The Kerens Tribune (Kerens, Tex.), Vol. 134, No. 2, Ed. 1 Thursday, January 12, 2006 Page: 2 of 6
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Page 2 • The Kerens Tribune • January 12, 2006
Editorial/Opinion
Editor E-mail kteditor@earthlink.net
Kerens.Com
Old Testament Personalities
By Tom Darby
Tribune Columnist
Intelligent Design and Benjamin Franklin
I was going to tell you about terminal I needed. Instead it
the midnight Bazaar in Aswan, went to a different one where
Egypt this week but am going I had to wander around ask-
to put that one off for a while, ing directions and finally found
Egypt will be back in town out I had to catch another bus.
next month. And there were not a whole
This past Thursday after- lot of English speaking people
noon my plane landed in Cin-
cinnati in an airport where the
restaurants and bars featured
pictures of old Red Sox or
Red Stocking baseball play-
ers from eons ago. They even
had a picture of Abbott and
Costello when they did their
original routine of “Who’s On
First.” Remember that one? I
have heard that routine many
times in the past but never in this French airport either or
knew they did it live in Cin- else they had no interest in
cinnati baseball uniforms right helping someone with a Texas
there on a real baseball field accent. The people in France
in front of a baseball crowd, did not come across near as
It must have been part of the friendly as some of the other
pre-game or post-game en- countries I have stumbled
tertainment back in the days around in. Maybe it is be-
of radio and black and white cause of President Booosh.
television. I bet the crowd That is how they say his name
liked that one. It is interesting anyway,
how different airports deco- So after another hour of
rate to put on a local atmo- waiting on a bus and worry-
sphere to catch the attraction ing about missing a flight, I fi-
of people passing through on nally get to the right terminal
their way to who knows and then notice the gate num-
where. The Cincinnati airport ber is not on my boarding
was a nice comfortable place pass. That was odd since the
and easy to get around in gate and terminal number are
which is certainly not the case Sways printed right there be-
everywhere, and for sure not side my seating assignment. A
the case at my next stop. quick grimace winds across
After a few hours wander- my face until I notice the de-
ing around looking at pictures parture electronic boards
in Cincinnati it was time to scattered around the terminal,
board my next plane heading Up to the board I run and find
to Charles de Gaulle airport my flight and still no gate num-
in Paris, France. I had never ber. Every other flight on the
been to Paris before and was board has a gate listed. I run
looking out the window as I to another one and things start
came in on a Friday morning to look better. The gate finally
after flying all night across the shows up as “F3” and I think
Atlantic Ocean. What I everything is going to be okay,
wanted to catch was a glimpse But then when I start looking
of the Eiffel Tower but it es- for the gate on the terminal
caped me behind a cloud signs, the first gate starts at
somewhere. When the plane “F21.” Where in the world is
landed, it did not come up to “F3?” A French guard is no
a terminal and instead help and just shakes his head
stopped out on the runway when I say the bad word “En-
awaiting a bus to come out gfish?’
and pick up the passengers. My flight is about fifteen
This is fairly common in the minutes away now so I run to
European airports and I had a ticket stand and the atten-
been through this in Germany dant looks at my boarding
many times. In Germany, three pass and points off to a line
or four buses would pull up of people going through se-
and the passengers would run curity at the gate sign starting
to catch one as they quickly at “F21.” Now I think if I
pulled away. In Paris, one stand in that line and it is not
solitary long bus pulled up and the right way to go, then my
it sat there forever as every flight will be missed for sure
single passenger was and then I will be stranded in
squeezed behind the doors. Paris. My blood pressure is
Then after sitting there for an rising. I run back to the board
hour, it did not even go to the and check the gate number
once more and this time the
gate number shows up as
“F30” instead of “F3.” Simple
case of a missing zero. I know
I read it right the first time, but
at least now I have a confir-
mation of where the attendant
was pointing. Off I run,
through security, down the
walkway, and finally to the
gate where eveiyone has al-
ready boarded. But they let
me on the plane anyway with
a big sigh of relief. That was
fun after it was all over with,
but for a minute there I had
visions of spending the night
on a bench somewhere in a
foreign land with my luggage
gone to who knows where.
