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.
1533 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.
Clay Hubbard came by to see me Sunday afternoon before heading to a family Easter gathering. He will be heading back to Washington to finish up his tour on the USS Abraham Lincoln.
To Be or Not to Be?
I am going to cover a couple of rather controversial topics for Friday just to give you something to think about.
While these things are not necessarily news or about Santa Anna they are certainly topics of national news attention.
The first topic is concerning the tragic end of life for the Florida brain damaged woman, Terry Schiavo.
I believe that the importance of this case will be seen a lot more of as time goes on but one of the most immediate things that is happening is the awareness of living wills and last wishes. I am certainly not qualified to discuss very much of this and not really a strong enough Christian to give a religious opinion.
It is evident that modern technology can keep a human body alive pretty much indefinitely. It is technology that can also restore life to a human that may have suddenly stopped on accident.
I believe that if it is your time to go it is your time to go and there is nothing that can be done to stop it technology or otherwise.
I recently visited with a paraplegic friend about this topic and he told me that "You want to live!" ..if you have a choice. He is certainly an inspiration to me. In his and Terry Schiavo's case both of their circumstances were similar, to me anyhow, that there situations were self inflicted. His from drinking and driving, of which he is very outspoken against today, and Mrs. Schiavo's in which she suffered from complications of treatable self inflicted bulimia.
In both cases I am sure that they wanted to continue to live. I also feel that it is not a decision to be made by a judge, court, or Congress but one that should be made by trained medical professionals in the treatment of their patient. And it is OK to get a second opinion although I am sure if you looked long enough you would find the opinion you wanted. If that patient is in a condition where they are unable to make a decision on their own and they have not predetermined their wishes with a medical directive or will for their life then I think it is the medical professional's decision. I also believe that the marriage of a man and woman is a predetermined wish and means that this decision could be made by a spouse should the other become incapacitated. I also believe that a parent has the right to make these decisions for their child if that child is not of age or has made a predetermined decision as above. I also feel that a religious belief could be a predetermined decision if that belief is well known and the patient's religious preference is known and the spouse or parent is not a factor.
This is certainly a very complicated topic and not one that I can even attempt to fully cover or really discuss with any knowledge but enough to possibly help you realize the importance of it. The Internet has a lot of good resources for more information about this topic for individuals and I would encourage you to seek your own answers.
I also believe everyone is here for a purpose.
My Church, First Baptist Church of Santa Anna, will be presenting the 40 Days of Purpose, a spiritual growth campaign that is designed to help answer the question, "What on Earth am I here for?". The series is based on the book: "The Purpose Driven Life" by Rick Warren. The program will start with a Kick-Off BBQ at 6:00 PM this Saturday night at the First Baptist Church Christian Life Center. For more information you can contact Pastor Bruce Hess at 325-348-3725.
Drug Abuse
As the US Congress holds hearings about steroid use in sports you may think that is a subject that they have no business in. You may be correct that they have no business telling professional athletes and organizations what to do about steroids, but this is a growing problem and the professional athlete has been cast into the spotlight as an example for many young athletes. This problem is getting the attention it deserves and hopefully it will not become a political playing card.
You may also think that it is not a concern for someone in Santa Anna.
It was not that long ago when a couple of young men from Santa Anna were tempted by the competitive edge promise of steroids to venture into Mexico to gain them.
The end of the basketball season in the Metroplex brought to light some steroid abuse.
I don't have a really good idea about the effects, good or bad, that steroids promise but I do know that it is considered cheating by all forms of athletic competition, whether it is a written rule or not, and they have long term bad effects on its' abusers.
Either one of these reasons should be sufficient to deter their use, but the "win at all costs" mentality of some has polluted the pureness of fair competition and in my opinion they are losers before the contest is ever begun.
Well enough of this stuff for now and I hope that you all have a great Friday!
Santa Anna High School OAP Advances in District 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. I believe that I heard it is going to be at Brownwood High School again.
The District 15 A Contest was hosted by the Brownwood High School Drama Department. The Contest Director was Santa Anna ISD Superintendent Roger Walker and the Critic Judge was Ronald Donaldson, a OAP Director for thirty years with the last nineteen at Westlake High School.
District Honorable Mention Cast members from Santa Anna were Raelee Watson, JeLisa Kirven, and LeeAnda Bennett.
District All Star Cast members from Santa Anna were Jessica Pelton and Michelle Wetsel
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.
Weather
Well it has been pretty nice weather the last few days but I am afraid that I have been a little under it and not up to my usual for SantaAnnaNews.com.
I am working on a couple of projects that I will try to put up next week but for now I will have to settle for what you see for now with the promise to catch up a little later.
Other Upcoming School Events
Thursday will be the Junior High District Track Meet at Panther Creek.
Friday will be Student Waiver Day (no school) and the UIL Academic Meet will be held at the Santa Anna ISD Secondary School.
Saturday the SAHS Track team will travel to Meridian for a track meet.
Monday will see the start of Junior High Girls Volleyball with a double header against Bangs and Ranger in Bangs.
Check out the Santa Anna ISD's website for more school activity information.
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!
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.
EMT Intermediate Classes Beginning Soon!
