Cherokeean Herald (Rusk, Tex.), Vol. 160, No. 51, Ed. 1 Wednesday, February 10, 2010 Page: 3 of 16
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vie points
Clferokeeaij Herald ■ thecherokeean.com
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
3A
EDITORIAL BOARD
Whitehead Enterprises Inc.
publisher
MARIE WHITEHEAD
editor
TERRIE W. GONZALEZ
managing editor
SCENE in Passing
Dear Readers and
Friends: how
blessed I am to
live among you, on
the greatest'part of our
planet Earth. And as we
spin through space, what
a wide range of events
have occurred in the first
40 days of our New Year.
First, please accept my
gratitude for the honor of
representing our commu-
nity as the Rusk Cham-
ber's Business Woman of
the Year. You know that
you share the honor with
me, don't you? This is true
because none of us stand
alone. Who I am is the
result of your support and
friendship all these years.
Thank you for helping me
to become a very proud
citizen of Rusk. It has
been an ongoing relation-
ship since June 1, 1950.
I have tried to use my
time wisely, loving every
minute of each hour. I will
continue to support all
that is good for Rusk, and
all of our people, for as
long as I live.
Your words of commen-
dation are filed in a soft
spot of the memory bank,
to be pulled up and re-
viewed from time to time.
Many thanks.
As we move on with our
small cattle operation, it
brings me in touch with
many Texans who just
don't quite know where
Rusk is.
Oh my. what a door
they open. I put on my
best chamber hat and
begin to explain how this
used to be the Garden of
Eden, until God decided it
should be called Cherokee
County.
Has there ever been a
more beautiful area? A
more helpful, loving, car-
ing bunch of folks? X think
not. We are a special
group of blessed folks.
I enjoy telling my new
friends where we are, geo-
graphically, between Tyler
and Lufkin, and they still
seem unsure. But — when
I mention "Texas State
Railroad, Rusk State
Hospiital," I begin to hear,
"Oh yeah, I know where
you are.''
Remembers; 1 just told
you we are special. We
are known collectively, for
special and good reasons.
I also quickly add that
there is still another
special reason for us to
be here and it is called
the Texas Department of
Criminal Justice.
And if they are shopping
for cows or bulls, we've got
lots of them around, too.
Before they know it, they
are ready to pack their
bags and join us in our
MARIE WHITEHEAD
mwhitehead@mediactr.com
quest for the good life.
It is a good life, It has
to be. We have so many
good people who call Rusk
"home,'' I shall never
forget Penny Reynolds'
enthusiasm while serving
our chamber as presi-
dent. She could throw her
arms up in the air and
squeal, "I Love Rusk.''
That always made my
heart swell with pride. We
have many new people,
more moving every day.
Years ago, our late great
friend, Howard Rosser of
the East Texas Chamber
of Commerce, tried to tell
us, "The people will come.
They will find you. You
have too many assets, You
won't be able to keep them
out," How wonderful to
see dreams come true.
An interesting new-
comer is John B, Price.; He
must have been like that
boll weevil, "just lookin'
for a home," when he
found the TSR and knew
he had found THE home.
He has jumped in with
great enthusiasm for
historical research about
everyone's pride and joy,
"A Texas Treasure."
More about this happy
fellow as he continues
plans for his support to
the TSR. I wish he could
have gotten here sooner to
share his love for railroad-
ing with the late Blair
Lavell.
And another thing that
makes this area special
is the love still given by
many who are now former
residents. One unique
group is made up of the
RHS graduates, class of
'63.
A number of them still
live here. But of those
who moved away, the love
remains equally strong.
Just watch how often
you hear of something
they are doing, to the
honor and glory of ole'
Rusk High.
A recent letter from
Wilma Johnson Hanson,
sister to Billy Ray John-
son in Alto, got my year
off to a real happy start.
She was a best friend for
many years (caretaker for
eight of them) to our mu-
tual friend, Flo Sullivan.
That's how our friendship
happened. We ultimately
served as caretakers
for Flo's husband, Jerry
Sullivan, while living
here. Anyway, Wilma was
excited about a planned
visit to Alto, for a family
reunion, and it really hap-
pened.
Her brother told me last
week that he invited, they
came and he hosted a big
fish fry. I must find out if
they invited Chris Davis,
because, if they did, my
feelings are hurt. But I
will still share her let-
ter with him to help him
catch up with the Johnson
family doings.
