Although we didn’t get any rain from the latest hurricanes that have devastated the east, we may need to thank them for the wonderfully cool mornings and evenings we have been experiencing lately!

Russ’ daughter Tracy and husband Mark, spent most of their visit on the porch, enjoying the fresh air. That’s a commodity you can’t buy in Houston or other big cities. Then, of course, you have the delight of a night sky alive with twinkling stars, roadrunner satellites, and pristine moonshine.

I believe Mark had a little trouble with the cough that came out of the darkness behind him, but once he got over the startle, he was fine. Why deer have to cough right behind you is a mystery to me! It has just been a wonderful week. The column is very full this week with all the “happenings” of Richland Springs.

Bev Cohn is home from the hospital. We are pleased to hear that; she is one of the special people you get to meet in your life’s travels. Although she was determined to come to church, she hasn’t quite regained her strength so perhaps we will see her next Sunday.

Ginger Skelton was down with the crud, so with Wayne out of pocket, hustling to get his hay in before the rains come, yours truly led the singing. I’m sure everyone will be glad to get Ginger back next week.

I did hear mutterings about the Privacy Act, and forgiveness for others, floating around my head this morning, after last week’s issue came out. Apparently not everyone likes having their picture in the paper.

I didn’t like mine either, I can’t figure out what makes a perfectly normal person, look so different in a picture. The flip side of that coin is how interesting it is to see your home town folks in the paper. I don’t think we’ll have many fans asking for our autographs any time soon! How fleeting 2 is our moment in the sun! I can tell you one person who was thrilled to get an issue of the paper.

Vonnie Stuber took back several copies to show family and friends. Not only did she go to a football game, but she made the halftime show and the paper! She has a long drive back to Minnesota, so our prayers and admiration go with her.

The Play Day Finals were held this weekend. Carol Bryant tells me they were a smashing success. Contestants have been working all summer gathering points at each event. That meant attendance, as well as performance, counted towards the top prize in each category.

I think the main event could have been baby Marguerite Bryant in the cooler pool. Carol, ever creative, popped Maggie into a cooler filled with water. The resulting mud down would have made delightful pictures, but no one thought to take one of “Muddy Maggie”.

Everyone has enjoyed their summer of play days, and organizers are getting calls for encores. There will be one more event to round out the year. Please keep September 20th open for a play day to benefit Jessica Estrada. This courageous young lady is battling a brain tumor, and the community is rallying around the family to assist with expenses.

The benefit will start at 2:00 p.m. and finish when we’re all worn out. Extra events have been added to allow everyone to participate. I’m going to look out an old stick horse to enter the stick horse event.

All monies collected will go to the family; that means entry fees, concessions and any thing else they can do to raise money. There will also be a donation jar for those who just want to give. You can bake a cake, volunteer to help out or show up and spend your money, whatever sits well in the saddle.

This kind of event is what makes country folk special. We pitch in and help our neighbors. Go San Saba County and Richland Springs!

Bralei Lusty was wearing her championship buckle. Fortunately for me, it was one you could read without people snickering at you!

Those goat judges need to rename their awards! There were other winners but I do not have the list yet. Elizabeth Bryant placed 3rd in her age division and one of the Lusty boys placed second. Sorry, that’s all the information I have.

The Coyotes are back on the radio and the Internet this year. You can tune your radio to 106.1 FM, or listen to it on the World Wide Web at www.kbalfm.com

Our Coyote year has started off well with 2-0 for both teams. The JV defeated Blanket this past Thursday night by a score of 51-6! Our Varsity Coyotes are the #3 ranked team in the State! They defeated the Covington Owls last Friday by a score of 62-0! Congratulations to coaches and players!

Booster Club meetings are held every Tuesday night at 6:30 pm at the School Cafetorium. Everyone is welcome. This is a meet, and eat meeting, so please bring your favorite dish and we will see you there. The coaches have put out a call for DVD’s and DVD plastic sleeves. The DVDs are used for scouting and film study. If you can help us out, please only buy the DVDs that are: (CD-R). You can drop them off at the Coyote Game Day Trailer at any Coyote home game. Thank you!

We will be playing Lometa this week. JH/JV will play here at 6:00pm Thursday, and the varsity will play Friday at 7:30pm in Lometa.

Two of last year’s champions, Mark Williams and Tyler Ethridge, are both playing for the Sul Ross Lobos in Alpine, Texas. You can listen to their games on KVLF each week, by clicking on the f ollowing link: http://www.bigbendradio.com/ Some of the games are a little closer, and you might think about making a road trip!

Citizens from the communities of Richland Springs, Lometa, Cherokee, and Rochelle have banded together and formed a Pee Wee Six-Man Football League. K - 2nd grade will play flag football and 3rd - 5th grade will play tackle. Each town will have a team. Games are scheduled for every Saturday, starting on Sept. 20th.

Mark your calendars for Saturday, November 8th @ 6pm. The Coyote Booster Club will host their 2nd annual Chili Supper/BINGO night! We look to have even bigger and better gifts this year! You made last year’s event a huge success! Proceeds from all fundraising events go towards the Coyote Athletic Programs.Have a wonderful week.

Should you have one of those hair pulling weeks, go hide in a closet with some happy music, and help yourself get back on track.

We sang Heavenly Sunshine this morning. I can tell you it never rains on that kind of sunshine. Life stinks sometimes, our government is upside down, our precious soldiers are far from home and families, and politics are ugly; so what!

We have a great country, our troops are the very best, and so is our government. It gets off track from time to time, but never forget it belongs to “We the People.” Get out and participate, vote in November, pray every day, and be glad we live here in the good old U.S. of A.!