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.
We spent a few days at the beach last week, and it was the best. I love listening to those waves. While my favorite part was relaxing, Tucker’s favorite part was by far, spotlighting and chasing down sand crabs every night. He’s gotten to be a big brave boy, and surprised us all when he picked up a good size sand crab himself. Last year he liked chasing them, but ended up just dancing around when it came time to reach down and pick it up. It was a lot of fun. Cousin Audrey went with us too, and enjoyed yelling “Crab alert! Crab alert!” every time she spotted one. But when they got too close, she bear hugged big cousin A’Dell’s leg and climbed halfway up it until the crab was captured. It was too cute. At one point, we spotlighted two crabs standing just a foot apart. Grandpa asked, “Which one you gonna catch?” Tucker quickly replied, “Both!” And as we started laughing, sure enough he busted a move and caught two crabs at once, one with each hand. My sisters built the most immaculate sand castle of all, with a little wooden bridge, and on Thursday evening there was a beautiful sunset and a full moon reflecting on the ocean. It was one of the prettiest shows I’ve ever seen. The beach is such a refreshing place. I often wonder how those waves rolling in and out can do such wonders for me. Turns out that somewhere between 50-70% of earth’s oxygen comes from the ocean, maybe that’s why it’s so dang refreshing to breathe that ocean breeze. Just another great excuse to go get your crab on!
This past week was a fun week for the most part. Tuesday was my normal workday in our gift shop, but Wednesday morning, bright and early, I headed to Devine for my fun time with family and friends. I got to spend time with three of my little great-granddaughters, two great-grandsons, my son, my daughter and her husband, and my oldest grandson and his wife! It was a wonderful visit, and I even won at Bunco. I came home Friday afternoon, and Saturday, we were out at the park with our raffle, it was hot and dry, however, we had fans and plenty of water. None of my family got lucky, but my neighbor won the Grand Prize, so I at least get to visit it! The prize was this gorgeous outdoor living area, couch, chairs, indoor/outdoor rug for the floor, glass topped table, fire pit/bbq pit, and a few incidentals that were included! To say she was surprised when I talked to her would be to put it mildly. We are all excited for her, as she, like many others buy chances from us each time we have a raffle. As far as I know, the money we made will be used for a few more wheelchairs for the hospital! Also, I am sure that each and every one of us was glad that the rain held off until the middle of Saturday night. It was quite a storm, I get up, walk around the house and go back to bed! I can’t fix it, so no point in losing sleep. Sunday morning, I was up early putting the finishing touches on the food that I prepared for our breakfast at church, we do this the first Sunday of each month, and this time I was one of the hostesses. We had a good crowd and most of us took home empty baking pans! That is what I love to do. After the breakfast, my friend and I went into town to the family center, and got busy making tea and coffee, and in general getting things set up for the lunch we were to have a little later. It was the 120th anniversary of Catholic Daughters of the Americas in our parish. It was a wonderful crowd, and a wonderful meal. Wednesday, June 14, is Flag Day. Let’s all be sure to put out the flag on this day! Have you ever wondered in what order the states came into the Union? Who actually designed the first flag? Why does it have 13 stripes? How many stars were on the first flag? Which were the original 13 states? When was Texas admitted as a state? Legend has it that Betsy Ross, a widowed seamstress was the one who made the first flag from a sketch given her by George Washington. She is said to have changed the number of points on the stars from six to five and then made the first flag in 1776. However, history has proven that it is just that, a legend. A second legend claims that John Hulbert designed it a full year before Betsy Ross is supposedly did. This flag had 13 stripes and 13 stars in honor of the 13 original colonies. These colonies were: Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, New Hampshire, Virginia, New York, North Carolina and Rhode Island. They all became states between December 7, 1787 and May 29, 1790. The First Flag Law was passed by congress on June 14, 1777, giving this country an official national flag, consisting of 13 stripes alternating red and white, and a union of 13 white stars on a blue field. Congress on May 1, 1795, adding two stripes and two stars in recognition of