On June 1 I celebrated my Birthday. As an interesting aside, The Boss Lady was born MANY years later June 2, and we married on June 3. Having just had some successful major surgery (Thank the Lord) and still recovering, she asked what my plans were for my Day. I had thought some about that question and decided to spend most of the day down at the Home Place with an old friend of over 60 years. This friend came into my world in the form of a Christmas present when I was 11 years old. It is a Model 94 Saddle Carbine in 25-35 caliber. I hunted with it as a 12-year-old the next fall and used it to harvest my first deer. Dad had put a 3 power Weaver scope on it, side mounted, and it made the nimble little rifle unwieldy for me. We removed that scope, and it has been an open sight option ever since. Mostly a SAFE QUEEN, ever so often I take it out for a spin, but only for shooting “paper”. I set up a target at a range finder measured distance of 50 yards. Peering through those Buck Horn Iron Sights, that target appeared to be close to 300 yards away with my old eyes. None the less, I managed to shoot a 3-round group of under 2 inches with 2 of the bullets being under 1 inch apart. Not exactly Minute of Angle but then not Minute of Acre either! I was well pleased, and that firearm felt comfortable snuggled up against my shoulder. Just like many times over the years. I am not sure how long it will be before we make another “round” together as my scoped bolt action options are numerous, and most days, I can shoot any of them better than that lever action. But while they are all more powerful, accurate, and expensive, I can honestly say NONE of them hold the same “spot” in my memory. Like any long time, GOOD Friend, I am honored to have had it in my life for so long.
Hello from Lytle! Last week, Lytle P.D. officers handled 66 calls for service and conducted 126 traffic stops. Those stops resulted in 94 drivers receiving citations and 32 receiving warnings. Officers made four arrests last week: #1 & #2 – Officers responded to the H.E.B. Plus for a report of a shoplifter. It was another mother/daughter duo! The daughter was arrested for theft (approx. $130 worth of merchandise) and the mother was cited for criminal mischief for damaging some of the property. I have complained in the past that my dad was, and still is, a workaholic and that he seldom took us on vacation. I guess I should appreciate the fact that he and dear old Mom also never took us shoplifting. Arrest #3 – Officers were dispatched to the Star Food Mart (Chevron) for a report of a man who took a beverage without paying for it. Officers arrived, located the suspect, and determined he had a felony burglary of a habitation warrant out of Medina Co. He was booked into the Medina Co. Jail. So, his one free “stolen” drink led to free food, drinks, and lodging at Randy Brown’s hotel in Hondo. I like Randy, but I wouldn’t want to be an overnight guest at the place he runs. Arrest #4 – A verbal disturbance on Main St. resulted in the arrest of a female, that had a felony warrant out of Medina County for injury to a child/elderly/disabled w/bodily injury. She, too, was booked into the Medina Co. Jail. Back maybe in 1997 or 1998, there was a Schlotzsky’s in Hondo that was on Highway 90 and wasn’t there very long. I worked part-time for Lytle P.D. and looked forward to taking prisoners to the Medina Co. Jail, so I could stop by and grab a sandwich and a cup of broccoli cheese soup. Sorry, my stomach started wandering down memory lane. Property crimes from last week, three were reported: #1 – A mini-storage unit on N. Somerset was burglarized. A ladder and some tools valued at $370 were reported stolen. #2 – That is the H.E.B. Plus mother/daughter theft I mentioned earlier. #3 – H.E.B. Plus reported a suspect walked out with about $120 worth of beer and other items. The mayor provided me with some good info. to pass on. You will want to pay attention to this (unlike most of my written rambling). The FM 3175 lanes under I-35 will be closed effective 12 July for a few weeks. This is necessary for construction related to the ongoing TXDOT projects. Both frontage roads will return to two-way roads before this closure. Travelers on FM3175 will need to use the frontage roads to get around the construction. The plan is to have the lanes open by the start of school on the 9th of August. Imagine what a mess that would be if that intersection was closed and the school buses and parents coming in on FM 3175 had to re-route! The city is still accepting applications for an Animal Control Officer and a Public Works employee. You might think “It’s too hot to work outside”, don’t worry about that. The weather around here gets pleasant for at least a month or so each year.
