News for the Week of November 30, 2011

  

     Sure has turned cold. Who’d a thunk it? It’s time, but I do dread the cold and will be happy for every mild day we have.

   We had a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner with our family, and lots of good food. We all ate a lot and had a great time together. We have so much to be thankful for every day of our lives, not just Thanksgiving Day, but it is nice to get together and celebrate it as a family. We got to visit with David via Skype and he was roasting one turkey and smoking another one for a dinner with his friends.

   I didn’t do any shopping on Black Friday. I am not a good shopper anyway, I don’t really enjoy it and the thought of all those crowds and all that walking just makes me ache all over. I hope if you went out you had a good time and got everything you went after.

   There is a stray dog making his home on DD Highway. He is wearing a collar so I think he might be lost instead of being abandoned. He is a medium size white dog with large light brown spots and he is wearing a collar. He won’t come to anybody and runs off if anybody gets close to him, but when he hears a car coming he comes to the edge of the road and looks. He has become a neighborhood dog, with several people throwing food out for him. He is a very nice looking dog and I hope if he is lost, his people will soon find him.

(Oh, and by the way, the dog has now migrated to Julie's house and is staying under her house. He is very friendly to Julie and me. My dog, Pebo, wants to jump in the middle of him. I hope he doesn't take a notion to fight him. I hope he belongs to somebody and they come get him.)

    My dad and mom lost a little Boston terrier out on the ridge one time when they took him squirrel hunting
with them. He ran off and wouldn’t come back. They hunted and hunted and couldn’t find him. Finally they had the idea to take some bacon out there and fry it and see if he would come to the smell. He dearly loved bacon. He came up to the road, but was still scared and wouldn’t come to them, just stood and looked and ran away if they started toward him. My son David was only about 3 or 4 years old at the time and when he saw the dog, he started running toward him. David fell while he was running and started crying. When the dog heard David crying, he came running up to him and licking him like he had never been gone.

   Corby, Lisa, Gavin and Levi Lux made a trip to Atlanta, Georgia to spend Thanksgiving with Lisa’s sister there. They stopped in Nashville on the way there to look around at Opryland a while. I saw their pictures on facebook of some of the places they visited while there. There were pictures of them hiking on Stone Mountain in Georgia, snow tubing down Snow Mountain, and a trip to Rock City at Lookout Mountain in Chattanooga, Tennessee. It looked like they had a wonderful time.

   The Bradleyville Screaming Eagle Band will be marching in the Forsyth Parade on Dec. 3 at 2:00 p.m. and the Fall Concert will be held at Bradleyville School on December 8 at 7:00 p.m. which will include all the music classes.

   The high school girls will start their basketball season at Fordland on Dec. 5. The boys will have a game at Bradleyville with Galena on Dec. 6. Both the boys and girls will travel to Bakersfield on Dec. 9.

   Birthdays: Dec. 1: Gratt Dalton, Brandon Newlyn; Dec. 2: Tyler Paul; Dec. 3: Bryce Beeler; Dec. 4: Bill Johnson, Jacklyn Clemans; Dec. 5: Kyle Laughlin, Joshua Strahan; Dec. 6: Paitin Combs, Kelli Johnson; Dec. 7: Ellie Combs, Seth Combs.

   Anniversaries: Dec.1: Joe and Vicky Rogers; Dec. 2: Eric and Sherry Guerin; Dec. 5: Bill and Rita Box.

News For the Week of November 23, 2011

Bradleyville News I submit to Taney County Times and Douglas County Herald

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   Another deer season has come and gone and I hope all you deer hunters out there got what you wanted.  I think most deer hunters want that big buck and it seems like several nice bucks were harvested this year, but from the conversations I overheard I don’t think the bucks were ever quite big enough. I understand the hunters wanting those trophy antlers, but since I don’t hunt, but do get to process it and then cook it and eat it, I always wish for something smaller and more tender. Bob got a six point early in the season that was surprisingly tender and tasty.

