Please remember these Santa Anna folks that are serving our country in military combat, training, or support: Maricela (Marty) Siller, Clay Hubbard, Eddie Dawson, Ike Garza, James Watson, Austin Voss, Randy Casey, Mike Montgomery II, Mark Rutherford, Allen Tucker, James Culpepper, and Shane Watson.
The Front Page
The Risk is Real - Serving our Country
Remembering those that have served and those that are serving our country.
You know sometimes it doesn't hit you until it is personal.
1544 American soldiers or sailors have died in Operation Enduring Freedom as reported by the Department of Defense and the Iraq Coalition Casualty Count. Pray for our country, its' leaders, and our soldiers and sailors.Please remember the many serving as volunteers for various groups and those that may be working for the media or one of the many Department of Defense contractors that have employees in support roles in Iraq including Santa Anna's Jason Dane. These folks are serving an important part in the rebuilding of Iraq and the danger is just as great if not more for them as it is for soldiers.
The Iraq Coalition Casualty Count has also tracked the deaths of 78 American contractors working in Iraq so the risk is real.
Many service men and women return home safely. Operation Tribute to Freedom Homecoming Photographs.
District Track Meet
Cindy and I took a day of vacation to go to the District Track Meet in Water Valley Thursday.
I am wind blown, sun burned, pissed off, and tired so it is probably just as well that I leave it at that.
There are a few photos in the District Track Photo Album on the Sports Page.
Have a good Friday!
This Week's Upcoming School Events
Monday will see the start of Junior High Girls Volleyball with a double header against Bangs and Ranger in Bangs.
Thursday is High School District Track in Water Valley.
Saturday will be Area One-Act Play in Brownwood.
Check out the Santa Anna ISD's website for more school activity information.
UIL Academic Meet Results
Special thanks to Katrina Guerrero for sending me the results from the District 15-A UIL Academic Meet held last Friday in Santa Anna.
The Santa Anna Academic Teams placed 2nd overall to Water Valley and in each category as follows: Cross Examination - 3rd, Journalism - 2nd, Social Studies - 1st, Spelling and Vocabulary - 1st.
Individuals results: Feature Writing - 1st Amanda Moreno, Headline Writing - 4th Shawna Brewster, Lincoln Douglas Debate - 2nd Jesse Hensley, News Writing - 2nd Amanda Moreno, News Writing - 5th James Singleton, Poetry Interpretation - 3rd JeLisa Kirven, Social Studies - 1st Patrick Kerr, Spelling and Vocabulary - 1st Shawna Brewster, Spelling and Vocabulary - 6th Jesse Hensley.
Santa Anna High School OAP Advances to Area Contest
The play from Santa Anna along with the play from Bronte will be advancing to the Area One Act Play Contest on Saturday April 9th beginning at 2:00. The Santa Anna Play will be the fourth play out of six, I think, so it would be a good idea to come before 4:30 if you want to be sure and see the play. Contest rules will apply throughout the performances with no one entering or leaving the auditorium during a performance so be sure and come early or you won't be allowed to enter the auditorium. Young children, cameras, cell phones, and pagers are also not allowed during a performance.
This year's Santa Anna OAP performance is titled "Livin' De Life" by Ed Graczyk and is set in the past at the Briar Patch and the Creepy Crawly Forest. The Cast of Characters in order of appearance is Tasha Zarate as Brer Tarrypin, Rudy Enriquez as Brer Coon, Jessica Pelton as Brer Rabbit, Raelee Watson as Brer Fox, James Singleton as Brer Bear, JeLisa Kirven - Aunt Mammy-Bammy, Michelle Wetsel as Miss Meadows, Mayra Dean as Sis Buzzard, and LeaAnda Bennett as Miss Goose. The crew is made up of Jessica Bennett - Alternate, Bianca Dean, Kendra Cannon, Kristle DeLeon, and Becca Fellers. This year's play is directed by Kathy Walker with assistance from Amanda Ellerbe and Orabeth McIver.
New Water Tank
It looks like the construction is nearing completion on the new City Water tank.
AEP Construction
Construction also continues on the AEP grid upgrade between Santa Anna and Bangs.
Silent Giants wait for the Juice
They are over half way to town from the County Line
Old wood line posts were getting in pretty bad shape on some of the poles
Some landowners get new gate posts and gates along with a load of large crushed rock.
One of my Co-Workers, Terry Thompson of Goldthwaite, a transplanted Coleman Bluecat, took these pictures of the work going on the other day as he came through town.
He took some nice Bluebonnet shots.
And of the Longhorns West of town towards Coleman
Accident
I understand that the older two sons of Rusty and Alice Buzzard, Austin and Bronson, were seriously injured in an auto accident on the way to school Tuesday morning. The accident occurred at the intersection of HWY 84 and Santa Anna Avenue just East of Coleman.
The collision apparently occurred when the boys were turning left off of HWY 84 on to Santa Anna Avenue and their vehicle was struck by a vehicle driven by Paula Anderson of Coleman and an employee of Santa Anna National Bank. Paula was treated and released from the Coleman Hospital but the boys were stabilized and transferred by Care Flight to Shannon Hospital in San Angelo where they were last reported to be in Intensive Care and doing OK.
Although I didn't get to talk to her today, our daughter Chrystal is working in the Shannon ICU this week but I am pretty sure that she can't give me any information about their condition but I have heard they were OK and talking.
Please remember Paula, Austin, and Bronson in your prayers and we hope that they recover soon.
