I guess from here on in our football season is one week long at a time. I have to say I had a heart shrinking moment when I realized how many senior boys were on the team! We have more coming up, but this years’s seniors make up more than half of the team! Coach Burkhart and his coaching staff are going to have to pull a few miracles out of their hats next year. Two of our peewee football teams won the super bowl in their age division, so we have talent coming in the future. Still, I’m sure the boys will step up and thrill us again next year.

I wish the same could be said for basketball, especially the girls. Candi Lewis has no room for error. She has barely enough girls to make a team. Consequently, she has worked them almost to death. Those girls are in shape. Spell that with a capital! At the beginning of training they would come in to my class tongues hanging out and tails dragging, but the song is changing! Last week she took them out three miles, and let them out of the van to run back to school. They came to class in triumph! Not only had they made the run; they made it in less than 20 minutes! Plus they were not out of breath when they came to class. All that hard work will pay off when they most need it – on game day!

By the way, the girls are earning money so that they can attend a Baylor game. One of the younger girls asked if that was really college. I’m pleased to report that no one harmed her for her innocent question. My response, of course it is a real college. Look at their national rankings. Ask some of their opponents if they are a real college. I’m not sure why she asked that question. Surely there is not some adult in our community who thinks such an illogical thought? I used to have problems with some parents thinking a Junior College was not a real college, but I heartily approve of Junior and Technical Colleges. I know I would be thrilled to watch the Baylor Bears on any playing field. I can vouch for their stadium and campus, and I know a number of excellent graduates who have gone on to have stellar careers.

Open House was a success as far as Mr. Fowler is concerned. We had the majority of our parents attending their student’s classes. Out of my 30 or so students, I was only short about three. Those parents didn’t come, due to work obligations or conflicts with multiple children. Mrs. Gossett had a less than successful book fair. Our low economy is definitely hurting things like the book fair, especially when we have a dinner fundraiser on the same night. Obviously, that can’t be helped, but it makes it a little rough on parents, to say the least. When you couple that with all the other fundraisers it’s not too long before parents are feeling an extreme economic crunch! The early voting station saw some activity as well. I’m pleased to say that 49 people stopped by to vote in the cafetorium. I’m not sure which way they voted, but they voted and that is important. One parent came in and noticed a moldy smell. It doesn’t always smell like that, but the heaters had to be used because of the cold morning. Wouldn’t you know it had to happen on open house. On the whole, I don’t have problems with the oldness of our buildings, but I hate the heating and AC systems. The bugs are bad, the cracks that let in weather are not a great, but the noise of those units drives me crazy. I think I would even get over that dislike if it weren’t for the fact it bothers the kids. They can’t hear what I’m saying and those students with ear problems miss instruction time unless I turn off the units. I want to give a shout out to Wade Ledbetter. I saw him the other day, and I just know he should run for President some day!

I believe there is going to be a fundraiser for Ruthie’s nephews, or is that great nephews? With the passing of Mark, Elbert, Trey and Poppy’s grandmother the boys have been left in the care of relatives here in Richland. I hope many of you will turn out to give this family a helping hand. I didn’t get all the details, but I believe it will be next Saturday at McKinnerney’s Real Estate office. The event, which is also the first day of hunting season, will start off with breakfast tacos. There will be meat plates and other food dishes for residents and hunters. I believe Ruthie’s is putting out a flyer.