   It seems like everyone but me does hunt, and I surely have forgotten somebody that got a deer, but a few of them are Hayden Crouch who got a 6 point buck, Kyle Laughlin got a 7 point, Brock Rogers got a spike buck, his big brother Brady Rogers killed a big 8 point and is going to have it mounted, Hannah Blair got a nice 4 point buck, Racheal Case got an 8 point and so did Jason Crouch and Becky Gann. Brandon Newlyn got a big 9 point and Melanie Whittaker got a great big 10 point buck.  Again, I know there were more than these that filled their tags but they have escaped my poor memory.

   The Beaver Creek bridge near Ava has been finished and it sure has been a big relief to everyone. I have a feeling the people who live on the gravel roads that people were using for un-official detours are more happy than anyone else. I can just imagine all the dust they have been putting up with as people drive by and stir it up. We live at the end of a quarter mile road that was gravel until just a few years ago and I think I could have dusted twice a day and still had dust on everything.

   Basketball season is about to start next week for the high school boys team in the Marionville Invitational  starting on Monday, Nov. 28. The boys will be playing the host team, Marionville, at 7:30 and then continue in the tournament the next night, Tuesday,  Nov. 29  with a game against Stockton at 7:30. The tournament is pool play with the championship games being played on Saturday, Dec. 3 starting at noon with the consolation game, followed by the 3^rd place game and the championship game following that.  The girls won’t have a game until Dec. 5 when they travel to Fordland.

   The Chili Feed/Garage Sale held the past two Saturdays at New Mansion Church did very well and raised some money to go towards Vacation Bible School. Everyone who donated items or food or came to work or came to eat, however you supported it, is very much appreciated. I had a great time there helping and just sitting around and visiting with the other ladies who were there helping and people who came in to eat.  There was lots of good food there and I did my fair share in sampling a lot of it.

   We went to the “Bradleyville’s Got Talent” talent show at Bradleyville School held last Friday night and enjoyed all the acts very much. The winners were chosen by popular vote and everyone present got to cast a vote, but I was so impressed with ALL the talent I saw.  

   The winners for the Elementary division were the Girl Scouts of Doom who won first place doing a lip sync to the song “Monster Mash”. They were dressed in costume and acted out a skit to go along with the lip sync which was very entertaining. The group included Dorian Hayes, Kourtney, Gracie and Maddie Shipley, Morgan Lawrence, Sophia Meltke, Emma Hampton, Kambria Todd, Taylor McHaffie, Kayla Cummings and Trent McHaffie.  Megan Howie won second place, singing a beautiful song, “God’s Alive and Well”. Great job, Megan! Tori Vaughn played her guitar and sang an arrangement of “In the Garden” to win third place. It was also very good.

   In the Open Class category the first place winner was the band called the Shake and Bakes who played the song “Raunchy”. It consisted of Riley Combs performing the lead on his guitar and Ellie Combs on the saxophone, John Combs on the guitar and Brandon Burkhart on the drums. The Kerr Family, consisting of Ashley, Derick, Megan and Larry did a hilarious lip sync and skit to the old Ray Stevens song “The Streak” to win second place.

  The high school division ended the show with several good performances. First place went to Colin Robertson and Jessi Laughlin doing a drum routine they called “Splatter”. They had paint on the drums that splattered everywhere while they were drumming that looked pretty cool. Second place was won by Mariah Thomas who did a great job performing an original country song that was written especially for her. Third place went to the Hot Pants Pack who did a very funny dance to “Bye, Bye, Bye”. This group included Ellie Combs, Ally Swift and Alexis Landis.

   Although they didn’t place in the contest, there were three more performances in the talent show that were very talented and need to be mentioned.  Kaylee Sims has a beautiful voice and sang the song “Blessings” and did an amazing job. Phil and Curtis Weaver sang a wonderful song they had written themselves and accompanied themselves on guitar. Greyson Erickson did a reading of his own original poetry.  Bradleyville does indeed have a lot of talent!

