The Albany News (Albany, Tex.), Vol. 130, No. 50, Ed. 1 Thursday, May 11, 2006 Page: 4 of 12
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T1
IMIOM PAGE
Page 4
The Albany News
Thursday, May 11, 2006
The Albany News
Since 1875
Oldest journalistic venture west of the Brazos
Publisher Donnie A. Lucas
Editor
Melinda L. Lucas
Advertising Manager
Donna Hargrave
Moran Correspondent
Audrey Brooks
Office Manager
Sheryl Spore
Typesetter
Betty Viertel
Office Assistant
Jordan Lucas
column
State Trackster
Although Albany High School has but one athlete
traveling to Austin to compete in the state track meet
this week, that individual should be congratulated.
Number one - Andres Salazar is only a sophomore.
Number two - He is classified as one of the top eight
runners in the state in Class 1A for the 400 meter dash.
Number three - His primary goal is to represent his
! school and community well.
Several friends and fans are planning to make the
I trip to the state meet to watch Andres run, and he will
no doubt give his best effort to make them proud.
Congratulations and good luck!
State Speller
Another young AHS student, Emily Raymond, has
already been to Austin and when she returned, she
brought home a fifth place medal.
The other state qualifier, Tyler Grimshaw. also
made a great showing, even though he didn't place.
Grimshaw competed in current issues and events.
Just qualifying for state means a student is already
in the top .1 percent of all contestants, and actually
placing is extraordinary.
Congratulations to both of Albany's state academic
qualifiers!
But now, a little information on UIL spelling...
When I was in the spelling event back in grade
school, we studied a list of words and then regurgitated
them, at least as well as we could, when they were
called out by the test facilitator.
Well, either things have changed in the last 30
something years, or my elementary experience was
quite a bit different from the high school level. Now,
UIL spellers have to do even more than memorize a
booklet of hard words, even though that task itself is
pretty daunting.
It's called "Spelling and Vocabulary" for a reason:
In the first section of the test, which counts 15 points,
the competitor "proofreads," finding words that are
misspelled and then respelling them correctly. Then,
in a 15-point vocabulary section, a definition is given
and the student has to select the correct word. Finally,
70 words are pronounced and must be written and
spelled without error.
But that's not all. About 85 percent of those 70
words are from the UIL list, which can be studied
beforehand. These range from stuff as simple as "lame
duck" to words like "mitral stenosis" and "astrakhan."
The other 15 percent are chosen at random; you know,
just any old word out of Webster's. Some of the "out-
side" words on Emily's test were "impecunious" and
"intransigent." Those might not seem hard if you have
a chance to study them or even just see them, but just
hearing someone pronounce them is slightly more
intimidating.
I consider myself to be a good speller, maybe even
j above average, and one of my pet peeves is misspelled
! (mispelled, misspeled) words on billboards and signs,
j I'm impressed. Great job, Emily!
4=
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AFFILIATIONS
2006 MEMBER: Texas Press Association,
West Texas Press Association.
panderings by pat
By Pat Lidia Jones
Because I have had a lazy
weekend right before embarking on
the Old Jail Art Center's trip to far
West Texas, I am welcoming Bobbie
Cauble as my guest columnist.
We all know Bobbie is not only
fun, but also funny. She has a witty
way of viewing even the most
common of items - like socks.
Till next time, Pat.
Read on...
The Great Sock Escape
By Bobbie Cauble
Sometimes I feel a little like
Sherlock Holmes or Dick Tracy,
thinking I might be on the verge of
clearing up a big mystery, possibly
one of the greatest mysteries of all.
For anyone who has ever done
the family laundry, you are or will
be a victim. It's a wonder there is
not a support group out there
somewhere for people like us. After
all, what do we do when we are left
standing in front of the washer with
only one sock in hand, when we
know it entered the washer as two?
I think after many years of doing
the family laundry, I may have
solved the mystery. Here's my idea
of how it works...
In the beginning, when socks are
created in some big factory some-
where, they are immediately at-
tached to a partner, not a partner
they have chosen, but one that has
been chosen for them - maybe a
little like prearranged marriages in
the Far East.
Anyway, the socks are quickly
attached by some kind of plastic
hook or they find themselves sealed
up inside a bag with a whole lot of
other socks that they have never
seen before. That is where they stay
until that magic moment arrives —
someone places them in a shopping
cart, pays for them and then takes
them into their home. The first step
of the great escape has taken place.
Now, all the socks have to do is
wait. One day they are taken out
of the drawer, the package is
opened or the connector is clipped.
They are reborn. To advance to the
second step to freedom the socks
know they must pay a price and
sometimes it's a big one. They have
to make direct contact with the
human feet. Many times this expe-
rience is not good. But good things
come to those who wait and
eventually they come off the feet
and are placed in the laundry
hamper - and they know it's just
a matter of days before their
dreams will come true.
In a few days the soon-to-be-
victim comes to fetch them from the
laundry hamper. Into the washer
they go, 2x2, 2x2, without one word.
These socks have no fear. And
suddenly somewhere between the
wash and rinse cycle and the
entrance into the dryer, it happens
- the great sock escape!