Virginia and Kentucky, passed the Second Flag Law. This 15-striped, 15-star flag is the second version of the national flag. The Star-Spangled Banner was written as a poem in the Baltimore Patriot newspaper. Frances Scot Key composed the verses while viewing the battle of Fort McHenry during the war of 1812. It became our national anthem on March 3, 1931. (This flag is in the Smithsonian Museum. It is not being restored it is being preserved. The size of this flag, 30 X 42 ft, is astounding, considering the time and place that it flew.) The Third Flag Act was passed on April 4, 1818, and created the third official version of the flag. Navy Captain Samuel Reid proposed that the flag contain 13 stripes to represent the 13 original colonies. At that time it was decided that a star, represent ting a state, would automatically be added to the flag on the Fourth of July after ea territory was admitted. The flag in 1818 consisted of 13 stripes and 20 stars. On July 4, 1846, the 10th official design of the Stars and Stripes was created with the addition of Texas into the United States. June 14, 1861, was the first recorded observance of Flag Day, which was the anniversary of the First Flag Law and took place in Hartford. Connecticut. Bernard Cigrand is generally given the credit for helping to promote Flag Day. On July 4, 1877, the centennial of the First Flag Act, the 38th star was added honoring the admission of Colorado into the Union. This created the 20th official design of the Stars and Stripes. The entry of New Mexico and Arizona into the Union on July 4, 1912, created the 25th official design of the flag with the addition of its 47th and 48th stars honoring these two states. From 1912 until 1959, the flag had 48 stars and 13 stripes. In that year, Alaska became the 49th state and the 16th official design of the flag was created. The following year, on July 4, 1960, Hawaii was admitted to the Union and a 50-star flag became the 27th official design. At 12:01 a.m., a 50-star flag was raised over Ft. McHenry by presidential order in honor of the victory described in the national anthem. THE FLAG Here is to the red of it- There’s not a thread of it, No, not a shred of it, all the Spread of it, From foot to head, but Heroes bled for it, Faced steel and lead for it, Precious blood shed for it, BATHING IT RED! Here’s to the white of it – Thrilled by the sight of it, Who knows the right of it, But feels the might of it Through day and night? Womanhood’s care for it Made manhood dare for it, Purity’s prayer for it, KEEPS SO WHITE Here’s to the blue of it Beauteous view of it, Heavenly hue of it, Star-spangled dew of it, Constant and true; Diadems gleam for it, States stand supreme for it, Liberty’s beam for it, BRIGHTENS THE BLUE Here’s to the whole of it, Stars, stripes and pole of it, Body and Soul of it, O, and the roll of it, Sun shining through; Hearts in accord for it, Swear by the sword for it, Thanking the Lord for it, Red, White and Blue! By John J. Daly
I recently wrote a Tale about going down to the Home Place and shooting a rifle given to me for Christmas when I was 11 years old. Part of that same day included some labor, sowing Bermuda Grass seed and fertilizer on recently cleared land as part of a project that included cleaning out an old tank that had become badly silted up. The net result is a nice picnic spot with the planned placement of a new table or two between 2 big old Live Oak Trees sitting close to the freshly dug water hole. In my old Brain, I can see some fun times out there, enjoying the setting with the predominantly SE breeze blowing across the body of water that hopefully will be supplied soon by rainfall and drainage flow. While that good creek bottom land is very fertile and no doubt will become green fast with native growth, I wanted to “help” Mother Nature along by spreading the grass seed and high Nitrogen fertilizer mix to ‘pretty it up” some. It did not take too long during that effort to get well warmed up in the high humidity & 90 plus degree day. I mentioned how tiring the effort was to the Boss Lady upon returning home and she referenced that most anybody, but a Stubborn Old Fool would realize it was NOT smart to be doing that kind of work on such a warm day. While I reckon that is likely pretty close to the Gospel Truth, I must admit it sure did feel good to think MAYBE, I was helping create a setting that will be enjoyed, Lord Willing, for a long time to come by our Friends and Family. With that mindset and a look toward the future, it was not much of a price to pay by investing some Sweat Equity in the endeavor. I think with just one more day of similar effort, the work will be done with an eye toward a multi-generational improvement being put into place. And that strikes me as a Real Good Deal!
