The Kerens Tribune (Kerens, Tex.), Vol. 111, No. 39, Ed. 1 Thursday, September 25, 2003 Page: 2 of 8
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Page 2 • The Kerens Tribune • September 25, 2003
Editorial/Opinion
Kerens.Com
By Tom Darby
Tribune Columnist
It was §uch a shock, it is
still hard to believe she is
gone. She was one of those
ladies whom I never knew
as anything other than a
Mother of a family of my
friends. Her first name was
Joan, but as a reader who
might not have ever run
across her, her name was
really Jo Ann and the only
name I ever heard her called.
Jo Ann was one of those
people that if you ever met
her, you remembered her
and that big smile she wore
When my
path wan-
dered back
into Kerens
working on
the Alumni
Center and
other ac-
tivities,
there was Kenneth one day
working on our new build-
ing doing some welding. I
still remember Buddy
Hughes shaking his head
after Kenneth spent a day in
the sun and saying "Man
that Kenneth Kilcrease
knows how to work." Ken-
neth never said very much
and is kind of quiet spoken,
so well. As a teenager, I
knew her as the mother of but he left his mark right
Candis Kenner. I did not there on Main Street,
know her well back then I remember when I got to
since us kids do not pay see the Homecoming Parade
much attention to those par- being put together and see-
eiits that are always on the ing this very nice float pull-
watch to keep us out of
trouble. But I knew her as
one that was always around
and ready with a knowing
smile when we were plan-
ning our fun for the week-
ends. Jo Ann knew we were
growing up.
Time slipped by and I
later came to know her again
as the mother of Kathy Jo
and Burt. Her son Burt and
I spent many a weekend out
shooting those ducks on Earl
Henderson's place. Kathy
was in a class with my little
sister and again Jo Ann was
there ferrying those kids
around back and forth and
everywhere as Mothers so
often do. Some do it well,
but Jo Ann had that patience
ing into position and
adorned in an old American
tradition. It turned out Jo
Ann was the one working on
this one and what a great job
she did. I told her after the
parade that she should have
won the prize that year for
the Nursing Home in
Kerens.
But the most vivid
memory I have of Jo Ann
was seeing her and Kenneth
together at one of the coun-
try and western dances put
on by KESA at the Alumni
Center. I believe I men-
tioned in a column right af-
ter that dance how different
it was seeing an older couple
together slow dancing
push the button. That picture
stays in my collection as one
of the best of my hometown
memories.
On Jo Ann's last Sunday
at church I ran across her
while leaving after the ser-
vice and she grinned and
gave me a hug. That was the
last time I saw her and that
image is the one I will re-
member her by. She did not
look ill at all and I had no
idea she was going in for
surgery the next week. It
was her time and I suppose
it is best none of us ever
know when that time will
come.
I did not get to the funeral
because I did not even know
she was gone until I walked
into Sunday School the next
week. My Mother was there
and told me about how mov-
ing it was and about the talk
that Chris gave. Mother said
someone told her at the ser-
vice "I will never have that
many flowers at my fu-
neral." That multitude of
flowers was a tribute and an
honor from the hearts of all
she touched in her life in
Kerens.
This past Sunday I looked
down the row at Church and
there was Kenneth. He did
not have Jo Ann this time,
but he had his family with
him. There was Burt sitting
beside him who looks so
much like his Father these
days. Jo Ann and Kenneth
raised a family and raised
them well. Kenneth has his
family, he has his church
family, and he has the small
around the floor who had
that only a Mother can have been together for so long. I community with which they
when nudging those kids in just happened to have my are all so entwined
the direction that only adults camera with me that night
and talked Jo Ann into let-
ting me take their picture sit-
ting at one of the KESA
tables. I just looked at that
picture a few minutes ago
and there she is with that big
Jo Ann smile sitting beside
Kenneth waiting for me to
Joiow must be followed.
The years went by again
and the time came when I
had the chance to know Jo
Ann through the eyes of an
adult rather than a child. I
say Jo Ann, but I really
mean Jo Ann and Kenneth.
The community goes on
now as will Kenneth and his
children. Somewhere within
all of us Jo Ann is still there
and we will remember her
for the person she was and
what she represented. The
art of being a Mother and a
Wife.
Old Testament Personalities
The rod of Moses
By James Vannoy
fc-*-'
Moses was a shepherd,
and shepherds carried two
types of sticks, both of
which are mentioned in
Psalm 23. “Your rod and
Your staff, they comfort
me.” (v. 4) The staff had a
crooked end and was used
to rescue sheep by placing
the crooked part under their
middle and lifting them
from danger. The rod was
used as a weapon against
predators, such as wolves
and lions. The shepherd
would use the rod to either
stab or swing at the preda-
tor.
One day Moses was
working as a shepherd in the
remote area around Mt.
