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.
Please remember these Santa Anna folks that are serving our country in military combat, training, or support: Maricela (Marty) Siller, Clay Stewardson, Eddie Dawson, Ike Garza, James Watson, Austin Voss, Randy Casey, Mike Montgomery II, Mark Rutherford, Allen Tucker, James Culpepper, Shane Watson, Brandon Beloat, Glen Donham, and Jeffrey Watson.
1862 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 91 American contractors working in Iraq so the risk is real.
Many service men and women return home safely. Operation Tribute to Freedom Homecoming Photographs.
We must never forget the sacrifices of men and women serving our country from all generations. Tex Wright recently sent me this information:
The Coleman County Historical Commission has started work on a new project.
Since this year is the 60th anniversary of the end of WWII, we (Texas Historical Commission statewide) have started a project to honor the ones who served.
We (I) have set up a Web Page to keep people posted on what is being done and to ask for their help in remembering those Men and Women.
The Web Page is:Coleman County Historical Comm.
WW2 Commemorative Activities
Don't Forget!
52nd Annual Meeting of Coleman County Telephone Cooperative
The 52nd Annual Meeting of the members of Coleman County Telephone Cooperative, Inc. will be held on Friday, August 19, 2005 at the Santa Anna Civic Center (armory), located at 303 S. Houston in Santa Anna. Registration and voting will begin at 6:00 P.M., followed by the business meeting at 7:00 P.M.
All attending members will receive door prizes as they register, and will also be eligible for other prizes to be awarded during the drawing to be held at the conclusion of the business meeting. Children will also be eligible for special prizes.
The agenda for the meeting includes a report of officers and the annual financial report, along with the presentation of three $1,000 Tom Kingsbery Memorial Scholarships and the election of two directors of the Cooperative.
The two Board members to be elected will represent Santa Anna and Santa Anna Rural (North). Candidates for the Santa Anna position are incumbent, Stanley Hartman and Lois Ann Harper. The nominees for the Santa Anna Rural (North) area are Rodney W. (Roddy) Dean and Jeff Jacobs. The Cooperative would like to remind all members that it does not matter which exchange you live in, you should vote each year for the candidates of your choice.
Those currently serving on the Board are President, Jerry Allen, Vice-President, Stanley Hartman, Secretary, Thomas Rutherford, and other board members Barbara Kingsbery Jones, Glenda Gassiot and Rickey Adams. The manager of Coleman County Telephone Cooperative, Inc., Michael Walton, and the Board of Directors encourage all members to attend the Annual Meeting.
2005 Meet the Mountaineer
Well I let Meet the Mountaineer slip up on me and forgot to announce it this week.
I knew it was coming but for some reason I thought it was a little later.
There was a little lighter crowd than what I thought we have had this past couple of years. Maybe because it was after a scrimmage.. or maybe it always has been..
Light Crowd
I arrived a little late to see much of the scrimmage with Blackwell and didn't hear how they did. These guys have been playing six man football since they were in high school so they should have an idea about how to play by now. They are in a very tough district and hopefully the second year for Coach Fields will allow his team to gain some respect as far as sportsmanship is concerned. Coach Fields has certainly proven that is the kind of program that he is running despite the reputation that he inherited with the team last year. He has great things to say about this year's team too. He describes them as a throwback team that reminds him of when he was in school. The players show him a lot of respect, they don't miss practice and work real hard. With a lot of hard work and a little luck this may be a year for the Mountaineers.
This may be the year for the Lady Mountaineers too as they return a strong class of Senior girls to Volleyball and Basketball. This being the second year for Coach Bob Libby, the Lady Mountaineers may be on the way to a successful year of athletics.
2005 Santa Anna Mountaineers
2005 Santa Anna Lady Mountaineer Varsity Volleyball
2005 Santa Anna Lady Mountaineer JV Volleyball
2005 Santa Anna Cheerleaders
Three Aces: Coach Bob Kerr, Coach Lloyd Fields, and Coach Arthur Ramos
The loudest spirit maker award to Dennis, aka "Crash", Absher
Lady Mountaineer Volleyball
Cindy and I made the trip to Albany early Thursday morning for the first and second rounds of the Albany volleyball tournament. We had the day off from work, but Cindy was recovering from a battle with tonsilitis.