Everything is okay now and
the next and final stop is Nice,
France on the French Riviera
sitting beside the Mediterra-
nean Sea. This was a fairly
short flight and maybe the
only flight I have been on
where the pilot never said a
word of English during the
flight while probably an-
nouncing arrival weather and
other odds and ends. Oh well.
As the plane made its ap-
proach to the Nice airport
over the Mediterranean, the
first thing that struck me was
how the water was such a
clear blue. It was bluer than
the Community Park swim-
ming pool in Corsicana and
so clear up by the shore you
could make out rocks even
from a high altitude. I had
heard about bright blue wa-
ters in some of the Mexican
resorts down south, but had
never imagined it to be this
blue. The airport here was not
that large but it was very up-
scale with several different
coffee shops and restaurants
to poke your head in. First
off I made sure my luggage
made it through all the airports
and then found an airport
bank to exchange some dol-
lars for Euros. It took a Euro
to get a baggage cart and I
was way too tired to do with-
out one. Finding the rent car
stand was not too difficult, but
when I tried to get the rent car
salesman to explain how to get
out of the airport to my Ho-
tel, there was a major prob-
lem. He did not speak any-
thing but a few words of En-
glish and the only thing he rec-
ognized me saying was “Holi-
day Inn.” I would say “Holi-
day Inn” and he would nod
his head. Okay, so you under-
stand those two words, but
where is it? Cont. pg. 6
By James Vannoy
The war against the con- church and state. So the great inventor, and it tool
cept of intelligent design battle against intelligent de- much intelligence and har(
continues. The Board of sign rages on. work for him to make this
Trustees of the Dover, PA When Benjamin Franklin model of the solar system
schools passed a directive was ambassador to France The statement of
which stated that at the be- (1778-1785), he became as- Franklin that his model jusi
ginning of the chapter on sociated with some men happened by itself without
evolution in the Biology cur- who denied that God created human activity is automati
riculum, the following state- the universe. The following cally seen to be absurd and
ment would be read: “Be- true story is how he made his a lie. If it is so obviousl;
cause Darwin’s theory is a point about the necessity of necessary that someoni
theory, it continues to be intelligent design to explain made the model of the sol
tested as new evidence is the existence of the uni- system, then Someone hi,
discovered . . . Intelligent verse. “Benjamin Franklin to have created the solar sy$
Design is an explanation of was Ambassador of the tern itself,
the origin of life that differs United States to France. This simple reasoning
from Darwin’s view.” Evo- While living in Paris, stated clearly in Hebrews
lution is a theory, but evolu- Franklin was a member of 3:4. “For every house is bui
tionists want it to be treated an elite literary, social, and by someone, but He wh
as fact. Any theory that has scientific club. At certain built all things is God.” This
not been proven should be meetings of this intellectual simple reasoning is irrefut
subject to introduction of group, atheistic sentiments able. No one would say that
alternative theories, but evo- were expressed, leaving the if all of the parts of a house
lutionists are afraid to let this impression that only the su- were placed on a buildin
happen. perstitious and uninformed site and left to themselve
Any idea which is pro- still believed in God as the that they would eventual
posed as a theory cannot be creator of the universe. At evolve into a house. All th
held as a theory if it violates the next meeting of the would happen would be de
an established law. The so- group, Franklin brought a terioration. We know this
called theory of evolution beautifully designed model because we understand that
violates the second law of of the sun and our entire so- the fact that if a house ex
thermodynamics, which lar system. The earth and the ists, someone had to havt
states that everything tends other planets were in their built it.
