Cherokeean Herald (Rusk, Tex.), Vol. 155, No. 11, Ed. 1 Wednesday, May 5, 2004 Page: 2 of 20
twenty pages : ill.View a full description of this newspaper.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
COLUMNS
Page 2
Wednesday, May 5, 2004
EDITORIAL BOARD
Whitehead Enterprises Inc.
publisher
Marie Whitehead
editor
Terrie W. Gonzalez
managing editor
Texas' Oldest Continuously
Published Weekly Newspaper
Established as the
Cherokee Sentinel, Feb. 27,1850
Consolidation ofThe Cherokeean,
The Alto Herald and
the Wells News & Views
SUBSCRIPTIONS
Rates payable in advance:
Cherokee County $18 per year
Outside Cherokee County $21 per year
Outside Texas $25 per year
Cberokeeai) Herald
USPS 102-520
POSTMASTER:Send address changes to: CHEROKEEAN HERALD • P.O. BOX 475 • RUSK, TX 75785
Periodicals Postage Paid at Rusk, Texas 75785
Published weekly on Wednesday by
Whitehead Enterprises, Inc.
618 N. Main • Rusk. Texas • 75785
903-683-2257 • 903-586-7771 • herald@mediactr.com • FAX 903-683-5104
Jim Hogg
Historical Park,
Rusk
Caddoan Mounds
State Historical Site,
Alto
m
Texas State Railroad
State Historical Park,
Rusk
" THE 5000 NBNS IS IFINALLY SJT EtOTSA N0NE4 FORfcTANKOF <5(6.
THfcBM) HEWS IS I WD TO SELL THE: CKRTO GET IT!-"
The Road to Baghdad
Ray Cryer
By Ray Cryer
Special contributor
There came a time when
I hungered to see
Bagdad and Babylon.
I've seen that to deny such
hungers makes you old and
dull, early on. And so, with
eager hope,
I left hearth
and home,
pushing to
the Levant
("The East,
where the
sun rises").
Ah, the
late night
light from Israel to Amman,
Jordan is one to be remem-
bered. The small propeller
plane was vintage 1940 and
pitched in the wind like a
kite.
Upon landing I gave a cab
driver the name of a hotel I'd
picked up from a conversa-
tion with a CARE worker.
The place had more class
and a heavier price tag than
I normally tolerate. Yet such
hotels always offer valuable
front desk services for some-
one seeking the unusual. And,
I've never really learned to
use the Arab toilets common
among lesser priced hotels.
But, with the exception of
Israel, you must chink only
bottled water no matter how
upscale the facihty.
The day after I arrived
there was a street demonstra-
tion over Israel's execution
of the head of Hamas. God
forgive me. but I was glad the
old devil was gone.
In several ways, Jordan's
capital has more of a small
town atmosphere than
Jacksonville. Stores, while
many, are tiny, and a Wal-
Mart would be considered a
town in itself. Street lights
are fewer and missing alto-
gether on the highways.
In Amman, most of the
women on the streets wear
only head scarfs rather than
the full burka. It seems ridic-
ulous to me, the Koran not
withstanding, that women
should feel compelled to cover
their hair. Even seventh cen-
tury Mohammed should have
understood that if women
wish to avoid male attention,
hair is low on the list of attri-
butes that allure men.
One of the more drab fea-
tures of Arabic societies is the
lack of female participation.
Restaurants, sidewalks cafes
and other meeting places
were devoid of women. The
somber aura that results,
feels like a half life. Since
70 percent of the popula-
tion of Jordan is Palestinian,
the king has little control
over them. There are some
wealthy Palestinians and
happily, I saw no beggars.
Too, the streets were cleaner
than most cities in America.
When I told the hotel
manager of my wish to go to
Baghdad, he smiled and said,
"You will enjoy the fireworks.''
I replied. "A little night
music' and we both laughed.
Only Royal Jordanian
has commercial flights into
Bagdad. When I made my
reservation, the travel agent
turned to nearby people and
said, "Can you imagine?"