I will save the details for Coach Libby on Monday, but the girls slept through the first game with Abilene Christian which started at 8AM. They lost the first two in the best two out of three to ACHS and went into the next round versus Moran in the early afternoon. They played the first game much better and the second string bench came out strong to finish off the ladies from Moran in the second game.
One new and exciting addition to Texas High School Volleyball this year is the use of a libero. Crossing over from college volleyball, the libero is a back-row player and is not allowed to complete an attack from anywhere if, at the moment of contact, the ball is entirely above the height of the net. Only one libero may be designated per game.
The libero:
when used, one must be designated on the lineup sheet prior to each game.
must enter game after starting lineup has been checked.
may exercise one replacement per dead ball.
must enter and exit game between the attack line and the baseline.
may be the team captain.
may be used as an exceptional substitution for an injured player if no other legal substitutes are available.
shall not replace a disqualified teammate.
shall not block or attempt to block.
shall not serve.
shall not set the ball using overhand finger action while in front of the attack line extended, for an attack above the height of the net.
Libero, Raelee Watson, puts one up
See the Sports Page for more photos in this week's photo albums including the Varsity and JV games versus Junction from earlier this week.
You might be from Santa Anna if.. and I wonder whatever happened to..? - Follow ups
One of my old school friends, David Kilcrease now of Godley Texas had written me what he had been doing for the last twenty years and recently he updated me about where and what he is doing these days:
James,
It occurs to me, I didn't tell you what’s going on now. My wife, the former Racheal Filina of Joshua Texas, (by way of Cleveland Ohio) have been married eight years. We have two children, Lily 6 and Heather 5 (can you tell I married a florist?) We live in Godley, halfway between Granbury and Cleburne, population 641. After living in DC, Memphis, San Diego and Norfolk, I couldn't wait to get back to a small town. It’s close to my dad, my mom passed in 2003. I work as a WDI (Wood Destroying Insect) Inspector. I found when I put my mind to it I'm not a bad student. I have AAS’s in Quality Engineering, Entomology and Professional Aviation and I'm considering getting an associate in Horticulture.. maybe one day I'll finish one.
He also sent me this story this week:
James,
A story in the newspaper here locally made me think back to my four years in Santa Anna.
The story was that four teen-aged boys were driving around in a small pick-up throwing 5, 7 and 10 pound weights out of the back. They through at signs, wooden fences and finally through a windshield of a car traveling in the opposite direction. The Car contained a single father a six year old girl and a six month old girl. The 10 pound weight hit the father in the face, he never regained consciousness. The mother had died in the birth of their youngest daughter. One of the boys had an attack of conscious and told the police.
This horrible story made me harking back to my own youth. I remember some of the things all of us did, it seemed wild at the time, but the worst thing I ever did was toilet paper the band teacher’s house. I have been in exactly two fights, no knives or guns, just one punch to Mark Combs over Gay Nell and a headlock to David Strickland. I don't remember the reason.
I live in a town of 614 people, we have three police officers, and I'm friends with all of them. The worst thing that’s happened here is two Teenagers stole a cow from the dairy on a bet. The city judge gave them 200 hours community service You guessed it, working at the dairy.
If being from a larger city means that fun includes damaged to person or property I'm fine right where I'm at.
You might be from Santa Anna if toilet papering a house is the biggest crime you've ever committed.
David, I think I might have been with you on that, maybe Halloween caper, or at least one pretty close to it. Ben Hill was the Band director and he lived across the street from his in-laws the Rolfes and our classmates, Lisa and Teresa Rolfe. We were wrapping Mr. Hill's house when Roy Rolfe came out of his house with his shotgun and fired it into the air. We all went running back towards the DeLeon's... Ernest DeLeon was with us along with a couple of others.. JR Salazar and Brad Wardlow I think were with us. We ran across Ernest's yard when all of the sudden everyone ducked and Brad being the tallest, I think he caught the clothes line in about his Adam's Apple and ended up flat on his back on the ground.
There was another time when we were wrapping Gay Nell Hosch's house on North Eighth Street, where Mayor Findley lives now. It might have been the same night, but anyhow there were several of us on the porch and the light came on. As we jumped off the porch one of us, I think it was Ernest this time caught a wire stretched across the end of the porch with similar consequences. I may have some details or people wrong but I am sure one of my friends will help me out with my failing memory. Oh for the good old days when I could remember what I had forgot!