toward entropy, and that proper relationship to the The Bible states in its first
things left to themselves will sun and to each other and of verse, “In the beginning G
deteriorate rather than im- appropriate sizes. It was a created the heavens and t
prove. Evolution does not masterpiece. Upon seeing it, earth.” This is the only plan
deserve to be called a theory, one of the sophisticated sible explanation for the ex
A group of parents in Do- members of the club asked, istence of the univers
ver filed suit to eliminate the ‘Who made it?’ Dryly, with- There is no doubt that the
requirement of reading this out the trace of a smile, universe is the product of
statement, and District Franklin responded, ‘No intelligent design, and Ben
Judge John E. Jones III ruled one.... It just happened.’” jamin Franklin used his ta
that the statement could not (“Living Water Archives” ents to show it to be true,
be read because it violated web site) , mail:
the principle of separation of Benjamin Franklin was a jwvannoy@yahoo.com
ary
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How to stay fit and trim in Big K
on
By: Tenny Whorton
how many of our neighbors
make up their minds to get
I don’t know about you, fit and do it. Actually, I think
but I have been getting a big there is a gender gap in all
kick out of the recent news of this . For the obvious rea-
about the fattest cities in the sons, I suppose, it seems to
U.S. of A. That is, which
urban areas produce the
most obese people and
what’s being said about it.
Last year was sweet.
Houston won the title of be-
ing the nation’s Fattest
hands down. And rightfully
be the women of Kerens
who work out the most. I
know quite a few who have
gotten on an exercise and
weight program and it paid
off big time. In Kerens there
is Especially for You. It’s in
the same center on Highway
so. Have you ever driven a 31 as our drug store and IGA
block in Houston without grocery. Patty Perry showed
seeing upmteen fast food me their exercise room and
joints? But for 2005 Hous- tanning beds. You can join
ton was bumped and fell to by the week or month. They
Number 5 as I recall. Dallas also operate a hair salon and
Social Security Administration
White House Conference On Aging To Emphasize
“Boomer” Concerns About Retirement Security
By: Polly Winn
Corsicana District IVfanager
older Americans in the fu-
ture, especially for the first
wave of 78 million baby
This month is especially boomers who will begin to
important for everyone who turn 60 in 2006.”
is interested in issues facing Everyone should remem-
older Americans. From De- ber that the Social Security
cember 11 to 14, the 2005 full retirement age is going
White House Conference on up and know how this
Aging was held in Washing- change could affect them,
ton, D.C. This White House While age 65 was the full
Conference takes place once retirement age for the first
each decade and makes six decades of the program,
policy recommendations to that is changing as a result
the President and Congress of the Social Security Amend-
about promoting the health ments of 1983. The age at
and economic security of which a person can begin
current and future genera- collecting full Social Secu-
tions of older persons. rity benefits is gradually ris-
The 2005 White House ing to 67. Now, people bom
Conference on Aging occurs in 1938 must be age 65 and
as the first wave of the baby 2 months to collect full So-
boom generation prepares cial Security benefits. Those
for retirement. In fact, the bom in 1939 must be 65 and
theme for the 2005 White 4 months; and those bom in
House Conference is “The 1940 must be 65 and 6
Booming Dynamics of Ag- months. The two-month per
ing: From Awareness to Ac- year increase continues un-
tion.” til it reaches 66 for people
Josefma G. Carbonell, As- bom in 1943. The full retire-
sistant Secretary for Aging, ment age levels off at age 66
said “the recommendations for many baby boomers—
from the 2005 White House those born from 1943
Conference on Aging will through 1954—then rises
help our nation meet the again in two-month incre-
needs and expectations of ments until it reaches age 67
for people bom in 1960 and
later.
Of course, workers can
retire before their full retire-
ment age-as early as age 62,
in fact. However, doing so
means that your monthly re-
tirement benefit amount will
also be permanently reduced
for every month that you are
under the full retirement
ranked high also. I mean,
what do you expect? Here
we work hard as a state to
reach the top of the food
chain, and what happens?
People “dis” us for it. Man,
is that fair or what? Balti-
more and Honolulu ranked
Numbers 1 and 2 for being
the “Fittest” cities. Balti-
more really surprises me.
nail shop there. In Corsicana
there are several operations
that have equipment and
will counsel you on the pro-
grams that might work.