Sinai, when he saw a bush
which burned but did not
bum up. When he turned
aside to view this phenom-
enon, a voice told him to
take offhis shoes because he
was on holy ground. When
God told Moses to go to
Egypt to deliver the Israel-
ites out of slavery, he re-
plied, “But suppose they
will not believe me or listen
to my voice.” (Exodus 4:1)
God told him to throw his
rod on the ground. It be-
came a snake, and Moses
jumped back. God then told
him to pick it up by the tail.
When he did so, it became a
rod again.
God
would use
this rod to
symbolize
His great
power over
the Egyptians and to show
his superiority to the false
gods of Egypt. He said,
“And you shall take this rod
in your hand, with which
you shall do the signs.”
(Exodus 4:17) The Bible ac-
tually calls this rod “the rod
of God.” (Exodus 4:20)
The first opportunity
Moses had to use the rod
was at his first appearance
before Pharaoh, found in
Exodus 7. He threw it on
into lice, which tormented
the people and animals.
This plague was activated
when Mo,ses struck the
ground with his rod.
The seventh plague was
hail, thunder and lightning
so ferocious that it destroyed
the crops and the trees and
killed all the people and ani-
mals who did not find shel-
ter (Exodus 9). This plague
began when Moses
stretched out his rod toward
the sky. (v. 23) The eighth
plague, locusts (grasshop-
pers) was also activated by
Moses’ rod.
Perhaps the most famous
use of the rod was at the
parting of the Red Sea.
the ground, and it became a Moses lifted it up over the
snake. Through some trick- waters, and they parted,
ery, Pharaoh’s magicians leaving dry ground where
were able to make it appear the sea had been. “But lift
that their rods also became
snakes. However, Moses’
snake ate up all the other
snakes, and then when
Moses picked it up by the
tail, it became a rod again.
Because Pharaoh refused
to let Israel go, God caused
the first plague to occur,
which was the turning of all
the water of the Nile River
into blood. This plague was
activated in the presence of that he was a prophet of God
Pharaoh when Moses stmck and that God showed His
the water with his rod. power through him. E-mail:
The third plague was the jwvannoy@yahoo.com
turning of dust of the earth
Once over the hill,
you pick up speed!
Venture 2 Publishing
The Kerens Tribune
T-l
MEMBER
TEXAS PRESS
ASSOCIATION
100B South Colket Ave., Kerens, Texas
USPS 293-680
Publisher: Donna York (903) 396-2261
Editor: Neal Williams Fax (903) 396-2728
Staff: Lana Andrews - Contributing Staff: Tom Darby and James Vannoy
The Kerens Tribune (USPS 293-680) is published weekly (except last week in Dec.) by Donna
York.
100 South Colket Avenue, Kerens, Texas 75144. Periodicals postage is paid at Kerens, Texas.
Subscription Rates: $16.50 Navarro County; $21.50 elsewhere in Texas and $26.50 out of
State.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Kerens Tribune, P.O.Box 280, Kerens, TX 75144.
Happy
Sweet ”16”
Tina
You are loved for
the little girl you
were, for the spe-
cial woman you
are now, and the
wonderful daugh-
ter you will always
be.
Happy 16th birth-
day, Tina!
Love,
Cody, Mom, Dad
and Grandma
Social Security Administration
The first five months of disability
By Polly Winn
Corsicana District Manager
People who apply for So-
cial Security Disability Ben-
efits are often surprised and
disappointed when they are
told there is a five-month
waiting period before dis-
ability benefits can begin.
Also, it is surprising to some
individuals that these ben-
efits are not usually avail-
able for disabilities of a few
months duration.
The five-month waiting
period, for which no pay-
ments are due and the re-
striction on short-term dis-
abilities reflects the purpose
of the Social Security Dis-
ability program. The intent
of the law is to insure work-
will last for at least a year or
will result in death. This is
different from some other
programs, like veterans ben-
efits, that pay for partial dis-
abilities.
People who suffer short-
term disabling conditions
often rely on personal in-
come and resources such as
private insurance or savings
to tide them over. Such
State administered pro-
grams as workers' compen-
sation insurance and unem-
ployment insurance may
also be available.
The waiting period is
measured from the onset of
the disability not from the
date of the application so
that in many cases a person
who applies for benefits af-
ter the five-month waiting
ers and their families against
the long-term loss of income period only has to wait the
caused by a period of dis- time it takes to process his
ability.
For Social Security pur-
poses, disability means in-
ability to do any substantial
work because of a physical
or mental impairment that
or her claim.
People who don't have
enough credit for work un-
der Social Security to get
disability benefits and who
have limited income and re-
sources may qualify for ben-
efits under the Supplemen-
tal Security Income pro-
gram, which provides pay-
ments to the needy aged,
blind and disabled. SSI is
also administered by the
Social Security Administra-
tion and the medical eligi-
bility requirements for the
disabled are the same under
both programs. For SSI,
however, there is no five-
month waiting period, since
SSI payments are made on
the basis of need and it is
assumed that the payments
are needed immediately.
