August 30 Edition

“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” Isaiah 26:3 KJV

Birthdays this week include: Leslie Beverage - August 24, Shirlene Jackson - Agust 26, Marshall Wilson and Jackson Perry - August 29, Mark Shienle - August 30.

It's almost definitely officially August out there; need I say more?

The Thompson family reunion went well this past Saturday with over 80 attending. Those signing in are as follows: Phyllis Stedman, Patricia Huddleston, Kayla and Charles Moring, James Boney, Herbert and Ollie Moring, Joyce and Gene Briant, Marnell and Marshall Parker, Conway Thompson, Jayson Briant, Gene and Pat Thompson, Buddy and Laverne Thompson, Joy Claire Pilkington, Terry and Brittany Nolan with Drake Hardy, Mandy and Benton Cater, Tyson Thompson, Joanie Ozmont, Randy Thompson, James and Janelle Sinclair, Terry and Karen Barker, John and Glenda Appleget, Phil and Kaye Cooper, Margaret Peek, Bernice Pennington, Robert Lee and Elizabeth Barker, Nancy Richardson, Elizabeth Childers, Angie William, Cecil and Loece Thompson, Aubrey Huddleston, Vicky Irons, Paula Weast, Danielle Robertson, Ronnie Bates, Stacy Bates and Morgan Bates, Eloise Weeks, Danny Huddleston, Melinda Huddleston, Mason Huddleston, Rhonda and Laron Evans, Kristi Russell, Briane Smith, Logan Smith, Landon Smith, Isabella Smith, Cristy Cathey, Matt Cathey, Colby Cathey, Hayden Cathey, Alli Cathey, Brenda Thompson, Speedy Thompson, Calvin Earl Thompson, Mildred and Raymond Brown, Dr. Michelle and Gauge Weaver, Kaitlyn Green, Brittany Miller, and Erwin and Ethel Dyer.

If you didn't make the Thompson Reunion this year, this Saturday we voted overwhelmingly to move the event next year to the New Edinburg Community Center due to the excessive heat outside in August.

The Reaves Cemetery Homecoming followed the next day and saw about 125 in attendance, with the devotional given by Bro. Billy Wilson and the Word brought by Bro. Dwayne Ashcraft.

Hope (Veorster) Dunlap, daughter of Theresa Huddleston and daughter-in-law of Eddie Dunlap (grand-daughter-in-law of Bobbie Dunlap) is attending the Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine and recently received her "blue coat," which means she's taken the Oath of Professional Conduct and can be trusted with our pets. Congratulations to Hope for this great achievement.

If you have stuff you want in this column, please get it to me before Monday for inclusion in that week's column.  This column will appear on the internet at http://WeAreTheEagles.blogspot.com.  Go Eagles.

August 20 Edition

“I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.” --- Psalm 16:8 KJV

Happy birthday to: Carrigan Hopson - August 20, Jayson Briant - August 21, Keri Cargile - August 22, Danny Huddleston - August 23.

Happy Anniversary to Laura and Chad Sanders - August 24.

New Edinburg Methodist Church long-time member Reba Nichols passed away last Friday in Little Rock. Burial was this Monday at Stoney Point Cemetery in Bucksnort. Remember her family.

The annual Thompson Family Reunion will be on Saturday August 23 at Reaves Cemetery. The following day, Sunday, will be the Reaves Cemetery Homecoming. I'll bet I confused you last week by giving the date but stating it was "this Saturday."

Last week, two readers pointed out to me that a section of this column appeared bolded and italicized; that was a production error at the Herald according to editor Britt Tallent.

West Saline Community Center held a Back-to-School Bash last Saturday evening with many children in attendance. Eight lucky children won a $20 gift card each, and one adult won a $50 gas card.

If you have stuff you want in this column, please get it to me before Monday for inclusion in that week's column.  This column will appear on the internet at http://WeAreTheEagles.blogspot.com.  Go Eagles.

August 13 Edition

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10 KJV

Birthdays this week include: Ollie Moring - August 13, Judy Moring - August 14, Sammy Pipes - August 15,  Kimberly Brown and Judy Perry - August 16.

The annual Thompson Family Reunion will be this Saturday August 23 at Reaves Cemetery. The following day, Sunday, will be the Reaves Cemetery Homecoming.

Marty Gill resigned from the West Saline Community Center governing board July 30 due to a board decision not to charge money for truck and equipment parking on the premises.

Emmaus Baptist Church is in revival this week.

How about this unsettling weather? We have some hot days, but by and large we're skating along with lots of rain and cooler temps. If this is "global warming" then give me a double helping.

Totally out of season, but let's talk about it anyway: as we begin the slide toward Fall,  I'm personally looking forward to Halloween. I love it. Now, a lot of people don't like Halloween because sometime back in the 80s, a bunch of spoilsports got together and decided Halloween was Satanic... mainly, I think because Halloween antics weren't church-sponsored... though I could be wrong about that. Before normally sane people lost their minds on this topic, we dug it. Kids T-n-T'ed because we knew everyone and didn't fear candy poisoning and all that. That stuff was a myth, by the way, and stemmed from two mainly harmless incidents up in Yankee Land.  But down here, in God's Country, you could clean up on candy that night, and the only kids getting sick were the ones who ate too much all at once... as I can personally attest. Another fun aspect was the tricks that some of our now responsible citizens used to pull. I'll withhold the names to protect the guilty. Main street the next morning looked like a Charmin Cathedral, and the bus ride through town was a laugh. I've been told by some of the older heads, like my late father, that stunts were once a little more intense... wagons disassembled and re-assembled on roof tops, wood stacks pushed over, and a mule was once locked inside Mr. Bell's barber shop. Good fruit and tomatoes were thrown out of the darkness at unwary drivers and horses left unattended were sometimes painted garish colors. If you think these things were horrible, just remember: every pressure cooker needs a safety valve to let off a little steam.

