A Happy New Year to all. The holidays have come and gone with the hustle and bustle that accompanies them every year. Decorations are packed away and the house is beginning to take on a more organized appearance. I still find the little clues Maddox has played here and there. For example, the Coyote water bottles that I found in the dryer last night because… standing in front of the dryer is a fun place to be for Maddox: it is just his height, anything thrown inside makes a huge banging noise (and Memmie loves to retrieve anything thrown inside over and over again), AND the door is great to slam and then Memmie will open it, again and again. Maddox, who turns one year old on the 20th, has returned to New Orleans with his mom and dad. Memmie is having withdrawal and planning a trip soon to NOLA!!

The families of Casey and Sally Gossett and Chad and Carolyn Gossett spent New Years’ Eve night at the home of Wayne and Valerie Gossett, included were several of their friends. The whole family traveled the next morning to Charlie and Patti Fowler’s for a New Year’s Day brunch. Valerie Gossett spent Saturday at De Leon Stock Show. Shawn Skaggs, Valerie and Wayne’s grandson, won the Junior Heifer Showmanship, Grand Champion American Heifer, and Reserve Champion Heifer Overall. WAY TO GO SHAWN!!

I talked with Curtis Lee this morning. He had “lots of family” in for the holidays, including family from Dallas and Kansas. He also reported his baby sister, Marie, from Los Cruces, passed away over the holidays. Curtis’ son, Andrew drove in and took Curtis to the funeral. She was buried Friday in the family plot in Ballinger. Curtis said that she had eight children. Several of her children visited with Curtis on Saturday and stayed over Saturday night. He said they enjoyed the place and seeing all the cows. Curtis also said that his yellow lab, Lester, is missing. Please call Curtis if you have seen Lester.

On another sad note, I must report the passing of a Chadwick relative. Many of you knew Bill Chadwick who originally owned the property adjacent to Curtis Lee. Bill’s son, Houston Roy (Chadwick) McCoy passed away recently. Jim and Houston Roy were cousins and Houston, and his wife Ruth, visited with Jim several times in Elm Grove. Houston was a true TEXAS hero. Houston was a first responder on the day of the UT Tower sniper shooting. It has been reported, and Houston’s daughter Monika, has worked diligently to prove, that it was Houston who fired the deadly shots that ended the mayhem that day. Houston wouldn’t talk about the incident and stayed quiet for many years about what happened that day. I encourage those interested to do their own research, (KVUE TV out of Austin has recently done numerous stories). The main thing to remember is that many were heroes that day and among them was an honest, proud Texan with ties to our Elm Grove community.

In our local news, Curtis Lee said they will be playing 42 this Thursday night in Elm Grove and then the tournament is at Elm Grove the 12th.

The Elm Grove community meeting will be Saturday, January 19 at 7:30. This should be the meeting where officers are elected. However, I have not confirmed that for sure.

Have a great week. Please keep the emails coming to: elmgroveechoes@yahoo.com!!