This past week was a truly fun week for me, I left for Devine fairly early on Wednesday morning and was there before noon. My great-grandson was visiting with my daughter and shared some hugs and we got into a different car and headed out to LaCoste. My other daughter had come there so we could get together and visit and I could see her two granddaughters. The one is in Texas for a summertime visit with both sets of her grandparents, as she lives in Florida. Those cousins and the boy from next door had a great time playing, running in and out of the house and even playing a couple of quiet games inside. Before they were ready to quit playing, it was time for us to head back to Devine. My daughter and I had bunco that evening and my great-grandsons’ treat was to go to Dairy Queen for supper with his Granddad! I got the impression they had a great time! Thursday, we were back in LaCoste and he got to go play with his other cousins before we all met up and went to lunch in Hondo with my son. Those kiddos sure do love their uncle, they took turns coming and talking to him or just hugging him, and maybe to steal a couple of his French fries, which he is always willing to share. Friday, we went in different directions as I wanted to visit with the other greats who live in Natalia, and my daughter had children to return to their parents to get ready to go to the river with some friends. She and I met back up later and went to a plant nursery that a friend owns, and I managed to find a couple of plants, for my yard, an ixora and a red ice plant. Will they survive? Who knows! The one will be on my front porch and the other in a bed close to my house! With this weather, anywhere from lows in the 80s to highs in triple digits, I will have to keep a close watch on them. I hope everyone had a wonderful and safe July 4th holiday! My family used figs only for preserves as I was growing up and it was not something that I was particularly fond of. Like most kids, I liked grape much better! Of course, back then, the grape was homemade also, but boy was it good, especially in a jelly roll, or with peanut butter in a sandwich. The fig tree in our back yard that my Dad planted not too many years after we moved into the house, was literally that, a tree. You could climb up and out on the branches to get close to the top, which was taller than Dad’s workshop, (15 or more feet tall), and you could sit or stand on the roof of Dad’s workshop when they were ready to pick. The trunk was about 12 to 15 inches in diameter and a lot of the branches were 4 to 6 inches in diameter. There are five varieties of figs that do well in our area, Alma, Celeste, Texas Everbearing, Black Mission and Brown Turkey. The fig belongs to the genus Ficus. There are over 600 species that are native to the widely scattered warm and tropical regions in both hemispheres. Some species are evergreen, but most lose their leaves over the winter. The leaves are broad, tough, and thick with deep lobes. (They are not only rough to the touch; they can make you itch when you are picking the figs). Ficus Carica is the common fig of commerce and the trees can grow 25 to 30 feet tall. There are many varieties of edible figs that range in color from a deep purple, which is the Black Mission, to a beautiful brown, which is the Brown Turkey. They are also almost white in varieties such as Adriatic, Smyrna and Kadota. The Smyrna, is known as Calimyrna in California, is raised there exclusively and is the only one that needs pollination. To produce fruit the Smyrna must be insect pollinated from a wild variety of fig. The fig wasp, genus Blastophaga achieves this by laying its eggs and developing to maturity in the fruit of the wild Capri fig. The wasp then carries pollen from the flowers of this fig to the flowers of the Smyrna fig. They also lay eggs in the Smyrna fruit, but the eggs do not develop in this fruit. Pollination results in the production of seeds and therefore of edible fruit. This process is called Caprification. In the Mediterranean region, figs grow wild. Since time immemorial, it has been cultivated as a ‘poor man’s’ food, because this nutritious fruit can be grown without irrigation. After maturity, they are picked and dried in the sun to preserve them. The earliest of Hebrew books mentions figs. Greek