The Gilmer Mirror (Gilmer, Tex.), Vol. 120, No. 40, Ed. 1 Saturday, May 17, 1997 Page: 4 of 22
This newspaper is part of the collection entitled: The Gilmer Mirror and was provided to The Portal to Texas History by the Upshur County Library.
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A recent San Diego Unio-Tribune editorial board inter-
vative film critic Michael Medved got us to
view with
anti-Catholic.
that it’s pathetic. I don’t even
I
Church. I judge no Catholic.
service.
i
3
)
II
e/
AVAl,
A
here, but the remembrance of ries about those Catholic kids!
John Herndon brought it to (Just kiddin’) I’m sure they in
mind. I look forward to seeing turn have heard stories about
Baptist kids. I’m talking about
how they really behave in Real
Parker of Ore City sent a letter
to us the other day coming to
my defense in terms of the dude
who calls himself “Don
Straight” who thought I wrote
some article about the Repub-
lic of Texas. Parker says that,
unlike me, he does sympathize.
In responding to Mr.
Straight (and I’m glad he’s now
%
Q)
have to ask Pope John Paul II speak), I have never yet met a
or any of his predecessors what saint in this life. I fall so short
to think about matters spiri- of the mark and have for so
tual, but I am by no means many years (all of them so far)
e
I MAKE errors all the time.
And I made one in a column I
wrote a couple of weeks ago.
Mrs. Georgia Herndon
called me last week to offer me
mostly effusive praise for hav-
ing given credit, first of all to
God, whom I attempt to love
THE ROMAN Catholic Life 101 when they leave their
Church is often maligned by various youth camps.
When these folks started And I hope Catholics will give
mumbling stuff (and, again, I me the same break.
?
*
I
my battery mate again.
*******
fail in that goal, and also to
His saint, Anthony of Padua—
the latter for maybe having
played some role in the case of
my missing wallet which
turned up within three days.
But here’s what I got wrong.
I just assumed (and never as-
sume anything . . . you know
the rest of that saying) that
Mrs. Herndon was a United
Methodist.
She said she had been re-
ceiving numerous calls from
her Catholic brethren and
"sisteren” (There’s no such
word, is there? But now there
is. I just made it up.) about
when she had left the church.
I guess the Pope might have
called eventually. I need to
send him a copy of that column
and ask him to bless all future
ones. Luv ya, J.P. II!
I hope you Catholics realize
the good fun in which I in-
tended that remark. I believe I
A 1949 tax receipt paid by I
Mrs. Witcher showed she paid I
$14.10 in school taxes and I
$14.57 in county taxes on I
140.62 acres of land valued at 1
$940. A collection of poll taxes I
for Mr. and Mrs. Witcher, is- I
sued periodically between the ■
early 1920s and the early fl
1950s, indicated that the I
amount of the tax required to ■
vote never varied: $1.75.
Also in the collection were I
g
"CALLUP 1
COUN POWELL
ANDSEEIFHE
CN SENDA
COUPLE PEOPLE
OVER. I
Knox, etc., came along to let if you Catholics will pardon
the masses know they didn’t me (or “indulge” me, so to
•he GilmerMlirror
214 MARSHALL
GILMER, Texas 75644 0250
(903) 843-2503
ISSN No. 8750-0884
ESTAnUSnKO AS
The Texas Mirror
IN Giuheh in 1877
The Gilmer Mirror is published semi-
weekly each Wednesday and Saturday by
GREENEWAY ENTERPRISES, INC
Subscriptions are $27 00 a year in
Upshur, Gregg, Morris and Camp Coun
ties, $31 00 elsewhere in Texas and
$35 00 out of state Periodicals postage
paid at Gilmer. Texas USPS No 218720
POSTMASTER: Send address
changes to address listed above
SARAH L. GuEENE
PlmiJSHER
Mac OvERTON
EDrOR
SuzANNE PATTERON
ADvERTISING Manager
ERRORS REPORTED TO THE PUBLISHER
WILL BE CORRECTED N THE NEXT ISSUE
Ag-mzaumaMon.gume,TmasMa17,1007
mrmu
straight; I believe he used to two pairs of wire-rimmed
be Don Gay, the rodeo star), I glasses mailed to Mrs. B. L.
was very happy on the day the Witcher, Reynolds Withcer’s
Oklahoma City federal build- mother, by Drs. Childress in
ing was bombed because I got Longview; World War II ration
to meet with Miss Texas that coupon books, “The Workbas-
day. That was the reason I was ket,” a catalogue of needlecraft
so ecstatic. I got to hold her patterns that sold for 15 cents
hand for a time. I think I even in 1956, and a book, “How to
maybe hugged her. grow All Kinds of Plants” from
us Protestants. I thank God GROWING UP is very dif-
with all my heart, soul, mind that those such as Martin ficult even for those who are
and strength although I daily Luther, John Calvin, John brought up in Christian homes.
