The Hopkins County Echo (Sulphur Springs, Tex.), Vol. 207, No. 7, Ed. 1 Friday, February 14, 1997 Page: 4 of 4
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4 — THE HOPKINS COUNTY ECHO, Sulphur Springs, Texas, Friday, February 14,1997
COMMUNITYNews
Reports From Our Area Correspondents
’— - games, crafts and refreshments. All
ARBALA children attending can bring valen-
By Cathy Halliburton-Halter tines to share wl,h their friends For
Hello once again from the Arbala more information, call 485-3984 or
Community. If you are wondering 383-2705.
what you might do with your chil- Don t forget about the Ash
dren for Valentine s Day, bring them Wednesday serv ice at 7:45 p.m. at
out to the Arbala Community Center Gafford's Chapel
from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. for a Several members ot Arbala Volun-
Valentme’s Day party There will be teer Fire Department attended a
Hopkins County Volunteer Firefight- certificate of appreciation for her
er's Association meeting in Tira last unselfish work with the children s
Tuesday. Members of the Arbala Sunday school service.
VFD met this Monday for a business Birthday wishes go out to Autry
meeting. Darden.
Special visitors at Arbala UMC Sarah and Rebecca Halter spent
this past Sunday were Mr and Mrs. the weekend visiting with their
Gary Henderson and Wendy Friddle “Granya ’ and Granddaddy. Thanks
and children Skyler and Casey. to Mrs. Bobby Crook for making
Kristi Burkham was honored with a that tnp to Little Rock with us.
*5
V.' V.v
Local poet Charles Behlen seeks inspira-
tion in a camera flash while posing
Wednesday in his 1.060-book library.
Staff Photo By Marco Antonio Medina Sr
The poet finds inspiration
By PETER REJCEK
News-Telegram Staff
harles Behlen, poet and apartment man
I ager. has some very stringent guidelines
determining who qualifies as a promi-
nent purveyor of poetry.
“In order to be a great poet you must be raised
by a Cherokee Baptist grandmother, which real-
ly narrows it down,” he tells listeners at poetry
readings. “T.S. Elliot. William Carlos William,
all of them are going to fall short, really."
Behlen. 48. is a published poet living and
working in Sulphur Springs, currently enduring
“false labor” pains as he endeavors to complete
his third solo book of poetry. The Voice is Under
the Floor. A chance encounter with the bearded,
bespectacled Behlen at the Sulphur Springs
F*ublic Library eventually led to lessons in poet-
ic aesthetics and the West Texas landscape.
Bom in the Lubbock County town of Slaton.
Behlen moved to nearby Posey at the age of l().
There he nurtured his rural West Texas roots. It
was a change of address that might have saved
his life if not his writing career
“It was a nice change of pace because I lived
in the demilitarized zone in Slaton, between the
ghetto and the upper working class neighbor-
hood ... where picking up a loaf ol bread could
be a harrowing experience." he recalled
Behlen said he began writing poetry at I 3. but
it wasn't until his late teens and early 2()s that
he stopped penning "derivative doggerel" and
found his own voice.
He published his first book of poetry. Perdi-
tion's Keepsake, in 1978 under the direction of
mentor Dave Oliphant. whom he met at New
Mexico Junior College His second book.
dreaming at the wheel, followed If) years later.
This 10-vear cycle is something Behlen hopes
will continue to turn in 1998
"I |ust wait for 10 years and then — boom1
the book appears," he said. ‘Tin going through
false labor right now. It could happen anytime.
My water could break and you would have to
rush me to a publisher."
Supporting himself as a house painter through
the years while his work appeared in magazines
and eventually books. Behlen finally made the
leap from being "house painting poet to being
poet in residence” for the Texas Commission on
the Arts in 1984. He traveled between Texas.
New Mexico and Arkansas, writing and teach-
ing to about 3.000 students per year.
The pace finally took its toll on Behlen's
health, however, and in 1991 he suddenly found
himself in Sulphur Springs and manager of a
local apartment complex. The experience is
already feeding his poet’s psyche.
"I'm (also) working on a book of poems
which will chronicle the lives of tenants of an
apartment building, and I'm drawing on my
experience as an apartment manager to deal
with that. " he said.
