Did you miss the Fall Fair/Chili/Bingo night at the school? Chances are you missed a super fun night! I think the town was empty, because everyone who was anyone was at the school. Many classes had fund raisers. Mrs. Brockman’s class held a cake walk, Mrs. Harris had the “fishing” booth, and the junior high group had a Pie in the Face booth. Right next to that was the Dunking booth. Mr. Fowler, the school principal, enjoyed both booths! I think he had the system all worked out. First he let everyone throw pie in his face then he went and cleaned off in the dunking booth. I wasn’t willing to brave the cold water so I put my best “face” forward, and let my students get their giggles. I’m not sure what it was they put on those plates, but boy was it sticky! Some time later, and many sticky offerings deep, I finished my turn and decided all that goop shouldn’t go to waste. So I “shared the love”, and returned some of the white glop to the people who gave it to me. The free for all that erupted was as good as the pie in the face event. Mind you, all of that came to a halt, when the cry BINGO, was heard! Mind you the screams from the spook house almost drowned out the fun.

The shamrock must have been in Jewel Larimer’s pocket because she won three wonderful bingos! I hope she enjoys that day at the spa. I know that was donated for me not for her! She told me she was one away from winning the free flight. That would have been just too much to take for the rest of us who couldn’t get that last elusive number! I told Jason Lewis he should consider growing ringlets, his pirate outfit was just cute. Pastor Barry Fikes was more on the realistic side; he wore an eye patch to carry his pirate look off!

The juniors attended the Viet Nam moving wall memorial on October 22nd. They searched for and found a Richland Springs patriot on the wall. San Saba is to be congratulated for bringing such a wonderful display to our area. I had friends who fought in that war and the scars are still there for all to see.

The 5th grade class attended Farm Safety Day with their sponsor Mrs. Brianna Ethridge. Storm Teel, William King, Antonia Valdez, Wade Ledbetter and Robert Bess, all came back with new gained knowledge, and a bag full of goodies to display.

The annual book fair is over. Mrs. Gossett says she was prepared for a lower return this year due to the fact we had several major fundraisers on the same date. With her usual gracious spirit, she stated “they were much more important.” That may be true but we can make it up to her by getting those Box Tops for Education in to her. Search them out, buy the products, do whatever you can to get them to her! Remember these tops buy books for our kids. Mrs. Valerie Gossett told me she received an envelope from Charlotte Kolaja in Rochelle. Apparently Mrs. Kolaja was a former student and wanted to help out by sending in her tops. On behalf of the school, thank you very much. If any of you Richland Alumni are reading this article, you too can send in your box tops. The address is RSISD, 700 Coyote Way, Richland Springs, TX 776871. Surprise this wonderful lady and fill her mail with “box tops”!

The PTC for RSISD held its first meeting, Friday the 26th, at 4:00pm. Plans for fundraisers and activities were discussed. The Booster Club president, Jason Lewis, made it clear that sponsorship of the fall festival could be held by the parents club next year. Their next meeting will be held November 16th in the Cafetorium. All parents are welcomed and encouraged to attend.

Friday, after the parents meeting, the room was cleared for the Meet the Lady Coyotes night. Guests came to eat, meet, and treat the ladies to a warm season start off. We wish you ladies the best of luck. Coach Dodson says they are ready to play some ball! B ball that is! I know everyone is still following the Coyote football, here, there, and everywhere, but don’t forget the girls!

There’s a Volunteer Fire Meeting coming up according to Doc Fisher. I missed the Preservation Society Meeting last week. Apparently I wasn’t the only one because they didn’t have a quorum to get any business completed. I don’t know if that makes me feel better or worse. I was told the sale raised around $1000. That was great news for the group since they can get started on the building repairs needed to keep the interior dry.

I heard from my son this week. He says the Army men and women have a tough life in Iraq. I should forward his email to that Prison Warden in Arizona, who is making the inmates sleep in tents, instead of air conditioned rooms. Our brave soldiers are sleeping in tents on hard cots. They do that because they believe in the cause for which they are fighting. They believe they are doing the right thing. They need all the love and support we can give them. Our news media and Hollywood prima donnas need to get out of the propaganda business and support our troops. Our politicians need to save their rhetoric for the end of this war, not feed the maniacs who started this whole nasty war. We have the most wonderful, brave and upright troops, please don’t dishonor them by belittling what they are doing.

Pray for our troops, our leaders and our lovely community.