■
/gOXA JU4/42A0N’.
Dumbing down An erica?
Filmmakers may be mocking our values
Witcher collection
going to museum
Jewel Witcher, wife of
Reynolds Witcher, was the per-
son who brought in a box of
interesting early-20th Century
Upshur County documents
turned up in going through
items she had saved through
the years..
An article in the Wednes-
day Mirror incorrectly attrib-
uted the collection to another
member of the Witcher family.
Jewel Witcher asked The Mir-
ror to pass the collection on to
Historic Upshur Museum,
where it will be valued as a
contribution to the “20th Cen-
tury, an era of change” seg-
ment of the museum collec-
tions.
Included in the Witchers’
memorabilia was a July 31,
1924 copy of the Upshur
County Echo, weekly newspa-
• per published during the early
part of the century by the late
J. J. Stephens. It included per-
sonal items, such as the report
that Nellie Willeford, daugh-
ter of Mr. and Mrs. A. B.
Willeford, was recuperating
from a rattlesnake bite she got
while gathering peaches at her
home east of Gilmer, and the
news that Mrs. Arthur Lindsey
had her leg broken when the
horse pulling her buggy ran
away near the T. H. Briggs
residence.
Also in the news that sum-
mer was the July 24 picnic,
celebration and candidate
speaking, an annual event held
to honor the arrival of the first
Mormons at Salt Lake City.
Election returns showed
that Sheriff J. W. Bryce had a
big lead over Thea Spencer for
sheriff, J. M. Holloway lead in
the tax assessor’s race and in
the tax collector’s race, a run-
off loomed between W.H.
McNair and E. R. Blount. (The
two offices later were merged.)
Reynolds Witcher’s 1924
Upshur County personal prop-
erty tax receipt showed he paid
a total of “166.” Close exami-
nation shows that was $1.66,
divided between 38 cents for
state ad valorem tax (since
eliminated, but perhaps to be
restored by the current Legis-
lature), 90 cents for county ad
valorem and 38 cents for “dis-
trict school” tax. His personal
property was valued at a total
of $50.
The museum displays Up-
shur County property tax re-
ceipts as early as 1857.
will probably someday be killed don’t intend this as a slight, I read my Bible without the
by someone with no sense of but they were sort of going interpretive aid of a pope in
humor. Hey, my family is not through the motions, it seemed Rome. And it gives me great
that long-lived to begin with, to me, with their chosen say- solace and comfort. Its prom-
I’m already well on my way to ings for the day, which they ises are so awesome and the
my earthly grave. And to die obviously knew by heart and love is so overflowing that I
will be gain. I have faith in my could probably recite in their will never be the same. Praise
“Hire Pire” as we East Texans sleep) back and forth, I knew God for that! '
*3
9,0
(One of my severest critics know why the term is even
has suggested that what I am used, but I guess some of us
about to write may in some need to believe that there are
way be offensive to Catholics, certain mortals among us who
This is not my intent.) may come close to perfection
God used the Catholic in this life.
Church to preserve the Good Now maybe Mother Teresa
News through some of the is an exception. But I think we
darkest ages the human race are all lost sinners who have
has over known been, by the grace of God,
I have been to Catholic granted the free will opportu-
. masses on a number of occa- nity to be redeemed by the
sions. The first time was by blood ofthe spotless Lamb, the
mistake on the campus of Lord Jesus Christ.
Southern Methodist Univer- I look forward to the day
sity when I was 17.1 thought I when we break down the re-
had gone into the Methodist maining “dividing walls” in the
Dear Editor: County Nature Study Club con-
T'vebeenenjoyingthe columns ducted Spring Roundup Bird
about birds and bird sightings Counts from about 1983 to 1987
and was particularly interested with summaries printed in The
in the sighting of the Rose- Gilmer Mirror that this species
breasted Grosbeak. I thought was found on Bob White Road, I
your readers might be interested believe in 1985 and 1988. (Sorry
in knowing that the grosbeak I did not have time to look up the
was not “offcourse" but was right dates.)