   Birthdays: Nov. 24: Tammy Pollard; Nov. 25: Derek Rogers, Wendy Silvey Cash, Gina Smith, Joshua Shockey; Nov. 26: Judy Alstatt, Julie Bettis, Denny Burkhart; Nov. 27: Jean Robison; Nov. 28: Greg Potter, Bob Siler; Nov. 29: Amanda Swift; Nov. 30: Anita Dalton, Pete Knight, Leeza Wood.

   Anniversaries:  Nov. 26: Chris and Julie Bettis; Nov. 27: Kirk and Tammy Baird.

   

  

News For the Week of November 16, 2011

Well, I didn't get any news sent in to the newspaper this week. I really have to dig to find something to put in there each week, and sometimes it is just more than I want to do.
Most people do not want their names in the paper, even if it is something like happy news or regular goings on, and I understand that. Sometimes though, they are the same people who wonder why I didn't get anything in the paper that week. Go figure.

Anyway, this will just be my ramblings, maybe a little news, whatever.

I spent all day last Saturday at the chili-feed at the church (New Mansion) and enjoyed it immensely. Got there around 10:30 that morning and didn't leave until around 8:00 that evening. Belinda Wyman was there even earlier, and she and Randy were getting ready to leave as I drove out of the churchyard that night. Belinda was on her feet most of the time, making sure everything was ready to eat, and the dishes were cleaned up, and just talking to everybody that came in. And while I helped some (mostly afterwards in the cleanup), I mostly sat around all day and visited. Other people that were there helping were Alicia Crouch & Danielle Crouch, Michelle Todd & Emily Todd, Robyn & Sarah Whittaker, Danita Frazier, Kay Whittaker, Lisa Lux, Laura Melton, Julie Lawson, Lynn Mitchell,  and I know I am forgetting somebody that was there, sorry if I missed your name, because it is work to keep everything going there. Even the ones that couldn't be there sent food, and there was a LOT of food.

Deer season is not my thing. I just try to stay low for two weeks until it is over. Bob loves to hunt, my son loves to hunt, my sons-in-law love to hunt, my grandsons love to hunt, my nephews and nieces---well, you get the picture.  I am not against hunting, and if you love to hunt, more power to you. I'll process the meat (grudgingly), but I just don't care a thing about hunting and all it entails (or should I say entrails?).

So it is a great pleasure to have something to do that I enjoy while everyone else is out hunting down Bambi. It is a lot of fun for me to just get to sit around and fellowship with the ladies I go to church with. In the afternoon after the dinner crowd has mostly cleared out and everything is put back in order, we sit around the table and have our dinner and a dessert or two and talk, talk, talk.

Lisa Lux and her family went to see the Trans-Siberian Orchestra Saturday evening, and I haven't talked to her but I can't imagine it being anything but wonderful. If you want some wonderful Christmas music, TSO is sure to deliver.

I like Mannheim Steamroller too, and all the regular Christmas music. I love the Christmas season and all the decorations, music, and everything that goes with it. Saying that, I will exclude Black Friday from that statement. I don't like the thought of going anywhere near a store on that day, especially standing in line outside at midnight or whenever waiting for the doors to open, or now I see it may be even on Thanksgiving night. Again, if that is what you enjoy, more power to you, it takes all different kinds to make the world go 'round.

Monday and Tuesday were so warm, I would have loved to be outside enjoying it and re-doing some of my flower beds that I plan to move, but I wasn't able to get outside much. Today seems a lot cooler, but it is nice outside. I still might get outside and do something. My shoulder won't take much anymore, so I have to baby it some, but I can still get some things done to my satisfaction.

Congratulations to my son-in-law, Jason Crouch on his birthday today. Wow! 37 years old. He is a wonderful son-in-law, and truth to tell, more son than in-law. He has now been a part of our family longer than he was NOT a part of it. The girls credit him with toughening up David. David was all boy, but had been catered to somewhat because he had been the baby for quite awhile before Julie came along and he was the only boy.  Maybe a little spoiled. Jason came and wrestled with him, played video games with him and wouldn't let him win, laughed at him when he got mad, and so on.  He has certainly filled the big brother position for David.

