News For the Week of May 8, 2013

We didn't get much snow in the latest snowstorm, but it did snow off and on for those few days. I saw a newsclip on TV that showed somebody's hummingbird feeder covered in snow with the hummers zipping around in the falling snow, feeding as usual. It didn't seem to bother them much, and I know the weather didn't seem to bother them around mine either, they increased in number almost every day. I had at least ten or twelve humming all over the place during the snow and rain.

It was a good day at the Bradleyville Walk/Run last Saturday, even though the temperatures were low. It didn't seem that cold to me but I don't know if it was because the wind wasn't blowing, because I had 4 layers of shirts on, or because I decided at the last moment to walk the mile instead of just watching. Maybe all that had something to do with the reason I broke into a sweat. Going up that last hill on the mile walk is a killer. I don't walk much because I am missing some of the cartilage in one of my knees and the tendons are kind of weak also, but decided I could walk that far. I did, and I think it would make me feel better if I did that every day. Plus it might make me lose some weight, which I need to do very much.

I won't try to remember and list all the winners of the walk/run here because I would probably forget someone and I am sure they are probably listed elsewhere in the paper. There was a nice crowd there in spite of the cold damp weather.

Jeff and Cindy Marsh spent last week in Louisiana while Jeff was taking some workshops in Shreveport, and Cindy posted pictures on facebook of Jeff standing under a sign that said Duck Commander and under that it said Buck Commander. I am one of the few people in the world that has never watched Duck Dynasty, so I am not sure what I was looking at, but Cindy and Jeff said they had a good time.

Scott Lawson will be graduating from tech school in Wichita Falls this week and traveling to Whiteman AFB in Missouri for a couple of months. He will be able to come home on the weekends now so we are all excited about that. Garrett will love having Daddy home with him and Julie will love being able to see Scott more even though she is still in the hospital.

Graduation for the Bradleyville seniors and 8^th graders will be held on Saturday, May 11 at 7:00 p.m. Our granddaughter, Danielle Crouch will be among the graduating seniors this year. The seniors will be leaving after granduation to go on their senior trip to Panama Beach, Florida. I hope they all have a blast and stay safe.

If anybody has any news they would like included in the paper, please contact me. My phone number is 796-2651 or e-mail me at karencase.55@gmail.com .

Birthdays for the coming week include: May 9: Matt Hartzell; May 10: Russ Hunt, Carlie Schultz; May 11: Braden Potter, Landon Potter, J.D. Gillespie; May 12: Brad Chaney; May 14: Glen Maggard; May 15: Danielle Crouch.

Anniversaries for the coming week include: May 12: Mark and Kristi Smith; May 14: Jeff and Cindy Marsh; May 15: Exie and Jessie Case.

News For the Week of May 1, 2013

The weather is so topsy turvy I wondered if I would see a hummingbird before June, but of course they know when to come back and don't pay attention to my calendar. I wonder if any of you are seeing hummingbirds yet. I finally saw one Monday morning and had to go out and gather up my feeders and bring them in and wash and bleach them good. I hung up two of them and guess we'll see how busy they get.

I really am needing to mow my yard too. It is getting pretty high and I am way behind on that and mowing the cemetery. Our lawn mower needed an oil change, new blades and the deck leveled and we haven't had time to do anything to it. Bob has been so busy working and we've gone to see Julie in the hospital every day so he took it back to the dealer to get it serviced. Now I was wondering out loud the other day why we didn't do that at the end of summer last year, or during the long cold winter when we didn't need to mow at all. I guess that's just the way we do things.

The dogwoods are in full bloom and so pretty. They remind me every year that my brother, Steve Sloan and his wife Alice was married this time of year and so was my Grandma and Grandpa Richardson. They are all gone now but it's a nice memory to associate with the dogwood trees.

I was talking to Connie Haes at church Sunday and she mentioned that the Caney-Roberts Cemetery will have it's Decoration Day on Sunday, May 5. She said there would be a dinner at noon and a business meeting to follow.