writers have long referred to it. Even the pyramids contain pictures of the fig plant as well as the fruit. (How many paintings by the old Masters have you seen where a fig leaf is used to cover parts of the anatomy)? Fig plantings are mostly confined to the Mediterranean type of climate and, other than from California, the greatest portion of the World’s commercial production and trade is in dried figs originating in the Mediterranean basin. Turkey leads in commercial production and the United States is next. The best dried figs from either area are allowed to partially dry on the tree and then drop to the ground. After they are gathered, the sun drying is completed on trays or in boxes in which they are sent to the packers. In California, some of the figs are dried by artificial heat. In Italy, the figs are picked when ripe and dried in the sun on trays. Fig Preserves 4 pounds chopped, peeled figs 3 pounds sugar 2 large lemons Slice one lemon into slices one-fourth-inch or less thick, set aside. Remove juice from second lemon. Combine in a bowl, figs, sugar, lemon slices and lemon juice. Set aside for about one hour, stirring occasionally. Place in a large pot and heat slowly to a boil, stirring frequently, as they scorch easily, and also spatter. Lower heat and continue cooking on medium heat until the fruit is transparent and the liquid is as thick as cool honey or molasses. Remove from heat and pour into sterilized jars and seal. Fig preserves can also be cooked in the oven. That is how Mother cooked them for many years. There is no spattering and no scorching. Simply place all ingredients into a roasting pan, stir well, set the oven at about 250ºF to 275ºF and bake until texture is as stated above. Stir occasionally. Place in jars, etc. (I’m not sure if it’s there, but you can check on a box of Sure-Jell® to see if they have a recipe for fig preserves/jam). I quit doing any type of canning many years ago, so I’m not up on the more modern recipes and instructions. I do know, however, that you can’t go wrong if you purchase a Kerr or Ball canning book that gives you all sorts of tips, recipes and instructions. Mine are all out of date! Mock Strawberry Jam 4 cups ripe figs 3 cups sugar 1 small box strawberry gelatin 1 box Sure-Jell® Remove stems from figs and peel if desired. Mash figs to a pulp with your potato masher or chop finely. Mix together the fruit, sugar and gelatin, bring to a boil and cook and stir for about 15 to 20 minutes. Watch carefully as it will scorch easily. Add Sure-Jell® and boil for 2 minutes longer. (Begin timing after it comes back to a full boil). Ladle into jars and seal. Process 10 minutes in boiling water bath. Even though this recipe is entitled “Mock Strawberry Jam”, you can use any berry-flavored gelatin you desire with the figs. At one time, a friend gave me some beautiful peaches that had absolutely no peach flavor. I decided that what worked with figs would work with peaches and purchased peach gelatin. It worked beautifully and gave the peaches the boost they needed.
Class of ‘82: L-R: Clarice Wood, Jennifer DuBose, Debbie Bush, and sitting, Shirley Baker at the FBC Hobo Party.
As told by Shirley Baker Humberson: Ode to Seniors 82 Now that summer time is near Anticipation grows. Graduation brings new worlds Of fun for you to sow. Details you may not recall But surely you will deign To know Shakespeare or Macbeth’s lines You won’t have learned in vain. Meanwhile let us reminisce Once more of student’s ways— Things you’ve done throughout the year In time will muse your days, Journalism, paper staff— You labored under fire. Deadlines kept you working hard To lessen B.G.’s ire. Other courses bring to mind Debates with Coach Malone. Worries over chemistry Exams brought mournful groans. Football taught new strategies; Each year we struggled through. Basketball brought some success— The Warhorse spirit grew. Honors came to special ones; Our Queen was Mary Lou. Shirley was the favorite girl of 1982. Malefactors used free time To mow and paint and clean. Student council worked to start a campus-pride campaign. Silly things somehow remain Like glasses someone smeared — Sacrifice our dignity To pass the stress-filled year! Seems so many things Would surely bring us doom. Later on we’ll understand that here our lives have bloomed.
