The Albany News (Albany, Tex.), Vol. 135, No. 22, Ed. 1 Thursday, October 21, 2010 Page: 4 of 16
sixteen pages : ill. ; page 22 x 11 in. Scanned from physical pages.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:
PINION PAGE
4A Page
The Albany News
www.thealbanynews.net Thursday, October 21, 2010
The Albany News
Since 1875
Oldest journalistic venture west of the Brazos
Publisher Donnie A. Lucas
Editor
Melinda L. Lucas
Office Manager
Jody Patterson
Reporter
Kathryn Stapp
Typesetter
Betty Viertel
Advertising Sales
Alii McCoy
Office Assistant
Kody Balliew
Moran Correspondent
Duston Brooks
EDITORIAL
Seeing Red
Red Ribbon Week is next week
and once again, parents and other
adults have an opportunity to dem-
onstrate their desire for a drug-free
community.
Although there is some evidence
that the level of teenage substance
abuse is dropping slightly, here are
a few facts that may open your eyes.
• Even though drinking by per-
sons under the age of 21 is illegal,
people aged 12 to 20 years drink
11% of all alcohol consumed in the
United States. More than 90% of
this alcohol is consumed in the form
of binge drinks.
• The 2009 Youth Risk Behav-
ior Survey found that among high
school students, during the past
30 days - 42% drank some amount
of alcohol; 24% binge drank; 10%
drove after drinking alcohol; 28%
rode with a driver who had been
drinking alcohol.
In 2009, the Monitoring the Fu-
ture survey reported that 37% of
eighth graders and 72% of 12th
graders had tried alcohol, and 15%
of eighth graders and 44% of 12th
graders drank during the past
month.
• 10.9 percent of eighth graders,
23.9 percent of 10th graders and
32.4 percent of 12th graders admit-
ted to having used marijuana in a
2008 survey.
• The Teen Alcohol Abuse Sta-
tistics website reported that nearly
half (45 percent) of the automobile
related deaths for teens are alcohol
related.
• According to the National In-
stitute on Drug Abuse, the use of
medications by teens to get high
has risen, with Vicodin use being
particularly notable.
Red Ribbon Week gives us as
adults a chance to be visible and
vocal in our desire for a drug-free
community, and research shows
that children are less likely to use
alcohol and other drugs when par-
ents and other role models are clear
and consistent in their opposition to
substance use and abuse.
Let's be clear and consistent.
POLICY
THE ALBANY NEWS
(USPS 012-400) is published weekly, with the possible
exception of one week in July 2010 and one week in
December 2010, for $35 per year for subscriptions within
Shackelford County, $40 per year for subscriptions
withinTexas, and $45 per year for out-of-state subscrip-
tions by Lucas Publications Inc., 49 S. Main, Albany,
Texas 76430. Periodicals postage paid at Albany, Texas.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Albany
News, PO Box 2139, Albany, Texas 76430-8006 or to
circulation@thealbanynews.net.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
All letters to the editor must be signed by the
author and include a complete address and
telephone number. Only the writer's name
and city will appear in print. The publisher
reserves the right to edit or to refuse any
letters. Send letters to The Albany News,
PO Box 2139, Albany TX 76430-8006 or to
news@thealbanynews.net.
CORRECTIONS
Any erroneous reflection upon the character,
reputation or standing of any individual,
firm or corporation will be corrected when
notification in writing is given to the pub-
lisher within 10 days after publication.
RATES
SUBSCRIPTIONS: Albany & Moran $35, Texas
addresses $40, other U.S. addresses $45, foreign
addresses available upon application.
ADVERTISING: National rate $6.50 per column
inch. Local rate $5.40 per column inch. Notices $1
line. Classified ads, $5minimumforfirst 15 words,
10<t word for additional words paid in advance.
CONTACT INFORMATION
MAILING ADDRESS: PO Box 2139, Albany TX 76430
TELEPHONE NUMBER: 325/762-2201
FAX NUMBER: 325/762-3201
EMAIL ADDRESS: news@thealbanynews.net
WEBSITE: www.thealbanynews.net
AFFILIATIONS
2010 MEMBER: Texas Press Association,
West Texas Press Association.
Do kids really play anymore?
Last week at work, during our lunch
hour, the girls and I began one of our talk-
fests that we have at least a couple of days
a week. We usually start the talkfest when
our soap opera - All My
Children - becomes so
absolutely ridiculous
that we can not bear to
hear another line out of
the character's mouth.
We have all decided we
could write the dialog
and story line much bet-
ter that those Hollywood
writers who are getting
paid the big bucks.
Anyway, back to the talkfest Somehow
we got on the subject of children today and
their lack of imagination. Children are not
able to entertain themselves, they want to
be entertained.
I contributed first....My brother and I
played Cowboys and Indians. I never sur-
You, me & everyday life
Bobbie Cauble
vived any battle. If I was the Cowboy, then
he, the Indian, would scalp me. If I was the
Indian then he, the Cowboy, would shoot me,
If we played war, he was always the Army
man and could make those great guttural
sounds of a machine gun, so I never had a
chance. He would always launch hand gre-
nades (pine cones)
and blow me to
smithereens.