Thus, a person in need may
qualify for SSI Disability
payments while waiting for
the five-month Social Secu-
rity waiting period to be
completed.
Those who need more in-
formation about Social Se-
curity or SSI Disability pay-
ments, may call or stop by
the Corsicana Social Secu-
rity office at 800 N. Main.
The telephone number is
(903) 874-8206.
Capitol Comments
By Kay Bailey Hutchison
U.S. Senator
after 40 years of research,
mammograms are the best
way to detect breast cancer.
Did you know that Sep- Regular self exams coupled
tember is the official “Hug =with clinical breast exams
a Texas Chef’ month? Or are the first line of defense,
that October was “Go Nuts Women in their 20s and 30s
Over Texas Peanuts” are at a low risk for breast
month? Texas calendars of- cancer, but should have
fer fun celebrations, lively regular breast exams at least
holidays and unique festi- every three years. For
up your rod, and stretch out
your hand over the sea and
divide it. And the children
of Israel shall go on dry
ground through the midst of
the sea.” (Exodus 14:16)
It is amazing how this
stick of wood became such
a great symbol of power to
both the Egyptians and the
Israelites. The actions of
Moses with this rod showed
vals, but in addition to the
more lighthearted causes,
the first months of fall have
two sobering causes to trum-
pet as well: prostate and
breast cancer awareness.
! According to the Ameri-
can Cancer Society, breast
cancer is the second leading
cause of cancer death for
women. More than 211,000
women will be diagnosed in
2003 - nearly 14,000 of
them in Texas. Thirty nine
thousand will die this year.
Prostate cancer is the second
most common cause of can-
cer deaths in American men.
In 2003, it is estimated that
more than 220,000 new
cases of prostate cancer will
be diagnosed - 13,200 in
Texas. Nearly 29,000 men in
the U.S. will die from this
disease this year.
Although these statistics
are disturbing, there is hope.
Both cancers have this in
common: early detection
means better chances for re-
covery.
Breast Cancer
Early detection and treat-
women age 40 and older,
annual mammograms are
recommended. Women with
increased risk of breast can-
cer because of family his-
40. A healthy diet and regu-
lar exercise are also believed
to help reduce the risk of de-
veloping prostate cancer.
Researching a Cure
In addition to a proactive
approach to our own health
care, it is critical to support
cancer research. There are
hundreds of organizations -
public and private - that are
working round the clock to
study causes, treatments and
preventative measures for
all cancers. In Congress we
recently fulfilled our com-
tory, or past incidences of mitment to double the bud-
cancer, should talk to their get of the National Institutes
doctor about the best course
of action.
Prostate Cancer
In the last decade, prostate
cancer has become the most
commonly diagnosed non-
skin cancer in men. The
National Prostate Cancer
Coalition assesses the
chances of getting prostate
of Health, which houses the
National Cancer Institute
(NCI) - our nation’s cancer
research arm. With a nearly
$5 billion annual budget,
NCI scientists are working
with leading organizations
to help stop these diseases
in their tracks. With the gov-
ernment working hand-in-
cancer are one in three if you hand with private industry
have just one close relative, and researchers to find a
such as a father or brother,
with the disease. The risk is
five-fold with two close
relatives, and with three, it’s
97 percent certain you’ll get
prostate cancer. Thirty per-
cent of new cases occur in
men under the age of 65.
African American men are
at special risk for the dis-
ease. They have the highest
rate of prostate cancer in the
world - nearly 60 percent
higher than in white males
ment are the best strategies and double the mortality
in decreasing the chances of rate.
having to remove the breast
and preventing death.
Mammograms are the best
way to find breast cancer at
an early stage, when treat-
ments are most effective.
The American Urological
Association encourages rou-
tine testing for prostate can-
cer for men who are over age
50. If there is a family his-
tory of the disease, regular
They are not fool proof, but testing should begin at age
cure, and the public doing its
part to prevent and detect
these diseases, we will put
cancer behind us.
The following web sites
offer additional information
and resources on breast and
prostate cancer:
National Cancer Institute
at www.cancer.gov
American Cancer Society
at www.cancer.org
National Institutes of
Health at www.nih.gov
Centers for Disease Con-
trol at www.cdc.gov
National Breast Cancer
Awareness Month at
www. nbcam. org
National Prostate Cancer
Coalition
www.pcacoalition.org
www.pcacoalition.org/>
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Williams, Neal. The Kerens Tribune (Kerens, Tex.), Vol. 111, No. 39, Ed. 1 Thursday, September 25, 2003, newspaper, September 25, 2003; Kerens, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth591523/m1/2/?q=%22~1~1%22~1: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Kerens Public Library.