KAVTR
I found this poem written by Kathleene Runnels, our senior English teacher, to be a perfect fit for remembering the class of 1982 – the happiness, the details, and even disappointments of our years in high school. Lots of laughs and silliness ensued, from the annual green hand inductees for F.F.A. to the Halloween water balloons! The stories I can recount, too many to mention. One in particular came just after the “Around the World” party. We had finished up with the country of Australia at the Baker’s house, where everyone ended up being thrown into the pool. Fun times, except not everyone knew how to swim, a brief yikes! Once cleared from any harm the party ended and several friends headed to the DQ for the infamous drive around to see who was there. My friend Debi Crouch (prior to Campsey) and I devised a plan that we would tell our mothers that each one of us would be spending the night at each other’s homes. To this day I have no idea what we thought we would do! The town shut down and the lights began to blink at 10:00pm. At the time I was driving Paul Haas’ old 1959 Chief Apache pickup. I proudly purchased that from him with the money I saved from working for $2.25/hour all summer long at Devine Nuts. In our cruise around the DQ, we happened upon Kenny Lessing. He, too, had a very old blue truck he called Bessie. I pulled up next to him and asked if he would like to race out at the quarter on 2200. He gladly accepted the challenge, and off we went, neither truck having the ability to break 60 miles per hour (laugh laugh). Just when we were to turn off 173 to 2200, we began to pass my mother’s car. With a stern face and in her night gown, she pointed a finger right at us and commanded we get home right away. My mother looked directly at me and stated that my father wished to speak with me. Instant tears began to flood my face for fear of my father’s wrath. Debi Crouch assured me that “WB” would not be that angry. Once we arrived, my dad was sitting in his recliner, calmly reading the Devine News. He lowered the paper and grimly stated that “stupid people do stupid things. Don’t be stupid. Now go to bed.” I was shocked and relieved by his response, and promptly grabbed Debi’s hand and headed to my room. Of course, Debi had to tease me for crying so much. She said, see “WB” wasn’t that mad. I never did get to race that quarter of the highway, and I believe that Kenny Lessing would have blown me away. This didn’t stop me from blooming, as we all did in this sweet tiny town of Devine!
The Boss Lady and I had our kids and grandkids over on Saturday for Father’s Day. We grilled steaks and had a grand old time. Our granddaughters, ages 8 and 6, stayed for a couple of nights. When they were very young, I would rock them and sing a song I made up. While NEVER EVER believing that I possess even 1/4 ounce of musical talent, they still allow me to rock with me and sing that tune for them. I LOVE YOU SO MUCH, I LOVE YOU SO MUCH. I CAN’T EVEN TELL YOU HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU. YOU ARE SPECIAL TO ME, SO VERY SPECIAL TO ME. I AM SO GLAD YOU ARE A PART OF MY LIFE. At the end they are always told: I WILL NEVER EVER NOT LOVE YOU. I am sure someday they will be embarrassed with that little Poppi Tune and habit. But it is without even one smidgen of apology that I offer that practice to and for them at every opportunity. Their 3-year-old brother has also begun to enjoy that event. And it is offered willingly to him as well. I have no idea what those kiddos will remember about their early days at Mimi and Poppi’s house. But you had better believe we are trying every time they come to offer up a warm and loving welcome. After all, I am a firm believer that is part of the Grand Parent Job Description! For Stevie, Oakley, and Maverick.
Tucker discovered his sister’s little electric pencil sharpener this weekend, and he sure fell in love with that little machine and the job of sharpening pencils. As I sit here writing this, Tucker is scavenging our junk drawers and house for all pencils in need of sharpening. I have a feeling that no pencil will go unsharpened for long in my house as long as that little machine keeps chugging. I can remember there was always a line in class to use the electric pencil sharpener, but I didn’t recall just how fun it was for a kid. Update: There is an enormous pile of pencils on my kitchen table. I had no idea how many pencils we had. They are all very sharp now. If you are looking for some cheap entertainment this summer, I’ve got three words for you: electric pencil sharpener. It’s almost as good as water balloons.