Here is how it works. The
laundry master opens the door to
the washer and begins to remove
every clean washed article. We have
two brown socks, two white socks,
one navy sock - WHAT? ONE
NAVY SOCK! A frantic look from
the washer to the dryer, back to the
washer. A quick look back to the
laundry hamper - no navy sock.
amblin' through albany
Gone, vanished.
Oh sure, that sock is placed on
the Most Wanted List for awhile, ;
but soon it's forgotten and after
awhile it drops off the list com-
pletely.
' So you think that is the end of
the story. Well, it's not. Somewhere
all of these missing socks that have
1 escaped over the years have found
their home - free at last, free at
last.
They are having the biggest sock
hop possible. There are navy socks
dancing with brown socks, over the
calf athletic socks dancing with cute
little tennis socks and cottons
mixing it up with nylons. Oh, what
a party they must be having.
So after much research on this
subject, I have reached a conclu-
sion. Never again will I worry about
those missing socks because I am
sure they have now found the
perfect mate and true happiness.
And after all, I don't think there
is a lot of money in becoming a sock
bounty hunter.
By Larry Bell
Don't you just love it when folks
outside Albany ask you what you find
to do in such a small town? If they
only knew!
The second of the spring concerts
at the Old Jail Art Center was on the
afternoon of Sunday, April 23, the
weekend of the busy Albany Art Fes-
tival. Even more attended this con-
cert than had attended the first one
three weeks earlier.
Vocal renditions were given by so-
prano Elsa Williams accompanied by
Sandy Abel on piano. She sang songs
by several composers ranging from
Handel and Mozart to Copland and
Menotti. Mrs. Williams also gave en-
lightening notes on the composers
and the music as she went along.
Albany's premier pianist and or-
ganist, Sandy Abel, gave solo perfor-
mances of pieces by Schubert, Chopin
and Brahms and did her usual superb
job. That was after she had served as
organist for two different local
churches that morning. Amazing lady!
Another big treat of the afternoon
was the performance on the clarinet
by Carmen Chapa. Local folks had
not had much opportunity to hear her
before, so this was a fine addition to
the afternoon. She first played the
Sonata for Clarinet and Piano (Sandy
Abel, of course) by Frances Poulene, a
piece originally composed for the great
Benny Goodman.
Then to conclude the concert, Mrs.
Chapa was joined by Mrs. Williams
and Ms. Abel in performing "Shep-
herd on the Rock" by Franz Schubert.
This is a delightful piece that involved
intricate musical interaction by the
three performers. All three were at
their very best on this piece and it was
a pleasing way to end the afternoon
and a big weekend.
It is earnestly to be hoped that
concerts like those two in April will
become a regular part of the OJAC's
agenda. They are a tremendous addi-
tion to the cultural life of our commu-
nity. They also illustrate yet again
how our Old Jail is an art center and
not just an excellent museum.
It has also been my pleasure this
spring to watch several baseball
games by the AHS Lions, both varsity
and junior varsity. Although our var-
sity team did not make the playoffs
this year, they have nothing to be
ashamed of. They played hard and
played well overall and they never
gave up even when behind by several
runs.
Moreover, they exhibited good
sportsmanship and gentlemanly be-
havior. So hearty congratulations to
our baseball Lions. You represented
well your school and your town. I'm
looking forward to next year.
The beautiful and unique quilt
made by the sixth grade science stu-
dents of Myra Hise has been on ex-
hibit with the nice folks at the First
National Bank in downtown Albany
and has been receiving a lot of atten-
tion. You really should step in and
look at it if you have not yet seen it.
The silent auction bids are coming
in and as I turn this piece in to the
paper, the latest bid is almost $300.
the idle american
All proceeds will go to the Resource
Center.
As you read this, depending on "
exactly when you do it, 43 of the Old'
Jail docents are either on the way;
home from their trip to the Big Bend
country or they have already arrived.
You can be sure they had fun. More
about that next time.
Meanwhile, be sure to go see the
children's drama group performance "
tonight (Thursday) or tomorrow night! "
at the Aztec at 7:00 p.m. It's called
"How to Eat Like a Child and Other,
Lessons in Not Being a Grownup."lf,
The cost is only $5 for adults; $3 for,
students. >;!
Produced by All the World's a Stage,
children's theater class, the kids arei
cute and talented. Besides, pretty Miss
Patsy Cline, er, that is, Lorna Ayers,< <
directs the show. You'll probably see
future stars of the Albany Mainstreet
Playhouse.
Hey, it's hard to beat a deal like
that. See you there.
By Dr. Don Newbury .,
The zealous first grade teacher,
eager to pour useful knowledge into
the youngsters' minds, wanted them
to know early on about museums. She
spoke slowly, offering tidbits she
thought might be particularly inter-
esting to this age group.
Some of them were wide-eyed, and
several hands went up. Johnny waved
his arm like a scarecrow in the pump-
kin patch.
He asked, "Are you telling us that
museums are kinda like zoos, except
everything in 'em- are dead?"
