TheTurkey is in!

Which is nothing like the doctor being in. I had Mr. Tom in the oven by 6 this morning. I really meant to do 5 a.m., but it took an hour of rolling around to get awake.

It seems like the animals sense that I am easily annoyed this morning because several of them have been unusually naughty. I must be getting old, because I used to say the same thing about my kids.

Speaking of getting older, I think I've come up with some sure signs of aging:

• When you can't find something in the store, you say they don't make it anymore
• Everyone looks 12
• You know when people (kids, which is anyone under 40) are stretching the truth, but it's so obvious, you don't even comment (it makes me cringe to think of my own truth-stretching)
  
• People keep asking you where your glasses are (What? I can read it if I hold it just a little farther away...)
• You're smarter than everyone (Wait, wasn't that my teen years?)

I've got a lot of headlines to give you, the most notable being the death of Sammy Baugh this week. There was a big to-do in Rotan and I wish I had thought to go to the funeral to get photos. I saw a clip on the news and it looked like they drew his casket on a buckboard wagon. The people on TV didn't even look cold, but the high was about 20 degrees that day. The Advance wrote a huge piece, with Kim Pease as guest writer.

George Maule used to talk about Sammy and seemed to think a lot of him. Those ol' time cowboys were really somethin'.

Let's get to it, now. Here's the skinny on the Dec. 25, 2008 issue of the Roby Star Record / Rotan Advance:

• Fisher County bids farewell to the legendary Sammy Baugh (photo)
  
• Obituaries for Sam Baugh and Eugene Edward Spivey
• News Briefs: Youth Headquarters
• Pastors Column: Pastor Jack Dominguez, Rotan First United Methodist
• Fall graduates announced for Angelo State University
• Rep. Heflin congratulates 17 District 85 high schools among America's Best
  
• Marriage announcement for Adalia Johnson & Eric Gardner
• Rotan FFA new leaders (photo)
• Tumbleweed Smith: Why Did Things Have to Get So Complicated?
• Invitation to Melvin Clements 90th birthday party
• Fisher County Jr. Livestock Show Jan. 8-10
• Weather to the extreme
• Fisher County Roundup by Joy Walker
• Randy's Roundup: Using TARP funds to aid the U.S. automotive industry; Reimbursement for oxygen equipment; Time with family and friends
• 1/2 price After Christmas Sale at The Yellow Rose, in The Newspaper Office, Dec. 29
• Fisher County Basketball (photos)
• Fisher County gin report
• Birth announcements for Kayme Lynn Elrod, Madison & Mackenzie Solsbery, and Aubrey Frances Jackson (lovely color photos)
• Letters to Santa section (photos)

Dec. 18 issue:

• Newspaper subscription renewals due Jan. 1
• Rotan water rates increase
• Two arrested for possession of marijuana (photos)
• All State football honors (photo)
• Rotan Elementary Joy of Giving (photo)
• Obituaries for Ethel Edwards Ammons (photo), Glenn Bailey Baker (photo), and Juan C. Reyes, Sr.
• Pastors Column: Bro. Jerry Vincent
• Retirement reception for D.A. Mark Edwards (photo)
• Engagement announcement for Shaun Ann Shauna & Tyler Glen Murphree (photo)
  
• Fisher County Roundup by Joy Walker
• Sheriff's report
• Recipe Corner: Chicken with Rice & Gravy
• Album release party (photo)
• Tumbleweed Smith: Some Bad Advice, Some Good Advice
• Fisher County RV Club news
• Open letter to Nolan & Fisher County residents re: Tenaska Coal-Fired Plant
• Fisher County basketball (photos)
• Randy's Roundup: Curbing spending & debt; Progress in Iraq & Afghanistan
• Fire ant ag report

Dec. 11 issue:

