Spring, winter, spring, winter...

It's that time of year when the seasons are confusing. On the one hand, you should already have your onions in the ground, on the other, you better have plenty of firewood cut. I know I've said it before, but I never get used to the moodiness of West Texas weather, even though I've lived here all my life.

I don't know what I had been researching when I suddenly became interested in the train line that used to be in Rotan. I believe my curiosity was peaked when I came across a 1962 picture of the Rotan M.K. & T. (Missouri-Kansas-Texas) depot. Then I started Googling and found out that it was referred to as "the Katy", and my imagination took over. I can just see us going to town to get on the train and casually saying that we would be "catching the Katy". I know that I don't like flying, have a certain feeling that I wouldn't like to be on a ship, but I love the idea of riding the train. Oh, it would be so fun, just to catch a train to Dallas, Louisiana or Albuquerque and spend the weekend. I was disappointed to read that Governor Perry's trans-corridor would not have a future. I was really looking forward to riding the train.

The photo today is from the Van Zandt Genealogical Society page on the ancestry.com website. The caption for the photo reads: "The first Texas Central train rolling into Rotan, Texas from Waco, Texas. George Nolen, roundhouse foreman, receives the train for servicing before it's return trip to Waco."

The article that is with the photo goes on to say that Nolen's youngest child was born on the railway grounds, in a boxcar.

According to the Handbook of Texas Online, The Texas Central line built an additional forty-two-mile extension from Stamford to Rotan during 1906-07. At this point, I wondered how the Texas Central and the Katy were associated, but in the same article it goes on to explain that "the Texas Central was acquired by the Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railway Company (Katy) in 1910, but continued to be operated by its own organization until April 30, 1914. Effective May 1, 1914, the Texas Central was leased to the Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railway Company of Texas. For the next fifty-three years the Texas Central was operated under lease."

Wikipedia also had some interesting info on the Katy. There's a long list of links at the bottom of that article. I'm sure many of you out there don't need an article or link to tell you about the trains that used to inhabit this part of the country. I envy all of you those memories.

I'm only backed up two newspapers, so let's get right to it. Here are the headlines for the Roby Star Record / Rotan Advance, Feb. 19, 2009 issue:

• Lady Lions clinch district (photo) - Yay, Lara, Tayler & Kim (I know them!)
• Rory Fanning walking across America raising money for Pat Tillman Foundation (photo)
• Roby Cafe under new management (photo) & I hear it's REALLY good
• Roby Lit Critters show strong at Wylie UIL meet (photo)
• Rotan School Board renews contracts for Spikes, Early, Hargrove & Ritchey
• Carrion files for re-election, Pache Parks files for Roby Council
• Rolling Plains Cotton Growers, Inc. annual meeting Feb. 24, Taylor County Fair Grounds
• Obituary for Jerry Clifton Stephenson (photo)
• Tarleton names Carissa Adkins to A honor roll; Shane Stuart earns BS in Agricultural Economics, Cum Laude; Jance Morris, Shane Stuart and Bethany Clements named Distinguished Students
  
• Pastor's Column: Bill Fitzgerald
• Rotan & Roby High School weekly bulletin & announcements
• Engagement announcement for Laney Marley and Michael Weesner (photo)
• Mayor Marshall completes required continuing education hours
• Fisher County Farm Service Agency: Billy Don Atkinson, Executive Director of FSA, reminds agricultural producers of the need for insurance coverage for crops; invites comments on interim rule for implementation of key eligibility requirements
  
• Letter to Roby School from Pat Tillman fund raiser, Rory Fanning
  
• Fisher County Softball Association met Feb. 12
• Congressman Randy Neugebauer's newsletter: votes against Stimulus Bill; Celebrating Black History month; YouTube & Facebook spaces for Congressman
• Tumbleweed Smith: Some of Abe's Kinfolks Live in Alto
• Neugebauer: A Stimulus Bil should stimulate the economy, not increase debt and grow government
• Rotan City Council appoints Debbie Hull to Rotan Housing Authority Board; next meeting Mar. 10
• You are invited to Mrs. Florence Wilburn's 96th Birthday celebration, Mar. 1, 2-4 p.m, Big Country Electric in Roby
• Sheriff's report
• Roby Softball & Baseball schedules
• Fisher County Basketball (photos)
• Fort Worth stock show photos
• DAR hosts Delta Kappa Gamma (photo of DA Ann Reed, Patsy Hamric, Dot Harris & Becky Brown)
• State Rep. Heflin appointed to House Committee on Agriculture & Livestock, House Committee on Elections
• Rotan ISD special board meeting Feb. 9 re: possibility of wind turbines in Rotan school district
• Letter to the Editor from Sheriff Mickey Counts re: private use of county resources

In Rosemary's Editor's Column, the thought for the day is: The person who never makes mistakes is the person who never does anything. Brothers, sisters, that says it all. You gotta take some chances, it's the best way to learn.

Feb. 12 issue:

• Big Country Electric Co-op sponsors annual speech contest
• Tenaska representative presents informative program to the Roby Lions Club (photo)
• Roby school board extends contracts for principals, athletic director
• Rotan Lions Club Pancake Supper successful
• Obituary for Wanda Faye Parker McClendon
• Pastor's Column: Wes Eastman
• Eli Speda files for re-election as Roby mayor
• Joanna Lee named to Dean's List at Stephen F. Austin State University
• Rotan High School weekly bulletin
• Fisher County Historical Commission received program about Dr. Frank Kiefer, an early doctor in the county
• Roby CISD weekly announcements
• Editor's Column: Fire safety
• Knight inks baseball scholarship (photo)
  
• Rotan Economic Development denies funds requests, approves budget
• Roby City Council discusses touch meters; changes to City Charter
• Stacie Whitefield member of Phi Theta Kappa International society
• Roby Jr. National Honor Society members (photo)
• State Rep. Heflin announces availability of new Top Ten Percent College Scholarship
• DAR compiles Valentine cards for veterans
• What's happening in 4-H
• Sr. citizen Valentine Banquet
• First Financial Bankshares named as one of top-performing banks in nation by Bank Director Magazine
  
• Recipe Corner: Rice Casserole (submit recipes to Clay Willingham, 412 N. Orange, Roby, TX 79543)
• Letter to the Editor from Sue Carillo re: brush pile
• Frank Cockrell Art Association to participate in Big Country Annual Meeting in Snyder Apr. 18; progress on Masonic Hall mural project; six murals completed in Roby museum; Larry Williamson presented sculpture program - next meeting Mar. 9, 6 p.m., Rotan Lions Club
• Fisher County basketball page (photos)
• Brent Whitefield graduates from Hallmark College of Aeronautics (photo)
• Commissioners Court lifts burn ban (now back in place), reviews bridge repair for TxDOT
• Fisher County Roundup by Joy Walker, Cross Roads Church holds Valentine Banquet
• Luke Wells, Tanner Mann, & Lauren Meek to participate in Fellowship of Christian Athletes Murle Greathouse All-Star Classic
• Sheriff's report

An interesting link I found this week is from the Texas Board of Nursing, where you are able to verify a license online. It's easy to use and you only need a name to find results.

Enjoy your Sunday, and remember, it's been so long, now, that we've had serious rain, that's it's bound to be coming soon, just around the corner. Just around the corner...