There will be a Baccalaureate service May 8 at Bradleyville School for the graduates. Everyone is welcome to attend. I do not have any information at this time about who is speaking but if you would like more information about it you can get in touch with Pastor Jack Clemans of Bradleyville General Baptist Church.

Talked to a minute with Pete and Novella Knight of Washington State on Monday. Novella said she is in a wheelchair now but still going strong and Pete sounded strong as ever and was curious about families he knew from here. Pete and Novella will be celebrating their 73^rdanniversary on May 3. That is something to talk about. When the whole world is focused on bad news and such bad things are happening all over the world, I know it should be reported on, but I also think the happy and good things should be reported also. Congratulations to Pete and Novella on their anniversary.

Birthdays: May 2: Nicole Hunsaker; May 3: Bill Birdsong, Cindy Clark, Marnita Hughey, Kim Scott; May 4: Brady Rogers; May 5: Jan Clark; May 8: Brenda Boyd, Deanna Badovinatz.

Anniversaries: May 3: Kevin and Robyn Tweedy, Pete and Novella Knight; May 6: Mike and Nicole Hunsaker.

News For the Week of April 24, 2013

It was a good day at church Sunday with a good sized crowd. I had missed the last two Sundays and it was so good to be back. The first Sunday I was in Texas with Julie to see Scott and last Sunday I was at the hospital with Julie.

Julie is still in the hospital and probably will stay there until she has the babies, which they want to postpone as long as possible. She continues to have very mild, irregular contractions but she is doing what she is supposed to and is still on bedrest and being monitored. Garrett gets to visit everyday and we seem to be getting into a routine.

I got to see David and Melanie Robertson's new baby boy, Zane while at church Sunday. Grandma Connie Haes sure was proud of him, and I understand completely, he is a big boy and is absolutely a cutie.

Lois Lux is now a proud grandmother of a beautiful new granddaughter. Lois has six grandsons and this past Saturday morning, April 20, her son Tucker and wife Lori had a baby girl. The baby's name is Noelle Helena Lux and weighed 8 lb. 11 oz. Noelle has two older brothers, Elliot and Ira. Lois said that Noelle is the first girl in the Lux family in 42 years. Lois' daughter, Kim was the last girl born in the Lux family. Tucker and Lori and family live in Ohio, so Grandma Lois has had her plane tickets for awhile now to go visit the newest member of the Lux family. Noelle was also born on her Uncle Tanner's birthday. Congratulations to all.

Nathaniel and Rachel (Mitchell) Graham are the proud parents of a baby boy named Jaden Russell Graham, born on Wednesday, April 17. Jaden weighed 7 lbs. 13 oz. I saw pictures on facebook and he was adorable.

Congratulations to Kyle and Kassidi Laughlin who were married last Friday evening, April 19 at New Mansion Church. Kyle's best man was his brother Jessi Laughlin and Christian Kallstrom served as maid of honor for Kassidi. Pastor Jeff Marsh officiated at the ceremony.

Roger Wrisberg brought the message last Sunday morning at Hercules Church and I have heard from several that he did a wonderful job. Roger taught school at Bradleyville for many years. Three of my kids had him for a teacher and they all loved him. He definitely has a gift of communicating with people.

The Bradleyville baseball and softball teams have been having a few games along but I don't have any details. I am having trouble keeping up with them. I hope to get to see a few before the season is over. Bradleyville has a new ballfield right behind the school that they are using this year. I love softball and baseball and really enjoy seeing the kids play. If you are interested in seeing a game you can call the school for details.

Birthdays for the coming week include: April 25: Gayle Blair, Debbie Combs, Jesse Pollard; April 26: Austin Adams, Mitch Cummings; April 27: Sam Clemans, Jerilyn Day, T.J. Day; April 28: Andy Adams; April 29: Randy Adams; May 1: Echo Combs.

Anniversaries for the coming week: April 28: Bobby and Elsie Combs, Tom and Kathy Tilley; April 29: Denzil and Lila Roberts.

