News For the Week of January 18, 2012

  I feel like we’ve been blown into Kansas with the way the wind continues to blow. Maybe it will be all blown out by March, who knows? It sure dries out the ground and I know Bob and the rest of the guys that work outdoors probably like that. Being stuck in the mud isn’t fun and it usually damages more than you can accomplish.

    Our sympathy goes to the family of Wanda Maggard who passed away last Thursday, Jan. 12. She was a very sweet lady. She and her late husband Rex lived here at Bradleyville or in the area all the time I knew them. Our little place and their farm joined and we lived beside them for three years before we bought their farm in 1977 and Bob was neighbors with them since he was a boy. Bob will always remember Wanda baking pies out of cushaw squash for him when he was a kid and he loved them.

    Sympathy is also extended to the family of Garland Morgan, who also passed away last Thursday. Garland was well known in the Bradleyville area, and also lived most of his life in the Bradleyville area. Garland was extremely proud of serving his country in the military during WWII and liked to talk about his service. He received several medals during his time of service which he proudly displayed. Along with hundreds of other people of my generation I knew Garland best as the custodian at Bradleyville School. He kept the school shining and went above and beyond duty. Many winter nights he stayed overnight at school to keep the boiler operating so the school would stay heated. He always had a smile and a kind word.

     Alva and Edna Johnson had their 65^th anniversary on January 16. They celebrated with their children and grandchildren over the weekend with a large anniversary cake and assorted dishes. I saw the pictures on facebook and couldn’t neglect to mention it. I had their anniversary date in last week’s paper but didn’t know how many years. That is an awesome blessing.

    Bob Hammons and his daughter Laura were nominated for several awards at the SPBGMA and came home with Male Vocalist of the year, Female Vocalist of the year and Gospel Group of the Year. Their group, Bob Hammons and Wildwood consist of Bob, his daughter, Laura Pilant and Roger Mitcham. If you ever get a chance to hear them you will be blessed.  Congratulations on those awards and congratulations to all who were nominated or won awards.

    Ballgames continue for the next week and include a girl’s game at home with Greenwood on Tuesday, January 17, and a boy’s game at home with Fordland on Thursday, January 19. Both the boys and girls have a game at home with Lutie on Friday, January 20. The kids are playing hard but haven’t had much success this year. Please come out and support the teams.

    The pee wee team has games going on too, but since I don’t have anybody playing on the pee wee team I have neglected to know when their games are. I will get more information in the future, or you can always call the school at 796-2288. A few weeks ago I inadvertently put my own phone number in the paper as the school’s number. I didn’t get any calls about any school business, so I guess it’s all good.

    Birthdays: Jan. 19: Jess Cook, Tucker Lux, Emma Marsh, Donetta Terry; Jan. 20: Riley Combs, Gene Pool; Jan. 22: Megan Howie; Jan. 23: Ann Blair, Jason Haden, Jackie Hodges, Greg Robertson, Kellie Stafford; Jan. 24: Jonathan Blakey, LaDonna Johnson, Trinity Hunsaker, Maya Saffle; Jan. 25: Emmett Dalton, Sherry Day, Linda Wiggins.

    Anniversaries: Jan. 21: Lee and Sue Bettis; Jan. 23: Rod and LaDonna Johnson.

News For the Week of January 9, 2012

   It is still pretty nice weather for January; it was so pleasant a few days I could almost imagine it was spring. I don’t think I was alone because the smell of burning leaves was strong in the air. We used to burn leaves but anymore I just rake the leaves up or mow over them and let them compost, and use the compost in my garden and flower beds.

   I know some are wishing for snow, but I think there are probably more out there like me who don’t want any. I like to watch it snow, if it would just melt before it covers the ground I would like it better. Kayla Combs told me once that she likes to drive in the snow and she likes to make the first tracks. And there are those who maybe don’t especially like it, but it doesn’t bother them but I am not one of them. I’ve lived this long without driving in it much, and I don’t expect that to change.

   Congratulations to Kambria Todd on getting a big doe in the January youth season. It looked huge in the picture I saw on facebook.

   Congratulations to Aubrey Rogers and Shon Raney who will be getting married at New Mansion Church this Saturday morning, January 14 at 11am. Aubrey and Shon will be living in Louisiana after they are married, where Shon is in the military.

   SPBGMA is the acronym for “Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music in America.”  The Midwest convention and awards ceremony will be held January 13-14-15 in Jefferson City. This area has some nominees for some of the awards.

   Bob Hammons was born and raised and lives in the Bradleyville area. His group, Bob Hammons and Wildwood are nominated for Bluegrass Gospel Group of the Year and also for Vocal Group of the Year. They are also nominated for Bluegrass Album of the Year. In addition to these nominations, Bob Hammons is nominated for Male Vocalist of the Year and Songwriter of the Year, and his daughter, Laura Pilant is nominated for Female Vocalist of the Year.

