The Gilmer Mirror (Gilmer, Tex.), Vol. 138, No. 73, Ed. 1 Thursday, September 24, 2015 Page: 4 of 18
eighteen 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:
Page 4A — THE GILMER MIRROR, Gilmer, Texas September 24, 2015
Wmmdliris
Eyes on Texas
Roundup of news about our state
An executive of the Collin Street Bakery in Corsicana,
famous for its fruitcakes, has been sentenced to 10 years in
prison for embezzling $16.7 million, according to online news
service Courthouse News.
Sandy Jenkins and wife Kay bought 38 new cars, including
Bentleys, Mercedes andPorsches—almost one every time they
needed an oil change—took more than 200 trips on private jets
and ran out of ways to spend money at Neiman Marcus. The
store employees nicknamed them “Fruitcake” and “Cupcake.”
Sandy Jenkins was making $50,000 a year at the bakery.
According to the indictment, he used 888 fraudulent checks
to fund his adventures.
A federal district court has ordered the Jenkins to pay
$12.7 million in restitution. Kay will serve five years proba-
tion and 100 hours community service. She has to write an
apology to the bakery.
Orange jumpsuits aren’t Neiman Marcus, but they’ll
have to do.
kkk
Dallas-based conservative radio host Glenn Beck wants
$10 million from listeners to bring Syrian refugees to the
United States. “We can save more people by Christmas than
Oskar Schindler saved,” Beck said during an interview with
The Daily Caller.
Schindler was the German industrialist who saved 1,200
Jews from the Nazis and was the subject of the Oscar-winning
film “Schindler’s List.”
Beck declared he doesn’t need anyone’s permission for the
Syrians to immigrate. “Forget about Washington,” he said.
Beck said he’ll bring in the Syrians, legally or otherwise.
If all else fails, he said, “I know some bridges over a river in
Texas that don’t seem to matter.”
kkk
If your athletic department brings in $160 million a year,
you might want the person who runs it to know her stuff.
New York Times sports columnist Juliet Macur called out
University of Texas at Austin President Greg Fenves for ap-
pointing a personal injury lawyer as interim athletic director
after firing Steve Patterson.
Macur said her choice would be Chris Plonsky, who has been
UT’s women’s sports AD for more 14 years. Plonsky is a better
fit, she contends, than Houston attorney Mike Perrin.
However, the Perrine choice is typical in big-time college
sports, where 80 percent of head coaches are males. Of the 65
schools in the five largest conferences, three have females ADs.
Megan Dolan
Eyes on Texas is a weekly roundup of of news, columns
and features about the state, from media around the world
compiled by the UT Austin School of Journalism, http://
reportingtexas.com/fruitcake-felons-and-becklers-list/
Heard About Town
By Vic Parker
Saw a feature in the Longview News-Journal (features are
what they do best and most often) about that video game
class at Jefferson High School. Really? A video game class?
Surely it’s not a credit class. And spare me the “It’s the world
we live in now” nonsense. Questions abound. What was the
teacher’s major in college that readied her as an instructor
in that class? If the class includes instruction on coding, I
might buy into it. Either that’s not the case or the writer
did a poor job by not making that a part of the story. (Could
be either one.) The curricula in high schools and colleges
are supposed to ready the students for life in the real world.
Is a video game class going to do that? Video game classes
certainly weren’t available when I was in high school ...
but Latin was. Call it a dead language all you want, but my
exposure to that “dead language” provided a great assist in
what became my chosen field: journalism. The kids taking
this class better hope a potential employer doesn’t want to
see a high school transcript. Video game class indeed.
kkkkkkkk
It’s reported that a recent poll of new college graduates
showed 10 percent of them think Judge Judy is a member
of the Supreme Court. (Maybe they were taking a video
game class instead of a civic class.)
kkkkkkkk
Sports quotes... “Last year we couldn’t win at home and
we were losing on the road. My failure as a coach was that
I couldn’t think of anyplace else to play.’’-Harry Neale,
professional hockey coach. “I’m working as hard as I can
to get my life and my cash to run out at the same time.
