Getting tied down

- Bobcat in the chicken pens -

It's been almost a year since I ditched Dish TV, in an attempt to cut the cord and save myself hundreds of dollars.

Here's what happened. I bought a small desktop digital antenna that picked up five or six channels (we'll never be able to watch Andy Griffith again, it was on all the time), but the signal was easily interrupted by walking near the antenna, or by using anything with an electrical ignition, such as a lighter or the stove top burners.

So, I tried the old antenna on a pole. It picked up the same channels, but not consistently, only for a few minutes at a time. Then I bought another digital antenna, this time one that mounted on the old antenna pole. It picked up twelve to sixteen channels, but also inconsistently. The 9 channels (9.1, 9.2, 9.3, 9.4 - yeah, I thought the decimal format was weird) only seemed to work well 7-11 p.m., the signal was as easily interrupted as the desktop antenna, and constant rescanning and turning of the antenna pole was necessary to receive a signal.

Also, no money was saved. In fact, much more money was spent than before. The expense of the antennas and the expense for more data on my phone plan so I could use it as a wifi hotspot to watch netflix, Hulu and other streaming channels on my Roku is greater than anything spent for Dish.

I signed up for Direct TV this time, the very cheapest package, which affords us many more channels than we've had in the past year. I still have the outside digital antenna hooked up, because satellite tv is not reliable during thunderstorms or snowstorms. I am enjoying the consistency of the channels, but I don't like the format of Direct TV as much as I did Dish. Recording programs and setting the guide to where you only see channels you get is confusing. Dish is much more customer friendly, but Direct is definitely an improvement over the last year of digital viewing.

Next, the challenge of finding truly unlimited satellite internet. It's doesn't make sense to me that phone plans measure by data but satellite plans measure by mbps uploaded and downloaded. If satellite happens to speak of data, then it defines between hard and soft data, again, a term I've never encountered regarding phone data plans. I do know that even 25 gigs of data is still very little to have for watching netflix and such. I really don't want to have to miss the next season of The Ranch and the kids would come visit us more if they knew they could play video games when they visit (haha!).

(The bobcat photo is for amusement only and doesn't pertain to any subject in this article!)

Hobbs Homecoming 2017

Hobbs Homecoming will be held Saturday, October 21, at the Hobbs School.

Registration is at 9:00 a.m., the program is at 10:00 a.m. and lunch will follow immediately after.

Rough Creek Catering will serve the meal. Cobbler has been requested for dessert.

The meal is $12.50 per plate.

Fall comes trickling in

- .7 today -

You are all welcome for the surprise rain this morning. We used our strongest medicine to draw it here, you know, leaving the vehicle windows down and a sack of seed in the back of the pickup. Just imagine what we would have conjured if I had left clothes on the line.

I'm putting the open times of a few places I've needed lately in the right-hand column. I thought they might come in handy for some of you. For phone numbers, you can click on these links: 
The Country Store 
Roby Drivers License Office
Hobbs Cafe
You might have to sign in to facebook to see the Hobbs Cafe link.

I was listening to a radio program (a podcast), and the hosts were talking about a book they were reading, some kind of psychology - theology - philosophy volume, and the author's basic idea was that everyone wants to be loved, and that is the driving force of humans. I have personally come to the conclusion that we all want to be relevant, with our family, at our job, in our community. When we are no longer relevant, we lose our zest for life or become anxious. Or, maybe we can learn to be comfortable living alone, although even then one might have animals who finds one relevant. That might be enough to sustain the soul.

I am certainly looking forward to next week when fall finally peeks its little head around our corner of the world. I've lived in this spot for over fifty years, but I still get fooled every year into thinking autumn is closer at hand than it really is, then becoming completely worn out by summer temperatures. Hold on to that thought, it won't be too long before I'll be crying for summer, again!