• Commissioners Court approves election for adopting optional county road system
• Plaque of appreciation presented (photo)
• Christmas Parade winners (photos)
• Letter to the editor from Mayor Jerry Marshall
• Pastors Column: Corkey Wells, First Baptist Church, Rotan
• Fisher County Roundup by Joy Walker
• Roby School Board conducts regular meeting
• Recipe Corner: Garlic & Herb Cream Cheese
• City of Roby approves new resolution on Roby Community Center
• College & Career Day at Rotan ISD (photos)
• Tumbleweed Smith: Life Near Blanco
• New facilities open at Roby CISD (photos)
• Thanksgiving meal at Rotan Church of Christ (photo)
• District Food & Nutrition Quiz Bowl (photo)
• Fisher County Basketball (photos)
• Sheriff's report
• FCAA meets (photo)
• 4-H Happenings
• County Finances Treasurer's Report

Dec. 4 issue:

• 4-H Food Show participants (photo)
• Gin Report
• A very well written Letter to the Editor from Kenny Martin, former Executive Director of Rotan Housing Authority - apparently there was not a scandal, just some concerns as the Mayor is responsible for appointing the Rotan Housing Authority Board of Commissioners; Martin points out that "only the Rotan Housing Authority Board of Directors (not the Mayor, city council, or any other local board) has the jurisdiction to address Housing Authority issues"
• Fisher County Hospital Board holds regular meeting
• Pastors Column: Minister Wes Eastman, Rotan Church of Christ
• Recipe Corner: Maple Walnut Pumpkin Pie
• Engagement announcement for Sunny Riggan & Lance Moore (photo)
• Randy's Roundup: Bombing in Mumbai; New Capitol Visitor Center; Change of address
  
• Tumbleweed Smith: You'd Have to Call Bill Herridge a Gearhead
• Sheriff's Report
• Fisher County Roundup by Joy Walker
• Fisher County Basketball (photos)
• Fisher County All-District football selections (photos)

Well, that's the gist of it, as you all know, and if you want the whole gonzo, you need to get your own subscription (see link on right).

Merry Christmas to everyone, and also Happy New Year, since you know how I am and might not get back here for a month. Thanks to all for reading the Hobbs Holler!

One down, two to go

Holidays, that is. Then we'll be on to the new year and it all starts again, just like woman's work.

Today's photo is contributed by Ricky Niell. He snapped this eagle in October from his porch, about 100 feet away. Check out his site Razzle Dazzle Art for more photos. Click on the photo to get the full effect of the picture.

Don't get to thinking you can get your own shot of an eagle by going out to the river bridge and scouting trees. Ricky captured this frame in Alaska.

Okay, I'm on time for once! Seems that the newest hot topic is the Rotan Housing Authority. Once again, the Mayor is in the middle of the mix and there's a scuttle to figure out what went wrong. Checks and balances, people, checks and balances! The barn door keeps getting shut after the cow is out.

Anyway, here are the headlines for the Roby Star Record / Rotan Advance Nov. 27, 2008 issue:

• Rotan City Council discusses Rotan Housing Authority issues
• Annual Christmas parades bring in the sights and sounds of the season: Rotan Dec. 4, Roby Dec. 6
• Roby NHS shatters goal in food drive (photos)
• First Monday Missions Dec. 1
• Letters to Santa due Dec. 11
• Obituary for Abner Asberry Aaron, Jr. (photo)
• Roby CISD honor roll
• Fisher County Roundup by Joy Walker
• Rotan Housing Authority fields questions in open forum
• Approximately 30 bales of hay destroyed in Sunday fire (photo)
• Rotan board reviews changes in handbook, approves additional early release days
• Playground airplane (photo)
• News Briefs: Senior day; Search for Miss Teen Fisher County 2009
• Rotan School book fair Dec. 1-5
• Tumbleweed Smith: A High School Class has Reunions Twice a Year
• Roby board hears audit from Gerald Rodgers, approves rules & regulations for weight room & activity room
• Hamlin Happenings
• The Yellow Rose inside The Newspaper Office has beautiful Christmas items for sale, ornaments starting as low as $2.00
• Fisher County Basketball (photos)
• Rotan board reviews changes in handbook, approves additional early release days
• Randy's Roundup: All bailed out; Letter to the Treasury, Federal Reserve & FDIC; Farm Bill implementation update
  
• How to cook a turkey: recipes from kindergartners
  

I checked out The Drudge Report after reading about it in Barbara Walters' autobiography, "Audition" (that lady has had one interesting life!). This site has all kinds of news and is straight forward, no fancy stuff.

