October 30, 2017

THREE surprises for Glenda Shepherd’s birthday, as told by her niece, Alecia (Garrett) Watson:

Unsure if they could keep it a surprise, Glenda’s husband, Mark Shepherd, son and daughter-in-law, Paul and Elizabeth Shepherd and daughter, Jane Wallace, set out to plan the perfect surprise 60^th birthday weekend for Glenda.  Glenda had been in Diboll for a few weeks visiting her mother, Lillie Mae McGuire, with plans to go to San Antonio for a weekend to babysit her grandson, Heath so that Paul, Elizabeth and her granddaughter, Brie, could spend the night in Austin after attending a concert there Friday evening. What she didn’t know at the time, was that on their way home Saturday, Paul and Elizabeth picked up his dad, Mark Shepherd, from the Austin airport for surprise number one of the weekend!  Glenda was very shocked that Mark was now in San Antonio for the weekend, and Brie was excited that her grandparents got to attend her soccer game that day!  Afterwards, they all went to Chuy’s for lunch where her second surprise was revealed!  Her sister and brother-in-law, Sandy and Corry Crager, along with her cousin, Loretta Garrett, and friend, Mary K Teutsch, all showed up at Chuy’s with a birthday cake and balloons! For her final surprise, Mark had arranged for the ladies to stay the night at the Hyatt Regency on the Riverwalk for the evening!  Upon arriving, they found he had booked them the Presidential Suite on the top level of the hotel!  He also handled dinner reservations for them at Boudro’s on the Riverwalk, which is one of Glenda’s favorite restaurants.  They got to enjoy the Riverwalk sites from a river boat ride before they headed back to the hotel for a night of reminiscing about the “good old days”!  Thank you Alecia for sharing the event of this unforgettable surprise birthday.

Royal Caribbean’s cruise ship Liberty of the Seas left Galveston for Falmouth and Montego Bay, Jamaica, Georgetown, Grand Bahama and Cozumel, Mexico a few Sundays ago.  On Board was none other than cruise queen, Jimmie Woodard (her 17^th cruise) along with friends David and Vivien Standridge, Sandi Anthony, Bobby Wiggins, Nicole Cox and Milo Winters.  The group had a most marvelous trip zip lining, parasailing, hiking, eating, sightseeing, laughing, eating, playing bingo, gambling, eating, playing Trivia, listening to karaoke, playing chicken foot, eating, swimming, snorkeling, meeting and making new friends and then there was eating.  When Bobby and I weren’t eating or enjoying any other fun event, we were enjoying an ice cream, usually two or more treats per day.   All in all a week later, the group was ready to get home and return to the hustle and bustle of work and for some of us, retirement.   Great fun, great food, great friends. As always, my thanks to Jimmie Woodard for sharing the fun she has being retired.

Clay and Brooke Colwell with their two children, Lewin and Gentrie traveled with Brooke’s sister, Hope, and her children; Peyton, Kendall and Gavan to Arkansas’s second highest mountain to enjoy three days of fresh air, camping and riding ATVs at Queen Wilhelmina State Park. This past weekend, 5-year-old Lewin hunted with his dad during the opening day of Youth Season in the river bottom near their home. Gentrie told everyone “brudder shot” a deer and indeed he did; a nice 8 point!

Jack Murray proudly reported at the RT his 13-year-old granddaughter, Chloe Murray was also successful in getting a nice 8 pointer and this is not her first. Her parents are Chris and Melanie Murray.

Steve Sikes came in with his dad, James, Saturday morning. Steve was quick to show us a photo of the nice 8-point buck his grandson, Gavin, had gotten that morning. It was his first big buck. Steve also shared it was 40 years ago on October 24, 1977 at age 19 that he went to work for the Diboll Police Department. He remembers going to T/I’s Fiberboard plant for General Manager/ Mayor C. H. Shepherd to swear him in. He later completed the training to become a DPS trooper and retired after 20 years. Max Rowe and Judd Homer David have returned from a great week of fishing at a remote lodge in Wawa, Ontario, Canada. They took their time and spent a week driving to Canada and then had to fly 60 more miles to the camp site. Although the weather was cold in the mornings they really enjoyed fishing for walleye and pike.

Ronnie Howell thought we might be able to help him since we advertise as being the “Everything Store”. He wants Diboll’s old Dairy Kream recipe for “Juicy Pig” sandwiches. Boy, I would love to have that recipe too. I remember how good they tasted. So, if anyone reading this knows anyone that has the recipe, give us a call 936-829-4040. PS we do have a copy of the original Dairy Kream chili recipe.

Speaking of recipes. There are 30 recipes available at participating Diboll businesses who are sponsoring their annual Christmas CASH Give Away during the month of November. A playing card is available at every participating business. Simply go by pick up a card have it stamped and carry it to as many businesses as possible. Depending on how many stamps you receive determines how much cash you might win, up to $300! The businesses and sample playing card are listed elsewhere in the paper.

Rosemary (Swetland) Berry brought me news about the latest fund raiser for Chapter #382 Order of the Easter Star. It is their annual Pie Sale. Proceeds will benefit several charitable events they sponsor including the Women’s Crises Center; Godtel; Salvation Army; scholarships and quarterly meals prepared for Veterans. There are six choices of pies: apple, cherry, peach, pecan, pumpkin and sweet potato. Because they are frozen, you will be able to put them in your freezer and use them when needed. Doylene Cook-Jumper said the pumpkin is the best and Dianne Tate-Gipson said the cherry is the best! Hurry, because the cut-off date to order is November 10^th and the pick-up date is November 17^th. Please call Rosemary S. Berry to place your order, 936-635-9951.

Our first shipment of delicious Georgia pecans should arrive this week for everyone who has anxiously been waiting to start their holiday baking.

Come see us…’round the table.