A young Canadian, working
for a major relief organiza-
tion, had just returned from
Iraq. He said all planes,
commercial or charity fly the
same pattern into Bagdad.
They come into Iraq at 22,000
feet. Once within the small
secure area, they drop to
15,000 feet. The plan then
goes into a tight, downward
spiral, chopping 50 feet
a second. Cabin pressure
cannot keep pace, but it
allows for impressive photos
to be taken from the windows
with the plane on its side.
I had to be at the airport at
5:30 a.m. Candidly, I spent a
sleepless night. I'd psyched
myself to take a bullet or an
explosion, but plane plum-
meting was something that
would make me hit high C
all the way clown. Visions of
World War II footage show-
ing planes taking a long chve
into a fiery crash kept pop-
ping into my memory.
I shared a cab to the airport
with an Irishman named
O'Connor who worked in
Bagdad while describing
himself as "claft" for remain-
ing. He dreams of retiring in
the Canary Islands, describ-
ing America as being "Too far
from the rest of the world."
He recommended I either
stay with him and his family
or go to the Al Rashicl Hotel
because of its heavy defenses.
Hotels had become prime
targets for terrorists, some
having been hit several times.
After going through the
first perimeter of security,
I took out my wallet to buy
my ticket. The agent saicl,
"One thousand, twenty two
dollars." I saicl, "You mean
$122," Both the agent and the
Irishman corrected me. They
mentioned that the tickets
were so expensive because
of the price of insurance on
the plane. I'd only paid $715
round trip from Houston to
Israel. Some people thought
I'd gone to Bagdad search-
ing for death. Even granting
some truth to that, I didn't
see why I had to pay royally
for the experience. What
terrorists couldn't clo, the
agent chcl in one sentence-
he blocked me from Bagclacl.
Dejected, I cancelled.
Not to be so easily defeated,
I later found an Iraqi will-
ing to chive me to Bagclacl. I
can't say I hkeel the look of
Abu Abdullah, but at least his
car was in good repair. I had
confidence I coulcl squeeze
across the border. Besides
bribe money, I had press cre-
dentials, missionary creden-
tials and even a passport that
identifies me as a citizens of
the New Hebrides. Driving
across Jordan I saw more
rocks than I knew existed
in the world. There were
small ones as well as giant
boulders, and, if transporta-
tion was cheap, there was a
fortune lying on the ground.
When We arrived at the
border, I encountered five
U.S. soldiers and an assort-
ment of Jordanian and Iraqi
police. I needed none of my
credentials. After 30 min-
utes of standard procedure,
we easily crossed into Iraq.
Iraq had few rocks and httle
clust, as far as the eye coulcl
see. The land was a tank
commander's dream being
flat as a table. After the first
settlement I recalled how
long we'd been on the roacl
and that we faced another
six hours returning. From
Amman, Bagclacl is a 28 hour
trip, aclchng another 10 to
get to and from Babylon. I
recalled an old documentary
showing Sugar Ray Robin-
son fighting Joey Maxim for
the hght heavyweight title,
after 11 rounds Sugar Ray
stumbled toward the wrong
corner. After 12. he coulcl not
come out for the 13th. That is
how I left.
As we left Iraq, I spoke
briefly with two young sol-
diers. One was from Idaho
and the other from Carthage
in East Texas. I explained
I'd wanted to be Iraq's first
tourist which amused them.
They wore flak jackets which
promised to be very hot in the
coming summer.
My brief tour ended on
a sour note when I had an
argument with the Iraqi
regarchng his fee. I had
hit the target, Iraq, but
had missed the bulls eye,
Bagclacl.
With time left over, I went
to Petra (fans of Inchana
Jones will record his being
there in a search for the
Holy Grail). Petra is simply
incredible. The journey to
Petra allowed plenty of time
for my new Jordanian driver,
Haitham and me to compare
philosophies. The guidebook
had written that if a man
puts an official "Hold" on
his wife, regardless of their
nationahty, she cannot leave
Jordan without his permis-
sion. Haitham, normally
a jovial character saw this
as an excellent safeguard
against abandonment. He
also stated that if a family
member is killed, or adultery
is involved, vigilante action
is condoned by the govern-
ment. Crimes against persons
are largely considered family
affairs rather than crimes
against the state.