I can't say it enough, look up your name on the Texas Unclaimed Property site. Or you can do like I do and search by a, b, c, etc. with the name of a town in the search box. This probably won't work for large cities because you would get too many results to display, but for Roby or Rotan it works fine, with just 10 or 15 results. So go ahead, see if you've got some money coming to ya!

Do you have your Christmas cards ready?

I don't know what the exact protocol is, but I thought it would be terribly clever if I had my cards ready to mail the day after Thanksgiving. How efficient I would seem! Unfortunately, my mind works faster than my physical self and the cards are still in the top of the closet.

I was telling someone the other day how I'm enjoying these lower gas prices (1.59 per!) and they said "Don't get used to it." Danged pessimists. That's like going on vacation but not enjoying it because it ends in two weeks. I'm going to take what I can get and be glad the cost went down two dollars instead of up two dollars.

Speaking of enjoying a short-lived thing, I snapped this picture of a very long snake (see all those wriggles?) sunning itself in front of the county barn at Claytonville. Already the days have shortened dramatically leading to Winter Solstice which occurs on December 21 this year.

I have been terribly negligent in my newspaper updates, so I better get right to it as this will be about as long as a book by the finish.

Roby Star Record / Rotan Advance Nov. 20, 2008 issue:

• Roby football Sweetheart & Hero (photo)
• Concerned citizens attend meeting of Rotan Rural Housing Authority
• Rotan Church of Christ to host Thanksgiving meal Nov. 25
• First Baptist Church in Roby to host meal Nov. 23
• Lady Yellowhammers Bi-District Champs (photo)
• Commissioners Court enacts burn ban
• Fisher County gin report
• Rotan and Project Merry Christmas brings Santa
• Newspaper Office early deadline for Thanksgiving edition
• Rotan Schools honor rolls
• Obituaries for Randy J. Rector (photo) and Troy Dee Faglie (photo)
• Veterans honored (photo)
• Allied trash schedule changes
• Pastors Column on Thanksgiving
• Sheriff's report
• Roby CISD lunch menu
• Tumbleweed Smith's Top 40
• Silver Star Cafe in Roby open Thanksgiving Day
• Engagement announcement for Brittany Nicole Lakey and Acey Deaton Dean (photo), Kayla Sue Posey and Joe Frank Gonzalez, Jr. (photo)
  
• Fisher County Hospital to auction surplus Dec. 2
• Delta Kappa Gamma (photo)
• Surprise season comes to an end (Yellowhammers) (photo)
  
• Roby CISD Revenue statement
• Fisher County basketball review (photo)
• Rotan Classes of 1946, 1947 photos
• 4-H Gold Star winner (photo)
• Fisher County Round-Up by Joy Walker

Nov. 13, 2008 issue:

• Local man injured in one vehicle accident (photos)
• DAR honors good citizens (photos)
  
• Christmas parade to be Dec. 4 @ 6:15 p.m. downtown Rotan
• Rotan 1946, 1947 Class Reunion (photo)
  
• Obituary for Elwanda Wanda Floyd
• Pastor's Column: Bill Fitzgerald
• Recipe Corner: Cream Cheese Squares
• First bucks photo
• Roby Band Sweetheart photo
• FCAA meeting minutes (photo), next meeting Dec. 8
• Rick Rodger Tax Planning: organize your vital records
• Joy Walker's Fisher County Roundup
• Fisher County Historical Commission meeting minutes
• Roby City Council reviews policies on Community Center
• Roby CISD weekly announcements
• Hogfest Bike Rally t-shirts for sale, 735-2488
• Yellowhammers & Lions sports reports (photos)
• Marriage announcement for Dayme Alison Mullins & Marcus Price Walther (photo)
• Rotan ISD honors Veterans on Nov. 11 (photos)
• Photo of wild hog
• Introducing The Yellow Rose gift shop inside The Newspaper Office (photos)
• Randy's Roundup: Honoring America's Veterans

Can't find the Nov. 6 issue!

