Columns
The fun part of the job
Posted on September 16th, 2009
By Johnny Griffin, Editor
This weekend I got to celebrate the fun part of my job.
A great football game on Friday night ended in excitement with the good guys (Brazos) winning and we had a wonderful cross country meet on Saturday morning at Brazos High School. There was also a junior high volleyball tournament happening at the middle school.
(more…)
Anniversaries
Posted on September 13th, 2009
By Johnny Griffin, Editor
Several anniversaries come to mind this week of the year. Personally, a big one for me is it has been one year since I left the hospital after 18 days in ICU and another week in general care. I’m glad to report the doctors were correct in their predictions and I have recovered to full health.
I was released from the hospital the day before Hurricane Ike hit the Texas Coast. That brings up another anniversary. I was informed this week that was the time period the pole I wrote about last week was really broken. (more…)
Dog Days of August
Posted on August 13th, 2009
By Johnny Griffin, Editor
When I was in high school and heard the phrase Dog Days of August, it brought to mind hot summer days after the first rice harvest was done and before school started in September when all we had to do was work some during the day in the hay fields and head to the rice wells in the late afternoon for a bone-chilling dip before relaxing in the relative coolness of a summer evening.
(more…)
Health care: To reform or not to reform, that is the question.
Posted on July 23rd, 2009
By Johnny Griffin-Editor
Are any of you trying to understand the health reform bill that is currently being debated in congress? This week, I have really tried.
No one, with either party, denies that some kind of reform is needed. No one, with either party, denies that the bill is being pushed through congress at an unheard of pace. Well, except for the pace they pushed the stimulus package through congress. They differ in opinion as to the reason for the pushing.
(more…)
Relativity
Posted on July 9th, 2009
By Johnny Griffin, Editor
It has been hot and dry for the last couple of months. Everybody here knows that, but I found out after looking at some of Vance Cooper’s rainfall records and visiting with my son-in-law that hot and dry is relative to what you are comparing.
The son-in-law, Warrant Officer Jason Kruzel, arrived here on July 5 for a two-week leave in the middle of his year-long deployment to Iraq. He was actually enjoying the weather. He said that on most days the temperature reaches 120 degrees around his duty station in Iraq and as soon as the sun comes up between 4:30 and 5 a.m. the heat becomes unbearable.
(more…)
Frolic success, then back to basics
Posted on July 1st, 2009
By Johnny Griffin, Editor
I told Wallis Fire Chief Clay Engelbrecht that I need to get a photo of him and my bride at the Fireman’s Frolic on Sunday because I don’t catch him in his dress uniform very often. It didn’t take but one more day to remind me just how often I see him in his other fire uniform, the one he wears when someone’s property is burning.
On Sunday afternoon, the small but dedicated group of Wallis Volunteer Firefighters was hard at work raising money at the Frolic to help finance the things they do for our community. (more…)
At A Glance
Posted on June 25th, 2009
By Johnny Griffin, Editor
The story we did last week about the old movie theater resurrected a lot of memories from area residents. Several folks have emailed their own stories or come by the office to relate a certain memory or a different recollection than the story mentioned.
My favorite came from JC Cooper from Lissie. Some years ago, when he was with KFRD in Rosenberg, he was Parade Marshal at the Wallis Christmas Parade. He and another DJ were walking down Hwy. 36 by the theater when a young man, apparently very inebriated, was playing some really hot blues licks on a guitar at the entrance to the theater. They told the young man the music sounded familiar and he told them it should sound familiar it was Stevie Ray Vaughn music. The other DJ asked how he learned to copy SRV so well and he replied he was Stevie Ray Vaughn.
(more…)
Another dose of Patriotism
Posted on June 25th, 2009
By Johnny Griffin, Editor
Every time I visit a military base, I am always impressed by the professionalism and patriotism of our Armed Service members.
I went to Camp LeJeune, North Carolina last week to help my daughter and her four kids pack up and drive back to Texas. Our son-in-law, Jason, is a career Marine and has recently deployed to Iraq again. This time, Kelley and Jason decided it would be great for Kelley and the kids to come and stay with us for the year he is gone. We think that is great as well.
(more…)
Pomp and Circumstance
Posted on June 12th, 2009
At A Glance
By Johnny Griffin, Editor
Whenever I hear the melody Pomp and Circumstance I think about pride of accomplishment for both graduates and families of graduates. I got to have one of those great times in the life of a small town newsman again this weekend. Not only did I attend a beautiful and spirited graduation program for Brazos High School on Saturday night, I got to spend all day Friday watching Brazos athletes compete on the big stage at the UIL State Track Meet in Austin.
(more…)
Shattered Dreams
Posted on May 29th, 2009
By Johnny Griffin, Editor
Austin County EMS and many other Austin County emergency agencies just completed another Shattered Dreams program, this year at Brazos High School. The two-day event takes months of planning, an amazing amount of cooperation and countless volunteer hours from the EMS, local and county law enforcement, DPS, fire departments, county officials, churches, area hospitals, funeral homes, medical helicopters and other groups I am sure I missed naming.
From the start of the simulated wreck scene on Thursday morning through the student’s retreat, parent’s meetings and the high school assembly on Friday, I was impressed by the program and the full participation of Brazos students and their parents.
(more…)
« Older News Newer News »
.jpg){kind=small}