This is the beginning of a new year when many people are making resolutions. If you have resolved to help others or be more active in your community, the library might be a great starting point. The Van Zandt County Library has only three paid employees. It is impossible to equip and support the programs that we all use without volunteer help. Some of the requirements for becoming a library volunteer are: to have transportation to the library, the ability to communicate clearly with others and to be able to understand and follow requests. To be a Junior Volunteer you must be 12 – 17 years of age. At 18 and older, you are an Adult Volunteer. Come by the circulation desk to pick up an application and one of the librarians or a volunteer will be glad to answer your questions.
You really, gotta, wanna I will lose weight this year. Nothing has worked before, but this year is going to be different. We have all said this to ourselves so many times over the years, but this is the year. We seem to come up with so many creative ways to justify our plan don’t we? We start out saying things like “a couple of us need to lose some weight,” “our clothes don’t fit,” “we have a class reunion and we want to look good” or “my neighbor has this new diet plan and we can make some money and lose weight at the same time.” There are so many different reasons why we should choose to change our eating, sleeping and exercise habits. But we just can’t seem to get it done. Most of us start a diet the first of the year. I had a history of giving up my new diet about the middle of February. There is a reason why my diet plans failed, and it all comes down to the fact that you “really, gotta, wanna.”
Happy New Year from the Van Zandt County Library. We welcome 2017 and all the exciting new things that come with it. Make your New Year's Resolution to spend more time at the library. Have you driven by the library in the last two weeks and noticed the ttwo big changes? The old and sick tree by the front entrance has been removed. Also, the new sign has been installed and is up and running. The sign was purchased for the library by the Friends of the Library and its purpose is twofold. First, it brings visibility to the location for new patrons; and second, it displays information about what's happening inside the building.
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Eagle Attacks Tyler Man near Kickapoo in Van Zandt County- A Tyler hunter blew his animal caller in Van Zandt County Monday and was attacked by a squalling Eagle. Arthur Williams, a Tyler Negro minister was hunting rabbits on Kickapoo Creek when the 25 pound Eagle answered his call. The preacher said the Eagle was on his back before he knew what had happened. He fought the big fowl and fired a shot to scare it away. The Eagle attacked again and the minister hit him with the second shot. The Eagle refused to give up and was killed by the third shot. The Eagles wings spread was over 7 feet. Cradle Roll – Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth McPhall of Dallas announce the arrival of their 8 lbs. 8 oz. son Kenneth Gregson in a Dallas hospital Dec. 21. Grandparents are Mr. and Mrs. Walter Murphrey Jr. of Canton and Mr. and Mrs. L. A. McPhall of Colfax.
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One difficulty that many people preparing for emergencies experience is that as far as they know, nobody else on earth is doing it.
That isn’t true. Texas has a population of about 25 million people, and I personally know of a dozen or two who are preparing for emergencies. That may sound funny, but it isn’t supposed to be funny.
Many people who are making preparations for emergencies just don’t tell anybody else. They reason that if the word gets out, everybody who didn’t prepare will converge on their doorstep if and when an emergency occurs. And you know, they might be right?
The holidays are being celebrated at the Van Zandt County Library. The Friends of the Library held the annual Volunteer Brunch Dec. 12. Staff and volunteers enjoyed a delicious meal together. Family members of Al Coleman also attended. Mr. Coleman's name has recently been added to the Memorial Plaque which honors citizens who contributed to the building and growth of the library.
FOL has received a memorial donation for Toni Barrentine by Bob and Sandra Giles; a memorial donation for John Guthrie by Alice Bomar and Bobby Peynter; a donation honoring Betty Hooks by Beverly Chadwick; and a donation given by the Texas Star Quilters Guild.
Livestock Auction Barn to Be Built in Canton; Priest Brothers To Be Owners... Russell and Dee Priest announced plans this week to build a modern stock auction barn in Canton near the intersection of highways 19 and 243.
The barn which is slated to be completed near March 1 will be modern in all respects and approximately the size of the Wills Point Auction Born. Russell Priest told the press Wednesday that this seating capacity will be adequate to take care of all buyers and visitors during the sale. Facilities will include adequate space for over 100 head of cattle. In selecting Canton as a location for a major barn the priest brothers have shown confidence in the last talk industry in their area. Business leaders in Canton have acclaimed this move and have offered their support for this worthwhile industry.
As I sit staring at my computer screen this morning, my mind is racing and I am struggling to stay focused. I am distracted and it has nothing to do with deadlines or the fact that I have exceeded my daily quota of caffeine. The source of my agitation is self-induced and has everything to do with the fact that I haven’t purchased a single Christmas gift. The clock is ticking.
Of course, this is no surprise to my wife even though I appear calm and tell her every year “I have it all under control.” And the words “I told you so” will never be heard in my home. Why? Because somehow, I always manage to pull it off. And this year will be no different. Shopping just isn’t my thing and I avoid traffic, crowds and wandering aimlessly up and down isles in big box stores like the plague.
People ask me what is the secret to losing 104 pounds and dropping the blood pressure from 204/105 to between 90/50 and 136/60. I am accountable only to me and consistent in doing six simple easy to do things every day. Here they are:
Number one - Blow out all of that old dirty, dingy air. Push it out. Use the muscles in the bottom of your gut and push it out. Got it out? Now fill up those lungs until they are completely full. Now practice, practice, practice. Take all year, every day, all month and forever. No more short breaths.
Now for number two – Do the WAFOWASL at least three times a day. Stand up. Run in place for 30 seconds. Wiggle everything you can wiggle. Push out that dirty air with those muscles at the bottom of your gut. Get fresh air in and fill up those lungs real full. Don’t forget to smile.