Talking of David, he doesn't come home for Thanksgiving, but he will be home for Christmas. For the past few years he had a Thanksgiving dinner at his home for his friends and him and anyone who wasn't going home for a family Thanksgiving, but last year his church started having a big dinner for the same purpose, because there are so many in Maui that are living away from the rest of their families. Don't know if they had it before and Dave just didn't attend or if they started last year, but I think it is a wonderful idea.

We always get so homesick for David on Thanksgiving because he is usually the only one missing. We have skyped him in years past, which was good, but bad. Seeing him in real time, him there and us here, we didn't know if it was good or not. Each person would take their turn talking to him, and then when their turn was over, they would get out of skype range and wipe tears (the ladies, not the manly men).

Well, like I said, not much news this week, just mostly family news but maybe it will be better next week. We can always hope.

News For the Week of November 9, 2011

   Did anybody feel the earthquake last Saturday night? I saw on facebook that several around here felt it, my granddaughter Danielle said she woke up and the mirror on her dresser was shaking and making a little noise. Bob and I were coming home from Mountain Grove and were probably on the gravel road going around the bridge detour right about that time, so it was rough riding and bouncing anyway. We didn’t notice if there was extra shaking. (If there is an earthquake out there already shaking, I want to feel it. I mean, if it shook and I just didn't feel it, I want to feel it. That is just the way I am. I wanted to see the Northern Lights a week or two ago when you could see them here, but I missed that too. I was really going to get up at midnight and watch the sky awhile but no, I laid down and went sound asleep and didn't remember a thing about it until the next day. )

   Bob and I went to Evergreen Church north of Springfield (out by Willard on hwy 160) Friday night to see one of our favorite southern gospel groups, The Perrys, and we enjoyed it a lot.( We've been to that church several times to see groups, one time it was Brian Free and Assurance, once we saw Gold City, I think the last one before this was Carroll Roberson. We always enjoy it there.)  On Saturday night we went to Mountain Grove to the McCunes’ Homecoming to see another favorite group of ours, the Booth Brothers. ( We have also been going to this place for a few years now. The Booth Brothers are sooo good, and they are hilarious interacting with each other and the audience too. And then, Michael Booth always ends up preaching jn between the songs, and we absolutely love it! ) We saw several of our friends and neighbors at each concert.

   We had only a few trick or treaters at our house on Halloween which is not unusual. Our grandkids stopped by after school in the costumes they had worn to school.  Our seven month old grandson Garrett came by dressed like a little lion, except he didn’t want to wear his “mane”. He was awfully cute, anyway. Later on we had a ladybug (Rachael Case), a beautiful Indian princess (Baylee Hurst)  along with a jolly old hillbilly (Sara Case) who was driving them around.  A cute little girl in a kitty cat outfit (Emma Marsh)  came last, and that was the only kids we had all night.

    Tessa (Adams) Kamala and her husband, Naveen and their two children, Brahma-Valin who is 6 years old and Phoenix who is 5 years old will be making a trip to India meet her husband’s family.  Naveen is originally from India. She has met her husband’s mother and one aunt and uncle and now she and the kids will get to meet the rest of the family.  They will be leaving on December 7^th and staying until January 10^th. She said they are going to go on a safari while they are there using jeeps, elephants and a boat and will stay in a tent or cabin while out there. They will also be celebrating their 8^th anniversary while there, a niece’s 2^nd birthday, Christmas and New Year. Grandma there is getting excited about their visit and already has a Christmas tree. Tessa said it was around a 30 hour flight with many layovers.

   Congratulations to Tamra Whittaker and Drew Musselman on the birth of their son, Bentlee on Friday, November 4. He weighed 7 lbs. 14 oz. and was 20 ½ inches long. He sure is a cute little feller. His big sister, Jayla is excited to welcome him home. 