Oct. 30, 2008:

• Cotton harvest has begun (photo)
• SWCD to convene local work group conservation programs meeting
• First Monday Missions to benefit Roby Christmas Toy Drive
• Early voting moderately heavy, early voting ends Oct. 31
• Benefit for Sylvester Cemetery
• Riley Branch named 2008-2009 National FFA Western Region Vice President
• Pastors Column: Jason Alton, Jason Trupp
• Birth Announcements for Cole Cash Maikell, Brogan Ford Bell, Kayden & Karlee Gilbreath (photos)
• 2008 Maberry Reunion
• Fisher County Sheriff's report
• Letters to the Editor from Dr. Brian Carrion, Carrie Jo Blackshears, Kelli Cleveland
  
• Rotan City Council meeting minutes
• Yellowhammers & Lions sports report (photos)
• Hambright to be inducted into Oil & Gas Hall of Fame (photo)
• Fisher County annual financial report
• Roby CISD academic & creative skills program
• News Briefs: Friends of Faith fall festival; 14th annual diabetes Texas style workshop; Roby Volunteer Fire Dept. Turkey Shoot; Project Merry Christmas Parade; Heritage House & F. C. Assisted Living Trick or Treat
• Randy's Roundup: Creating effective regulation; Remembering Richard Lopez; Travels through the 19th District
• Fisher County Roundup by Joy Walker
• Shelby Briggs first deer (photo)

Oct. 23, 2008:

• Two vehicle accident (photo)
• Fire Safety Program at Roby CISD (photo)
• Fall Men's Revival
• Early voting started
• DAR photo
• Commissioners renew lease at airport, vote to re-bid roofing project
• Rotan ISD board hears level III parent complaint, discusses softball program
• Dr. Mary Parish begins practice at hospital (photo)
  
• Rotan & Roby sales tax allocation comparison
• Obituaries for Frank Carmichael, Jr., Olga Victoria Gonzalez (photo), Roy W. Thomas
  
• Rotan Honor Roll
• Leila Vera Adams Morrow grave marker dedication
• Letters to the Editor from Shana Haas, Mayor Jerry Marshall, Addie Markham
  
• Senior Driving Safety course
• Tumbleweed Smith: Seven Years Under Sail
• Fisher County financial report
• Shane Cole Stuart selected for membership Delta Epsilon Iota Academic Honor Society (photo)
  
• Fisher County Commissioners Court proclamation
• Roby CISD school board fields reports from administration, approves budget amendment
• Undue influence and elderly financial exploitation
• Fisher County Roundup by Joy Walker
• Sheriff's report
• Hobbs Homecoming 2008 , 175 attend
• Rep. Heflin presented Texas Medicine's Champion of Rural Health Award
• Fair winners (photos)

I have put up the photos I took from the reunion, the link is at the top right on this page. I wish there were more, but my camera pooped out on me before lunch was served.

Enjoy this wonderful fall weather and I wish you a happy Thanksgiving!

Good turnout for Hobbs Reunion

I don't have the official count yet, but it looked like there were at least 200 people in the gym by about 1 p.m. Saturday afternoon, where everyone had gathered for a barbecue dinner served by Rough Creek Catering. The lines were very long, allowing for a lot of visiting and teasing of old schoolmates.

Ricky Williams really got everyone going during the program, he's such a cut-up. He was also elected the new president of the homecoming committee for 2010. Carla Guinn Bavousett, Glenda Hudnal Allen and Peggy Trice Vernon rounded out the rest of the morning with recognition of guests, homecoming business and memorials given on behalf of loved ones. The gospel quartet Cornerstone provided entertainment.

I only meant to stay about thirty minutes when suddenly three hours had flown by. There were so many people to talk to and look at, I didn't get an opportunity to say hello to everyone I knew. The weather cooperated wonderfully, no wind and just the perfect fall temperature.