“on course” ofits migrant flyway The wonder of bird migration
pattern as it is depicted on the and the beauty of this finch had
Rand McNally Bird Migration been impressed upon me when I
map. An inset pictures the Rose- and other members of a Victor
breasted Grosbeak, its migra- Emanuel Nature Tour Group
tion route, its winter range in observed Rose-breasted Gros-
northwest South America and beaks in Panama during a Feb-
Central America, and its breed- ruary 1985 tour.
ingrange in the northern United
States and central Canada. As for the bright yellow
The Texas Ornithological So- American Goldfinches, they will
defy Checklist of the Birds of probably not stay the summer
' Texas, Second Edition, calls it a and almost assuredly they will
rare to uncommon migrant in not nest for the Aliasing Hand-
the eastern half of the state The book for the Texas Breeding Bird
Smith County Audubon Society Atla* Project, April 1987, in-
Checklist labels it 3M, a fairly cludes the species in a list of
common migrant birds not recorded as breeding
in Texas in the last 20 years.
Common or uncommon, I was They formerly bred in northeast
pleased to sight three male Rose- Texas according toother authori-
breasted Grosbeaks at a feeder ties. These warnings should in-
when I participated in a spring tensity our efforts to provide
count of Harrison County birds habitats which will bring them
last Saturday, May 10. You may back.
remember that whenthe Upshur Frances Willis, Gilmer
multiple explosions.
But not all sophomoric films are made for the Jujyfruits
act Which makes you wonder whether the recent flock of
turkeys reflects a depressing cultural phenomenon —
namely, the permanent dumbing down of America.
How else to explain the box-office success of Demi Moore,
whose popularity among Hollywood execs defies the fact that
she simply cannot act, as illustrated by her performances in
The Scarlet Letter and Striptease? Or what about her hus-
band, Bruce Willis, who keeps getting high-paying roles
despite his leaden career?
Why, for that matter, cast the conspicuously untalented
Tom Arnold in a recycled version of the television show
McHale’s Navy? Filmmakers, looking to tap into the nostal-
gia erase of baby boomers yearning for the TV sitcoms of
their youth, would be better off to sign up Roseanne’s ex-
husband to play Mr. Ed, which we understand is in produc-
tion.
Norma Desmond’s haunting line from Sunset Boulevard
about the movies getting smaller seems particularly apt at a
time when Hollywood is overdosing on sequels, when screen-
plays are increasingly done by committee, and rap singers,
television performers and overpaid athletes have replaced
the likes of Cary Grant, Clark Gable and Katharine
Hepburn. — Copley News Service.
And getting smarter...
A world of scholarships indicates as much
This graduatinn season is a good time to consider that
while Hollywood may be part of the “dumbing down” of
i America (seeleditoriad above) other fores are at work to
“smarten up” the younger generation.
Scholastic award ceremonies mid graduation exercises of
Upshur County’s seven high schools put on display some
outstanding examples of young people taking advantage of
the educational opportunities available to them. Many
scholarships are being awarded this month to colleges large
and small.
Four junior colleges in this immediate area — Kilgore
College, Northeast Texas Community College, Tyler Junior
College and Panola County College — will draw many of the
scholarship students. No one can overestimate the role they
have played, and will continue to play, in contributing to the
economic and cultural progress of Northeast Texas.
This also happens to be the month that the Texas Legisla-
ture approved the proposal for the University of Texas at
Tyler to offer freshman and sophomore courses. Gilmer’s
State Rep. Bob Glaze and Sen. Bill Ratliff of Mt. Pleasant
joined Smith’s County’s other state legislators in pushing
this legislation, and they deserve congratulations for their
success.