If I can just die after lunch Tuesday, everything will be
perfect.”-Doug Sanders, professional golfer. “I don’t know,
I was only there for nine years.”-Walt Garrison, Dallas
Cowboys fullback when he was asked if Tom Landry ever
smiled. “I won’t know until my barber tells me on Tues-
day.”- Knute Rockne when asked why Notre Dame had
lost a game. “When they operated, I told them to give me a
Sandy Koufax fastball. They did, but unfortunately, it was
Mrs. Koufax’s.”-New York Yankees pitcher Tommy John
recalling his 1974 surgery.
kkkkkkkk
After the christening of his baby brother in church, young
Jason sobbed all the way home in the back seat of the car.
His father asked him three times what was wrong, and the
youngster finally replied, “That preacher said he wanted us
brought up in a Christian home, and I wanted to stay with
you guys. ” A wife invited some people to dinner. At the table,
she turned to her 6-year-old daughter and said, “Would you
like to say the blessing?” “I wouldn’t know what to say,” the
little girl replied. “Just say what you hear Mommy say,” the
wife said. The daughter bowed her head and said, “Lord,
why on earth did I invite these people to dinner?”
kkkkkkkk
Call it kids and church ... A hungry little boy was be-
ginning to eat dinner when his father reminded him they
hadn’t yet prayed. “We don’t have to pray, ” the little by said.
“Why not?” the dad replied. “Because Mom’s a good cook.”
A Sunday school teacher asked her second graders if any
of them knew another word for God. She was expecting
answers like “Lord” or “Almighty.” After a long silence, a
little boy raised his hand and said, “Howard.” “Howard?”
the teacher responded. “You know,” the little boy said,
“Like Howard be thy name.” After a church service, a little
boy went up to the preacher and said, “When I grow up
I’m going to give you some money.” “Well, thank you,” the
preacher replied, “but why?” “Because my Dad said you’re
the poorest preacher we’ve ever had.”
kkkkkkkk
(See Heard, Page 5)
VETERAN DISTRICT FORESTER Kenneth Conaway, right, was honored five years ago
at a retirement luncheon at the Gilmer Civic Center Aug. 30. Presenting him with a me-
mento of his 39 years of service is Texas Forest Service Director Tom Boggus. More than
100 Texas Forest Service co-workers and retirees, members of local fire departments and
numerous friends honored him with a great meal and a “roast.” This photo was published
in The Mirror on Sept. 23, 2010.
(Courtesy photo)
Kids Are Dogs, Teenagers Are Cats
By Jim “Pappy” Moore
Young children are like
dogs. They want to go with you
everywhere you go. They act
like they haven’t seen you in a
week when you return. They
are often too
rambunc-
tious and
want to play
too much.
They eat like
an animal.
They’re ex-
citable. And
they want to slobber on you.
Teenagers are like cats.
Most of the time you get the
feeling they just want to be
left alone. When they do come
around, they tend to be apart
even when they’re socializing
with you. They’ll show some
true affection, but much of the
time it’s either “hey, where’s
my food” or “why are you
looking at me?”
Little kids, like dogs, make
messes because they’re some-
times uncoordinated. They
don’t contemplate the reaction
of other objects when they
jump on them. They don’t
realize that jumping on Dad in
his chair will make his bowl of
cereal spill everywhere. But
they’re so excited and happy
just to see you, what can you
really do?
Cats and teenagers. They
don’t need you. And they want
you to know it. Of course, they
do need you, and they do know
it, and they will show it, but
not like a dog or a little kid.
Cats and teenagers will act like
they’re not there to socialize
with you, but will be offended
if you ignore them.
Like dogs, little kids can
infuriate you with their over-
abundance of energy, their
obsession playing the same
thing over and over, and their
ability to wear you out by do-
ing so.
“Want to play catch with
the ball, boy?”
“YES! YES! YES!”
“How many times, boy?”
“Infinity!!”
Like teenagers, cats can
have awkward moments,
clumsy moments, when their
attention to what is going on
gives way to their attention to
how they look right now. Cats
and teenagers are both likely
to stare at any mirror they
pass, judging and/or praising
their own image.
“Do I look good?
Yeah, I look GOOD.”
Teenagers and cats. Both
self centered, sleep for long
periods of time, and are given
to going off to themselves for
time not socializing with oth-
ers. Dogs? They’re not just
your friend. They’re your
stalker.
“Where you goin’?
Can I go, too?
When will you be back?
Are you seeing any other
dogs while you’re gone?!
Maybe I’m exaggerating
and over generalizing, but
maybe I’m onto something.
©2015, Jim “Pappy”Moore,
All Rights Reserved.