There is still time to sign up for the EMT Intermediate classes to be held in Coleman Beginning in April. Classes will be held 2 nights a week and one Saturday a month. You must be 18 years of age or older and an EMT Basic with a current course completion or certification. For more information call 325-625-2791 and leave a message if no one is home.
Life and People Sometimes Surprise You
A couple of months ago I told you about a DuoFast coil roofing nail gun of mine that got stolen from Ray and Jean Findley's garage. I posted a photo on SantaAnnaNews.com and offered a reward for the return of it. Not that I really ever expected to see it again, but mostly out of frustration.
I have lived, worked, or owned a business in Santa Anna for the last 30 years. When I was in the service station business I was broken into twice and one of the times nothing was taken. The other time was much worse when about $1500 worth of tires, batteries, and tools was stolen. Of course no one was ever caught.
I had come to the conclusion that if someone was desperate enough to take something from me that they needed it worse than I did.
The sad thing about my nail gun is I have a pretty good idea who took it. I have known their family the entire time I have lived here and they are from a good hard working family. Somewhere along the way they have just headed down the wrong road.
Last Thursday I was very surprised to get an e-mail from someone that had my nail gun but was not the one that took it. He had got it from someone else and wanted to return it and make things right again. He is another one of those that I have known most of his life and had also gone down the wrong road a time or two and was trying to get headed down the right road again when his girlfriend saw my nail gun on SantaAnnaNews.com. She had encouraged him to contact me and return it and Tuesday evening she brought it to me after I talked to him on the phone.
He is very lucky to have her and that she is trying to help him get down the right road. I feel lucky too for them coming along and returning my property. I wish them both the best as they travel down a new path together.
AEP Electric Utility Upgrades Area Service
The American Electric Power Company is upgrading the electric distribution grid in our area. Work has been going on for several weeks now in Santa Anna and East of town from the County Line to the local substation. Work was completed last year installing new metal poles and wire to the County Line from the Bangs area.
The poles and equipment yard by 84 Auto Sales.
Those in the downtown were greeted with a "shock" a couple of weeks ago especially at City Hall and Noreta's when two of the large sections of a pole came off the trailer as the contractor, Maslonka, was carrying them through town to distribute them from the yard to the line locations. The poles did some minor damage to sidewalk and one of the awning supports in front of City Hall and to the brick bases in front of Noreta's that used to support their awning.
Brick base moved back several inches in front of Noreta's.
They were recently redone and moved further back from the street. Luckily no one was hurt and it was around 8 in the morning so there were not any cars in the downtown area. My Wife and City Secretary, Cindy Pelton, was sitting at her desk near the front window at City Hall and heard a heck of racket as two of the poles hit the street and headed right for her.
Minor awning support damage at City Hall.
The AEP Substation on South Third Street near the old substation is being upgraded as well.
The new substation will be just across the road on a new pad they are building.
A huge auger digs a hole for the concrete base.
I took this photo of the first pole base up last week. When I came by Monday they had about ten complete poles set up so it won't take them too long to get finished.
The tall sections are added after the base is set in the concrete.
AEP folks like local Ace Lineman, Joe Zarate, work the local distribution lines "hot" so that no one loses service for long. The lines must be temporarily moved over so that the new poles can be set. Dangerous work for the AEP and Maslonka workers.
Santa Anna Allsup's
Sometimes you have to eat a little crow. Last week I told you that "You can pretty much bet that gas in Santa Anna is 5-10 cents a gallon higher than everywhere around.."
Friday on the way to Valera Cindy and I had to stop and get some gas at the Santa Anna Allsup's and they had posted gas prices 2 cents lower than what it had been in Brownwood on Wednesday. I remember walking by the Allsup's location on the way to school as they were building it during the late 70's.
My old buddy Baker Rudolph was manning the fort.. taking money of course!
I used to buy gas from the Baker and his Dad when they were the Mobil distributor in Coleman and I leased their Mobil Station here in Santa Anna. That was in the good old days when gas was less than a dollar a gallon. As I have shared with you before, I remember when gas first went over a dollar a gallon and the old pumps we had would not register over a dollar per gallon and we had to half the posted price and double the total amount for the actual price which often led to some confusion about how much someone owed for gas.
Well they don't have to worry about that too much at our Allsup's because they just got new pumps. The new pumps really look nice but they were already having trouble with one of them. I just hope they can keep the Diesel fuel mess cleaned up that they always have.
Being an old service station man I have some pet peeves in general about inconvenience stores in addition to diesel fuel messes: full trash cans or worse yet no trash cans, no windshield washing equipment, or just as bad no water in the bucket, or no paper towels, no free air, no water hose, and of course my biggest peeve no or out of order public restroom.
As the price of crude oil hits all time highs over $56 per barrel and the price of gas goes over $2 per gallon in the Central Texas Area I ran across TexasGasPrices.com last week which has some high and low prices around the state.
Happy Easter
I hope that you and your families all had a Happy Easter!
The weather cooperated for the Sunday afternoon Easter Egg Hunts after the rains of Saturday.
I poured an inch and a half of rain out of our gauge.
Our family enjoyed our traditional Easter Sunday Dinner and Children's Egg Hunt at Ray and Jean Findley's.
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