A reunion page is in the making and I'll let you know when it's done so you can click on the link and see all the pictures I took. Today's photo is of Francis Morgan & Pat Porter at the registration table. The whole reunion committee did a wonderful job and the event was well organized. I was glad to see lots of people purchasing commemorative blankets.

Okay, on to the Roby Star Record / Rotan Advance update for Oct. 16, 2008, a weekly periodical owned, published and edited by Rosemary Donham, as you all probably know:

• Chamber of Commerce Hog Fest very successful year, gross $13,000 in proceeds (photo)
  
• Donation to Crime Stoppers by Fisher County Sheriff (photo)
• Rotan VFD hosts Associational meeting (photo)
• 500 Bikers attend Hog Fest Bike Rally (photo)
• Early voting to open Oct. 20
• Commissioners approve reports, application for Block Grant regarding possible assisted living center
• Fisher County Roundup by Joy Walker
• Roby council agrees to hire another employee, field reports from Brown
• Pastor's Column by Jack Dominguez
• Fisher County RV Club minutes
• Roofing bids being taken for courthouse
• Rotan Jr. High honor roll
• Tumbleweed Smith: A Steam Engine Buried in Metroplex Quicksand
• Birth announcement for Kayden & Karlee Gilbreath (photo)
• Rotan ISD public meeting Oct. 20
• Roby CISD announcements
• Tax Planning by Gerald Rodgers: Hiring Your Child may Help Avoid the Kiddie Tax
• Rotan Elementary honor roll
• Roby CISD honor roll
• Birth announcement for Rowdy Ryan Sauceda
• Flu shots for veterans
• Yellowhammers & Lions sports reports (photos)
• Hog Fest & Biker Fest photo montage page
• Brush Sculpting course offered in Snyder (herbiciding technique)
  
• Fisher County feral hog control
• Fisher County Ag Day
• 4-H news
• State Representative Joe Heflin article (photo)
• Fisher County Sheriff's report
• Randy's Roundup: financial markets and fighting for American taxpayers; House and Senate pass bill to fix disaster program, suspend 10- acre provision in Farm Bill; working in the 19th District
• Correction to over-budget amount in last issue: budget deficit is $117,319
• Landes prize winners
• Roby & Rotan Lions Club collecting used eyeglasses
• VA director Marsh receives approval
• CRP / Pasture fire keeps local fire depts. busy
• Fisher County Historical Society meeting minutes

As I have mentioned before, this is just a smidge of what's in the paper. Now is a good time to get your subscription. If you're in Rotan, stop by The Newspaper office and check out the beautiful and unique gift items.

This coming Friday Roby will play Rotan in Rotan, and Rotan will play... well, you know.

Enjoy this great weather we're having and I hope you're getting your costumes ready for trick or treating in less than two weeks.

Go Panthers!

Hog Fest Bike Rally a success

I talked to Catherine and Lawrence Weatherman at the Bike Rally last night and they said that there was quite a turn out during the day, making the event rather profitable. We drove past the Hog Fest in Roby earlier yesterday, and it looked like they had a good crowd, too.

My band friends Lawless Flatz played the Rally last night and they sound really good since they added drummer Fred Perez to the mix.

Isaac Donaghey was on the security team for the Rally. Don't know if we were safer or in more danger because of that. Just kidding, Isaac! Sort of.

If any of you are interested in the book Cattle Call by Tanner Laine, it can now be purchased at halfbay or at Saddlebag Books Online. The book is described as a large collection of cowboy stories, most of which appeared in the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. 356 pp., index of cowboy faces, black and white photos throughout.

Laine was a veteran reporter for The Avalanche-Journal, covering West Texas news and the people of the South Plains from 1952 until his retirement in 1978.

I have a lot of ground to cover since I have missed the past three issues of the newspaper. I'll start from the latest and go back.