It is illegal in the Middle
East to attempt to convert
someone from Islam to
Christianity. Also, it is illegal
for a Moslem in Jordan to
convert to Christianity. Islam
is the state religion. But even
disregarding the law seems
to be a futile gesture. I found
no one interested in learn-
ing about Christianity or the
Please see CRYER, pg. 19
Scene In Passing
Marie Whitehead will return
in the May 12 issue of the
Cherokeean Herald.
MARIE WHITEHEAD
editor@mediactr.com
High Points From El Camino Real
The recent rains have
left folks along El
Camino Real in a soggy
mess. The creeks got out of
their banks, rushing through
pastures, leaving fire ants
and gophers crawhng for
drier ground.
Both the Neches and
Angelina rivers are churning
and rolling muclcly water on
their way to the Gulf carrying
along all the beer cans and
empty worm boxes they can
gather on the way. Culverts
and bridges washed out in
some places, forcing people to
take the long way around to
get home. Fortunately, I was
able to clip up four bits' worth
of news before the waters
subsided.
The gorgeous clay we
were blessed with on Sunday
had some folks heading out
to the Central High Home-
coming, eager to clo some
visiting over a good meal. I
heard that there was about
100 people in attendance,
which should have made for
a pretty good homecoming.
As always I had my money
laying on the line in anticipa-
tion of winning the beautiful
quilt that the laches raffle
off each year and as usual,
someone else won it. This
year it was my good friend
Madeline Danhiem who had
her ticket chawn for the prize
quilt. I can't remember how
many years I've been buying
chances on the Central High
quilts, but I'm not ready to
give up yet.
Ray and Geralchne Jones
celebrated their 51st wedchng
anniversary on May 3. The
couple married in Ski elm ore,
Tex. in 1953. Ray moved to
CHRIS DAVIS
ELCAMINOREAL@TXUCOM.NET
Skiclmore and went to work
for the Southern Pacific Rail-
road. The couple moved back
to Alto in 1980. They have
three chilchen, 10 grandchil-
dren and two great grandchil-
dren. Congratulations to Ray
and Geralchne Jones on their
51 years of marriage.
A special lacly will be the
center of attention at the
Bice family reunion this year.
Alhncha Bice Heflin will be
celebrating her 90th birth-
clay at the family gathering.
Alhncha's birthday isn't until
May 29, but the family is
gathering on May 8 at the
Echth Hendrick Pavillion in
the Lynches Chapel Commu-
nity. Alhncha is a great lacly
and I want to be one of the
first to wish her a happy 90th
birthday!
Herchs and Evelyn Bice
probably won't make it to the
Bice reunion this year, but
if they get a httle more rest
from the major health mira-
cles they've endured they'll
be back next year. I talked to
their daughter Sharon Carter
the other night and she tolcl
me that her parents had been
through some tough times,
but with all the prayers from
concerned folks they were
pulhng out of them. Evelyn
was at M. D. Anderson under-
going cancer surgery and
while they were clown there
Herchs fell at the hospital.
The doctors examined him
and found a large tumor in
his brain. They informed
Evelyn that surgery would
have to be performed immedi-
ately and that the chances of
survival were only about one
percent. Herchs hacl a really
rough go of it but now he
has been moved to Woodland
Heights Hospital in Lufkin
and is walking and talking
and doing great. They are
hoping he will be able to come
home before long. Evelyn is
doing great after her surgery
and the doctors think they
have her problems corrected.
Sharon saicl that the amount
of prayers and concern for her
parents has been unbeliev-
able and she beheves that
this is what made their mir-
acle recoveries possible. This
is the kind of news that I like
to write about. Let's keep
these folks in our prayers
until they are home and back
to business as usual. Alto
maybe a httle bitty place, but
we Still manage to get some
big miracles coming our way.