The latest news from Lytle P.D., some you can use, most of it…. maybe not. Your officers responded to 60 calls for service last week and conducted 44 traffic stops. Of those 44 stops, 24 resulted in a citation and 20 were either verbal or written warnings. What arrests did we make last week? Well, we had 3 of them. #1 – A simple citation and release for possession of drug paraphernalia was the result of a traffic stop for failing to dim the headlights. #2 – Officers responded to a two-vehicle, non-injury accident on Main St. and a routine check revealed that one of the drivers had an active DWI warrant out of Nueces Co. He was having a bad day for sure; he was booked into the Atascosa Co. Jail. #3 – Officers conducted a traffic stop for a vehicle going the wrong way on a one-way road. The passenger had a warrant for trespassing out of Bexar Co. She was booked into the Atascosa Co. Jail. Property crimes reported to us last week numbered 4.
1 – A complainant reported that he had a fellow drop off his lawn mower for repair and the guy came back and picked it up without his permission. #2 – A North Prairie St. resident reported that an air compressor valued at $200 was taken from a shed. #3 – An employee at Best Western Plus reported her vehicle was broken into. Some receipts and identifying information were taken. #4 – A Live Oak St. resident reported that a wood privacy fence was damaged. It appeared a vehicle struck it.
I may sound like a “broken record”, if people still know what that even means, but our 4th of July Fireworks Show is quickly approaching. If you love fireworks or just need some “me” time with food trucks (like me) this is the event for you. No big city crowds, free parking, and plenty of police officers to keep you safe. The festivities start at 5 PM and will conclude with the fireworks show once it gets dark. So, you have all day to BBQ or hit the swimming pool and you can close out the day with fireworks. From the personal files of Chief Richey Priest…. My wife and I welcomed our fifth child last Thursday. Canon James Priest entered the world around 5:45 PM and both he and Kaycee are doing well. It’s official, I am 53 years old and have two kids in diapers! I ask for your prayers and maybe a GoFundMe account! I also just saw that come September 1st diapers and wipes will not be subject to sales tax! That’s good timing for me. Seldom a day goes by that someone doesn’t say to me “Richey, we need more people like you in this world” so with five kids I think I am doing my part.
These super hot days are about to get the best of me! I have my air conditioner on and usually at least one fan to keep the air circulating, and I stay in the house as much as possible. You would not think there would be any mosquitoes around, but I was outside seeing a friend off a while ago and now have about 10 stings to show for it! My yard looks good as the yard man and his helper were here this week and the helper managed to get all the grass out of the flower bed next to my house. My neighbor gave me several plants of a red canna lily and I got them planted when it was after 8:00 p.m., to give them a chance at growing. So far they look good. The month of June is almost over and with it so is half of the year. The time has truly flown by, and now we get to see how quickly the rest of the year will go! Independence Day, or July 4th, as we most usually call it, is one of the few holidays that is actually celebrated on the day upon which it falls. It is not celebrated on the nearest Monday to make for a long weekend. This year it is on a Tuesday, so that means the people who have off that day, will have only that day off. It is nice when it falls on Friday or Monday so folks have that long weekend, isn’t it? Independence Day is probably the most important secular holiday celebrated here in the United States, commemorating, as it does, the adoption by the Continental Congress of the Declaration of Independence, which announced the breaking of ties between the 13 American Colonies and England. America celebrates July 4 as Independence Day, because it was on July 4, 1776, that members of the Second Continental Congress, meeting in Philadelphia, adopted the final draft of the Declaration of Independence. Thomas Jefferson wrote the first draft of the Declaration of Independence in two and one half weeks. The Declaration begins with one of the most famous sentences in the entire world. “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.” The