October 9, 2017

Nettie Tanner will officially turn 101 years of age on October 12^th but she celebrated in a big way a little earlier this month when friends got together with her at the Fair Acres Community Center in Diboll. Ms. Nettie lived in Diboll for 42 years but has been in her hometown of San Augustine for the past 10-15 years. She was married to Ferris Tanner who worked for Southern Pine Lumber Company. About 25 guests attended the birthday reception to enjoy cake, punch and fellowship. When Ms. Nettie was offered cake she said, “I want to talk with everyone, not eat cake”. She recognized Marcellos Jones and remembered almost everyone that attended and ask them lots of questions. Margie Harrell, as a young girl, remembered Mrs. Tanner’s popular tea cakes and how her dad, S. W. Watts, would buy the tea cakes but cautiously handed them out to his kids, making them last longer. Everyone in the neighborhood enjoyed her tea cakes. Ms. Nettie said, “There is nothing I can’t bake. I’ve been cooking from the age of seven.” Those attending Nettie Tanner’s 101^st birthday party included: Velma Levine; Cynthia Rogers; Lorine Smith; Winnie Dell Guidry; Marcellus Jones; Leamon Ligion; Wallace King; Pat Jackson; Earline Vinson; Joyce Bray; Bobby Waters; Jeff Jackson; Mable Johnson; Margie Harrell; Mattie Lewis; Evelyn Stephens; Regina Freeman; Beryl Moses; Beverly Quinney; Margaret Cunningham; Sarah Blount; LaShone Levine; Ann Tanner and Emma Lou Simmons.

Twins, Karon (Register) Lenderman and Sharon (Register) Collins, were pleasantly surprised with a 60^th birthday celebration October 7^th.Their children, Ashley Rios, Cassi Davis, Zach Lenderman, Mandy Burris and Misty Thornton planned the successful surprise. They had help from the twins’ husbands, Dennis Lenderman and Ronnie Collins. To allow for the party to be set up on the Lenderman’s double decked patio, Cassi and her two young sons, Jase and Mack, picked up Karon to go watch her oldest granddaughter, Kylie Rios, play volleyball and eat lunch. Cassi’s husband, Stacey, had gone to his hunting lease earlier that morning and was able to pick up the cake, ice cream and balloons on his way home. Ronnie brought Sharon from their home in Cleveland to have lunch with her parents, Marlon and Jean Register and celebrate Sharon’s and her mom’s birthdays. (Jean Register’s birthday was three days earlier on October 4^th.) After having lunch they decided to drive to the Lenderman’s “to deliver a birthday present” to Karon. Somehow everyone managed to arrive at the same time for the big affair. Family and friends “surprised” them and enjoyed cake and ice cream while reminiscing with the twins.

A special congratulations to Melvin and Kay Linton who celebrated their 55^th wedding anniversary on October 5^th. Enjoyed visiting with new customers, Richard and Debbie Dunn who recently moved from Rockdale to Huntington. Richard enjoys Dutch oven cooking and has won First Place in a cook off with his peach cobbler. Congratulations.

Tom Farley wears many hats including “Marshall” of the Neches Pines golf course. Sarah and Richard Wallace’s home has a pool on the golf course. From time to time Sarah has had an encounter with a snake in the skimmer but she was really scared when she found TWO copperhead snakes in some pine straw near the pool. She sent a text to her close friend and golfing buddy, Melba Gores, who immediately dispatched her husband Gary to deal with the situation. Gary grabbed a shovel, jumped in the golf cart and headed a short distance to the Wallace home. In the meantime, Tom Farley was passing by the No. 9 green tee on his golf marshall duties when he heard and saw Sarah in distress. Tom was quick. He was using a pitching wedge with a unique stroke when Gary arrived on the scene. Sarah was grateful for these two guys “coming to her rescue” and taking care of the situation. A couple of days later I heard Sarah found another snake on top of her mailbox. Where was Tom and Gary?

Mark your calendars for the second Annual “Be A Hero & Walk In Her Shoes” Cancer Benefit, October 21st. It was hilarious last year and should be bigger and better this year. So, convince your guys to participate and design their fashionable attire around “heels”. This unforgettable event will begin at 10:30 AM in front of the Diboll ISD Administration building. Registration forms are available at the Diboll Civic Center, City Hall and the Temple Library. The fee is $25 for guys brave enough to wear heels and $30 for non-heels. Remember, the proceeds will benefit a cancer patient in our town that is presently taking treatments. The “walk” will be from the administration building all the way to the old Diboll Free Press building so there is plenty of room for spectators to observe. Come out and support a good cause.

Come see us…’round the table.