Cherokeean Herald (Rusk, Tex.), Vol. 161, No. 32, Ed. 1 Wednesday, September 29, 2010 Page: 3 of 24
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vie points
Clferokeeaij Herald ■ thecherokeean.com
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
3A
EDITORIAL BOARD
Whitehead Enterprises Inc.
publisher
MARIE WHITEHEAD
editor
TERRIE W. GONZALEZ
managing editor
FAST I °rward
Epitaph for a cemetery vandal
A bright harvest moon
shimmered on the
eastern horizon
Friday night — a good
omen for the Rusk Eagles at
their homecoming game.
As the moon climbed
higher in the night sky, it
bathed the landscape in a
whitish glow.
Sometime during the game
or just after it concluded
and less than 1/2-mile from
Eagle Stadium, mischief was
afoot.
At the Cedar Hill Cem-
etery on Main Street, an
unknown number of people
entered the cemetery and
desecrated 51 headstones.
Like a fickle tornado that
selectively takes one home
and leaves the next door
neighbor's, these vandals
concentrated their handi-
work through the center of
the cemetery. The head-
stone of a one-day old baby
was allowed to stand, while
a beautiful Woodman of the
World monument nearby
was toppled.
A dollar estimate on the
damage has not been calcu-
lated. Some of the head-
stones can be easily lifted
and repositioned on their
bases. Others are cracked or
IF
~ ^ i
_* > " -A
TERRIE GONZALEZ
heraid@mediac1r.com
had pieces of stone broken.
Who were these vandals,
and why would they des-
ecrate the final resting place
of our friends and loved
ones?
Was it a bunch of kids high
on something?
Could it have been angry
Palestine-Westwood fans
who wanted to hurl an insult
after a painful loss?
Was it a person with a
vendetta aimed at a survivor
of one of the deceased?
City Manager Mike
Murray walked through
the cemetery several times
Saturday morning, and he
tried to connect the dots for a
plausible theory.
Sgt. Earl Dominy said
that in his 19 years of police
work he has never seen a
cemetery crime like this one.
If the anger in his voice is
any indication, he will inves-
tigate this case until arrests
are made.
He vowed to go through
the Texas penal code to find
appropriate charges to apply
to this case when he finds
the perpetrators.
He photographed each
headstone and broken urn,
and painstakingly dusted
each for fingerprints.
No doubt, clues were left
at the crime scene.
One of the 51 targeted
headstones marks the final
resting place for my dad,
Emmett H. Whitehead.
I wondered if the vandals
read by moonlight the in-
scription on the front of dad's
marker before they pushed it
over: "The measure of a life
is service to others."
Whoever caused this
damage and emotional pain
doesn't understand the mea-
sure of life. If the culprits
are kids, will they learn
to "pay it forward" with
Service to others? I hope the
epitaphs on their headstones
become more than: "a cem-
etery vandal.''
NOW I and again
'Instant relatives' and other things
As long as I remem-
ber, Tve appreciated
vintage things. The
rich golden wood of a
piece of furniture, darkened
around the edges, A chair
with tapestry fabric, and
painted wood with crackle.
My love of vintage leads me
to volunteer my time at a
few heritage festivals/Civil
War/living history reenact-
ments around the state. One
of these is near my home,
Oct. 1-2,1 will be dressed in
costume from the 1850-80s at the city of
Rusk's Heritage Festival, showing school
children and any who are interested a few
of the items laches wore back then. For the
last eight years or so, I've worked on an
over-sized crazy quilt with no worries of
getting it finished anytime soon.
My festival demonstrations sometimes
includes tatting and other lacemaking
skills, along with parasols, bonnets, hats
and pieces of handmade lace. Throughout
the year Im looking for more to add to my
booth — sometimes those pieces are added
first to my home decor. Yes, I enjoy living
amongst i lioso elegant things.
When a festival is coming up, I gener-
ally glance over my rooms, seeing what I
might be willing to let go of, so that Others
have a chance to enjoy them too. With the
festival coming up soon, it is hunting time.
As I strolled through an antique store the
other day, I ran my hand over a beautiful
armoire. Owning three of these pieces, I
still can't help looking inside, then turning
over the price tag. These early versions of
SUSAN BURCH
ciassifiedads@mediactr.com
a closet fascinate me. Every
once in a while I get the
urge to tear out the inad-
equate closets in my house,
creating more room in the
areas I need and using
armoires in their stead. Of
course, I come to my senses
long before attempting any
destruction.
On that visit to the
antique store, I came upon
an exquisite secretaire, the
wood just the kind that ap-
peals to me. On that desk
was a box of pictures, Being a collector
of vintage wedding and Victorian lacheé
photos, I indulged my need to look through
these "instant relatives.'' the name I ve
often heard given to photos displaced from
their original owners and offered for sale.
