October 2015

October 26, 2015

 

Tyler Allen, son of Gary and Chantea Allen, has been chosen to be part of the Texas FFA News Staff Program and will be involved with the online publication October 2015 – June 2016. He will submit monthly Texas FFA News articles, videos and photos. Tyler will be awarded a $1000 scholarship at the conclusion of his term. Tyler Allen is also now a contributing writer for the official Texas A & M University Newspaper “The Battalion”. Two of the articles he has written have made the front page of the paper. The Battalion, has been a student newspaper at Texas A&M University since 1893, it is a forum for student expression, which serves the University community by accurately and fairly reporting the news of the day and by developing informed opinions regarding issues of interest to Battalion readers. The Battalion and the batt.com trains students in news journalism by setting high standards and by providing the resources and guidance to reach those standards. All content is written, edited and produced by students. The publication offers excellent opportunities to gain valuable experience for journalistic and related careers. Participation is not limited to any course of study for classification, but open to all interested students. Student editors, writers and other staff members receive salaries commensurate with their duties and responsibilities. The Battalion is published Monday through Friday during fall and spring semesters, and twice a week in the summer session. It is distributed to students, faculty and staff on campus and at many apartments and other high traffic areas in College Station.

2014 Diboll High School graduate, Tyler Allen, along with approximately 400 other sophomores at Texas A & M applied to the 2015-2016 SAIL (Sophomores Advancing In Leadership) group on campus. After the application and interview process 75 sophomores were chosen to be a part of this group with Tyler Allen being named one of them. The purpose of SAIL is to involve Texas A&M sophomores in a leadership organization where they can grow as leaders with the aid of interactive speakers, leadership retreats, meetings, and various leadership activities, all while becoming a part of a support group that will last many years beyond each member’s time in SAIL. Tyler has two brothers; Dylan is a senior at DHS and Riley is a preschooler.

Carmen Grumbles Miranda has returned from another RSVP bus adventure in hopes of seeing the leaves change colors; unfortunately, they were about two weeks too early. In spite of that, the group had a great trip sightseeing for 10 days. Some of the stops included the Vulcan Park and Museum in Birmingham, AL where the world’s largest cast iron statue; made of 100,000 pounds of iron and 56 feet tall, stands at the top of Red Mountain overlooking the city of Birmingham. In Stauton, VA, the group toured the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Museum. In New Gloucester, Maine they took a guided tour of farms and saw Holstein dairy cows and the Equestrian Center. In Boothbay, Maine, the group rode the Boothbay narrow gauge steam train and explored the historic exhibits, antiques and the HO scale model railroad exhibit.

They took another guided tour in Kennebunkport of coastal villages. Highlights of this tour included Dock Square, the Bush family estate at Walker’s Point, the Franciscan Monastery, downtown Kennebunkport, the Seaside Trolley Museum where they enjoyed a ride on an authentically restored streetcar. In Freeport, Maine the group enjoyed seeing and shopping in the huge LL Bean’s Flagship store. In Portland, Maine they toured the Victoria Mansion, one of the most important historic house museums and collections of the mid Victorian period anywhere in America. Built 1858-1860, it boasts over 90% of the furnishings of the original owner and is an unparalleled example of pre-Civil War grandeur. In the historical district, they saw houses of sea captains and views of Longfellow’s boyhood home. They saw one of the most photographed lighthouses in America, The Portland Head, one of Maine’s many lighthouses and the oldest of them. Their trip continued on to Hartford, CT where the group toured the impressive Connecticut State Capitol. It was along here that the tour had to make an unscheduled stop when the bus started smoking. After waiting for five hours, thankfully at a travel stop area, the group boarded a different bus and arrived at their destination in York, PA at 2:30 in the morning. That didn’t slow this group down, they went on to tour Baltimore, MD and ended their fun stops with a beautiful view of Chattanooga, TN from riding the Lookout Mountain Incline Railway. Sounds like a great trip. Carmen shared she ate all the lobster she could while in Maine. I will share with her and others, there is a beautiful wall-size photograph of Maine’s Portland Head lighthouse in Lufkin’s Red Lobster.

Several guys from this area have taken trips toward the northwest US to enjoy a few days hunting in cooler, higher and sometimes wetter parts of Colorado. Dennis Lenderman and Jerry Hemphill pulled a converted horse trailer/camper to Colorado and had to spend most of their time watching it rain. Ricky Morris and his dad, Larry, along with brothers Jim and Bill Lumpkin traveled further north near Rifle, CO and camped in tents. Larry Morris was the only one to bring home the bacon, or rather, venison. It snowed on this group and they were pretty disgusted at having to spend 3 hours on a mountain pass because truckers did not heed the instructions to put on their snow chains and were sliding all over the highway. They also got caught up in all the down pouring rains when coming through Corsicana.