Here are the headlines from the Oct. 9, 2008 issue of the Roby Star Record / Rotan Advance:

• Big Country Electric part of Hurricane Ike emergency crew (photo)
• Shelby Spikes places in State Fair of Texas (photo)
• Neugebauer visits Fisher County (photo)
• FCAA monthly meeting (photo)
• Early voting opens Oct. 20
• Roby Project Christmas organizational meeting to be held Oct. 13, 5:30 p.m., courthouse coffee room
• Obituary for Beth Rene Simmons Campbell
• Notice of general election
• AARP Driver Safety Program to be held at Sweetwater SNAP Oct. 14 & 15
• Sheriff's report
• Recipe Corner: Sunshine Gelatin Mold
• The Newspaper Office now has a selection of Christmas gifts & decor
• What's happening in 4-H
• Wedding announcement for Megan Rae Fletcher and Aaron Gene Greene (photo)
• Hunter education certification Oct. 18
• Roofing bids being accepted for courthouse
• Rotan ISD to hold public meeting Oct. 20
• Roby school board awards bid for activity room turf
• Engagement announcement for Monika LoAnn Rivas to Jay Lee Roe (photo)
• Tumbleweed Smith: From Victim to Victory
• Joe Strickland named HSU Distinguished Alumni (photo)
• Yellowhammers & Lions sports reports
• Rotan ISD students participate at State Fair of Texas (photos)
• Fisher County Roundup by Joy Walker
• Randy's Roundup: Financial markets and fighting for American taxpayers; House & Senate pass bill to fix disaster program, Suspend 10-acre provision in Farm Bill; Working in the 19th District
• Pastor's column by Jerry Vincent
• 2008-09 Roby High School National Honor Society Induction Ceremony

Oct. 2 issue:

• Rotan Homecoming King & Queen, Derrek Reese and Cynthia Alba (photo)
• Fisher County Commissioners hold special meeting to amend budget, over $278,739.73 for 2008 (wow, no one seemed to think that was a big deal in the court, "ah, just pencil it in")
• Commissioner Staples welcomes Rotan to Go Texan Rural Community Program
• News Briefs: flu immunization; West Texas Rehab annual pig sale; Roby Project Christmas
• Air Force Airman Jeremy Sauceda graduates basic training (photo)
• Three-way partnership announced at Western Texas College, lineman course to be offered
• Fourth & fifth grades Dowell School early forties photo (hey, Haskell Templeton is in the picture!)
• Pastor's Column by Charles C. Glidewell
• Fisher County Roundup by Joy Walker
• Rural well water screening available
• Citation for an estate
• See you at the pole (photo)
• Fisher County designated road notice
• Yellowhammers & Lions sports reports (photos)
• Tumbleweed Smith: Be Careful About Buying Gifts on Vacation
• Michele Goodwin shows off handmade jewelery (photo)
• Recipe Corner: Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore
• Neugebauer statement on the emergency economic stabilization act of 2008
• Sheriff's report
• Fisher County 4-H news
• Roby School Board Election Nov. 4
• The Rotan Advance / Roby Star Record will be closed on Fridays throughout Oct.
• Notice for fluid injection well permit by LCS Production Company, for Rough Creek

Sept. 25 issue:

• Rotan homecoming King & Queen nominees (photos)
• Hospital board approves budget, sets tax rate; Dr. Mary Parish to begin practice in Oct.
• Lions Club Buckner visits Lions World Services for the Blind in Little Rock, Ark. (photo)
• Obituary for Jiggs Chadwick (photo), Peggy Ballenger Neves
  
• Roby CISD holding public meeting Oct. 13 in the home economics room, high school
• Tax Planning by Gerald Rodgers, CPA
• Engagement announcement for Whitney Lauren Cobey to Ty Wilson Daws (photo)
• Birth announcement for Colson Ridge Moffett (photo, very, very sweet with his brother)
• Angel Velez places at fair in Lubbock
• Tumbleweed Smith: Thousands Watch Waterfire in Providence
• Hurricane affected counties in Texas extend NAP waiver deadline due to temporary USDA FSA office closures
• Roby city council sets tax rate, adopts budget
• Yellowhammers & Lions sports reports (photos)
• Rotan homecoming remember when photos (3 pages)
  
• Birth announcements for Emily Jazz-Leen Ortiz and Kaden Lynn Scherwitz (photos)
• Sheriff's report
• Fisher County Roundup by Joy Walker
• Fisher County 4-H participate in Jones County Fair during Sept.
• Delta Kappa Gamma meeting (photo)
• Roby CISD class officers (photos)
• Randy's Roundup: Securing the economy and financial markets; celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month; The Public Prayer Protection Act

This Friday Rotan Yellowhammers will play Haskell there, Roby Lions will play Hamlin here.

