DHS Band Director, Joe Acker, his wife Becky and children, Samantha and Christopher, enjoyed a summer vacation after completing his early summer obligations. The Ackers traveled with and were guests of Richard and Chaurcley Cook in their vacation home near Cripple Creek, Colorado. With no Internet at the cabin, it was two weeks of no disruptions and total relaxation. Even the cooking was relaxing with precooked salmon, trout, BBQ, steaks and a little effort in making sugar-free ice cream. Eating out included a meal in Colorado Springs of deep dish Chicago pizza and breakfast at The Pantry in Green Mountain Springs. 13-year-old Christopher earned a Boy Scout badge for fly fishing his first time in the South Platt River. Joey, Richard and the kids enjoyed white water rafting in the Taylor River while the girls enjoyed massages. Joey celebrated his ‘half a century’ birthday during all this relaxation and will begin to feel a partial empty nest when Samantha, 2016 DHS Valedictorian, will be leaving home to attend Sam Houston State University with plans to major in Forensic Chemistry.
It’s embarrassing how I lose and misplaced “stuff”. I uncovered the following news and think it is important to mention even though it is a bit late. Brady Franks came in the store with Glenn McDaniels. They are both employees of Texas Timberjack. Glenn is in sales and according to him Brady wears many hats with his accounting degree. Brady and his wife Jackie have another little boy, Beau Elliott Franks was born June 29th. He has an older brother, Bridger Echols, who is 19 months old. Their grandparents are Eck and Maureen Franks who live in Hoshall and Greg and Regina Minshew of Hudson. Older folks in Diboll have fond memories of their paternal great-grandparents, Opal and Bennis Echols Franks, who touched many of our lives through the Diboll schools.
Some younger DHS graduates, mostly girls, have been meeting once a month to enjoy visiting. They recently met and ate at Chilies’. Enjoying the many laughs were: Carol (Cooke) Mettlen; Cathy (Scarborough) Dover; Marty Scarborough; Jennie Fergurson; Leslie (Chandler) Stubblefield; Allison (Lazarine) Amason; Tina (Wolf) Jowell; Linda (Wells) Williams; Leticia (Silguero) Soto; Carla Havard; Laurel (Hendrick) Youngblood; Karen (Bass) Dutton and Andrea (Pouland) Swor.
I had an interesting visit with Ronnie Howell who said he would have graduated from Diboll in 1968 but when he realized he had to take Junior and Senior English his last year under Fred Douglas, he decided to move to Lumberton and live with an aunt and uncle, Christine and Carol Lee. While in Lumberton he was elected Best Dressed Senior and also Mr. Lumberton. Soon after graduation, he joined the US Marine Corp and after boot camp was sent to Viet Nam. He completed his duty in 1970 but re-enlisted for ’73-74. Thank you Ronnie for your service to our country.
Jan Wilkerson is the vice-president of the Texas Chapter of the National Scleroderma Foundation. This past Thursday she and Burlon drove to New Orleans for training and the National Conference. Friday during an afternoon break she received a message from daughter Melanie that she was in labor–4 weeks early! Burlon and Jan started home, but received a picture of their new grandson within about an hour. They came home that night and left early the next morning going to College Station to meet Jake Gregory Blakeslee. Great grandmother Jakie Wilkerson went with them. Baby Jake is named for his great-grandmother. At 6lbs. 10 oz and 19 inches, Jake and his parents Greg and Melanie Blakeslee are doing fine. He went home from the hospital within 48 hours. Big sisters include Jamie, Jessie, and Neely Blakeslee of Marquez.
Robert Whitley decided to travel to Hempstead to attend the Watermelon Festival. With almost 200 vendors, a BBQ Cook-off and lots of contests for the kids, he decided to enter the Watermelon Eating Contest in the 50 & over category. He won 3rd place!!
Baby Jacen Scarborough came to visit the Round Table with his “Meme”, Peggy Scarborough and Aunt Marty. He responded to all the “baby talk” with big smiles and observed ever move that was made around him. We hope he’ll come back for regular visits. Dr. Ingram and Angie Sandoval brought in several pairs of glasses to put in the Diboll Lions Clubs’ “Recycle for Sight” box. There are several businesses around town that have these boxes if you want to give some of your old glasses away…they will be put to good use.
Chad Ward stopped in to buy rabbit feed. Apparently, his sons, Grayson age 9 and Graham age 7 inherited two rabbits over a year ago. When Chad, Marissa and the boys went on vacation Chad decided to leave their cages full of food and water and left the door open hoping they might find another home. Well, it worked for one but the other one liked his cage and was waiting for his family when they arrived home. Chad also shared that his dad, Bill Ward and his wife Nita Fran, have both retired and moved to Tyler.
Some others folks shopping at Poulands’ included: Bobby Chandler for Colorado pinto beans; Ronnie Coleman, Moonshine syrup; Mrs. Jimmy Moye, peach preserves; J.D. and Sue Johnson, a pole saw attachment. Billy Wayne Breazeale got a flat repaired; O.R. Posey and Herman Strauss enjoyed visiting at the round table. Getting fishing licenses were: Allison Amason, Sam Coleman, Jr., Tony Jennings, Wayne Nash and Jesus Calderon purchased a saltwater stamp.
“4 Paws for Alexander” is a benefit for Alexander Reppond and his Autism Service dog. His parents, Matt and Cynthia Reppond, are very special people and contribute to our community. The proceeds will help purchase a service dog for their son. For a $5 ticket someone will be the lucky winner of a Savage Axis rifle and scope with their choice of caliber. Tickets are available here at Pouland’s and Temple Credit Union.
Make plans to attend an evening of fun and food at a special fundraising event for the Ryan Chapel United Methodist Church Rebuilding Fund. “Night on the Town” will take place in the fellowship hall of the Methodist Church in Diboll beginning at 5PM on August 13th. A $20 ticket will provide you with an Italian dinner and Christian comedian Leo Lytle. There also be a silent and a live auction. For tickets call or text Mary Hendry at 936-635-0315 or Shirley Terrell 676-8700 or come by Pouland’s. If you remember the historic church was totally destroyed by fire over a year ago. If you haven’t been by the construction site take time to go by the new church is really beautiful. It’s located at the intersection of FM 2497 and FM 304.
Hope you read your Diboll Free Press in time to help the Diboll Pilot Club Thursday evening August 4th by eating at Whataburger (nearest Walmart) between the hours of 5 and 8 PM. Whataburger will donate 25% of all the sales between these hours to the Diboll Pilot Club to help them with community projects for the citizens of Diboll. It’s a great cause, it’ll be fun visiting with friends and the food is always good. (Purchases at the drive thru will count also if you remind them it’s for the Pilot Club.)
Please share your news with me sandra@poulands.com and come see us…round the table.
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