Juclson West, the son of
Josh and Lynn West, cel-
ebrated his first birthday on
Saturday morning during
the downpour of rain. The
weather didn't dampen the
spirits at this party and kicls
were running every which
away while enjoying a good
supply of hotclogs and cake.
I clon't think Juclson knew
what ah the excitement was
about, but he enjoyed it just
CMYK
the same. Happy birthday,
Juclson!
Kelsey Felcler didn't let
a httle thing like the creek
getting out spoil her fifth
birthday party on Saturday
afternoon. The water was
flowing across the roacl about
ankle deep at party time, but
Kelsey still ended up with a
houseful of folks to help her
celebrate her big clay. I l;ippy
Birthday, Kelsey
Aclchson Peacock, the son
of Roland and Rene Peacock
didn't let the rain slow him
clown last weekend. He hacl
his bicycle going full blast
through the mucl holes and he
was wearing the proof on his
clothes when I ran into him.
Bonnie Magrucler snapped
some great mucl-bogging pic-
tures of him. I know just how
fun playing in those chtches
is, because my grandmother
hveel right up the roacl from
Aclchson and I spent the
biggest part of my childhood
playing in those same chtches.
The higher the water got the
better we likeel it. Whether it
was floating boats or running
full speed into it on anything
with wheels, we always man-
aged to make the best of a
rainy clay. The trouble we got
in for ruining our clothes was
a small price to pay for all the
fun we hacl. They have never
made a video game that coulcl
match the fun a fellow coulcl
have in a chtch full of water.
On Friday before the rain
started I made up my mincl to
get all of the tomato plants in
mine and my neighbor Virgil
Schochler's garden in wire
baskets. I finally found some
wire baskets that I hkeel in
Rusk and brought them home
for Virgil's approval. He
thought they were too tall
and wanted me to cut them
ah off, but I refused and he
Sytrííji "a
Addison Peacock makes the best of a rainy day. He used
his bicycle with training wheels to mud-bog over the week-
end.
conceded to me using them
just hke they were. I got all
of his tomatoes fixed and
he even payed me for the
baskets. I cut my hand on
one of his wire baskets, but
he didn't seem to mincl the
bloocl since it wasn't his. I
went back to Rusk for more
baskets and got most of my
tomatoes finished. I then
proceeded to plant four rows
of cream peas and four rows
of purple hulls in my garden.
Virgil made me come over to
his garden and plant a row
and a half of purple hulls. I
was pretty much give out by
this I i me. but Virgil insisted
that I go buy him some can-
taloupe plants and set them
out. When I returned with
his plants, he was Waiting,
and I planted them accord-
ing to his instructions and
watchful eye. The clouds
were beginning to roll in and
as I headed over to my house
Virgil decided that he needed
me to burn a brush pile
before it rained. Too tireel to
argue I went home and got a
match and set his pile ablaze
and headed wearily home,
forgetting to collect the three
dollars he owed me for the
cantaloupe plants. I looked
out the back cloor of my house
as clusk fell and I could see
Virgil with his pitchfork stir-
ring the blaze and sending
a shower of sparks into the
evening sky. I couldn't help
but wonder if real devils ride
hanchcap scooters.
I guess this is about all the
news a person can absorb at
one reachng, so HI save the
rest for later. If the fish keep
biting and the grass keeps
growing, then we ought to
have plenty to clo for a few
clays. I'll see ya next week!
And remember. If you have
a job without aggravation,
you don't have a job!
Loans or CDs
Cheek our
rates 1stt
903-683-2277
Citizens 1st
BANK [==
Member F.D.I.C.
EQUAL
HOUSING
LENDER
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Newspaper.
Whitehead, Marie. Cherokeean Herald (Rusk, Tex.), Vol. 155, No. 11, Ed. 1 Wednesday, May 5, 2004, newspaper, May 5, 2004; Rusk, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth152623/m1/2/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Singletary Memorial Library.