"1 call it the crying-secular humbleness of the
working class ... it's a tad awkward but it says
what I feel about the lives I see that come and
go." Behlen explained "Rooms being filled and
then rooms being emptied and then rooms made
ready lor another family until they leave.
"You scrub their lives off the wall until other
lives can Mil the room "
But it is the sweeping plains of the West
Texas Panhandle which first grounded the poet s
imagination and gave birth to private metaphors
which now seem like public myths
"Mans of mv poems during the '70s chroni-
cled the lives ol big-boned, wind-burnt farm
folk." he explained
You might call it a sort ot Brazos River
Antholoev it you don'i mind taking your hat off
to Fdgai fee Masters." added Behlen. referring
to the American poet whose Spoon River
Antliologs became famous for its portrait of
in his roots
individual rural lives.
The succeeding years brought a distinguished
gray to ins beard and thick hair, as well as a
looser form to his pen.
“1 began to write poems that were grand
reservoirs of thankfulness of life," he said.
"They weren’t so much stark portraits of rural
life in West Texas — and now I don’t know
where I am."
All the familiar themes can be found in
Behlen's poetry — the break with convention,
experiencing rites of passage and river-rafting
along the subconscious — but he asserts his
work his borne out of powerful experiences
rather than the dull idolatry of motifs.
Take one of Behlen's shorter pieces from
{dreaming at the wheel} entitled, “Grandfather
Encountered in Elm Cemetery":
"The wind points the grass another way
where I find you hiding under a stone
that is knee-high, like the kitchen chairs
you edged around when I played hide-and-
seek’
You never found me. you never looked.
You stared out to your fields for rain.
Now 1 stand overhead and search for my car.
Our eyes cannot meet and we have no words
where the grass, your grass, points another
way."
dreaming at the wheel, can be found at the
Sulphur Springs Public Library.
His most recent accomplishments include
winning the Dobie Paisano Fellowship from the
University of Texas and the Texas Institute of
Letters in 1995 and the first Frank Waters Writ-
ers-in-Residency in Taos, N.M.
He is currently working on reviving his 1970s
Chawed Rawzin magazine series featuring
Texas poets on the Internet, as well as a screen-
play. among other projects.
Milk group wants pricing change
By BRI CE ALSOBROOK
A new trade association repre-
senting dairy farmers who produce
about 30 percent of the nation's
milk is pushing for a new pricing
formula that would simplify and
stabilize the industry's fluctuating
milk prices.
In a letter to the U S. Department
of Agriculture outlining the plan.
Richard Walker, chairman of the
Western States Dairy FYoducers
Trade Association, warned that the
gov ernment’s goal of providing
consumers with a sufficient supply
of a good and wholesome product
at a reasonable price was in jeop-
ardy under the current sy stem
"The Agricultural Marketing and
Agreement Act became law to pro-
tect producers, not consumers, not
plants, and not cooperatives.”
Walker wrote. “Producers have
supplied an ever increasing quality
of product at a less than reasonable
price. Unless producer pricing is
corrected, there will not be the suf-
ficient supply necessary to main-
tain reasonable consumer prices."
Nine dairy associations, includ-
ing Texas Association of Dairy -
men, joined together in May of
1996 to form the Western States
Dairy Producers Trade Association.
James Terrell, a lobby ist w ith TAD.
said the USDA’s own leseurch
shows that, when adius'ed lor the
Consumer Price Index, consumers
have been pav ing more money lor
their milk since 198 ) while dairy
farmers have been receiv ing less ot
it.
"During that time, the CPI for
consumer prices increased 31 per-
cent, and during that same period
of time the CPI for prices paid to
producers decreased by 7 percent."
Terrell said Thursday morning
"That's a pretty telling thing '
Terrell said the membership ol
the WSDPTA feels the dairy indus-
try has no reason to apologize tor
expecting a higher price for their
milk.
“These statistics verify what
dairy producers have been saying
for a long time, that they 're not
being paid a fair price for their
milk." he said.
