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, and Shane Watson.
I have a new name to add to the list. Brandon Beloat has been training for the last several months in the Army and will be shipping out soon for Kosovo.
Here he is coming in for a visit at Funtier Day..
1653 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 83 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 Commerative Activities
SAHS Class of 2005
The SAHS Class of 2005 will be graduating tonight at eight in the newly remodeled High School Auditorium.
Their is a nice photo of the class in Tuesday's Coleman Chronicle and Democrat Voice.. the Coleman paper to me.
They also have a couple of photos of the Valedictorian, Shawna Brewster, and Salutatorian, Bryan Fellers.
Speaking of the Coleman Chronicle and Democrat Voice, they now have a Coleman Chronicle and Democrat Voice website where they have a couple of photos of Bryan and Shawna as well.
I would like to congratulate the Class of 2005 for their achievments and wish them well.
Santa Anna Construction Sites
Work continues on the new drive through and parking lot in the back of the Santa Anna National Bank. Interior work also coninues as most of the office area has been torn out to make way for the much needed renovation. I still haven't got off ealry enough to go inside but I hear it is looking really nice.
New awning and sign
Corner view awning and sign
Drive though concrete work now finished
American Electric Power Company contractors continue upgrading the electric distribution grid in our area and the Santa Anna Substation.
Workers hang new wires on poles near School's Bus Barn
Happy 40th Birthday and Whatever happened to .. - Part II
Mike Hartman let me in on the fact that another of our old friends was turning forty this Saturday. Randy Casey, who now lives in Austin with his family which includes another longtime friend of my wife Cindy's, Holly Smith Casey, and their children.
I wonder whatever happened to .. Randy Casey?
Appropriate that Randy was on the same page in the yearbook as Mike and wearing an Austin T-shirt don't you think?
Happy 40th Birthday Mike!
A very special SantaAnnaNews.com Happy Birthday to my, now very "old", lawyer friend from Santa Anna and now living in Snyder, Mike Hartman.
Mike has been a faithful reader and submitter to SantaAnnaNews.com for a long time now. I am sure that many of the 15,000 plus hits on the Front Page of SantaAnnaNews.com are Mike's... well around 200 or so at least..
I was reminded that Mike would be turning 40 by his Brother in high places, Bangs ISD Superintendent, James Hartman.
Mike has helped me out a lot with the "Whatever happened to.." and "You might be from Santa Anna if.." series of articles that have been so popular. Which makes me wonder whatever happened to.. Mike Hartman?
I am afraid I don't know all the details except he is married, has a couple of children, and is the County or District Attorney in Snyder. I don't have a recent photo of him either and I thought I could dig up something from the "old" Mountaineers laying around but Mike was the photographer for the Mountaineer so it made it pretty dificult to find a "good one". So here you go Mike!
You might be from Santa Anna if.. you ever put your self portrait in your high school yearbook!
Whatever happened to.. Mike Hartman?
Well Mike didn't seemed too surprised about his birthday wish and of course was willing to share some updated information and photos.
After Graduation from Santa Anna, I received my BBA from Angelo State in 1987 and after a year of working, I started law school at Texas Tech and completed my J.D. in 1991.
I started private practice in Snyder that year and was elected Scurry County Attorney in 1997, a position I still hold today as I begin my 3rd term, in addition to teaching part-time at Western Texas College.
I have been married to Donna since 1991. She is a CPA for a publicly traded oil and gas company (Patterson Petroleum) based in Snyder and serves as controller of their exploration and production division. I have 2 kids...Travis 11, and Brenna 4.
Mike Hartman, his wife, Donna, Travis (11) and Brenna (4).
Hobbies include fishing, woodworking and running. I was pleased and humbled to be able to give the graduation address at Santa Anna a few years ago as well as being named Coming Home King in 2003. As you can see from the family picture, the Black and Gold is never far away.
One of my many projects from my woodworking hobby
Lastly,You might be from Santa Anna if......James Pelton has ever published an embarrassing or humbling picture of you on his website!
Paul Harvey
If you have read SantaAnnaNews.com for very long you know that I am a big Paul Harvey fan and I was quite surprised to hear Santa Anna and Dr. Henner as the subjects of Paul Harvey's Rest of the Story last Friday as I drove home from work.