Even if I saw him,
he would tell me there was no way I saw
him because he was in a fox hole. I never
quite figured that one out
Now my girlfriends and I loved to make
mud pies. We were the queens of mud pies
We would bake mud pies all day long. We
would mix the dirt and water, add gravel
(a substitute for pecans) and grass which
doubled for coconut. What masterpieces
we would create! I haven't seen a little girl
making mud pies in years. What fun they
are missing out on!
iRWAftsr
ftAHUtWAMf
BL0GGER,.
WT Ageless
AHlWfcER
NARRATES AN
UPPfORTEP
PUTOUW
AVA&UELY
WAtAED
GR0UR,.
FRpMSOKt
WERE
OUT OF
STATE
FONDER BY
WWWM3US
PONORS.
ITS 600D
TOfcEAN
INWMEP
VOTER.
We also loved to play dress-up, complete
with the high heels, purses, jewelry and
hats. We were always carrying our baby
dolls on our hips. None of our dolls talked,
cried or wet their pants. And you know
what? We didn't even notice.
The first board game I remember playing
was Monopoly.
Again, my brother
always seemed
to win. For some
reason, he was always the banker, maybe
that had something to do with it.
I guess my generation entertained
themselves by putting their imaginations
to use. We were a generation of kids who
loved playing outside with all the kids in the
neighborhood. We played from sun up 'till
sun down. We could be Davy Crockett, Miss
America or Roy Rogers and Dale Evans. All
you had to do was utter the phrase "Let's
play like" and the fun was on.
What great memories!
WHO E>0
YOU CALL?
U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison
284 Russell Senate Office Bldg.
Washington, DC 20510-4304
Phone: 202-224-5922
Website: hutchison.senate.gov
U.S. Sen. John Cornyn
517 Hart Senate Office Bldg.
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: 202-224-2934
Website: cornyn.senate.gov
U.S. Rep Randy Neugebauer
1424 Longworth HOB
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: 888-763-1611
Website: randy.house.gov
State Sen. Craig Estes
P.O. Box 12068
Austin, Texas 78711
Phone: 512-463-0130
Website: craigestes.com
State Rep. Jim Keffer
P.O. Box 2910
Austin, TX 78768
Phone: 800-586-4515
Website: house.state.tx.us/members
Albany - Full of talents, some hidden
The great American philosopher Yogi
Berra, formerly a Hall of Fame catcher and
manager with the New York Yankees, has
said, 'You can observe a lot by watching." I
find that to be true.
Albany is full of interesting persons, peo-
ple with hidden talents and characteristics.
For example, a stranger
upon first meeting one of
our town's leading bankers,
wouldn't guess that he is
an excellent guitar player,
singer, and sound techni-
cian. Likewise, upon deal-
ing with our leading pro-
i an Roil P31^ vendor, he wouldn't
know that said vendor, like
his esteemed father, is a fine singer and long
time Fandangle performer.
The stranger, upon meeting our amiable
county judge, might guess that the big fellow
is a former football player, but he wouldn't
know that the judge is also an avid reader,
has quilted and worked in stained glass, and
also cooks.
Now longtime Albany residents do know
all that stuff. Even for them, however, there
are folks among us who have surprising
hidden talents. As Yogi advised, I've been
observing, and this is about a few of them.
Who knew, for example, that Pam Davis is
an excellent auctioneer? Singer and actress,
Amblin' through Albany
yes. But auctioneer? At the recent Empty
Bowl luncheon at the Old Jail, she could
have squeezed blood from a turnip. The lady
helped raise over $8,000 for the cause.
Who knew that distinguished longtime
rancher John Mat
thews had latent
artistic talent?
In preparation
for that Bowl luncheon, with just a bit of
prodding from a couple of Episcopal ladies,
he took to ceramics like a duck to water and
produced a nice bowl that brought a big price.
Who knew that Jeff Davis and Andre Ray-
mond are accomplished thespians? Therapist
and teacher yes, but actors ? In the August
AMP production of "God's Favorite," even
with an outstanding cast overall, they blew
the audience away.
Who knew that the Rev. Steve Ulrey, the
popular pastor of our Methodist church, had
a brother who is also a minister — but of the
Baptist persuasion?
Just think, a baptismal sprinkler and a
dunker in the same family, brothers no less
and now pastors in the same town. A nice
American vignette.
Who knew that Superintendent Shane
Fields of AISD is one of the best school super-
intendents in the whole state? Well actually,
some of us did suspect that, but now it's offi-
cial with his recent nomination for that title.
He had recently handled a difficult, embar-
rassing, and very public personnel problem
with coolness, professionalism, and aplomb.
Who knew that Tom Jones, the new ex-
ecutive director of the Old Jail, is a fine cook,
chef and maitre de
cuisine? Back in
Midland, he even
prepared a meal
for 50 ladies at one time. Imagine: a museum
director who loves art and is a great cook. Did
he come to the right town, or what?
Who knew that Saundra Nobles would
become one of our state's leading experts on
locating cemeteries and individual graves,
especially very old ones? And she keeps dis-
covering more and more of them.