Even further benefit will redound to Upshur County when
funding is secured to build the UT Center at Longview, for
which Neal Garland of Longview has proposed to give more
than $1 million. With all of the above, and with Texas State
Technical College now operating from a new campus in
Marshall, this area is at long last acquiring tax-supported
higher education at a level that will catch us up with the
rest of Texas. East Texas as higher education stepchild may
soon be a relic of the past .
like to say. this was not my father’s Meth- *******
TO ME, it’s always fun to odist service (not that he was A FOOTNOTE: Tom
make a mistake so I can apolo- one; I’m afraid he was ada-
gize later. I’m an apologetic mantly agnostic, at best),
kind of guy, anyway. I really YOU CATHOLICS know
enjoyed apologizing to Bo Pil- what’s best for you, but I just
grim (Well, I did repent, sort don’t get into ritual. And as to
of; it was a left-handed apol- confessing sins to a priest? If
ogy, but then I am left-handed you read this column, you know
myself so it’s the only kind I that I confess at least 90 per-
can sincerely make). Never let cent of mine to you aH. People
your right hand know what have accused me of being too
your left one is doing. honest. I don’t believe there is
Speaking of that, Mrs. ever such a thing as being too
Herndon reminded me that her honest. Well, there are “white
son, John, used to be the lies” which serve to protect the
catcher for me on our Little feelings of those for whom the
League baseball team. Our es- truth would hurt, granted,
teemed coaches, including The other 10 percent, you
Charles Bingham and John probably wouldn’t believe any-
Tabor, thought that I would be way, and it would not be suit-
a natural pitcher since I was a able to be printed in a family
southpaw. newspaper. As a spiritual I had just seen sketchy news the McGregor Bros. Co. in
I’VE GONE into this be- leader once told me, he some- reports about the bombing Springfield, Ohio.
fore. I never wanted to pitch. I times grows weary of hearing while I was attempting to in-
always wanted to play first “true confessions” even though gratiate myself to 21-year-old
.base. But I tried my best— he knows it’s part of God’s job Arian Archer of Borger. It’s too
most of the time, anyway. description for him. bad she never got back to me
There were a few occasions Believe it or not, I agree with after she shot that
when I got so upset at the late him on this. Confession is good concupiscent aruw through
SCott Pickitt, Gilmer’s post- for the soul, but’s it’s not al- my heart. And maybe I’m fan-
master at the time and my best ways good for those on the-re- tasizing some of this, but I do
friend Pat s daddy, that I de- ceiving end of it. Lots of people remember her better than I do
liberately threw pitches up at tell me stuff they’ve done that anything else about that day.
the screen behind where he I really didn’t have a need to It was only the next day that
was manning the PA system know, but that’s okay. I became aware ofthe carnage
and broadcasting to the Little The Catholic camp located involved in the OKC bombing.
League moms. (Thank God I between Big Sandy and By the way I was also very
came along before “soccer Gladewater which used to be sad two years before that when
moms . I < known while it was operated 17 little children were cre-
His Dizzy Dean imitations by the Camp Fire organization mated (and wen never know
were sometimes just too much as "Camp Natowa” and now is who was responsible) at Mount
for me, especially when our called A he Pines” is special to Carmel near Waco. I wonder
team got behind, which in most me. how this guy who’s gone
games was early and often. I went to a dedication cer- “Straight” reacted at that time.
And ! did have a natural emony just over a year ago to I wonder who he is-period. I’d
curve ball. It s just too bad I celebrate a new addition to the like to meet him face to face. If
didn’t have a “natural" fastball, camp. The Catholic kids from you’ve got a problem with what
When my pitches didn’t curve, all over North Texas who hap- 1 write, come see me in person,
behemoths such as David pened to be encamped there I can give as good as j get I
Payne hit them out of the park that day were such a joy for me stand behind every sentence I
over the light standards. As I to be around. write. I use words rather than
say, I m plowing old ground But, boy, have I heard sto- bullets. And I always will.
thinking about the state of the cm— as we brace for 07
another summer of mindless Hollywood releasee. I
Medved, a San Diego native, Yale graduate and syndi- 2
eated movie critic, is something of a skunk at the celluloid I
garden party. He scolds moviemakers for churning out
stinkers that mock America’s basic values while mugging our “1
institutions.. .g
We were surprised to learn, for instance, that film atten- 0
Jane* declined by two-thirds during the 1960s, and that the .
average adult sees no more than three or four movies a year. 9
Then again, who can blame them, given the putrid fare
playing in so many multiplexes?
Bad movies have always been with us, to be sure. And,
granted, much of the drivel coming from the Dream Factory
is targeted for an adolescent audience with an affinity for
7 ... - r ge . 7
"l*:h >89
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Overton, Mac. The Gilmer Mirror (Gilmer, Tex.), Vol. 120, No. 40, Ed. 1 Saturday, May 17, 1997, newspaper, May 17, 1997; Gilmer, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1495044/m1/4/?q=music: accessed June 19, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Upshur County Library.