“The bottom line is that con-
sumers are already paying more for
their milk — it’s just that producers
continue to receive less of it
because of the complex nature of
our marketing system and the fail-
ure of our system to recapture more
of those dollars for producers.
"This plan will help recapture
some of the profits that dairy pro-'
ducers have lost over the past two
decades in prices that consumers
are already paying for their milk
but th.it producers are not receiv-
ing." Terrell said.
The proposal consists of three
basic parts that would change the
formulas for calculating the price
of Class I. II. and III milk, w hile
restricting "opportunistic pooling
and de-pooling" of milk
The plan would use a 12-month
"rolling average" of cheese prices,
rather than a monthly average
price, on the National Cheese
Exchange to help determine Class 1
prices.
“If you have a $2.54 cent drop
one month, it won’t be reflected
immediately in producers' pay-
checks." Terrell said, referring to
recent record drops in milk prices
brought on by price changes at the
National Cheese Exchange. “In
fact, that full drop may never be
reflected in their paychecks
because pnees will probably come
back up before they 're hit with it."
Terrell said the proposal would
simplify the pricing formula and
take some of the volatility out of
the system.
“We think that the effect of the
price increases to Texas producers,
if our plan were put into effect,
would probably increase Class I
pnees between $1.40 and $1.70 per
hundredweight," he said.
“We also remove many of the
deficiencies in the current system."
The proposal would also replace
the current Basic Formula Pnce for
Class II and III milk with a formula
that takes into account the current
price of cheese and butter while
including a “competitive factor” in
the formula to increase the Class
III pnee.
That means it attempts to cap-
ture some of the market influence
that occurs in the Minnesota-Wis-
consin area, where USDA typically
measures the demand for milk for
manufacturing use to determine
what prices should be," Terrell
explained.
“In their current formula, it does-
n't capture the fact that plants get
into competitive bidding for those
milk supplies and drives those
prices up. Our formula tries to cap-
ture some of that competitive influ-
ence to improve prices, because it's
truly out there."
Our thoughts and prayers go out
the the Burkham family during their
recent loss. God bless you all.
Get well wishes go out to George
Durch, who is recuperating from a
recent fall and to Milford Ragan
who is doing much better after back
surgery
Arbala VFD will meet next Mon-
day, Feb. 17, for a training session at
7 p.m.
Until next week, Happy Valen-
tine’s Day! Do something special for
your sweetheart.
proud grandparents of a baby boy
who has been named Shelton Whit-
son. The baby’s parents are Shawn
and Sharee Whitson of Sulphur
Springs The baby was bom in Bay-
lor Hospital and weighed 4 pounds,
2 ounces. He and his mother are
doing fine and will probably be
home Wednesday. Shelton’s great-
grandmother is Elizabeth Allison of
this community.
SULPHUR BLUFF
By Jimmy Bass ham
REILLY SPRINGS
By Ellie Swindell
We got spoiled with the wonderful
weather last week and this cold,
rainy weather is seeming very
unpleasant. We just have to remem-
ber it is February and not spring yet.
Artie Mae Bailey’s family sur
prised her with a 50th wedding
anniversary luncheon on Feb. 2. She
and Grover H. Bailey were married
Feb. 2, 1947. Her family and friends
had suggested a celebration, but she
said no, but when she got home from
church, she found that her family
had gone ahead with a celebration
anyway.
Last week, I mentioned the Vera
Harrington had returned from a
cruise, but I did not know the full
story. She went as the guest of her
niece, Janet Pricfc, and they sailed
from Key West, Fla., on the Norwe-
gian ship. Leeward.
Sunday afternoon, the Rev. J. Brad
Bennett, Jayne Bennett and Connie
Payne had a meeting with the chil-
dren of the Reilly Springs United
Methodist Church. They played
games, sang and ended up making
lovely valentines as their craft activ-
ity.
The Bennetts went from here to
the Pickton United Methodist
Church for a get-together with the
children there.
Debbie and David May were in
Dallas Monday for a check-up with
her doctor at FYesbyterian Hospital.
We were all pleased that she was
able to attend church Sunday. Her
mother, Beverly Ragle, is here this
week to help her for a few days.