   Congratulations also to my great-niece, Deana and Roger Magnuson on the birth of their baby, Reid Bryon who was also born on November 4^th. Reid weighed 9 lbs. 7 oz. and was 21 inches long. He has an excited big brother, Ryan Porter, who is 3 years old. Reid and Ryan both are named after their grandpa, Bryon Porter who passed away in 2010 of Lou Gehrig’s disease, or ALS.

   Several young hunters in the area got a deer in the youth season hunt. Some that got deer were Riley Combs who got a good 6 point, Cole Thomas got a nice 5 point, Caleb Blair got a nice spike buck and Kory Franz got a big 8 point buck. Sunday afternoon Gavin Lux got a nice 4 point buck.  I’m sure there are more I haven’t heard about. Nice going, guys!

   Bradleyville School’s music department will be having a talent show on Friday, November 18. There will be a chili/pie supper starting at 6:00 and the talent show will start at 7:00. For more information you can call the school at 796-2288.They always have a great show with lots of different acts.

   Birthdays: Nov. 10: Dustin Harris; Nov. 11: Derek Hartzell; Nov. 12: Barbara Fuller, Doris Manes, Ryan Melton, Chauncey Paul, Vicky Rogers; Nov. 13: Kirk Pollard, Larry Thomas, Johnny Whitaker; Nov. 14: Jan Scantlin; Nov. 15: Marilyn Albright, Robbie Combs; Nov. 16: Bill Austin, Jason Crouch, Donna Grigg, Josh Howie.

   Anniversaries: Nov. 14: Avriel and Lois Patterson; Nov. 16; Ray and Bonnie Hurst.

News For the Week of November 1, 2011

   The fall colors of the timber have been absolutely spectacular this year. There was one or two days when they were at the peak of color. I was driving home from work last Wednesday and they were just so brightly colored and beautiful it was hard to concentrate on driving so I had to stop several times to just look at all the colors. There were so many pretty colors, orange, red, dark red, rust, yellow, school bus yellow, bronze, brown, green and everything in between.

   They are still beautiful now, but time has already muted the colors some and the rain and wind we got last week stripped a lot of the trees of their leaves. The trees in my yard have hardly turned colors yet, they are mostly still green, but it is just a matter of time, of course.

   Billy Beasley is home on leave for a while after completing basic training. He will be stationed in Colorado when he goes back.

   New Mansion Church will be having it’s annual Chili Feed/Garage Sale on Nov. 12 and also on Nov. 19 to coincide with deer season. It is on a donation basis and all proceeds will go to the Youth Fund to help with VBS and youth outreach.

   Bob and I got to attend Saturday night of the Fifth Sunday Meeting at Sandy Church which went last Wednesday through Sunday night. We had a wonderful time worshipping with the members of Sandy Church and several from other churches. Frances Humbyrd brought the message Saturday night and there was lots of wonderful singing and specials.

    Bradleyville School will be recognizing the veterans again this year on Veteran’s Day. Everybody is welcome to attend and join to honor our veterans.

   If you have anything you would like included in the paper you can call me at 796-2651 or e-mail me at karencase.55@gmail.com and don’t forget the dot between my name and the numbers or it won’t work.
   I included the anniversary of Burl and Helen Maggard in the paper last week but I neglected to mention that they have been married 61 years on Oct. 28. They are a very special couple who are loved very much by our church and in our community.

     Birthdays: Nov. 3: Nicole Combs, Vernon  Fuller; Nov. 4: Gina Norwine, Stacey Phillips, Dusty Rogers; Nov. 5: Talitha Boyd, Jerry Brown, Colton Burton, Julie Lawson; Nov. 6: Madison Hall, Autumn Thomas; Nov. 7: Levi Collins, Tommy Roberts; Nov. 8: Paula O’Neal; Nov. 9: Linda Gailey.

   Anniversaries: Nov. 4: Greg and Amy Blair, Danny and Jennifer Flannery; Nov. 5: Randy and Belinda Wyman; Nov. 8: Joe and Nadine Horner.