Speaking of forgetting, I saw a bumper sticker on the way home from work this week that read something like, "Did you ever stop what you were doing.. and forget to start?"
Anyhow David, I know a pretty good lawyer from Snyder if we get into any trouble over this.. wait a minute I think he is a prosecutor!
I wonder.. whatever happened to Mark Combs?
I wonder whatever happened to..? - Follow up Part II
A few weeks ago my lawyer friend from Snyder, Mike Hartman and I wondered whatever happened to Casey Anderson. We heard from her brother, Joey, and this week I heard from Casey Anderson Litton herself and she had this to say:
I read your paper for the first time today. Wow, very reminiscent. I am in Austin, where I run an Assisted Living community. I used to be a nursing home administrator but the job required little personal life. As a divorced single mom, I really LIKE my personal life!
I guess I couldn't ask for more, my son Morgan (Mo) is in 7th grade and my daughter Johanna (Jo) is in 5th. I have become a homeowner and sometimes I wish for the return to a simple life of Santa Anna. Maybe someday.
Casey
I also got an e-mail from her Mom, Pam and she had this to say:
James-
I accidentally stumbled across your website - and it is great! Looks like you put a lot of "love and care" into your news. Also - since I don't hear much from home anymore, it is great to see and read about all the "goings on" in my hometown! I still miss Santa Anna (since I spent over forty years of my life there), but I love where I am living now. My husband, John and I have made our home in the country near La Grange, TX and it is a great part of the world to be in.
Here's hoping you continue with your fantastic news website. Tell Cindy hello. I still picture her as cutting my hair and talking about your beautiful babies - but it sounds like those babies of yours are all grown up. How time flies!
Pam
It was really great to hear from all of the Andersons and how they are doing these days.
Saint Willow Baptist Church Fundraisers
Saint Willow Baptist Church in Santa Anna, Tx located on the Brady Highway is trying to raise money to fix electrical wiring, new doors, and install New air conditioner units. There has been fundraisers set up for a few weeks now every Saturday to help raise the money.
Our goal is approximately $5000 and should help take care of everything needed to be done to the church. Last Saturday there was a snow cone/refreshments stand and the church also sold chili dogs and frito pie and raised about $200. This Saturday there will be a barbecue where they will be selling plate lunches for $5.00 a plate. Including barbecue, potato salad, and beans.
We would appreciate all the help we can get in trying to raise this money for our church. There is an account at the Santa Anna National Bank for St.Willow Baptist Church. Any donations of any kind would be gladly accepted. If you have any questions or concerns you can call Judy Jackson @ (325)-348-9129 or email at shantebj@hotmail.com, Roeanna Barton @ (325)-348-3223 or Gail Kirven @ (325)-348-3247
Off to College
Bryan Fellers, a 2005 Graduate of SAHS and son of Curtis and Janice Fellers, will be attending Tarleton State University at Stephenville. He starts class on Monday, August 29, but will be attending Duck Camp the week of the 23rd. Good Luck Bryan!
Please send your "Off to College" and other news about Santa Anna folks to news@santaannanews.com.
Lady Mountaineers Begin 2005 Season
Submitted by Coach Bob Libby
On Monday the Lady Mountaineers started off the season visiting always tough Abilene Christian. In game one the Lady SAM’s competed well with ACHS throughout the first rotation trailing by just 9-11. In the second rotation Santa Anna was unable to keep the momentum going and lost by a score of 13-25. In game two Santa Anna played with more focus and composure. This was a very competitive match and is indicative to the level of play the Lady Mountaineers are pushing for this season. The Lady Mountaineers made several outstanding defensive plays but were unable to hold Abilene Christian off in the end and lost 21-25. Game three was a disaster for Santa Anna as the Lady Mountaineers suffered in the serve-receive phase of the game and lost 6-25. Santa Anna will play Abilene Christian again this week in the Albany Tournament at 8:00 and the girls plan to make this a much more competitive match.