A Little Rambling
I know that some of you enjoy my rambling but it is really when I don't have anything else better to say! For what it is worth..
Cindy and I missed the wine tasting at Sunnie's last week. It is all her fault because she knows about these things and holds out on me. She probably had me digging or mowing.. I guess I have to take some of the blame because I saw all the cars downtown but forgot to ask her about it when I got home and by the time I did it was too late.
This is, I believe, the third tasting that they have had and I heard that this was the best yet as far as turn out.
They are sampling and selling Texas wines and it is quickly becoming an event.
Some say that we need to have something in the downtown area once or twice every month.
It doesn't have to be a major all out show or anything.. just the business's staying open late and having a little something special.
Like the carolers before Christmas.. how about some pickers out on the sidewalk? Or maybe a Cowboy poet? I know that some of the business owners have some pretty good imaginations and like to have fun too. So what do you say? SantaAnnnNews.com is certainly willing to help. Try it. It works. Best of all it is free - news@santaannanews.com.
Santa Anna National Bank Gets Facelift
I was in the bank the other day on one of my days off for One Act Play and got to see some of the destruction going on at the bank.
Bank President Eddie Hedges showed me some of the plans and such for the Bank as it is getting a much needed facelift.
The Bank, established in 1933, is the oldest business in town since the Warnock's closed the Santa Anna News. Speaking of the Warnock's I saw Mr. Warnock at the Shoppin' Baskit a few weeks ago and he said that Mrs. Warnock is doing OK when I asked about her. It had been quite a while since I saw them. It has also been a few years since the bank was remodeled and added on the offices and community room on the East side.
The bank will take on a new look soon, especially in the lobby area, as the teller windows are moved back and the marble is replaced and a new tile floor is put in. The brass bars will be polished and restored as the rest of the lobby gets a more modern look.
It won't be all cosmetic though, as a new two lane drive through and parking area will be added on the North side of the building. There will also be an awning around the corner of the bank over the entrances.
I will try to keep you posted on the construction as it progresses.
Weather and Time Change
I just love this time of year when the time changes!
As the Winter turns to Spring, the baby lambs, kids, calves, and colts appear running and playing in the fields as their mama's graze on the fresh green grass.
The trees are in full bloom.. not sure about the mesquites yet but the pecans are sure sprouting out as my stopped up head tells me that Spring has sprung!
Having to drive an hour to work one way and then again back home doesn't leave much daylight after a day's work, especially during the Winter.
The weather was very nice this past weekend for working or playing outside. The longer evenings sure make it a lot more enjoyable to be outside working in the yard and enjoying the outdoors.
Cindy and I spent most of the weekend outside working on some new steps on our back porch and a couple of new flower beds in the backyard.
I think she is trying to kill me though!
I am sunburned, wore out, and every muscle in my body is screaming for help.. even my fingers as I type!
Like I said, "I just love this time of year!
I will try to show you some pictures of them once things start growing if you care.
As far as SantaAnnaNews.com goes, my time spent on it will be cut into a little so I will be depending on you, the readers, to help out a lot!
You might be from Santa Anna if..(and followups)
You might be from Santa Anna if.. you or a member of your family ever dated anyone from Whon, Trickham, or Rockwood. Submitted by Mike Hartman.
I am pretty sure that my sisters and I never dated anyone from Whon, Trickham, or Rockwood but I am not sure about Mike and his brother.. at least that we can talk about today!
The Rutherford girls from Rockwood were all older than me and I don't remember any others from Whon or Trickham around my age but maybe some of you can.
Adding to this list with some help from my friends in low places.. add to our list Jeff and Cindy Greenlee, some Yancys, and how could I forget all the Fellers and Coyles!
We sure can't forget.. well I guess we can because I sure did!.. about the Martins, Dockerys, and Guthries from Trickham.. and I am sure there are many more.
I am not sure if it is me getting old and forgetful or those folks from Rockwood, Trickham, and Whon being just as much Santa Anna folks as the rest of us I guess I just forgot about these.
Thanks to all those that helped me out here!
I wonder..
Whatever happened to..?
.. Cindy Greenlee and her little brother, Jeff?
Well I am not real sure where Cindy Greenlee is these days. She used to come in the station every once in a while and let me service her car while she visited her Grandmother that lived in the apartments behind my station. She had a handsome little son that I am sure is all grown up now.
The last I heard from her brother and my old classmate, Jeff, he was in the Dallas - Fort Worth area and rodeoing on the side. That has been several years ago also so I would imagine that he has retired from the bronc and bull riding by now.
Cindy and Jeff are the children of long time Santa Anna Elementary School teacher Sharon Greenlee and her husband Charles, a rancher in South Coleman County.
Whatever happened to..? - Update
Tuesday I heard from Sharon Greenlee and she tells me that Cindy is now Cindy Greenlee Zuzu and lives in Fort Worth. She has taught high school students business classes. Right now she is a stay-at-home mom to two little girls, Alyssa (7) and Christina (3). Her husband works for Southwest Airlines. Her son, Jason, is 25 years old. He is married to Kristin. She is finishing her teaching degree for ART and he just graduated from North Texas in accounting. He is working in Grapevine for an accountant.
Jeff and Anna live in Amarillo and they are just building a new house. They have a son (9) and a daughter (11). Jeff has been a firefighter for 11 years now. He just made captain last year. His wife is a stay at home mom too.
It is nice to hear about Cindy and Jeff and it sounds like they are doing well.
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