Since the new year
began, prayers have been
abundant in support of
several people because of
ill health.
One of these is The Rev.
Ernie Turney who contin-
ues in ICU at Methodist
Hospital in Houston. It all
began with a medication
which Caused his body's
reaction.
A former student intern,
Stan Nolley, finished his
education and went on to
higher callings. He mar-
ried a beautiful wife, time
passed and we all wished
them a happy ever-after.
In time, two beautiful
little daughters were born.
Two years ago Stan died
suddenly. In December, it
was determined that the
older daughter, Olivia,
was seriously ill with a
mass on her spine. It was
subsequently removed, all
but 10 percent. The rehab
has been underway since
then, and she is even
receiving "home schooling"
at rehab.
Did I say prayers do get
answers?
Another special new
friend is Terry Trevathan
of Lufkin. He came by for
a visit and what a treat it
was. He is the grandson
of the late Maudess Long,
also a relative of this
newspaper's longtime pub-
lisher, mayor, congress-
man and state representa-
tive, John B. Long. That
visit was just too short.
Hé is also related to Lu-
cille Long Heard and two
children, Dan Howell and
sister, Ivahlon.
Thanks for the oppor-
tunity to visit. Here's the
start of a smile, courtesy
of my younger sister. (We
had the same mother
and this is what she said
about her.) "Our mother
taught me about weather.
She said, 'This room of
yours looks like a tornado
went through it.'"
Do keep smiling and
pray for Haitian folks.
TAXING I thoughts
Don't overlook ways to trim your 2009 tax bill
Even though 2009 is
history, you may
still be able to trim
your 2009 tax bill.
Be sure you don't overlook
these actions and deduc-
tions that could save you
money.
• Maximize your 2009
IRA contribution. You
have until April 15, 2010,
to make deductible 2009
contributions. The maxi-
mum 2009 contribution is
S5.000 ($6,000 if you were
50 or older last year).
•If you changed jobs
in 2009, make sure you
didn't have excess social
Security taxes withheld.
Claim credit for the excess
on your Form 1040 if you
paid over $6,622.
• Look into itemizing
deductions if you usually
take the standard deduc-
tion. Search for allowable
deductions that you might
have overlooked, such as
the 2009 deduction for
state and local sales taxes
in lieu of deducting state
and local income taxes.
• Medical deductions are
allowable to the extent
ANITA L. WOODLEE
CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT
they exceed 7.5% of ad-
justed gross income (AGI).
Don't forget items such as
eyeglasses and hearing
aids. You can deduct mile-
age for medical appoint-
ments at 240 a mile, plus
parking and toll fees.
•Don't, overlook tax
preparation fees, safe
deposit costs, and certain
investment advice. They
all qualify as miscella-
neous deductions, subject
to a 2% of AGI limit.
• Up to $2,500 of student
loan interest is deductible
whether you itemize or
not.
• The deduction of up to
$4,000 for qualified tuition
and school expenses is
available for 2009. Quali-
fying amounts for you,
your spouse, and depen-
dents may be deductible.
Income limits apply.
• If you're a teacher or
teacher's aide, you can
deduct up to $250 for
classroom supplies that
you purchased with your
own money.
• If you purchased a
hybrid gas-electric car in
2009, you may be entitled
to a tax credit.
•Even if you don't item-
ize, you can take a deduc-
tion of up to, $1,000 ($500
for singles) for real estate
taxes paid in 2009.
Call our office for assis-
tance in finding every tax-
cutting deduction you're
entitled to take.
pd. advertising
ANITA L. WOODLEE,
CPA, PC
CERTIFIED PUBLIC
ACCOUNTANT
111 Henderson • Rusk • 75785
Phone:903-683-1002
www.anitawoodleecpa.com
Visit our web site for new tax
tips arid financial calculators
- \
APPARENTLY fls A COMMAT'ON
OF tighter SECUR'T/AMP
cm REFORM--
TO ALL
GATES
W/M'm
IaaTVO-1 ' C>
McRTW AMERICA
iO*4piCATE
Published weekly each
Wednesday by
WHITEHEAD
ENTERPRISES, INC.