This vignette came to mind during
a recent tour of the Freedom Museum
USA in Pampa, Texas. The all-mili-
tary museum opened a dozen years
ago. It is a testament to the determi-
nation, commitment, vision and plain
old hard work by folks who want to
make sure Americans remember the
high cost of freedom.
"We've operated on a wing and a
prayer from day one," a VFW member
said. (The VFW Post 1657 operates
the ever-expanding museum, depend-
ing totally on gifts from individuals,
businesses and foundations.)
It is housed in an old water-pump-
ing station built by the PWA (Public
Works Administration) in 1939. The
city deeded it to the museum, and
continues to "water and mow" the
grass. That's the extent of govern-
mental support.
Located near downtown, the mu-
seum is hard to miss. Several military
vehicles surround the building, in-
cluding a Vietnam-era Huey helicop-
ter. It's mounted on a steel pedestal
several feet above the roof line.
"When you spot the helicopter,
you'll find the museum under it," a
local mentioned.
The helicopter became a conversa-
tion piece, particularly when it sprang
a leak....
Though patriotic to the core, the
folks who make the museum tick don't
claim to be experts on anything. They
weren't sure what to do when the
helicopter's floppity 50-foot rotor blade
started whirling in a high wind.
"We were scared the helicopter
might take off if the wind got stron-
ger, so we tethered the blade on each
end," one man said.
It turned out to be a bad decision.
One day a strong wind snapped the
ropes. They said the whirling blades
sounded like a scene from TVs Mash.
Then, an oil seal broke.
What a mess! The blades threw oil
as far as four houses away, so the vets
had serious apologies - and clean-ups
- on their hands.
They re-thought the tethering idea
and put the ropes away. The blades
now spin as they will.
"If the thing takes off, it takes off,"
one of the museum people said.
The museum is open to the public
from noon until 4 p.m., Tuesdays
through Saturdays. But, like aggres-
sive automobile salesmen who'll "meet
us at any hour if they know we're
coming," museum leaders will work
the same deal for groups.
Among the people passing through
annually are the thousand or so stu-
dents from area high schools. Some of
them have limited knowledge of what
has gone before, particularly World
War II.
One area high schooler asked, "If
we hadn't bombed the Japanese, do
you think they would have attacked
us?" And she was serious.
Memorabilia is largely from World
Wars I and II, Korea, Vietnam and
the Persian Gulf. But, there also are
Civil War and Wright Brothers ex-
hibits. Many of their holdings are
stored for exhibit later.
When you are in the area, stop by.
You'll reek of patriotism upon seeing
the exhibits and meeting folks giving
most of their waking hours to the
cause. The men and women support-
ing the Freedom Museum expect to
link arms soon with veterans return-
ing from Iraq.
The new vets will be invited to join
a bunch of Pampa patriots who line
up along side Horace Mann, the "Fa-
ther of American Education." More
than 150 years ago, he wrote: "No
man escapes when freedom fails. The
best men rot in filthy jails. And those
who cried, 'Appease, appease,' are
hanged by those they tried to please."
May God bless America. May He
likewise bless veterans, and may our
flag long wave.
Finally, may citizens who want to
help the Freedom Museum lay down
the cash for granite blocks on the two
i
walkways. One is for the vets; the }
other for friends.
After all, here's the chance to see
our names in granite before we're j
under it.
>4 L HvA /V
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
MAY 11
MAY 11-12
MAY 12
MAY 12-13
MAY 13
MAY 15
MAY 16
MAY 17
MAY 18
MAY 19
MAY 20
MAY 21
MAY 22
MAY 25
Lions Club - Icehouse, 12 noon
All the World's a Stage Showcase - Aztec Theater, 7 pm
Chamber meeting - Ft Griffin Gen Mdse, 12 noon
State Track Meet - Austin
City and hospital elections - City Hall, 7 am-7 pm
Rep. Neugebauer visit - Albany Visitors Center, 10-11 am
Hospital board - EMS Station, 6:30 pm
Sports banquet - Whitney Theater, 7 pm
AA & Al-Anon meeting - Methodist Church, 7 pm
GED classes - Resource Center, 5-6:30 pm
ESL classes - Resource Center, 6-8 pm
Academic banquet - Whitney Theater, 7 pm
Kindergarten Round-up - NSES cafeteria, 1:30 pm
City council - City Hall, 5 pm
Weekly golf scramble - Albany Golf Course, 5:30 pm
Square dance practice - Prairie Theater, 8 pm;
Huppi Hi practice, 9 pm
Masons - Mason|c Lodge, 7:30 pm
Fandangle practice - Prairie Theater, 8 pm
NSES track meet for K-2 - NSES campus, 8:30 am
Art Carnival - Old jail Art Center, 10 am-12 noon
Baccalaureate - AHS auditorium, 7 pm
NSES track meet for 3-6 - AHS track, 8:30 am
School board - Supt.'s office, 6:30 pm
Graduation - AHS gym, 7 pm
t
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Lucas, Melinda L. The Albany News (Albany, Tex.), Vol. 130, No. 50, Ed. 1 Thursday, May 11, 2006, newspaper, May 11, 2006; Albany, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth413183/m1/4/: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting The Old Jail Art Center.