While his morning and noon shows are available weekly on PaulHarvey.com his Rest of the Story program is not.
I heard that the story may have been based on a 1940's Life or Time magazine article but I didn't have much luck searching for it except I this one Life cover from May 8th 1940 comes up in searches but the content is not viewable.
Texas Highways
I love to read Texas Highways magazine although I don't subscribe to it and it was nice to meet some friends of Judy Meister's Friday night that were in town for some of the Cookoff and Funtier Day activities.
While photographing some of the water polo I introduced myself to another guy that was taking photos for Texas Highways magazine. I can't remember any of their names though.. happens when you get old especially after a cold one or two like Friday! Who knows maybe they will cover Santa Anna and Funtier Day on the Texas Highways website..
2005 Funtier Day
Well the 2005 Santa Anna Funtier Day is now behind us. Most of the folks I saw Friday and Saturday were having a lot of fun and that is what it should be all about. Some were having a little too much fun and some were working way too hard so that the rest of us could have fun. My hat is off to all those that made it happen as I know how much work it can be!
Some of those that put in a lot of work were Lois Ann Harper, Nancy Wylie, and Judy Meister
Some of those having some fun and a lot of work were local and out of town Bar-BQ'ers including:
The Young Guns - David, Tim, Chris, Tom, and Aaron
The "old" Twin Peaks
Danny Cook
Rusty Wells
Ronnie Daniel winner of the Coleman County Award for Coleman County cookers
Top Three Brisket L-R: Ed Kelley - Third Place, Johnny Murray - First Place, and Donny Smith - Second Place
Top Three World Championship Bison Cookers L-R: Johnny Murray - Third Place, Danny Helms - First Place, and Gary Shook - Second Place
Some folks played games all day but let me tell you it was a lot of work for these folks!
First Place Horse Shoes - Wes Anderson and Bill Smith of Brady
Second Place Horse Shoes - Angie McCarty and Darrell Gallander of Brownwood
These guys got to cool down in the water polo
These gals too with a little help from Shyler!
Freddie and Edith take a break as they, along with several others from the Santa Anna VFD, worked pretty hard to have some fun too..
I didn't get to stick around for the volleyball winners but I wonder if "Ace High" Chris Cheaney was at least on the winning volleyball team!
Yes Chris, you finally made it in the news but watch out because Kristi has a mean serve!
I took over 250 photos at Funtier Day events so I have created a Special 2005 Funtier Day Photo Album.
2005 Funtier Day - Part II
The weather was unusually hot for Spring over the Funtier Day weekend.
There were a couple of things that went on Funtier Day that I wanted to cover a little more but ran out of time. I missed out on the Ice Cream, Pie, and Cake contest results. I also did not get to stick around for the washer pitching, water polo, volleyball, or tug-of-war results but I will try and get them.
There were lots of folks that helped and one of those that I never seemed to get a picture of was John Hensley.. I don't think he likes much attention. I saw him a few times but he was always behind a tree or maybe he was just hunting some shade! I am sure that I will leave someone out but I know that Clay Crosley and Bryan Coyle helped run off the Horse Shoes and Washer Pitching, Debra Boyet ran the Volleyball, Ray and Betsy Jones ran the Water Polo with a lot of help from the VFD, and Karen Morris ran the Pie and Cake Contest. Anyhow a special thanks to all those that worked hard so the rest of us could have some fun.
There were several local groups like the library bunch selling books and some others selling drinks or food like the Cheerleaders, the baseball teams, and church groups too.
Ice Cream Contestants serve it up
Many others helped in various ways like the Voice of the Mountaineers - Rob Cheaney making a few announcements
Bryan and Clay working the Horse Shoe and Washer Pitching
Rod Musick, Ricky Jones, Judy and Stephanie Hartman, Montie and Sandra Guthrie all helped with the Cookoff judging and serving organization
Pie and Cake entries were served up after lunch. Shown here is Goldthwaite's Richeson Dairy Queen Manager Nita Frazier helping out.
The Air Med air ambulance from Shannon Hospital in San Angelo had to take off on a call while they were here
I also got to visit with two very nice ladies from Brownwood Regional Hospital's Critical Care air ambulance
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