Curves is one that some
Kerens ladies frequent.
But can you see the guys
walking into Especially for
You or a Curves? Naw. No
way. Not unless we wore a
Have you ever stopped off wig and trench coat to make
there and watched them certain no one recognizes us.
chew up those crabs and
guzzle the butter? No way.
Somebody misfigured.
So. where does Big K
But there are some other
options. There is a 24-hour
workout operation in
Corsicana on Beaton Street.
stand in all of this? Most of I have never been in it but it
age.
Successful and happy re-
tirements don’t just happen.
They must be planned for.
Start the planning process by
visiting Social Security’s
Benefits Planner site at
www.socialsecuritv.gov/
the food I see consumed at
our local eateries looks
pretty healthy. We don’t
have that many “fast food”
joints per capita. That is one
of the criteria used to judge
the most obese cities. And I
have been impressed with
appears to offer a lot of
weight machines, treadmills
and other cardiovascular
workout devices. The YMCA
on Oaklawn in Corsicana of-
fers some fine programs too.
They have the free weight
area as well as the weight
machines and a swimmini “
pool. There are some pleas in
ant trails in the park outsidi
the Y tod that encourage yoil
to walk a little more, eveij Jc
when you abe leaving! *e
But I Still think we needs
good workout location if
Kerens. It seems we could
find a suitable building and
then beg or borrow some
machines to put in it. You
would be surprised how
many of those there are that
people no longer use. Most
would be willing to donate
them to a good cause. So,
come on you movers and J
shakers around town. Let’s ‘
put our heads together (that ^
will take up less room!) and s
see what we can come up J
with.
I might sound a little
stressed about this, and 1
guess I am. You see, I re-
ceived a call the other night
from a buddy and he was
pretty bummed out. He said
he was shaving the other
morning and happened to
glance in the mirror as he
was bent at the waist. He had
no shirt on and what he saw
he couldn’t believe. By his
own admission he must be
a 38 D cup now! He said
Candy Barr would have
been envious. I mean, this is
a guy who used to be Mr
Trim. So let’s get with it. We
want to continue growing ®
wisdom and stature-not
girth.
planners. Use Social
Security’s online retirement
planners and calculators to
figure out how future Social
Security benefits will fit into
overall financial plans.
There are links from the So-
cial Security site to The
For advertising information,
call Beverly at 903-396-2261
American Savings Educa-
tion Council’s Retirement
Calculator, the Department
of Labor’s Pension Informa-
tion. FirstGov for Seniors’
Financial Planning Tools.
and other helpful websites.
McMillan & Baker Publishing The Kerens Tribune
1001 NW 2nd. St.(Hwy. 31), Suite 100, Kerens, Texas USPS 293-680 -
(903) 396-2261 - Fax (903) 396-2728
Publisher: Tony McMillan, Managing, Editors: Ruthie McMillan and Connie
Baker, Editor: Neal Williams Staff: Sales: Beverly Richards, Office Pam
Petty; Contributing Staff: Tom Darby, Sally Keenan, Tenny Whorton,
Doane Fessenden and James Vannoy
TEXAS PRESS
ASSOCIATION
The Kerens Tribune (USPS 293-680) is published weekly (except the week between Christ-
mas and New Year's Day) by Tony McMillan, 1001 NW 2nd Street, Kerens, Texas 75144.
Periodicals postage is paid at Kerens, Texas.
Subscription Rates: $23.50 yr./$ 12.50-6 months Navarro and surrounding Counties; $28.50
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POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Kerens Tribune, 1001 NW 2nd St., Suite 100,
Kerens, TX 75144.
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Williams, Neal; McMillan, Ruthie & Baker, Connie. The Kerens Tribune (Kerens, Tex.), Vol. 134, No. 2, Ed. 1 Thursday, January 12, 2006, newspaper, January 12, 2006; Kerens, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth591615/m1/2/?q=newspape: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Kerens Public Library.