Remember, the Hobbs Reunion is this coming weekend. Be sure to show yourself and let Pat know you're coming.

Hobbs Reunion registration

Pat Porter has sent out the registration form for the Hobbs 2008 Reunion, which is set for Oct. 18.

Click here to link to the registration page.

I found I could print the form by selecting (left click, hold and drag) the portion of the registration page from the stars down, go to the top bar and click "file", "print", "selection", "ok".

You can also just contact Pat one of the ways listed on the registration link to get signed up.

It's only two weeks away, plan on coming!

Frank Cockrell Art Association meeting Monday Oct. 6

The FCAA will have a meeting Monday Oct. 6 to discuss plans for an art show during the upcoming Hog Fest that will be taking place Oct. 11. If you want to have your work represented in the show, but are unable to be at the courthouse early on Oct. 11, then please bring your work to the meeting on the sixth. The association will store your pieces and arrange for display. Everyone is being encouraged to participate.

The meeting has been set for 7 p.m. at the Fisher County Pioneer Museum in Roby. The FCAA wants to propose continuing art in the museum. Members of the Fisher County Historical Commission have been invited to attend the meeting in order to get their opinion.

Once again, that meeting will take place Monday, Oct. 6 in the museum at Roby at 7 p.m. There will be no program, only attention to business.

Sky's the limit

Mac Etheredge sent me this photo of him taken on top of one of his turbines at Snyder Wind Farm, the tallest wind farm in North America. He's standing about 350 feet from ground.

The turbines, Vestas/3 MW, are 345 feet to the hub and another 144 feet of blade. Other landowners in the project are Carl Williams, Dwaine Williams, Kevin Holt and Jerry Etheredge.

For bearing, North is in front of Mac, kind of northeast. Dwaine Williams house is behind him, next to Hwy 180.

The owner of the project is Enel North America, Inc.

If you click on the picture, it will be larger and you can see the details. Thanks, Mac!

I'm fixing to give the Roby Star Record / Rotan Advance headlines, but I wanted to clarify the Hog Fest activities for the weekend of October 11. Hog Fest and Hog Fest Bike Rally are two separate events happening on the same weekend.

Hog Fest begins Thursday October 9 with the Cake Baking & Pie Contest and Steak Dinner & Auction at the First Baptist Fellowship Hall in Roby.

Friday night, the Cook Off begins at midnight at the Roby Community Center.

Saturday the Cook Off continues while vendors, children's activities and bingo will comprise Hog Fest on the courthouse square and Community Center in Roby. That night Jack Terry & the Texas High Five band will play on the square.

Hog Fest Bike Rally will take place at the Rotan Rodeo grounds, the main event starting 8 a.m. Saturday. Gates will open on Friday. There will be vendors, children's activities, music and rally events all day long. Chase Scott Band, Brazos, Highway 36 and Lawless Flatz will play from 10:45 a.m. until midnight.

Okay, here's headlines from the Sept. 18, 2008 color issue of the newspaper:

• One man volleyball team comes to Rotan (photo)
• Big Country Electric hosts Rep. Joe Heflin (photo)
• Revised rules for Hog Fest cake & pie contest
• Mark Harris writes song, "Boots"
• First United Methodist Church in Rotan presents Spiritual Renewal Sept. 20 (photo)
  