We had a nice surprise visit from former Dibollian, Doug Cooke and his wife, Laura who live in Ft. Smith, AK. They bought Anasazi beans and a jar of our very popular Chow Chow. They were on their way to Houston to visit his dad, Stacy Cooke and wife. Lonnie Wallace called from Wisconsin and ordered some Colorado pinto beans. He wasn’t able to come to Texas because he is too busy spoiling a new great-grandson, Avery Cooper.

The Diboll Civic Club sponsors CHRISTMAS BLESSINGS whose co-chairmen are Bessie Furgurson and Delana Hendrick. There are almost 250 kids, ages newborn to 17 that will have a better Christmas because of this organization. Monetary donations are always welcomed and large boxes are placed around town for people to donate new toys. The boxes are located at First Bank & Trust, Temple Library, Temple Inland Credit Union, the lobby at Georgia Pacific and here at Pouland’s. This is a very worthy organization that needs your help.

Pam Burnette and Katrina Hagan are two ladies who are helping to raise money for the medical expenses of Daniel Hagan who has kidney disease. You have until November 6th to place your order for homemade pumpkin and pecan pies by calling 829-4631 or 281-995-0496. Thank you and God Bless.
Come see us…round the table.

October 19, 2015

 

Ruth Mullins is a proud grandmother again thanks to her son, Ted Mullins of Jeffersonton, Virginia. Ted and his wife, Adrianne, announced the birth of their daughter, Caity Diane, on October 7. She weighed 6 lbs. and 8 ozs. Caity’s middle name “Diane” is after her aunt Diane (Mullins) Pennington who teaches in Diboll. Caity’s sisters, Chloe, Courtney and Carla were adopted into the Mullins family in September. Ruth shared that Carla called her on the day the adoption papers were finalized and said, “Grandma Ruth, my name is the same as yours now.” Blessings to this sweet family.

John and Gloria Ogden celebrated their 53th wedding anniversary with a road trip east to attend the “Cruisin’ the Coast” Classic Car Show. Cars were in several cities along the coast of Bay St. Louis, Pass Christian, Gulf Port, Biloxi and Ocean Springs. They also enjoyed the Shrimp Festival on the beach in Gulf Shores, Alabama. John appreciates the classic cars and Gloria loves all the cute shops, arts and crafts. On the way home, Gloria really liked St. Francisville, Louisiana, where they had lunch and looked at the plantation homes and shops.

The traveling duo, Garvis Baldree and Bettye Greer, took a road trip to Eureka Springs, Arkansas in hopes of seeing the leaves change and attend The Great Passion Play. The leaves didn’t cooperate but the play did with a cast of 150 actors and dozens of animals, “America’s #1 Outdoor Drama” brought the Bible to life on a 550’ long multi-leveled stage. Towering above the stage area is the massive “Christ of the Ozarks” which stands 67 feet high and an arm span of 65 feet. Built in 1967, it is one of the largest Christ memorial statues in the world. Garvis and Bettye also enjoyed touring a Bible Museum located in the same area were delighted to see an original Gutenberg Bible.

Located about 1-1/2 miles outside the city of Eureka Springs, nestled in a woodland setting, is The Thorncrown Chapel that rises 48 feet into the Ozark sky. A magnificent wooden structure that contains 425 windows and over 6,000 square feet of glass. It sits atop 100 tons of native stone and colored flagstone. The chapel’s simple design and majestic beauty combine to make it what critics have called “one of the finest religious spaces of modern times.” Since the chapel opened in 1980, over six million people have visited this woodland sanctuary. Garvis and Bettye increased that number with their visit. These ladies also enjoyed the trolley ride that took them all around Eureka Springs allowing them to get on and off at their discretion.

In Bentonville, Arkansas, Garvis and Bettye visited The Walmart Museum located in the original Walton’s 5&10 dime store where Sam Walton’s “made in America” theory was to purchase only from vendors who lived in the town. (Boy, has his predecessors forgotten that theory). Sam Walton, a very humble man, once said, “I just don’t believe a big showy lifestyle is appropriate. Why do I drive a pickup truck? What am I supposed to haul my dogs around in, a Rolls Royce?” Sam’s famous 1979 Ford F-150 pickup is on permanent display in the museum.