On Thursday the Lady Mountaineers traveled to Grape Creek. Last year Santa Anna was able to defeat Grape Creek and things have not changed much. In game one Santa Anna played excellent volleyball and dominated the game by a score of 25-11. In game two Santa Anna continued its dominance with a 25-14 victory. In game three there was some shifting of the rotation and Grape Creek was able to prevail 25-15. Santa Anna refocused in game four and dominated Grape Creek by a score of 25-8.
Mayra Dean sets the ball up at Grape Creek
The Lady Mountaineers finished off the week visiting Gustine on Saturday. In the first match the Lady Mountaineers looked very sharp with an excellent service game. There were no missed serves and the passing game was just a sharp. This enabled Santa Anna to set the ball up to the hitters for some outstanding hits. Santa Anna won this game 25-10. In game two the Lady Sam’s lost some focus and did not play as well. Despite this they were able to still pull out a 25-20 victory. In game three the Lady Mountaineers still played somewhat off but were able to prevail with a 25-18 victory.
Jessica Pelton sends the ball over to Grape Creek
Santa Anna’s team play looks stronger than last year. The passing, setting, serving and hitting have become more consistent. Mayra Dean is setting the ball much better than she did last year. Jesse Hensley is playing with more confidence and is beginning to hit the ball with authority consistently. Jessica Pelton has hit the ball well from the backcourt in the last two games and their elevation of play, along with that of other teammates will be very instrumental in changing the seasons’ prognosis from average to excellent. Santa Anna will host Junction on Tuesday.
Jesse Hensley spikes the ball versus Gustine
See the Sports Page for more photos in this week's photo albums including part of the JV game versus Gustine.
Rainy Weather
The isolated thunder storms have isolated over my house over the weekend.
We had a family birthday party and fish fry scheduled Saturday night in our backyard for Cindy and her cousin, Brandi Horner McIver. After the four inches of rain that I had last week I poured out another two and a half inches Saturday that came from somewhere on Friday I guess.
As we came back from the Volleyball games in Gustine we were wondering about a bad weather alternative place to gather. The forecast called for scattered thunderstorms and we didn't want to be the ones scattering. Although the ground was pretty wet it dried out fairly well for the party and stayed dry. We were expecting 30 to 40 of mostly the Robinett clan and ended up with a total of 41 I think. The weather cooperated for the most part except the wind absoulutley came to a dead still when we fired up the cookers.
I never had cooked fried fish before and was a little nervous about it to tell you the truth. Oh, I have watched it get done before several times but I had never been on the cooking side. I was sure thankful that Brandi's Dad and Cindy's Uncle, Dickie Horner, was helping, or should I say showing me how to cook.. Let me tell you that Dickie knows how to fry some fish and he has the right stuff too!
I was the French frier... I think that is what the beginner gets to do before the fish. The French fries turned out pretty good for the most part. some crispy some not... a taste for every bud..
And then came the cleanup Sunday. It showered sometime or the other Sunday morning early as everything left outside was damp. Then in the afternoon the showers came and went several times. Enough that I poured out another inch of rain Sunday afternoon. It is still raining a few cats and dogs as I write this up around midnight Sunday. There is at least a good two inches flowing through our backyard.
Well it will start out the week good and make for some full tanks and lakes for the Fall I guess.
Rainy Weather - Part II
It rained on me pretty hard on the way home from work between Bangs and Santa Anna on Monday. When I got home I had almost two more inches in the gauge for Monday and the party cleanup was still unfinished. I opted for a little bike ride in the country instead of cleanup as the clouds parted for a while.
Coleman County Historical Commission
The WW2 committee will be having a planning meeting for the Sept. 2 memorial for WW2 veterans. We would like to invite anyone who served in that war and anyone who has information about people who served.
We will also be putting together a display of WW2 memorabilia on Saturday Sept 3 at the Coleman airport. We would like to invite anyone who has such collections to contact us or come to the planning meeting.
We will meet Aug 16 at 6:00PM in the Heritage Hall.
Want your own dot com?
This is a great time to get it whether you just want it for an e-mail address of your own, like james@yourlastname.com, or for putting some family pictures on the web, or getting your business on the web
1 and 1 is by far your best bet!
Any questions just send me an e-mail and I will be happy to help you get started, or just click the 1 and 1 ad on the left, or any of the links in this article.