original signers of the Declaration of Independence held various occupations. Twenty-four were lawyers, fourteen were farmers, nine were merchants, 4 were physicians, one was a gospel minister and last but not least, one was a manufacturer, (of what I do not know). John Hancock, who was the president of the Second continental congress, signed his name the biggest and boldest of all the signers. In fact, the term “John Hancock” has become synonymous with “signature”. How many times have you heard the term, “Just put your John Hancock, right on this line”? It is a very old term, and isn’t used as much as it was in earlier times. Congress in 1941 declared July 4th a federal legal holiday. If you are in a place where fireworks are allowed, do not ever hold fireworks such as bottle rockets, firecrackers or anything else in your hands, this is one of the foremost causes of injuries. Also, never, under any circumstances should you fire a gun into the air. The bullet comes back down at a considerable speed and can kill on impact. A young girl in San Antonio lost her life in just that way, several years ago. If you are planning a trip over the holiday, always remember to be careful of “the driver of the car, in the car behind the car in front of you!” In other words, pay attention to what you are doing at all times. Keep your mind on your driving, keep your hands on the wheel, and keep your eyes watching your surroundings. Be aware of what is going on in front of you, behind you (that’s what rear-view and side mirrors are for), and beside you on each side. Stay off the phone; don’t try to text and drive. If you have a call, pull over and park before talking. It is difficult to talk and drive at the same time. Wherever you celebrate this holiday, keep as cool as possible, drink plenty of liquids (other than alcoholic), to replace body fluids lost through perspiration, and take care not to get overheated. Do not forget to protect yourself with sunscreen. A bad sunburn is one of the most miserable and uncomfortable things there is. The best cure, of course is prevention, but if you do happen to get sunburned, milk of magnesia, kept in the fridge and gently patted on, is a great antidote. Also, cooled, brewed tea patted on, or even just cloths repeatedly wrung out in cold water will help ease the burning. There are many excellent commercial products on the market, but these are all old timers, that work. Always remember to keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold if you go on a picnic or just have a picnic in your back yard. Keep food and drinks in separate coolers, as a cooler with drinks will be opened more frequently. The following chicken salad is simple to make and very tasty. If you want it spicy, use a spicier picante sauce. There is no mayonnaise involved, so this keeps well. Cinco de Mayo Chicken Salad Dressing: 1/2 cup bottled chili sauce (Heinz, DelMonte) 4 tablespoons picante sauce (mild, medium or hot) 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard 1/2 teaspoon black pepper 1 teaspoon chili powder Mix above ingredients together and set aside. Salad: 2½ to 3 cups cooked, diced chicken 4 sliced green onions (tops too) 1 small green bell pepper, diced 1 avocado, peeled and diced Mix these ingredients together, add dressing and mix lightly until all ingredients are coated. Garnish with additional avocado, if desired. Serve with tortilla chips. Savory Seasoned Burgers 2 pounds lean ground meat 1 teaspoon garlic salt ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce 8 hamburger buns. Heat grill. In medium bowl, combine all ingredients except buns; mix well. Shape mixture into 8 patties. To barbecue, place patties on gas grill over medium-high heat, or on charcoal grill 4 to 6 inches from medium-high coals. Cook 10 to 15 minutes or until meat is no longer pink, turning once. (It’s time to turn the meat when you see little dribbles down the sides of the patties.) Serve on buns with lettuce, sliced tomato and onion, if desired. Baked Beans 2 cans pork & beans 15-oz size or 1 can 32-oz size ½ cup chopped onion ½ cup diced green bell pepper ¾ cup brown sugar ¾ cup prepared barbecue sauce Several strips, thin-sliced bacon Preheat oven to 350ºF. dice bacon and fry until crisp. Drain well on paper towels and set aside. In 1½ to 2 quart round casserole dish, combine beans with remaining ingredients. Mix together. Sprinkle bacon pieces on top. Bake uncovered for 40 to 45 minutes.