Bess Andrews was happy to have her son and daughter-in-law, Don and Renee Andrews, drive from Austin to visit and treat her to dinner at The Cotton Patch. It was nice to meet Charlotte Jackson from Lewisville, Texas, where she works for AT&T. She is the lovely daughter of Dortha and Steve Jackson who have moved to Diboll. The Jacksons own the popular Tropical Toucan shaved ice which is located near Hwy 59 and Thompson Streets.

Jerry King comes to store every fall and always reminds us he is a friend of former Dibollian, Joe Anthony. We don’t have to be reminded who he is because Jerry buys lots and lots of peanuts from us. He gives several pounds away to friends like Joe Anthony and David Bennett but he also enjoys eating them. Jerry has learned “just the right timing” to roast his peanuts in the microwave.
Enjoyed visiting with Herman Day who recently moved back to Beulah after living in Pasadena for 40 years. His parents were Luther and May Day. His dad worked for Temple Associates when they lived here in the 50’s with their eleven children. Two people Herman remembered from school was Mrs. W. F. Pate and Granville Smith. Before leaving Diboll to serve in the military for 20 years, he remembers helping install the first water meters in Diboll. Herman has three sons: David moved here, Darrell and Dwayne still live in Pasadena. Dwayne and his wife Sheila come here to race at Pine Valley Raceway on the Ryan Chapel Road.

Also enjoyed visiting with Carlos Olvera and his daughter, Myra, when they came in for hunting licenses on their way to Ryan’s Lake to do some bow hunting. Myra is a student at Angelina College. Her sister Victoria and husband, Eric Giles, are the parents of six month old, Isabella Sophia. Carlos’ wife, Iliana, is the administrative assistant to Martha Hernandez at Diboll First Bank & Trust and almost everyone knows his parents, Pedro and Maria Olvera. And, how can we ever forget his sister, Maria, who worked here for a number of years.

The Everything store was pleasantly surprised with several young visitors from Kathryn Sage Temple Day Care. The group was on a ”hayride” with two of their favorite teachers, Tammy Bass and Sheila Eldridge, when they came in to get a pumpkin. Each child received a child-size pumpkin to take with them from Andrea’s pumpkin patch. They took a larger pumpkin with them to carve for Halloween. Andrea grew the pumpkins and has all sizes available if anyone is looking for fall decorations. By the way, Lane Bass was the driver for the hayride.

The Diboll Business Association invites everyone to attend a Ribbon Cutting at Ace Hardware on Hines Street this Friday, October 23rd, at 5PM. Bobby Dubose’s Ace Hardware will be having a LARGE celebration with lots of sale items and fun things for the kids and everyone. The sale is Friday and Saturday. We are fortunate to have this nice store, please don’t forget to patronize it by shopping locally.

I’m expressing my gratitude in advance for the coming rain and the cooler temperatures we have been enjoying.
Come see us…’round the table.

October 5, 2015

 

Because we knew several that had birthdays the last of September and the first week of October, Andrea decided to make Rueben sandwiches and invite them and friends to help celebrate. Mary Lou Havard’s birthday was the 2nd and Marcia (Warner) Jones’ birthday was September 30th. The other birthday was for the young man that has been around here for quite some time, Thomas “Spiderman” Linton whose birthday was the 28th. Guests included Bess Andrews, Ima Weisinger, JoNell Placker, Kathreen Chuke, Joyce Carlton, Dee Adams, Marcia’s son and daughter-in-law, Bob and Shelly Jones from Houston and Mark Havernick. Mark’s wife, Ann, had a birthday on the day of our little party but she was in Dallas so Mark decided to celebrate with us and sent Ann a picture of his plate and told her “Happy Birthday”. For dessert Andrea made homemade pecan and buttermilk pies. We also served a Snowball cake that Patricia Stubblefield made and delivered to us with her husband, Kenneth. There were lots of laughter and stories told at the table that day. In the conversation, I learned there were three DHS cheerleaders from the class of ’44 sitting at the table; Bess, Mary Lou and Marcia who was also Football Sweetheart that year.