From the rare tin types to sepia-tonecl pho-
tos, I love the old mats too, which usually
accompany these treasures,
Now that I work at the Cherokeean
Herald, the vintage photos remind me of a
similar box at work with photos of anni-
versaries, weddings and birth announce-
ments. Why haven't the families come back
for these treasures? After they have been
printed in the paper, we don't need them
any longer, so I fear they will eventually
become "instant relatives' themselves in an
anitque shop some clay. If you've dropped
off a photo to be printed in the paper please,
don't hesitate to check if we still have it.
Til chaw my story to a close inviting you to
come join me at the Rusk Pioneer and Heri-
tage Festival this weekend and enjoy those
vintage classics I love so.
TAXING I thoughts
2010 is a critical year for tax planning
Changes in 2010
tax rules and the
coming sunsetting of
the 2001 Tax Act in
2011 make this year critical
for tax planning. Whenever
significant changes
occur in laws, there are
opportunities and pitfalls to
manage your tax liability.
First, take a look at 2010
changes that you need to
factor into your planning.
• Required minimum
distributions from retire-
ment plans are back for
individuals aged 7OH and
older. Dec. 31 is the dead-
line for taking the required
distribution for this year.
However, if this is the first
year you're required to take
a withdrawal from retire-
ment funds, you may delay
that first distribution until
April 1, 2011. Doing so
means you'll have to take
two distributions in 2011.
Distributions are tax-
able, so depending on your
income and the tax rates in
both years, delaying may
not be to your advantage.
• Converting a tradi-
tional IRA to a Roth IRA is
ANITA L. WOODLEE
CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT
now allowed for everyone,
regardless of income. The
prior $100,000 income limit
ended this year. If you clo
a conversion this year, you
can choose to report the
taxable income on your
2010 tax return, or spht.
it and report half on your
2011 return and half on
your 2012 return. Again,
the likelihood of higher tax
rates in 2011 and beyond
must be considered.
• The phase-out of
itemized deductions and
personal exemptions for
high-income taxpayers
enclecl this year , thanks to
a provision in the 2001 Tax
Act, Because that law sun-
sets next year, the phase-
outs return in 2011, In
deciding whether to bunch
itemized deductions into
this year or next, consider
again the tax rates for both
years and a full deduction
vs. a partial one.
Second, reahze that this
might be the last year to
take advantage of certain
credits, deductions, and
other familiar tax breaks.
Tax rates will change next
year, making the timing
of income and deductions
important. Take the time
to plan now while you still
have several months for
your actions to make a
difference. To discuss your
tax-cutting options at. this
critical time, please contact
our office.
pd. advertising
ANITA L. WOODLEE,
CPA, PC
CERTIFIED PUBLIC
ACCOUNTANT
111 Henderson • Rusk • 75785
Phone:903-683-1002
www.anitawoodleecpa.com
Visit our web site for new tax
tips arid financial calculators
mm
Published weekly each
Wednesday by
WHITEHEAD
ENTERPRISES,
INC.
Texas' oldest continuously published
weekly newspaper, established as the
Cherokee Sentinel, Feb. 27,1850. Con-
solidation of The Cherokeean, The Alto
Herald and the Welis News & Views
CONTACT US:
190 M. Main • Rusk
(903)683-2257 •
FAX (903) ,683-5104
(90S) 586-7771 • Jacksonville
(903) 729-6889 • Palestine
(936) 858-4141 • Alto
Marie Whitehead
editor, advertising sales
(903) 683-2257 ext. 105
mwhitehead@mediactr.com
SUBSCRIPTIONS
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Outside Cherokee County $23/year
Outside Texas $27/year
Call (903) 683-2257
credit cards accepted
Terrie Gonzalez
managing editor
(903) 683-2257 ext. 107
herald@mediactr.com
Robert Gonzalez
advertising sales
(903) 683-2257 ext. 102
rgonzalez@mediactr.com
Gloria Jennings
general news
(903) 683-2257 ext. 106
news@mediactr. com
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POSTMASTER:
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CHEROKEEAN HERALD
P.O. BOX 475 •
RUSK, TX 75785
Periodicals Postage Paid at
Rusk, Texas 75785
Quinten Boyd
general news, sports
(903) 683-2257ext. 109
chreporter@mediactr.com
Brenda Davis
advertising, receivables
advertising@mediactr.com
Tara Crosby
advertising sales
(903) 683-2257 ext. 103
sales@mediactr. com
HIGH POINTS I*- El Camino Real
Folks along El Camino
Real are trying to soak
up a little bit of the
norther that blew in on
Sunday afternoon. Every-
one was disappointed that
it came in dry, but hopefully
some much-needed rain will
follow before much longer.
We've had a pretty busy
week along our httle stretch
of the King's Highway, and
I'm sad to say a good portion
of them weren't that good.