The detriment of the Driver Responsibility Program on the common man

- SR-22 Letter -

I'm getting on the job training regarding the Driver Responsibility Program in Texas. I'm trying to help someone out with their tickets and here is how it goes: get tickets for not having insurance; pay tickets; pay surcharges; file an sr-22, even if you don't have a vehicle, which means you have to buy insurance just to walk around, and you have to maintain that for two years; then pay $100 to get your license reinstated.

That is too much for a very organized person to deal with, much less a regular guy barely getting by, and I mean organizationally as well as monetarily. Oh, and by the way, after paying $780 in surcharges, they sent a notice charging for them, again.

Here is where I can use one of my favorite sayings, the right hand doesn't know what the left hand is doing.

According to a recent article in the Texas Tribune, there was consideration for getting rid of the program during this legislative session, but that was kiboshed in the senate.

I heard Nolan County attorney Lisa Peterson talking on KXOX radio one morning a couple of weeks ago about the undue burden the surcharges of this program puts on poor people. When someone can't pay or figure out the complicated labyrinth that has to be navigated to get in the clear, they end up in even more dutch with the law.

The person I helped with the tickets had insurance, just didn't have proof, and waited seven years to take care of the citations.

Screendoors

- Screen Doors outdoors -

Lately, it seems my eye has been drawn, especially, to screen doors on dilapidated houses. It may be because I want some screen doors on my own house, but I think that the screen doors produced today are thinly made and the screen is plastic instead of metal mesh, so I yearn for the screen doors of yesteryear.

Now, is it really screen doors I yearn for, or is it being three years old and slamming out one of those doors, knowing no responsibility and looking forward to the adventure of each new minute?

Truth be told, I haven't looked at a new screen door in a decade or more. They're probably perfectly fine. I feel I may have taken an object from my past and idolized it sentimentally.

I could probably get an old screen door and revitalize it, but I think I might be disappointed, because I won't be able to recapture youth, and the feeling of running out the door barefoot, carrying a dripping ice cream cone, and enjoying that satisfying slap of  the screen hitting the door frame.

There's nobody left to even yell at me about it, anymore.

Commissioners Court report

The Fisher County Commissioners Court convened for a Special Meeting 9 a.m., Thursday, February 25.

A Burn Ban was not put in place, but will be discussed at the next meeting.

Gary Smith, representative of Grant Works, was present to discuss the TXDOT TIF program. Four vendors were approved for hauling, twelve pits were approved for material. Smith said program money can be used for leasing of equipment to perform road improvements.

Two commissioners who own pits abstained from approving on their pits. The pits were approved unanimously by the other commissioners.

Work can begin now on approved roads.

The next Commissioners Court will be held Tuesday March 1 at 9 a.m. This will be a Special Meeting. Items on the agenda are the Burn Ban, the Bond for Carla Thornton, and the Law Enforcement Center Final Decisions Workshop.

Candidate Forum attendance fair

- Preston Martin at the podium -

The Fisher County Candidate Forum was presented Thursday night, 6 p.m., in the Roby High School auditorium. Pat Thomson, Johnnie Howell and Jerry Marshall managed the proceedings.

Representatives stood up and campaigned for Michael Bob Starr, Jodey Arrington, and Greg Garrett, all republican candidates for U. S. congress.

Ricky Thompson and John Young, both republicans running for 32nd Judicial District attorney, spoke about their qualifications and goals for the office. There were a few swipes made against each other and a pretty intense, uncomfortable moment when Young lashed out at the crowd for hiding behind the computer screen to make anonymous remarks against his family.

County attorney candidates Michael Hall, democrat, and Jim Hargrove, republican went on stage next. Some light swipes were made, but no one got too dirty.

Sheriff candidates took the stage next. In order of who spoke first was H. T. Fillingim; incumbent J. A. Robinson; and Billy Spears, all running on the democratic ticket. The sheriff was well-spoken, and all three candidates were in agreement over the issues.