Anthony McKay and his friend,
Heidi of Dallas were here Monday
to visit his parents, John D. and Pol-
ly McKay and Finis Attlesey.
Remember on Feb. 23, we will
have a joint singing with the Reilly
Springs Baptist Church. The host
church will be the Reilly Springs
Methodist Church. The service will
begin at 7 p.m.
Juanita Hudson had as her guest
Sunday her sister-in-law Murl
Doolittle of San Antonio and her
niece, Linda Sibley of Garland.
Kelli Bums of Dallas was here
Sunday to visit her parents Gary and
Myra Bums and while here they cel-
ebrated her birthday.
Vera Harrington was in Waxa-
hachie to visit her granddaughter,
Elizabeth Bums. Of course, she vis-
ited Elizabeth’s parents. Mary and
Larry also.
Suzi and Andy Rogers and daugh-
ters Whitney and Kalea moved to
San Antonio Thursday. Andy had
been transferred there a few weeks
ago. Suzi has also gotten a position
with a law firm in San Antonio.
I understand that Bud Jones con-
tinues to improve at his home and
that he is planning to be able to
attend the joint singing on Feb. 23
We definitely hope that he will as he
is really a person who enjoys good
singing.
Congratulations are in order for
Jerrv and Betsy Whitson who are the
We are saddened about the loss of
one of Sulphur Bluff’s very
esteemed and highly respected long-
time residents — Mr. Ralph Vance.
Mr. Vance passed away last Thurs-
day at the age of 92.
Ralph and Mary and daughter,
Elaine moved to the Bluff from Tal-
co in 1941 and he was employed by
American Liberty Oil Company.
Daughter Jane was bom here later in
1945. Mr. Ralph was a wonderful
husband and father.
He loved his church (United
Methodist) and community. He and
the family were in attendance each
time the church doors opened.
Through the years with his big
smile, cheerful attitude and great
sense of humor, he has given much
happiness and created a lot of laugh-
ter among all of those around him.
Mr. Vance was very supportive of
our school system, serving on the
school board of trustees for a num-
ber of years. He was an avid gol/er
and enjoyed the game immensely.
He also loved his cattle and took
great pride in caring for them.
Ralph Vance never said an unkind
word about anyone and he was
always willing to lend a helping
hand to anyone in need. Everyone
loved Mr. Vance which was evident
by the large crowd in attendance at
his funeral. Mr. Ralph will truly be
missed by all of us.
Mr. Vance’s family would like to
express their gratitude for all the
expressions of kindness, support and
loving gestures extended to them
this past week.
We are also saddened about the
loss of another former Sulphur Bluff
resident. Mrs. Mattie Skeen Darden
passed away on Monday at Leisure
Lodge Nursing Home at the age of
91 Our thoughts and prayers are
with the family.
Archie Huie was surprised and
thrilled by an unannounced visit
from three of his lovely sisters last
Wednesday. Anita Crawley, Edna
Bullard and Dorothy McCreight
drove up from Daingerfield and
Mount Vernon and spent the day
with him. They reported having a
great time.
I enjoyed visiting with Jim and
Mary Bums last Saturday. The
Bums retired from the Garland
School system a few years ago and
moved back to Miller Grove. Mr.
Bums was the vocational agriculture
teacher here in the 1950s. They
adore their grandchildren and love to
tell you about them. If you don’t
believe me. just ask them.
Two 1948 graduates of Sulphur
Bluff High School recently celebrat-
ed birthdays. Novalyne Baugh
Moore observed her birthday on
Feb. 7. and Floy Waller Smith cele-
brated on Feb. 8. Your classmates
and friends extend happy belated
birthday wishes to you.
Please don’t forget your sweet-
heart on Friday If he or she doesn’t
need the calories, a card or flowers
will do |ust fine Happy Valentine's
Day1
?frui» Erlrgrtnn
f Sulphur Springs |f
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Keys, Scott & Lamb, Bill. The Hopkins County Echo (Sulphur Springs, Tex.), Vol. 207, No. 7, Ed. 1 Friday, February 14, 1997, newspaper, February 14, 1997; Sulphur Springs, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth780372/m1/4/: accessed July 9, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Hopkins County Genealogical Society.