• Obituary for Maxine Hommel Terry
• Roby City Council holds first meeting with new City Manager
• Notice to creditors
• Roby CISD public meeting announcement
• News Briefs: Roby UMC Men's breakfast; Angel Velez places at West Texas Fair
• Congressional candidate Dwight Fullingim hears voter concerns in Rotan & Roby (photo)
• Tumbleweed Smith: Charles Chupp is not your typical mayor
• Air Permit renewal by Longworth Gin
• Yellowhammers & Lions sports reports (photo)
• Rotan Homecoming Sept. 26, playing Cross Plains
• Roby Lions play Winters there
• Blood Drive Sept. 22
• Fisher County Roundup by Joy Walker
• New fall items at The Newspaper Office in Rotan
• DAR meeting minutes
• Fisher County Historical Commission minutes
• Rotan School Board discusses cost of implementing softball program
• Sheriff's report
• Teacher of the week, Coach David Ritchie, Rotan (photo)
• Rotan city council approves budget, sets tax rate
• Carrion, Estes & Groat sign up for Roby School board
• Randy's Roundup by Congressman Randy Neugebauer

Hope ya'll are enjoying this perfect weather, it's my favorite time of year. Soon the wheat will be going in the ground, there have been a lot of serious costume conversations going on at our house, and the turkey is right around the corner. Have a good week!

I like Tina better

It's been a week of weather, hasn't it. We've had misty, drizzly days and it appears that the second planting period of this growing season has begun. Seeing the chrysanthemums and collard greens at the hothouse inspires me so that I feel like getting a bunch of seeds to plant, but I will save them the ultimate torture of my killing them. No green thumb here.

Here are the headlines for the Roby Star Record / Rotan Advance Sept. 11, 2008 color issue:

• Rotan Cafe now open (formerly The Back Yard, photo)
• Commissioners Court approves county budget, lowest tax rate in 14 years
• Cross Roads Baptist Church celebrates Heritage Day today, services begin at 10:55 a.m.
• Fisher County Hog Fest Cake & Pie contest revised rules to be published next week
• First Baptist Church of Rotan holding revival until Sept. 17
• Quail Research Ranch holds field day
• AgriLife Extension to present Beef Production Program Sept. 23
• Obituaries for Jerrel Ray Marks and O. C. Day (photo)
• Public citations
• News Briefs: Reception for Joe Heflin; Hog Fest Bike Rally Cleanup; Senior 4-H meeting
• Artist Barry Arthur speaks at Sept. 8 FCAA meeting; Oct. 6 next meeting; Art Show to be held in Court House Atrium during Hog Fest, Oct. 11
• Fisher County Sheriff's report
• Fisher County youth participate in Texas Wildlife leadership camps
• Recipe Corner: Sweet Grilled Corn
• Fisher County Roundup by Joy Walker
• Birth Announcement for Brian Jeral Jenkins, Jr. (photo)
• Fisher County Chamber of Commerce & Agriculture Wild Hog Fest Cake Baking & Pie Contest, Thursday, Oct. 9, First Baptist Fellowship Hall Annex in Roby: Contacts & Contest Rules
• Yellowhammers & Lions sports report
• No game for Rotan Sept. 19
• Lions play Stanton in Roby Sept. 19
• Tumbleweed Smith: Men Should Stay Out of Women's Purses
• Engagement announcement for Shanna Diane Diggs & Rode Wayne Morrow (photo)
• Lane Landes, strong roots in Rotan
• New managers at Windword Inn (photo)
• Randy's Roundup
• Roby CISD approves committees, fields reports
• The Newspaper Office will be closed on Fridays during the month of Sept.
• Rotan High class officers (photos)

Gotta go, the Vikings play at noon! Go Vikes!

Hobbs Reunion set for October 18

I spoke with Pat Porter today and she said the newsletters will be coming out soon with more information about this year's reunion. It will start at 9 a.m. and the meal will cost $12.50. Remember that you can still order Hobbs Commemorative throws from Mac Etheredge.

You can contact Pat in several different ways to update your info or add someone else's:

Pat Porter
950 FM 3205
Rotan, TX 79546

325-735-3337 home or 735-2332 work

pporter@rotan.esc14.net (most reliable e-mail)
patporter2006@sbcglobal.net

Plan on joining everyone at the Hobbs School for this memorable occasion.