Sunday, since it was a beautiful day, I went to the next town for their Annual Spring Picnic. Picnics are different here than they are in your area. They do not serve barbecue, beans and potato salad. They serve what is known as Picnic Stew. Each church has their own version, some of them are delicious and some of them not so much. The chunks of meat are cooked in big batches; some are made with a little thickening, so you have gravy, but mostly not, just the meat juices. They also serve German style seasoned potatoes, seasoned green beans (some use mushroom soup in theirs, others, like today were seasoned with bacon), fried chicken, sausage and sauerkraut. At this time of year, there are actually two picnics on the same day and many folks go from one to the other, I did not! The line was long, but it moved relatively quickly. The food is self-serve, other than the chicken which is served. The menu at the other church was the same except that they have cornbread dressing with their fried chicken. It was a nice day, the people were friendly and as you went through the line, you got visit a bit with friends who might be in a different part of the line. It is set up so that basically, you are making a series of esses, from start to finish. Last week, I mentioned about Memorial Day and the flags that are placed alongside the roads, north, south, east and west entering town. I had no clue how many or anything until I received the local paper. Veterans of the American Legion Post 571 placed 160 flags along U.S. Highway 77 and State Highway 111 in a joint effort with members of the Interact Club. Veterans from DeWitt and Lavaca Counties participated. Also on Monday, American Legion Post 571 will be hosting a Memorial Day program as well as a meal for their members. Once I found out how many members of the Ladies Auxiliary I already knew, it was easy to make the decision to join the organization. Basically, all I had to do was transfer my membership, since the Post in Castroville was no longer in existence. Now, how about a Pineapple Upside-down cake that is a little different, it is baked in a Bundt pan! Pineapple Upside-down Bundt Cake 1 large can of sliced pineapple, (drained reserving juice) 8 maraschino cherries, drained ¾ stick butter, melted (6 Tbs.) ¾ cup packed brown sugar 1 box either pineapple or yellow cake mix Ingredients as listed on box for making cake Preheat oven to 350ºF. Open pineapple, drain well, and cut slices in half. (You will use only 8 slices), cut cherries in half and drain well. Place melted butter in a well-sprayed Bundt pan, top with brown sugar spreading it out evenly over the butter. Place the slices of pineapple evenly around pan, resting one edge on the sugar/butter mixture; place cherries, cut side up, close to the ends of the pineapple (if you place them too far toward the sides of the pan they will be around the edge of the cake instead of on top). Mix the cake batter according to the directions on the box, using the reserved pineapple juice instead of water in the mix; gently spoon the batter over the pineapple, straightening the slices as necessary so they are nice and even. Bake according to directions on box for a Bundt Cake. Allow to stand about 5 minutes in pan and then invert over plate for serving. This makes a really pretty cake. Cajun Style Shrimp Salad 1 pouch (4-oz) Zatarain’s® Crawfish, Shrimp and Crab Boil 1 lb. ready to use frozen, tiny shrimp (or you can use 1 to 1½ lbs fresh, peeled and deveined small shrimp)* 1 cup uncooked white rice ½ cup finely chopped sweet onion ½ cup chopped green olives ½ cup finely chopped celery ½ cup frozen petit green peas 1 cup mayonnaise (do not use salad dressing) Add 1 to 2* tablespoons of the crawfish, shrimp and crab boil to 4 cups of water, bring to boil and add the frozen shrimp and leave water over low heat for about 30 to 45 seconds, just long enough for the shrimp to completely thaw and absorb the flavor of the mixture. (If you used fresh shrimp, bring mixture to a boil, add the shrimp and cook for 2 to 3 minutes or until shrimp are done). Remove shrimp from liquid with a slotted spoon and set aside. Pour uncooked rice into mixture and bring to a boil, cooking (and stirring if necessary) until rice is done and drain well and rinse with hot water if desired. Add shrimp and peas to rice and set aside to cool to room temperature. Chop onion, olives and celery, add mayonnaise and stir to mix well; add to rice/pea mixture and stir to mix.. Chill thoroughly before serving. *The amount you use will determine how spicy your salad is. If you like really spicy, use the full 2 Tbs., if not just use 1 Tbs. (I used just 1 Tbs. and found everyone liked it just fine). *Be sure to tell people that it contains shrimp, I served it at a meeting and the lady across from me had enjoyed the first bite of just rice and asked what was in it, when I said shrimp, she had to leave the table and rinse her mouth, as she was horribly allergic to shrimp!