Jim “Pappy” Moore is a
native son of East Texas who
still makes thepiney woods his
home, oaktreefm58@juno.com
'he View from Writers Roost
By Willis Webb
Traveling for a living was
never any fun for me.
As a very youngman, I spent
the better part of two years
on a magazine job traveling
around Texas
writing about
towns and
the business
and industry
within that
city. While it
was educa-
tional, this
small-town boy didn’t like
driving all over the state in
order to accomplish it.
That’s right, driving, except
once. I was assigned to do an
issue on El Paso and was told
I didn’t have to drive.
Yea! I had to go by train.
Not bad I thought, dreaming
of a room with a bed, meals
and such.
Wrong. Coach car. A 17-hour
trip. The seat wouldn’t recline.
Groan.
Pack a lunch or buy sand-
wiches to be eaten, of course,
sitting in that miserable coach
seat... that wouldn’t recline.
And, upon arriving, I had
to not only gather the material
from which to do the story,
including a cover photo, draw-
ing or painting of some kind,
but sell the ads and design
many of them as well. But, I
wasn’t allowed to “woo” the
big advertisers with lunch
or dinner or anything that
cost money. I was expected to
“hold” my own meal expense to
a minimum, which meant a lot
of sandwiches or burgers. No
steaks and certainly no relax-
ing libation of any kind.
Oh, and room accommoda-
tions meant some hotel that
was desperate enough for busi-
ness to trade out ad space in the
magazine to pay for the cheesy
room. In Wichita Falls, the ho-
tel was pretty run down.
A bellman helped me carry
my luggage to the room and as
we got on the elevator I suppose
my long face communicated
my misery. He said, “Lone-
some, huh?” I told him I was.
He smiled then got me situated
in my room.
In a few minutes, there was
a knock at my door. I opened it
to find a reasonably attractive
but cheap woman in a much-
too-tight skirt and an equally
“close” sweater displaying
items that beauty queens and
swim suit models would die for.
As she leaned against the door
jamb, popping her chewing
gum, she said, “I understand
you’re lonely.”
“Yeah, but not that lonely,”
as I quickly closed the door.
The next morning I noticed
the bellman wasn’t smiling.
Missed a commission, I sus-
pect.
I was required to not only
wear a suit and tie during busi-
ness hours at the home office
and on the road, but carry an
attache case, an umbrella and
wear a hat.
When I left work each day
and when I was on the road,
the hat and umbrella went
into the trunk of the car and I
appeared the normal human
being I craved to be.
In analyzing why my edi-
tor required those items, I
concluded that she was living
in 1930s and 40s movies where
the businessman was attired
in just that manner. Really
cool Madison Avenue stuff.
Hmph.
While hurrying home one
Friday night from a business
trip, the hood of my 1960 Mor-
ris Minor was apparently loose
and the wind bent it up over
my windshield. A sympathetic
older man stopped when he
saw my plight, helped me get
the hood down to where he
could take some hay-baling
wire from his car and tie down
my greatly damaged hood so I
could drive safely.
After two years of such mis-
ery, I returned to the relatively
safe climes of small towns to
edit and publish community
newspapers.
I knew I was not cut out to
be atravelingman. Well, maybe
for pleasure, in an airplane or
on a boat but never as a way to
make a living.
Willis Webb is a retired com-
munity newspaper editor-pub-
lisher of more than 50 years
experience. He can be reached by
email at wwebbl937@att.net.
From Page 1
Col. Breazeale
awesome career as a fighter
pilot and a leader. It takes the
whole team within the 301st
Fighter Wing, between the
operations, maintenance, and
support groups, to make a spe-
cial flight like this happen.”
Family and friends were
waiting for Breazeale when
he landed to celebrate his ac-
complishment.
Karen Breazeale, his wife
and 301FW key spouse, greet-
ed him with a hug when he
climbed out of the F-16.
“The whole family is proud
of him—he’s enjoyed every
hour. And he will continue to
fly until they pry him out of
that jet,” she said.
Col. Breazeale is the son of
Frank and Annette Breazeale
of Gilmer and a graduate of
Gilmer High School as well as
the Air Force Academy.
