Columns

CANTON HERALD-June 30, 1960: 

Funeral services for Sarah Catherine Whitton were held Friday, June 24, at Elm Gove Church. Mrs. Whitton was born on March 19, 1871, in Van Zandt County and passed away at her own in Whitton on Thursday, June 23. Her husband, Eli Whitton, preceded her in death two years ago.  Interment was in Elm Grove Cemetery under the direction of you Eubank Bros. Funeral Home.

If you have visited the courthouse during the past few weeks it makes you wonder why it isn’t air-conditioned. The comfort of too many people is involved in the span of a year for the county seat not to be air-conditioned.

If you find any mistakes in the news column this week, you can blame it on our number two daughter, Jeanne, who has been filling and with the Herald staff this week as proof reader. She has been quite a help to us… In spite of her many mistakes.

Even though we have been very blessed over the last few month with rain, we should all be good stewards of our most precious natural resource - WATER! Use these water saving tips for lawn care during extended periods of heat and drought.

Quick tips

- Make sure your irrigation system is in good working order. Find any leaks and broken heads.

- Turn off automatic sprinkler settings. Irrigate based on plant stress or on-line tools.

- Don’t water lawns during heat of the day; water in early morning.

- Watch your landscape watering -- don’t water sidewalks, driveways or streets, or let water run down the street.

- Use low volume drip or trickle irrigation for garden and bedding plants.

School's out!

Now, what do you do?

The library is a great resource. Of course, now you can read a book – just for fun; or there is time to study-up on interests – animals, cars, hobbies, or countless other subjects. Newspapers and magazines are available to read in the library, along with several types of reference materials. If computer access is needed, the library is your place.

And don't forget free wifi is provided for library patrons.

This Friday, June 24, is the third program in the Summer Reading series. The Hootybee Puppets will be buzzing by to say “hi” and entertain everyone.

So at 10 a.m. be at the library to have fun with our puppet friends.

Also, at 10 a.m. Tuesday, June 28, the subject will be “America” at Preschool Storytime. Miss Rhonda is looking forward to reading some stories about our country and its fascinating citizens.

How About Jesus

What have you done about Jesus?

How about Him do you feel

He offers to us Salvation

His forgiveness of sin is real

He came down to earth from Heaven

The author of god’s Holy plan

The only means of salvation

For poor creature called man

He offers the gift of forgiveness

Of Satan’s temptation in life

For these He asks repentance

And protects us from suffering an strife

He will not force himself upon us

Nor ever refuse His love

He is the answer to life’s questions

In wisdom from Father God above

So what have you done about Jesus

Do you love and trust him to date

If you say I’ll call Him tomorrow

You might be one day too late.

Leonard Brown

DPS asks citizens to report suspicious behavior

AUSTIN — In the wake of the widely reported June 12 mass shooting in Orlando, Florida, the Texas Department of Public Safety called on Texans to pay close attention to what’s happening in their own communities.

DPS Director Steven McCraw on June 17 said, “Amid today’s ever-present threat of terrorism and crime, we are reminded that members of the public can be law enforcement’s greatest resource.”

And, he said, “When law enforcement and communities work together to combat crime, we are inherently more successful." He urged individuals to report illegal or suspicious behavior they see to iWATCH or to their local authorities.  “By speaking up, you could save a life,” McCraw added.

The DPS-maintained iWATCH website, www.iwatchtx.org, provides citizens with a place to report tips related to criminal activity.

There have been a lot of passionate opinions, confusing information and accusations going around about the “Wet/Dry” local alcohol option petitions that were recently circulated inside the Canton city limits.  And there will continue to be more right up thru Election Day in November.  As your mayor, I’d like to present the facts so everyone knows why the city will have to order a wet/dry election.

This information is pretty much directly from the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission website.  The only thing I had done is to translate parts of it from “legalese” to plain English for easier understanding. 

Article XVI, § 20, of the Texas Constitution contains provisions which allow any dry area the right to become wet by citizens voting in an election which has been legally ordered and held for that purpose under present laws. Houchins v. Plainos, 110 S.W.2d 549, 553 (Tex. 1937)

Canton Herald- June 16, 1960

AUSTIN – It’s not uncommon during the summer months to see what appears to be abandoned fawn deer or fledgling birds in need; that’s when humans need to resist the urge to help, wildlife experts say.

Some species, including birds, deer and snakes, are normally very active this time of year and are typically seen more frequently. With the abundance of recent rainfall, increased sightings of displaced wildlife in flooded areas can also be expected, but if left alone these critters will return to their natural environment once water levels subside.

This is the time of year that young birds are out of their nests but cannot fly. If the bird’s eyes are open, it has a coat of feathers and is hopping around, it is probably fine, according to staff at the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s wildlife information center. Grounded fledglings will usually be up and flying within a few days.

My sister and I grew up in a loving home with two great parents who taught and showed us things that made us who we are today. Most of the things they showed us were good but looking back at a critical point in our lives, some were not so good.

My sister is a few years older than I am and she moved out of the house after graduating high school. Her departure left me at home for two years with my parents whose marriage had sadly diminished leading to their divorce the month I graduated high school.

We lived in Houston at that time and my mother moved away to live closer to my sister. This left me and my dad to sort through our next steps, so I decided to stay at home and keep him company while attending a local university.