To say “our” class was special could be an understatement! I doubt our parents were thinking about us graduating as our country celebrated its bicentennial. All the festivities that surround graduation actually begin when school starts. First, our senior rings arrive and the tradition of getting your ring turned 76 times for good luck had many of us flooding the halls to complete this very important task. Then, of course, class elections to determine who would provide the leadership we needed. The year is seriously a blur considering all the achievements of this class. One special example was that our senior band members felt an extra bit of glory receiving the Sweepstakes Trophy because they were the first class to go through band all four years, making Sweepstakes each year! Reference 1976 Corral pg. 90 Fast forward to Spring as clubs and organizations chose beaus and sweethearts, and classes elected favorites. The Junior Class chose “Spirit of America” as the theme for our prom, which was held in the multi-purpose area of the high school. Our class was honored with several parties at the end of the year. The Methodist Mother’s hosted a breakfast. Next came the Hobo Party at the Baptist Church. Then came the Catholic Supper. Finally, the seniors went Around the World. While visiting Hawaii in Sheri Carter’s backyard, Jim Hundley and Clay Burleson decided to throw Kathy Anderson, Miss Texas, into the pool! Great memories! One week and one day later, May 23, 1976, we attended Baccalaureate Services. The very next day, on Monday, May 24th, dressed in our caps and gowns, we marched into the gymnasium to take our assigned seats for Commencement. Guadalupe Rivas gave the invocation. Many of the seniors participated in the choir during Commencement. I was honored to give the Salutatory address. Jeanne Southern was named our class’ Valedictorian. Ken Rector, highest ranking boy, gave the benediction. After all had received his or her diploma, we flung our caps high and celebrated this milestone in our lives! This is an excerpt from my Salutatory address. “A whole new world lies in wait for this graduating class. May we possess always the integrity, the courage and the strength to be a beacon of hope to those who follow. This is my wish and my goal, my prayer in this year 1976—two hundred years after the birth of our Country!” Karen Howard, DHS Salutatorian, 1976
Black Creek has been blessed with a lotta rain lately…as has Yancey and Moore and everywhere in between. Been in a contest with Billy Grote in Moore for braggin rights to the rain totals. In the last 35 days, we have gotten 10.4 inches of rain bringing our 2023 number up to 14.8. Took us all the way to October 17th last year to get to this number. The last column was a little short so I’ll try to include it in this entry. Regarding the National Budget and the Debt Ceiling, I think we need to sent a few Medina County elected officials to Washington and show them how to not only balance a budget but build reserves to a point where we never have to increase the Debt Ceiling ever again. The US is in debt so far that our great grandchildren will be shouldered with an unfathomable debt that will never be reconciled. Not gonna steal anybody’s thunder but, the City Council meeting on June 20th will be very interesting. Please plan to attend. I see a lotta “Shop Devine First” signs out. Great idea. Just remember, there are other locations to shop besides Walmart. There is a pharmacy located in downtown where the other one used to be and that is where I get all my medicines. Very nice Pharmacist who is trying to make it in a small town…be nice to help him out if you can. You don’t have to wait for a checker to come back from break or check yourself out. A 2023 Notices of Appraisal are out!! Even though my school and County taxes are frozen I gotta vent. My Structures and Improvement value increased $24,470 even though there were NO improvements to anything on our place. Our Market Value of Land increased $74,400 to total a $98,870 increase from last year. Even with the exemptions plugged in, the 2023 Taxable Value is still $23,000 more than 2022. I have already filed my Protest. Phil McAnelly put out his Sunday School information a couple Saturdays ago that included a short story about his youth that included items like stock tanks, cypress cisterns, slingshots and homemade fishin poles. Brought back a lotta good memories. Bad memories would include warm cow patties, stickers, mad mama hens and cactus.