Candidates for Precinct 1 and Precinct 3 commissioners filed onto the stage next. This included democrats Hal Ely and Gordon Pippin, incumbent, for the Precinct 1 race: incumbent Preston Martin, democrat; candidate Bobby Hunt, democrat; and candidate Santos Flores, republican, for the Precint 3 seat. Josh Helms, republican candidate for Precinct 3, was not present. There was camaraderie among the men, and Gordon Pippin stole the show with his loquaciousness. He and Ely threw some goodhearted jabs. Martin was the most prepared for the questions that the candidates had been given beforehand to answer.

Overall it was an entertaining and enlightening evening.

Local landmark to stand

- Clear Fork of the Brazos -

The Rough Creek Bridge on County Road 349 north of Hobbs is currently undergoing an upgrade by the Texas Department of Transportation.

The south approach and the deck are being rebuilt, and the rails refurbished and brought up to current engineering standards, according to TXDOT Public Information Officer Mary Belle Turner.

The structure is described by TXDOT as a Warren pony truss with a polygonal top chord. It was originally built in 1930 on FM 1657, just south of Cross Roads Baptist Church, crossing over the Clear Fork of the Brazos River.

Rotan resident Billie McCombs, who worked on relocating the bridge, said it was moved to Rough Creek in 1956 after the roadway was paved and the bridge was not considered adequate for the heavier loads that would cross the creek.

The project is slated to finish in April.

The contractors for this job are Hodges & Sons Construction out of Omaha,Tx.

Local elections, chicken foibles and gas plants

-FM 1614-

Well, it's looking like the Precinct Three Commissioner's Race is going to be interesting with four candidates running. According to the Fisher County Election Page, the Democratic ticket will include incumbent Preston Martin and candidate Santos Flores, with candidates Josh Helms and Bobby Hunt on the Republican docket. If you've read me before, you know that I think the commissioners election is the most important political race in all of politics. I wonder if there'll be any mudslinging?

Winter keeps poking its hoary little head out here and there as it always does this time of year, but I'm already thinking about the garden, which makes me think about the chickens, because they ate all my tomatoes last year, and that reminds me of the trouble I've had with my faucet covers, because the chickens ate those, too. I think I've found a solution, though. I wrapped the styrofoam covers in duct tape and that seems to have puzzled the fowl. I have a love-hate relationship with the chickens and I have to keep coming up with solutions to keep us from fighting.

I don't take in much news, so I'm wondering what they're building out by the gas plant at Clatytonville. It's quite an endeavor, on a very large scale, and my guess would be a new gas plant. It would seem to be about time, the current plant is a bit ancient looking. Google and I will look into that and get back with our results next time (maybe).

UPDATE
A little Google goes a long way! The new structure will be electric, the Wetsel Substation on FM 611 and CR 448. I thought I usually read my Big Country Newsletter, but I guess I skimmed over this article.

Bootlegging, quail and Wikipedia

- Sunset at Hobbs School -

I would think that most of you, like me, have grown up hearing stories about Pinkie Roden, namesake of Pinkie's Liquor Stores. It's said back in the 50's a young man could make a quick $100 hauling a trunkload of beer to a dry county. There's also a family story about one of the relatives having a clandestine meeting with Pinkie on a backroad.  Elva Jo Edwards has a different story about how bootlegging affected her life. What will always come to mind for me will be riding in the pickup, standing between my uncle and grandma, all the way to Tuxedo (where an isolated Pinkie's Liquor was located, everyone in these parts knows what I'm talking about), and upon my uncle's departure from the store, I would be handed an Orange Crush and a Slim Jim that was bought for me inside. Pure happiness, folks. If only I could fly back to that time for a moment.

 The report coming from the quail ranch is that they have 11 wells and counting in one of their pastures. Read more about this and other Rolling Plains Quail Ranch news on their facebook page, website and twitter. Very interesting and informational with a lot of photos, also informational, as well as beautiful and surprising.

One of my readers wrote me to let me know that Hobbs is now listed on Wikipedia. Y'all check it for accuracy, maybe add a little bit of your knowledge. Thanks, John!