Texas' oldest continuously published
weekly newspaper, established as the
Cherokee Sentinel, Feb. 27,1850. Con-
solidation of The Cherokeean, The Alto
Herald and the Welis News & Views
(903) 683-2257
FAX (903) 08.",-.-, |<) |
(903} 586-7771 • Jacksonville
(903) 729-6889 • Palestine
(936) 858-4141 - Alto
Marie Whitehead
editor, advertising sales
(903) 683-2257 ext. 105
mwhitehead@mediactr.com
Terrie Gonzalez
managing editor
(903) 683-2257 ext. 107
herald@mediactr.com
eeaij
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advertising sales
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advertising
(903) 683-2257 ext. 108
advertising@mediactr.com
HIGH POINTS I*- El Camino Real
Folks along El Camino
Real are trying to
figure out whether
they are going to have
enough firewood to make it
through the days we have
left between winter and
spring. I'm having to run
back and forth from the
computer to the TV, so I
can give you your four bits'
worth of news while watch-
ing the Super Bowl. I don't
really mind though and if
it weren't for our Rusk kid,
Cody Glenn being in the game,. I wouldn't
even watch.
On Friday evening we loaded up the
mother-in-law and headed south to Lufkin
to do some shopping for the Super Bowl,
and in the process we drove by several
local eateries. The Yellowjacket Café was
teaming with hungry folks eating fish,
the Smoking Gun in Lindseyville was
packed, and Deleons in Wells was full of
folks with more pouring in. I can remem-
ber when Friday night fish fries in Alto
were only available on certain nights as
a Lions Club fundraiser. People would
line up outside the Lions Club building
for a chance at some of that great fish.
This time of year you could hardly get
in the front door for all the pohticians
introducing themselves and handing out
cards. The only way you got good fried
catfish before then was to go and catch it
out of the river and cook it yourself or you
could go up to Red Ackers Restaurant on
Lake Palestine. It was about this time
that folks started raising catfish like
a crop and before you knew it, we had
Catfish King Restaurants springing up
everywhere. It wasn't long after that our
local eateries started serving all you can
eat buffets on Friday nights. Catfish on
Friday nights has been a staple for East
Texas folks for a long time. Catfish is best
when cooked on the bank of the Neches
River in the springtime with a mess of
fried new potatoes, onions and a few shces
of hght bread, but luxuries like those are
too rich for some folks' blood. I'm glad to
CHRIS DAVIS
elcaminoreal@consolidated.net
see our local restaurants
doing a booming business
on Friday nights.
Patsy Dean called last
week to tell me her httle
granddaughter Luna Hug-
gins celebrated her birthday
on Feb. 9. Patsy is crazy
about her granddaughters
ancl she never forgets their
birthdays. Happy birthday,
Luna. We are thinking of
you.
I realized this past week
that even though I have
hit the 50-year-old mark, there were still
many things in my life that I haven't
done. Many of these things I never cared
to do. This past weekend during a weak
moment I was introduced to a whole new
world by my good friend Judge Baseom
Bcnl Icy. He invited my son Creager and
I to a professional wresthng match at
the Palestine Civic Center. He had been
asked to be the announcer for the night's
event, and he thought we might enjoy one
of the high society cultural events that
Palestine is known for. We waited in line
behind a bald-headed guy with tattoos
all over his face and head. Someone was
peering out behind bars in one scene
inked behind the fellow's ear. I tried not
to look but the guy behind the bars kept
looking back at me. The guy told someone
that he knew Judge Bentley and I kind of
figured out where they might have met.
When the doors opened we took our seats
ringside with 100s of screaming wres-
tling fans. Judge Bentley was wearing a
suit and looked very dignified as masked
wrestlers paraded around the stage. A
terrorist looking guy came from behind
the curtain and started chanting anti-
American slogans and goading the crowd
into a fight. Just as things were heat-
ing up a big guy in httle shorts came out
waving an American flag threatening to
beat the terrorist and all his henchman to
death. Judge Bentley handed the micro-
phone back and forth to the mad wrestlers
See EL CAMINO, pg. 6A
-K State
District Judge
Bascom Bent-
ley served as
the announcer
Saturday night
in Palestine for
a professional
wrestling
match. The
cultural experi-
ence proved to
be too much
for Chris Davis,
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Whitehead, Marie. Cherokeean Herald (Rusk, Tex.), Vol. 160, No. 51, Ed. 1 Wednesday, February 10, 2010, newspaper, February 10, 2010; Rusk, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth152925/m1/3/: accessed July 11, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Singletary Memorial Library.