roof on the old building out front this summer and they've been tweaking it some this week.

Frank Cockrell's tombstone was engraved with the date of his death this past week.

On to headlines for the November 8, 2007 issue of the Rotan Advance / Roby Star Record:

• Veterans Day Ceremony at Rotan ISD Nov. 12, 9 a.m.
• Lady Hammers Bi-District Champions (photo)
• Assistant District Attorney Ann Reed Announces for District Attorney, 32^nd Judicial District (photo)
• Letter from City of Sweetwater to Sweetwater Water Users
• Brown Bag Bible Study
• KTAB Teacher Tribute Award (photo)
• Filing for Local Offices Opens Dec. 3
• Obituaries for Elaine Ballard, Janet F. Jones, and Ruby Trim
• Fisher County 4-H Food Show Results
• Lucy Ragan Alls Bags Buck (photo)
• Veterans Day Tributes (photos)
• Veterans Day Ceremony 2007 at Dorothy Garrett Coliseum
• Classified Ads, Deadline Noon on Tuesday, 325-735-2562
• Rotan Yellowhammers Sports Review (photos)
• Roby Lions Sports Review (photos)
• Halloween Costume Photos
• Roby CISD & Rotan High School Weekly Calendar
• Joy Walker’s Fisher County Round-Up
• Fisher County Chamber Elects New Officers, Reviews Results of Hog Fest
• 2007 BBQ Cook-Off Results, Fisher County Hog Fest
• Rotan Advance / Roby Star Record has new email: radvance@rotanadvance.com
• Sheriff’s Report
• Roby Student Essay Published in National Newspaper (photo)
• Rotan Christmas Parade to be Held Dec. 6 @ 6:15 p.m.
• Randy’s Roundup
• YHQ After-School Program Registration
• Recipe Corner: Chicken Parmesan
• Rotan 8^th Grade Officers (photo)
• Monthly Climatological Summary for October 2007
• News Briefs: Lubbock Ballet to Host the Nutcracker Ballet; Ladies Conference

Enjoy your Sunday and be sure to remember a veteran.

The Elusive Hour Returns

One of the reasons fall is my favorite time of year is that I get my hour back. I can start getting to places on time, again. I feel better rested and more productive. I seemed so industrious this morning, making breakfast at 7 a.m., anticipating the returning hunters. Okay, it's probably all in my head, but it makes me a happier person, anyway.

I'm happy to announce that Hobbs School throws are now available for purchase. The throws belong to the Hobbs Exes and proceeds will be used to continue keeping Hobbs Homecoming as inexpensive as possible. You can contact Peggy Vernon or Mac Etheredge for more information. There are images of the old school, the primary building, the agriculture building, the home economics cottage, the Hobbs Gin, and the new school on the blanket, and also a large Hobbs Panthers logo in the center. It is blue and beige with a fringe all the way around. This would make a great keepsake or you could use it to keep the chill off when you're watching TV or reading. Very nice!

I'd like to give a big hello! to Joe Duncan of Norway. He was a teacher from 1965-1982 at Roscoe High School, and also a school bus driver who traversed the terrain of the 18 Ranch as part his route that ran from north of Roscoe to the Claytonville area. He sent me five documents regarding the Grady Cemetery, including a hand-drawn map that identifies those buried within. It's invaluable information and I appreciate it greatly.

Also, here's a shout out to the Roscoe Boys Club. Hey, ya'll!

Now for the Rotan Advance / Roby Star Record headlines from the November 1, 2007 issue:

• Roby Volunteer Fire Dept. Turkey Shoot today!
• District Attorney Mark Edwards Not Seeking Re-election (very good article) (photo)
  
• Brooke's Cafe Now Open in Rotan (photo)
• Rhenda Ragan Named New Rotan Postmaster (photo)
• Immunization Clinic Set for Nov. 7
• Filing for Local Offices Opens Dec. 3
• Tuesday Nov. 6 Vote for Amendments
• Frank Conard, Sweetwater Attorney, Announces for District Attorney (photo)
• Obituaries for Clinton A. Edwards, Floy Lou (Headstream) Pursley, and Pauline (Elrod) Holleman
• 2007 Maberry Reunion Report
• Default Judgement on $50,780 Issued by 32nd Judicial District Court
• Letter to the Editor in reference to the Rotan ISD Board meeting where the issue of boys shirt-tails was discussed
  
• Fisher County Sheriff's Report
• Nowlin / Terry Engagement Announcement (photo)
• Joy Walker's Fisher County Roundup
• Legal Notice from the Fisher County Hospital District
• Storage Lien Sale at Rotan Motors
• News Briefs: Farm Bureau Member Appreciation Day; Fisher County Hog Fest Cookbooks available
• Recipe Corner: Chicken Frito Pie
• Shower Selections for Lindsey (Howard) May at the Newspaper Office, 735-2562
• Classified Ads
• Rotan Yellowhammers Sports Report (photos)
  
• Roby Lions Sports Report (photos)
• Recruiter of the Year (photo)
• Lucy Ragan Alls Cheerleading Competition Photo
• Roby Gamma Tau members Host Program On Reading Recovery (photo)
• Roby Lighted Christmas Parade to be Dec. 1
• Roby & Rotan Schools Weekly Calendar
• Big Country Pecan Show to be Held Nov. 16
• Mitchell County Livestock Auction now open Saturdays

That's all for today! Enjoy this beautiful day and weather. You know, when it's been dry this long, rain is just around the corner!

Sam Reeves dies at 73

I was saddened to read about the death of Sam Reeves as I was perusing newspapers this morning. He was one of my mom's & step-dad's cohorts when I was a kid. A very memorable and larger-than-life person. Good-bye, Sam.