Rear Vision Mirror
TEN YEARSAGO
Larry Walker was named
administrator of ETMC
Gilmer ... New Hope Baptist
Church near Big Sandy cel-
ebrated its 150th anniversary
... Burn ban was in effect for
city and county . . . Gilmer
City Council adopted a $2.5
million budget . . . County
approved using HAVA funds
to purchase electronic voting
machines . . . First National
Bank hosted Angel Tree for
Katrina evacuees ... JFK as-
sassination researcher Jim
Gateway spoke to Gilmer Ro-
tarians ... Former Gilmerite
Chris Darnell was with the
Louisiana National Guard
helping Katrina evacuees . .
. Gilmer beat Paris, 35-24, in
Mount Pleasant to remain un-
beaten ... Mrs. Stella Hagler,
66, died... Three died in fatal
wrecks on Upshur County
roads ... Upshur County DA
Mike Fetter spoke to Gilmer
Rotarians . . . Andrew Lee
Brooks, 42, was hit by a truck
while trying to cross US 271
near ETMC Gilmer; he was
transported to ETMC Tyler
and was expected to survive.
TWENTY YEARS AGO
Rep. Jim Chapman (D-
Sulphur Springs) announced
he would not seek re-election
... Family of the late Melvin
Cross gave $5,000 to Historic
Upshur Museum . . . Robroy
began expansion at Conduit
Division here, said Peter
Mcllroy, company president
.. . Sheriff’s office was mak-
ing new road signs to corre-
spond with 9-1-1 mapping...
Buckeyes upset Gladewater,
26-7, for fifth straight win
over the Bears ... Yamboree
Queen’s Parade was to start
farther back on Titus St. at
Gilmer National Bank park-
ing lot, said George Dodd,
co-chairman of the event . .
. Texas crude oil production
had fallen to 1.384 million
barrels a day with Upshur
producing 13,478 barrels per
month . . . Dean Lumber’s
Richard Hill expressed con-
cern at lack of reforestation
in talk to RotariansGilmer
Medical Center was within
days of shutting its doors ...
Deaths included Jack Monroe
“Big Jack” Hollins, 85; Terry
Henry, 39.
THIRTY YEARS AGO
After “stormy” public hear-
ing, Commissioners Court
approved annual budget by 3-1
with Pet. 4 Comm. Paul Davis
voting against it... Council-
man Pat Turner said he would
not support proposed $112,000
cutback in police force . . .
Henry Bishop of Rt. 1, mem-
ber of the Texas DQ board
of directors, was critically
injured in a 2-car accident
in New Bethlem area east of
Gilmer . . . Deaths included
Alice Cox, 91; Dewey Bishop,
84; Merlin Quinn, 65 . . . U.S.
District Judge Sam B. Hall, Jr.,
spoke to Davidson Foundation
fall meeting . . . Gilmer beat
Jefferson, 40-24... American
Cancer Society honored Betty
Parish and Charlotte Poole for
their service... Elijah Loving
celebrated his 80th birthday.
FORTY YEARS AGO
Nathan Frank Williams, Jr.
44, was killed when the tractor
he was riding overturned as he
worked on the spillway of his
pond in Suffolk community .
. . Mrs. Sidney (Mae) Martin
died in a Tyler hospital aftere
a lengthy illness ... A civil
suit arising from the July 28,
1972, explosion and fire at a car
dealership here was settled
out of court, leaving the cause
of the explosion unresolved .
. . Grace Moody, 68, died . . .
Gilmer beat Daingerfield, 13-6,
which would prove to be the
only win over the Tigers for
the next 10 years... Big Sandy
beat Union Grove, 66-0.
FIFTY YEARS AGO
Yamboree Association an-
nounced it would have its first
day hay show... Three young
people, Belinda Hobbs, Larry
Hobbs and Warren Carnley
were killed when their auto
went out of control, bringing
to 21 the number of deaths in
the county in 1965... H. V. Gray
of Ore City received honorable
mention in the Texas Rural
Ministers Awards sponsored
by Texas A&M . . .Chairman
Archie Garrett announced
Yamboree fiddlers would com-
pete for $750 in cash prizes ..
. D.W. McFarland of Ore City
was named an open hearth
foreman at Lone Star Steel.
(See Rear Vision, Page 5)
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.
Parker, Vic. The Gilmer Mirror (Gilmer, Tex.), Vol. 138, No. 73, Ed. 1 Thursday, September 24, 2015, newspaper, September 24, 2015; Gilmer, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth880004/m1/4/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Upshur County Library.