It was great to see Russell and Tricia Roberts when they were in town to attend the funeral of Dave Winfrey. The Roberts lived here for five years in the late 80’s while he was athletic director and she worked in the library. Both of their children graduated from DHS; Tina in 1990 and Chris in 1993. Tina graduated from Baylor and Chris attended school in Wichita Falls a short time before transferring to Baylor. Tina got a business degree and worked in the business world for a while and later taught school. She now loves being a stay-at-home mom to 15-year-old Trinity and 11-year-old Tucker. Everyone in her family has a name with “T”, Tad, Tina, Trinity and Tucker. After Baylor, Chris immediately began coaching with his dad in Wharton and New Caney before moving into the Humble ISD and is now the head coach at Meridian which incidentally, is where he attended kindergarten. His wife, Kathryn (from Mexia) is the assistant principal and their children are 13-year-old Maddie and 9-year-old Grant. In 2010 Russell retired and he and Tricia moved to Round Mountain, population 181, not even a stop sign. They truly enjoy living in the country on their 8 acres of rocks, watching the wildlife and drinking coffee on their deck. Tricia works one day a week in the library at their church’s school. Russell fully retired this year after serving as head coach at Faith Academy in Marble Falls, at first it was 6 man football and later 11-man and eventually he stepped down to coaching Jr. High. Tricia’s parents, Patsy and Sam Johnson lived in Diboll about 5 years but eventually moved back to the Marble Falls area. Patsy passed away about 5 years ago but Sam will be 94 on the 11th of October and still lives alone, drives and cooks for himself.

Geneva Ard called to let everyone know that the $100 gift card given away by the Diboll Pilot Club was won by Dennis Gilmore of Jasper. He is the brother of another Pilot club member, Barbara Nash. Proceeds from this go toward the special projects that the club does. Geneva also shared she spent the weekend in College Station being “Nana” to her two grandsons 3-year-old Case and 5-1/2 year old T.J. Their parents, Allison and Dennis Gilmore attended the Texas A&M game.

Two SFA lifetime alumni, attended their first SFA football game this past week end in Houston at the NRG Stadium. Kevin and Andrea Swor along with their SFA freshman daughter Cheyenne and her friend, Samantha Wallace enjoyed good seats on the 50 yard line. The girls were able to find their former high school classmate, Brandon McCall, in the huge and very impressive SFA band. Brandon was playing the piccolo and being watched by his parents, David and Brenda McCall, who were also in the crowd. I just have to interject that my mother, Anna Lee Burden Powell, was the 13th student to enroll at Stephen F. Austin in 1923 before there was football or even buildings.

Jimmie Woodard shared with me about her recent cruise to Alaska on the Norwegian ship Pearl. She traveled with Kenny & Gay Standridge from Huntington who were celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary. They invited Kenny’s brother and wife, David and Vivian and Sandy Anthony who invited Jimmie. The group flew from Houston to Seattle and spent two days sightseeing before boarding their ship. Their first port was Ketchikan, then the historic island of Sitka, Juneau, and the last port was Victoria, BC where they took a tour to Buchart Gardens, the Empress Hotel and a night view of Parliament. This was Jimmie’s second Alaskan cruise and it was as awesome as the first. They enjoyed the icebergs, glaciers, saw black and brown bears, whales, eagles, totem poles and took a train ride to a salmon bake and watched the spawning salmon. Back in Seattle they spent two more days touring that included a second trip to Pike’s Market, space needle, floating bridge and houses and observing locks and dams. It only rained a short time on one day during the 12 day trip.

James Davis from Lufkin was impressed that Andrea was able to get his 20-year-old Spin Cast feeder working again. He told her when he returned from being in the service he enjoyed being a referee for 24 years and remembered Coach Joe Wyatt when he was Diboll’s Athletic Director.

It’s time to plant bluebonnet seeds in early October. They are annual plants meaning they go from seeds to flowers to seed in one year. They germinate in the fall, grow throughout the winter and usually bloom (if someone doesn’t mow them down for weeds) the end of March to mid-May. We do have bluebonnet seeds for sale here at Pouland’s.

Congratulations to Melvin and Kay Linton, Sr. on the 53rd wedding anniversary, October 5th. John and Gloria Ogden will celebrate their 54th anniversary on October 7th with a short trip to a classic car show in Alabama.

If you read your Diboll Free Press today, Thursday October 8th, before 5PM, you’ll have time to attend the ribbon cutting of a new business in Diboll, Tropical Toucan Shaved Ice. The colorful trailer will be set up at the site of the old Diboll Free Press building at the intersection of Hwy 59, Thompson and Hendrick streets. The owners are Steve and Dortha Jackson of Diboll and the cute trailer is packed with dozens of flavors and new items coming almost every day. Steve plans to move the Tropical Toucan to the Angelina County airport this Saturday for the air show.
Come see us…’round the table.