News For the Week of April 17, 2013

I got twenty five strawberry plants set out over the weekend. As usual I had put the cart before the horse and ordered the plants before I had anywhere prepared to plant them. I rounded up several old tin washtubs that I have used for flower planters and got some good soil in them and planted. I have had the plants for a couple of weeks and I was afraid half of them would be dead, but all twenty five were alive and putting out shoots and leaves, so I am dreaming of my own fresh strawberries and maybe some jam somewhere in the future.

I also found a plastic bag with peony roots in it that I had bought way back when they first put them out. They didn't look as good as the strawberry plants but I planted them anyway so we'll see if they sprout. The rest of my peonies are already a foot tall. I can't believe how fast everything grows with just a few days of warmer weather.

Our heartfelt sympathy goes out to the family and friends of Bill Hurst who passed away last Saturday. He was family, and he was Bob's coon hunting buddy for many years. I never saw Bill without a big smile on his face. I know he will be sorely missed by everyone who knew him.

I missed writing the news items the last couple of weeks. Last week Julie, Garrett and I were in Wichita Falls, Texas, visiting Scott where he is in Tech School at Sheppard AFB. He will be there another month then will transfer to Whiteman AFB in Missouri for another two months before he comes home. We had a wonderful time and got to take Garrett to a railroad museum. They had several different styles of engines and railroad cars. I think our favorite was the old black engine that looked like it came right out of a western movie. Garrett was very excited to get to see and walk on the choo choos.

After we returned home Julie went to her regular doctor appointment and was promptly put in the hospital due to complications with her pregnancy and is in the perinatal intensive care unit at Cox in Springfield. She will probably have to stay for the remainder of her pregnancy, which would normally be around twelve more weeks if she doesn't have the babies earlier. Please remember this little family in your prayers.

Bradleyville High School held Junior-Senior Prom last Friday night at the Hilton Hotel in Branson. Granddaughter Danielle Crouch came by the house before she left for prom and I got to take some pictures of her. Of course I thought she was absolutely beautiful in her prom dress. I saw pictures of several more beautiful girls and handsome guys on facebook. It looked like everyone had a fantastic time.

Birthdays for the coming week include: April 19: MacKenzie Gilbert, Matthew Maggard, Savannah Norwine, Waylon Stafford; April 20: Tanner Lux; April 21: Kelsey Horner; April 22: Braydon Maggard, April 23: Misty Harmon; April 24: Bradley Combs, Courtney Laughlin.

Anniversaries for the coming week include: April 23: Mac and Hester McBratney; April 24: Sam and Nona Norwine.

News For the Week of April 3, 2013

I hope everyone had as good an Easter Sunday as our family did. The weather was perfect after a few rain showers early Sunday morning and the day was spent at church Sunday morning and at home the rest of the day with our family and some friends. Garrett had a good time hunting eggs while his older cousins hid them for him.

New Mansion had a big crowd for Easter Sunday. The kids got to enjoy an egg hunt at noon, after services were over. New Mansion will be holding the Easter Passion Play on April 6-7 that got postponed from a week or so ago because of the nasty weather, free and everyone is welcome, with refreshments afterward.

Congratulations to Wendy (Silvey) Cash on the birth of her twin girls, Laramie and Mesa. They both weighed over 5 pounds but I'm not sure exactly how much. I saw a picture of them on facebook and of course, they look a lot like their mommy and are adorable.

Birthdays for the coming week include: April 4: Josh Isaacs, Scott Lawson, Dawson McHaffie, Sawyer McHaffie; April 5: Tampa Rogers, Kelvin Whittaker; April 6: Nick Norwine, Samantha Rogers; April 7: Kayla Day, Jackie Hall, Bridgette Storts; April 9: Tyler Hankins; April 10: Shirley Hall, Sharon Maggard, Beverly Smith.

Anniversaries for the coming week include: April 5: Buddy and Kathy Compton; April 6: Don and Robyn Whittaker.