Columns/Opinions

By Roy Bale
In the late 1940’s, we lived in Northern Nevada. I was in high school, had a job and bought a fine little used car. On my 17th. birthday I got my drivers license. Took mama to town about 20 miles
away to buy groceries, and on the way home we were run over by a drunk driver going ninety. The drunk went to jail, mom went to the hospital, my Chevrolet houpe Coupe went to the wrecking yard, and I went to Houston with my older brother William, who drove out to Nevada to see mom.
Instead of finishing high school, I was one of the wise guys thatquit school to get rich workingin the construction field. I wasa teenager making a man’s wage. Money runningout my ears from that high paying eighty five cents an hour job. I had a new Harley Davidson motorcycle and lots of pocket change. I was stepping in high cotton, and the girls always went

By Roy Bale
I know I know. I changed my rotten mind. I was gonna wait till next year to share more tales of old past Wildflowers Trails folks. On second thinking, I may not be around next year, could be up in Glory Land by then. And at some of your ages, you might beat me there.
First off, I want to play like a country reporter and share this good news with you. Years ago, after retiring from Dallas Power and Light Co. (now TXU) I was driving a school bus for L.K. One day Gary, one of my best kids on the bus, came on board the bus with his little brother, John Baxter. John was about this high. It was John’s first day of first grade. Gary introduced us, we shook hands. Yesterday I shook hands with Reverend John Baxter, newly ordained Baptist minister, and recently called to pastor Bear Creek Baptist Church. Congratulations, John, the community is very proud of you. As I am. Wish there were a few more million around like you.

By Bobby Horn Jr.

news@casscountynow.com

I was so excited to see the recent list of registered organ donors in Texas has topped eight million people. This is incredible.

I cannot think of a greater gift that a person can give then to literally give of themselves for another.

We have all heard stories on the news, on TV shows and the movies about people waiting for transplants but it does not become real for you until it hits close to home.

It hit too close to home for me some years ago. My sister battled and overcame breast cancer, but in her fight the chemotherapy irreparably damaged her heart. She was given an artificial heart as a temporary solution until a transplant could be located.

For more than a year she wheeled around a device the size of a small suitcase on wheels while she waited for that call that would change her life- we have a heart.

By Oreta Wright

Sun Columnist

Will Head has always had a love of antique cars and restoration of them. He has a 1941 Dodge truck, a 1926 T Model Ford and a 1978 Trans Am.

The truck has a modern motor and transmission. In restoring an automobile, the old stock of the period is used. If not, newer materials are used.

The Model T has a 20 HP motor, the same year motor as the frame. It has the original radiator. Everything on the car is original. The car has wood spoke wheels. There is a crank to start it. The crank can kick back and injure you. The choke is a lever outside the car, near the crank. It also has a throttle instead of a gas pedal. With it is a lever to adjust the spark according to the speed. The T Model was begun in 1908 and continued to 1928.

By Oreta Wright

Sun Columnist

Did you ever try to churn for butter. I have. It is easier than milking.

A lot of energy and ingenuity has to be applied to the problem of making butter. Our ancestors have spent many long hours every week churning to make cream into butter. 

Read full story in our Oct. 7 edition.

Could It Be That the Way to Become Something Is to Be Nothing?

By The Rev. Bob Money

Linden church of Christ

Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Philippians 2:5-8 (NASB)

Fire Lookout Towers

By Oreta Wright

Sun Columnist

Long before the Texas Forest Service started using airplanes to spot forest fires, men climbed to the highest pine tree they could find, preferably one on a hill. Fire spotting trees were seldom effective. Some spotters became ill with the sway of the tree.

The Forest Service began building metal towers at different locations. Fire spotters had to climb stairways before they reached the cabs at the top of each tower. The fire towers were effective.

Read full column in the Sept. 9 edition of the Cass County Sun.

Teach us to pray

By James McMillan

Pastor, Linden United Methodist Church

Recently my wife, Sharon and I were down in the Austin area, to see some of our children (Hook’em Horns) and we went out to eat at CHUY’S Tex-Mex restaurant. When they brought our silverware, it came in a paper envelope. On the front side it said “this silverware has been sanitized for your protection.” I like that. Sometimes I wonder about the silverware. When I flipped it over to open it; I noticed that on the back were three different meal blessings:

Protestant- Bless, O Lord, this food to our use, and us to thy service, and make us ever mindful of the needs of others, in Jesus, name. Amen.

Catholic- Bless us O Lord, and these thy gifts, which we are about to receive from thy bounty. Through Christ our Lord. Amen

Texas' Strangest HS Mascots

By Bobby Horn Jr.

Sun Editor

Are you ready for some football? Ready or not, here it comes.

One of the great things about football is the pageantry of the game; the bands, the drill teams and the mascots. Texas may not have a monopoly on strange mascots, but we do have a fair amount. Of course there are the usuals- The Eagles being the most popular with 151 schools. There are 101 Bulldogs (and Bulldawgs) in Texas and 78 Tigers.

Rabbits may be unique to Texas, but travel to Wabasso HS in Minnesota and you will find Rabbits. Wabasso is the local Native American word for “white rabbit.” Long Beach Polytechnic High, which boasts among its famous alumni baseball great Tony Gwynn, is the Jackrabbits.

By Bobby Horn Jr.

Sun Editor

Imagine that you had a jigsaw puzzle. You start to put it together without first looking at the picture on the box to see how the finished product is supposed to look. Sure you might stumble along and find some matching pieces, but you are still missing a final goal.

Now, take that same puzzle, and let several people work on it at the same time, with none of the people looking at the final picture or communicating with the others. What do you get, a couple of sections that may be right in thier own sense but which lack overall cohesion.

That seems to be what is happening in Linden. Many groups, hard at work, but lacking a common vision.

The restoration of the old water tower is a great idea and noble project, but it is only small piece in a larger puzzle.