   Another Bradleyville area man, Greg Potter is also nominated for Songwriter of the Year. Greg and his wife Lisa and three boys have lived in Bradleyville for several years and attend church at New Mansion Church. Congratulations to all the nominees and hope you bring home the awards, but your music will still be enjoyed either way.

   Julie and Scott Lawson still have the dog at their house that was on DD Highway for a while. If it is your dog they are more than happy for you to come and claim it and take it home. It is a very cute and friendly dog, a little on the large side, maybe the size of a hound. It is mostly white with large light brown spots and a spot around one of its eyes. It has a blue collar if that helps identify it as your dog.

    The boys had an unsuccessful run in the Seymour tournament and the girls had a similar outcome in the Sparta tournament, but both teams will continue on with games this week. The girls have a game at home with Gainesville on Thursday, January 12, and the boys will play Mansfield at home on Friday, January 13. The girls will play at home again on Tuesday, January 17 against Greenwood.

   Birthdays: Jan. 12: Martie Boyd, Denise Flanigan, Everett Sartin; Jan. 14: Kaitlynn Hunsaker, Corey Ridings; Jan. 15: Linda Black, Jim Crouch, Manny Nelson; Jan. 17: Kim Compton, Edie Puckett, Candy Schreier, Robyn Tweedy; Jan. 18: Sue Bettis, Carla Braden, Marlana Bryne, Brad Hodges, Brittany Lumley.

    Anniversaries: Jan. 16: Alva and Edna Mae Johnson, Brenton and April Whittaker.

News for the Week of January 1, 2012

   Sorry I haven’t gotten any news in the paper for a couple of weeks. I was just plain lazy and busy at the same time if that is possible, and didn’t make the time to sit down and write anything. Maybe it had to do with priorities. It got extremely busy at our house the week before and after Christmas with shopping, company and family gatherings. I am a world class procrastinator and didn’t start my Christmas shopping until the week before Christmas, actually the Thursday before. I had ordered a couple of things online, but hadn’t done anything else. I enjoy the Christmas season a lot, but braving the stores a few days before Christmas can be brutal and takes a lot of endurance and determination. I am still strong on determination, but the endurance is waning. I think next year I will have to make myself shop earlier or do most of it online.

   Every day is closer to spring, and every day that is mild is one more day we don’t have bad weather. As I have grown older I have learned to appreciate every day the Lord has given us and I try not to take any day for granted. I do appreciate every day but I enjoy the warmer weather more. I love the first day of winter, not because it is winter but I know the days are now the shortest they will be all year and in a week or so they will start gaining a minute or two of more daylight every day until late in June. I am thankful for the mild weather we are having so far. I hope it lasts but the fact that we live where we do tells me it will change, probably sooner than later.  I have noticed through the years that the second week in January always seems to have snow, ice or some kind of exciting weather.

   Corby and Lisa Lux had all of the Lux family at their house for Christmas. They had a nice surprise when Corby’s dad, Eldon, flew in to Branson from his home in Florida to celebrate Christmas with them. Corby’s sister, Kim was in on the surprise and made the trip to Branson to “pick up a few things” and brought her dad home with her. I saw pictures on facebook and it looked like everyone had a ball.

   Nicole and Charlie Spear had a wonderful New Year’s Eve in Bradleyville with Nicole’s grandmother, Lucy Dennis.

   A very good message at New Mansion Church last Sunday, brought by Jeff D. Marsh. He encouraged us all to set spiritual goals for the next year whether it was reading our Bible more, being a better witness, walking closer with God or whatever goal we felt we needed to work on. I have my list on my refrigerator, not my mirror, not a big surprise, huh Jeff D.?

   Basketball has started back with the new year and the boys are in the Seymour tournament this week while the girls are in the Sparta tournament. Next week on Monday, Jan. 9 both the boys and girls will have a game with New Covenant at home. On Thursday, Jan. 12 the girls will travel to Gainesville and on Friday, Jan. 13 the boys will have a game at Mansfield.

   Please call me at 796-2651 or e-mail me at karencase.55@gmail.com if you have any news you would like included in the paper. 

   Dot Combs let me know that the Getaway Gift Shop will only be open on Fridays from Dec 23rd thru March 5th, 2012.  She also said that if you need any of the products that the shop sells you can use the web site www.GetawayGiftShop.com or call and leave message at 417-796-2500.

   Birthdays: Jan. 4: Grace Coffer, Ritchie Horner, Lindsay Marsh, Jeannie Whittaker; Jan. 5: Stephen Beeler, Stacey Clemans, Beverly Johnson, Gregg Johnson; Jan. 7: Scott Pollard, Kayla Van Winsen; Jan. 8: Leona Hunsaker, Barbara Casey, Abby Brumfield, Darla Day, J.D. Day, Gale Osburn; Jan. 11: Greg Blair, Bill Dalton, Peggy Krause.

   Anniversaries: Jan. 4: Bob and Gina Smith; Jan. 6: Aaron and Sara Blair.