If you have stuff you want in this column, please get it to me before Monday for inclusion in that week's column.  This column will appear on the internet at http://WeAreTheEagles.blogspot.com.  Go Eagles.

August 8 Edition

Psalm 119:160 “Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.”

Birthdays this week include: Jacob Brown (August 6), Justin Lash (August 7), Jimmy Pennington (August 7), Termekia Smith (August 8), and Becca Cowan  (August 8).  Happy belated birthday to Reggie Wofford (July 31).

Emmaus Baptist Church Revival is August 10-13 Sunday 11:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Mon-Wed. 7:00 p.m. Mike Taylor will be the evangelist.

James Gill reported 19 students in the last Hunter's Education Course with an expectation of more to come as we close in on Deer Season.

An obituary from the past... Dr. E. H. Moses built the first house in the town area, which is now owned by Mrs. Patsy Childress. Courtesy of the Cleveland County Historial Society, we read: "
Dr. E.H. Moses, of New Edinburg died February 5, 1897. Dr. Moses was born in Georgia, March 10, 1827; educated in the medical school of Philadelphia; married in the spring of 1849. He was a charter member of this church, and for more than forty-six years has walked circumspectly in this community.
He was baptized at the age of 20. His funeral was attended by a host of loved ones, who grieve at his departure. This dear brother has been in sympathy with all our church work. The community has lost a good citizen, the church a true light, and the wife a loving husband.
We mourn not as those who have no hope. God has taken his loyal child home. We shall meet him by and by. May God be with his dear companion, comfort and keep her until that blessed day."

Go Eagles.

July 28 Edition

^"14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. ¹⁵ Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. ¹⁶ Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."  Matthew 5:14-16

Birthdays this week include: Adam Young (July 31). Happy anniversary to Mickey and Billy Bryant (July 27).

I have lived in this state for 41 of my 46 years and I've NEVER seen a July with weather changes like this.

The Taylor and Avery families held their first family reunion this weekend at the New Edinburg Community Center. Though the numbers were low, they expect attendance will build over the next couple of years.

Brother Leroy Jones filled in for Brother Tony Atkins last Sunday at New Edinburg First Baptist Church.

Emmaus Baptist Church Revival is August 10-13 Sunday 11:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Mon-Wed. 7:00 p.m. Mike Taylor will be the evangelist.

Macedonia FWB Church is having its Vacation Bible School this week.

VBS. Yeah... remember that? I attended 1st Baptist's VBS as a child (that's the early 70s if you're counting), and it was nothing but fond memories... learning about Jesus, coloring him, cutting him out and velcro-ing him to Holy Land scenes... cookies and fruit punch for a snack... learning simple Bible songs like "The B-I-B-L-E" and "Jesus Loves Me." Brother Howard's wife (and her first name escapes me at the moment) was the director, and she was aided by Elaine Hopson and others.

Thanks to all who share things of interest; this column is especially popular with Eagles who live outside the state.  This column will appear on the internet at http://WeAreTheEagles.blogspot.com.  Go Eagles

July 21st Edition

Matthew 19:14 "But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven."

Birthdays this week include: Tully McCoy, Mary Ann Morgan and Dylan Dunlap - July 20, Maggie Sanders - July 21, Ethel Dyer and Jean Parrott - July 22, Daniel Thompson - July 23, and Aubrey Huddleston - July 25. Happy anniversary to Marshal and Marnell Parker - July 21.

As I write this, Norma McCoy, her sister Martha Cook, Norma Hensley, and Jean Huddleston are in Dallas, TX for Seniors Cheerleader Tryouts. I'll let you know next week how they did.

First Baptist Church certainly looks bare without the massive oak tree in its parking lot. I didn't count the rings, but I suspect it was way older than the building itself.

Forbes Magazine, which I'm sure everyone here reads, reports that New York state has more billionaires than any other state for a total of $158 billion, but Arkansas is a close second with three billionaires worth a total of $157 billion. That of course, would be the Waltons, but there are a whole constellation of millionaires all throughout Arkansas as well. Once upon a time, wwaaaayyyy back when I was a child, there were several here in town and everyone knew it. Mattie Sloane by herself was worth at least $6 million and that was before she inherited from Leslie Stewart. These people died, their kids "copped the lolly" as the English would say, and generations of industry and saving went somewhere else with nothing left but ugly cutovers. Of course, there are one or two still around here who I suspect qualify as a millionaire, but they won't let on. Remember, not everyone who looks poor is poor and not everyone who looks wealthy is wealthy.

If you have items of interest for this column... birthdays, anniversaries, events, or whatever... then please send them to me before Monday in order to get them in that week's column.  See this column online at http://WeAreTheEagles.blogspot.com.  Go Eagles.