Tucker and I went out in the paddle boat with Cousin Adalyn at her ranch this weekend. It was a relaxing sunset cruise filled with colorful toddler conversations. One of them was particularly entertaining. The funniest thing was the serious tone they had. “So, do you have any octopus in this pond?” Tucker asked his cousin. Without any funny faces or hesitation, she replied, “Nope, we don’t, but we have catfish.” Somehow, the fact that they had catfish surprised him. I tried my best to contain my deep hearted laugh and not disrupt their conversation. Lucky I didn’t fall out of the boat. It was definitely the comment of the day that’s for sure. Tucker had a lot of fun with his cousins that day, and I did too. We sat on the front porch enjoying the post-rain waterfront views. Our fishing ponds sure do look pretty when they are full. Sure is nice to have so many cousins. There’s nothing more fun than hanging out with family and talking about old stories. Someday when they are older, Adalyn will be sitting on a front porch with Tucker, saying “Hey Tucker remember that time you thought you saw an octopus in our fishing pond?”
Over my many decades of hunting and ranch brokering in La Brasada, I have been fascinated with the variety of names folks give to their hunting blinds. And in my own circle we are no different. From my younger days, we had one called The Hog Blind. It was nothing more than a bunch of big mesquite posts crisscrossed into a more or less square. Someone left a partial sack of corn inside it one night, and the wild hogs tore that blind all up getting to those golden kernels. Another one we call The Pond Blind. Not because it sat by an impounded body of water, but because it sat in a low spot that was full of “pot holes and hog wallers” that filled up whenever we received a good rain. We have Chris’s Castle named after my Godson, Dr. Christopher Pursch. And his Dad, John, has the Pursch Palace. Then there is The Cabin Blind, due to its proximity to an old weekend Cabin John and I built in our younger days. It was set up so our young children (back then) could walk back to the Cabin if they got tired of sitting in the blind and we could watch their every step coming or going. We have one called The Corner, because it sits in the intersection of two different pastures, allowing for a couple of long views down the roads. We name blinds after neighbors and structures like the Gammage, Windmill , or the Tank Blind. Some folks put numbers on theirs. The approaches vary but the common goal is to clearly identify which one is being spoken about. After all, at least to me, that sounds better than saying go 22degrees S for 1282 feet and then turn 57 degrees W for 2942 feet to arrive at your destination. I hear enough of that trying to get around in the city!
(Submitted by Nancy Ehlinger Saathoff, June’s daughter) Back in 1948, when June Sadler graduated, the graduation ceremony was held at night on the lighted football field behind the school. (The former Devine school is now the Devine VFW and the football field is now a housing area behind it.) June recalls in her own words: “We had 37 graduates and wore heavy maroon robes which were kept by the school and reused each year. They set up a wooden stage on the field with a canvas top where we came up to get our diplomas and the people in the audience sat in the old wooden stands. “I was only 15 years old when I graduated and was the Salutatorian of my class. I gave a speech at graduation, which my teacher, Mrs. Whitfield, had helped me prepare.
“We later went on our Senior Trip to Carlsbad Caverns and the Grand Canyon where we went down in the canyon on mules! My mule’s name was Dot and she kept trying to bite my feet. The walkway down in the canyon was narrow, but I don’t remember ever being scared. I think being scared grows on you as you age and worry about your kids! “Later that year I attended Draughon’s Business College where I earned my diploma before attending Texas A & I in Kingsville. In 1950 I married Arthur Ehlinger, also a Devine graduate, and raised our four children, who are all Devine High School graduates.”
Time for some Lytle PD news that you can use, maybe? Last week your officers handled 47 calls for service and conducted 123 traffic stops. The result of those stops was 94 citations and 29 warnings. Property Crimes: We had two property crimes reported last week. #1 – Lytle Loft Storage reported a burglary of a storage unit, the event occurred on May 20th. Attempts are still being made to contact the owner of the contents. #2 – H.E.B. Plus reported a theft of approx. $40 worth of snacks. In today’s world that could be a couple of candy bars and a soft drink. Arrests: We only had one arrest last week. A 20-year-old male was taken in on a warrant for criminal trespass. He was given a trespass notice at H.E.B. and decided to return. Video placed him in the store and a warrant was obtained. He was located when officers responded to a report of squatters in an abandoned house. The city’s surplus auction will be this Saturday (June 3rd) at the Lytle Police Station. Lots of stuff, including 5 retired city vehicles. Two of those are police SUVs. The event will run from 9 AM–Noon. It will be a silent auction with bid sheets, we did this a few years ago and it was very successful. I might even throw in a cool certificate of authenticity certifying that the police vehicle was used to “stop speeders, haul people to jail, and pick up fast food” But, maybe not in that order. If you are a taxpayer, you most likely already helped pay for some of these items, you just didn’t get to keep them at your house. Now this is your chance to bring it home!