Good or bad, I'm bound to
give you your four bits' worth of news, so
here it is.
We had to say good-bye to some of our
old friends this week as their years finally
caught up with them. We are sacl to see
them go but we are thankful for the time,
we had and the memories they leave
behind. I am especially saddened when
someone passes, and I don't know about it
until much later. This was the case with
my friend C. H. Lenard. who passed away
on Sept. 18. He always had a story to feil
about working with my grandfather or
some VEW project. The sound of his raspy
voice will certainly be missed in our com-
munity. It may be a httle late, but say a
prayer for our old friend and his family.
Billie Lou Boyd Erazier died early last
week after a long illness. Billie Lou had
arthritis for many years, but she kept
going. She had to quit driving about a
year ago, and I didn't see her out much
after that, She always had a big smile and
wanted to know about the family anytime
you ran into her. Please remember this
special lady in your prayers.
Our friend Charles Martin lost his
father, Millard "Punk' Martin, on Sept.;
22. Mr. Martin spent his whole life in
Alto, except for the time he spoil t in World
War II. He worked for the Texas Highway
Department for 35 years. His son Charles
is still employed with them. He had lots
of friends and he will be missed by our
community. Please keep his son Charles,
daughter-in-law Brenda and the rest of the
family in your prayers.
I ran across one uplifting piece of news
last week. I saw Lee Roy Selman at the
football game on Thursday night, and he
was looking pretty good for having un-
dergone surgery the week before. He was
sporting a belly full of staples where they
cut into him, but he was in good spirits. I
know he will be ready to get those staples
out. I told him I was afraid some kid was
going to punch me in the stomach playing
around while I had my staples. He said
he shares that fear. Keep Lee Roy in your
prayers. He isn't out of the woods yet so
we have to keep lifting him up.
The Alto Yellowjackets' trip to Kerens
on Friday did not turn out like the Yel-
lowjacket fans wanted. The boys fought
hard but when the final whistle blew, the
score was the Kerens, 21 — Alto, 6. The
Yellowjackets have an open date this
coming week, to rest up, heal up and theil
CHRIS DAVIS
elcaminoreal@consolidated.net
start district play against
the Cushing Bearcats the
next week. I never figured
out what a Bearcat is. I
always wondered who comes
up with what the mascot is
going to be when a school is
formed. The Yellowjackets
should bounce back in full
force by week after next,
so get ready for some more
great football.
On Sunday afternoon.
My middle son Grant and I
drove down to the Coonpond
to kill wasps in the deer stands and just
enjoy a little time planning the upcom-
ing hunting season. It is too dry to plant
oat patches, so killing wasps and looking
around were the only things we could do.
We made our rounds to the different deer
stands and threw a Dollar Store bug bomb
in each one. This is so much easier than
fighting the wasps with your cap before
dayhght on the first day of hunting season.
As I wasleaving my dad's stand, I saw
what looked like the handle of a folding
hunting knife half buried in the sand. I
picked it up, brushed of the dirt, and rec-
ognized the knife immediately. It was an
Old Timer Brand. My dad gave the knife
to Grant when he was seven or eight years
old. I remember telling daddy that the
knife was too big and sharp and that Grant
would end up cutting himself. Grant
lost the knife the first time he carried it
hunting and even though we searched and
searched we could never find it. I held
the knife up to show it to my now 18-year-
old son. Grant and he couldn't beheye his
eyes. After 10 years of being lost the knife
had finally been found. I was amazed that
the blade was still shiny and sharp even
though the handle was noticeably faded. I
hope the luck holds out, and he gets to skin
a big buck with it this year. At least he
didn't cut a finger off with it when he was
eight or nine, now he'll have the chance
atl8 or 19. Bow hunting and squirrel
seasons start this weekend, so folks will
be donning camouflage and heading to the
woods. The unseasonably warm weather
will have snakes stirring, so be on the look-
out for Mr. Wiggletail. Of course always
think about safety first when getting in
and out of vehicles and deer stands. A lady
wrote a letter to the editor last week about
hunters letting their corn and fertilizers
sacks blow out of the backs of their trucks.
The lady was so right — add beer boxes and
seed sacks and that equals trashed-out
highways, I started noticing the trash on
the road associated with hunters after I
read her letter, and she hit the nail on the
head. Please don't let trash blow out of
your truck, tie it down. Happy hunting!
I guess I've said about all that needs
telling for now. Keep the news coming and
I'll put a spin on it and spread it around.
I'll see ya next week! Success is not mea-
sured by the heights one attains, but
by the obstacles one overcomes in its
attainment.
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Whitehead, Marie. Cherokeean Herald (Rusk, Tex.), Vol. 161, No. 32, Ed. 1 Wednesday, September 29, 2010, newspaper, September 29, 2010; Rusk, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth152958/m1/3/: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Singletary Memorial Library.