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.