Who knew that the little town of Albany
would come to have four (4!) master wood
craftsmen/cabinet-makers? They are James
Garvin, Don Koch, Jim Nobles, and Dennis
Patience. Are there others here also?
Who knew that Myra Hise, a veteran
sixth-grade science teacher, is also a top-
notch, world class baker? She can make a
cake of almost any flavor, shape or size that
will make you compete vigorously for the last
bite.
And so it goes. Who knows what other
hidden talents are out there among us?
Stay alert. You can observe a lot by watch-
ing.
Friends would rather 'wear out than rust ouf
I've long believed that all of us are benefi-
ciaries of "divine appointments" periodically.
Most of them don't penetrate our awareness
and are dismissed as co-
incidences or even "blind
hog luck."
Dr. Jimmie Nel-
son, retired seminary
professor, smiles when
conversations swing to
the Almighty and His
.. . interventions.
on ew uiy He's convinced that
life's situations - major, minor and those in
between - have nothing to do with the align-
ment of stars, but everything to do with God
who put them in place.
Dr. Nelson remembers a particular mo-
ment, some 55 years ago, in Nacogdoches,
where his friend, Bill Stowell, was pastor.
Their lifelong friendship had begun a few
years earlier when they were seminary
students.
Following a revival service led by Dr.
Nelson, they were in "catch-up mode,"
visiting as friends do. Rev. Stowell, a starter
in every basketball game during all four
of his years at Oklahoma City University,
mentioned that a teammate, Abe Lemons,
had recently returned to OCU for the first of
two coaching stints there.
"OCU is playing at SMU Saturday night,
and I'd certainly like to have a couple of
tickets," Stowell lamented.
"Within two minutes, the phone rang;
it was Coach Lemons calling," Dr. Nelson
recalls. "Abe wanted to know if Bill was still
in the 'preaching business,' because he had
a job offer to extend. He wanted his former
teammate to be his assistant coach, and he
was 100 percent serious."
Stowell responded that he was very much
committed to the ministry, and didn't foresee
any career path changes ahead.
"Well, is there anything I can do for
you?" Lemons asked. "Since you asked,
there is," Stowell answered. "I'd like to have
tickets to your SMU game."
This was one of Nelson's first recollec-
tions when he learned of Stowell's death the
other day.
"I doubt that
Bill ever men-
tioned that job
offer from Lemons to anyone," Nelson said.
"His conversations always centered on
others, never himself." Stowell wound up
serving some 60 years in pastorates, includ-
ing the last 51 years at Emmanuel Baptist
Church in Shreveport, LA.
He died earlier this month at age 81
after successfully fending off serious health
issues during much of his adult life. He
survived four different heart surgeries, all
of them invasive bypasses. There also were
periodic stent procedures, and earlier this
year he underwent gall bladder surgery. "In
recent years, he sometimes visited hospital
patients who weren't as sick as he was," a
colleague said. After each heart surgery, Bill
marveled at surgical advances, and each
time minimized his condition.
"I remember our telephone conversation
after his fourth bypass surgery," Nelson
said. "They've made unbelievable advances
with this surgery, Jimmie," he beamed.
"Why, the next time my heart acts up, I
doubt they'll have to do anything."
This playing "up of others" and "down
of self' explains much about why he was so
beloved. They loved him at Emmanuel and
on mission fields that were so dear to him.
The Idle American
(Website mitcenter.org provides details.)
Rarely idle, Stowell sent personal birthday
cards to all of his flock, sometimes mailing
more than a hundred weekly.
It explains why nine funeral directors
participated in the service, most of them
volunteers. Why law enforcement personnel
directed traffic when more than a thousand
mourners paid respects at visitation. And
why an overflow
crowd of upwards
of a thousand at
services the next
day in his beloved church where usual Sun-
day attendance is 350. Why some attendees
came on canes and crutches and in wheel-
chairs, a few with oxygen bottles. Why the
crowd was "tri-colored" with whites, browns
and blacks. Why folks from all walks at-
tended, including laborers who attended the
service in sweat-stained work clothes.
It explains why so many grateful people
recognized the life of a man who worked so
diligently and passionately for as long as
he could. It explains why some folks drove
away, unable to find a single parking space,
and why some arrived 90 minutes early to
assure seating. It explains how Coach Lem-
ons, even during his playing years, recog-
nized one of life's champions, and probably
knew Stowell's answer before making the
coaching offer.
The lives of Coach Lemons and Rev.
Stowell were grand examples of persons cut
from special cloth. My friend, Dr. Jimmie
Nelson, came from that bolt of cloth, too.
Now 82, he remains active in what Lemons
called the "preaching business." He serves
in interim pastorates most months of every
year. Like his friend Bill Stowell, he'd rather
wear out than rust out.
m
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.
Lucas, Melinda L. The Albany News (Albany, Tex.), Vol. 135, No. 22, Ed. 1 Thursday, October 21, 2010, newspaper, October 21, 2010; Albany, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth403400/m1/4/: accessed June 21, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting The Old Jail Art Center.