12-22-2012-Weekend - Wise County Messenger

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4A WISE COUNTY MESSENGER, Decatur, Texas, Saturday, December 22, 2012OPINIONChristmas wraps grief in hopeBY BOB BUCKELbbuckel@wcmessenger.comFor some people, Christmashas nothing to do withreligion.It’s time off work, time toeat, watch sports, exchangegifts, hope for snow, chuckleabout Santa.For some, it’s a time todrink too much and try tocorner someone under themistletoe.Others just wish it wouldgo away (although I suspectthey still accept the Christmasbonuses) while forothers, it’s completely aboutreligion. They chide thosewho embrace Santa and boycottstores who refer to “theholidays” or, heaven forbid,“X-mas”.I grewup with alittle differentslant: a fullembrace ofSanta Claus,BUCKELpresents andtrees, but achurch thatwent out of its way to remindus that we don’t really knowwhat day Jesus was born.I’m still on this journey,but lately the faith aspect isbecoming more important.My parents didn’t shyaway from Jesus’ birthstory. The attitude I grewup with was that eventhough history may not giveus an exact date, there’sno harm in anything thatturns men’s hearts to God.Jesus did come, after all. It’sright there in the Bible. Weremember his resurrectionevery Sunday — surely wecan celebrate his birth oncea year.With the increasing commercialismof the holiday inAmerican culture (apologiesto anyone who’s ever gottena new car for Christmaswith giant red bow on it) Ifind myself, like many of you,turning away from all thatmaterialism. And when youturn away from one thing,you turn toward another.Filter out Hollywood andMadison Avenue, and theChristmas story is prettystark: A poor couple whosetimetable for pregnancydidn’t exactly meet thechurch-lady test. A forced march back tothe hometown for a censusand (Oh, boy!) taxes. Labor pains and noplace to lay your head (nevera good combination). Emergency accomodationsin a barn, with afeeding-trough for baby’sfirst crib.We focus on the glory — asinging skyful of angels,wise men with gifts, shepherdskeeping watch — andto be sure, there’s a gloriousaspect to this baby’s arrival.But no matter how oftenpreachers remind us, wetend to avoid thinking aboutwhy that baby came in thefirst place.He came to pay the pricefor sin, for us. He came to die.The world is much morecomfortable with the babyin a manger than with theman on a cross, but theyare the same person. AndChristmas is a wonderfultime to remember that theman on the cross is just asinnocent as the baby was.Our whole nation stillgrieves over the loss of innocentlives on Dec. 14 in Newtown,Connecticut. Grief isappropriate — but for thosefamilies, for that community,for our nation and for allmankind, there’s a glorioushope that overwhelms grief.We can remember Dec. 25for the same reason.And we know that storydoesn’t end with a funeral.Bob Buckel is the Messenger’sexecutive editor.OTHER VIEWSShooting promptsfocus on schoolemergency plansBY ED STERLINGSoon after news broke ofa mass shooting by a lonegunman at a Connecticutelementary school on Dec.14, Gov. Rick Perry askedTexas Education CommissionerMichael Williamsto direct Texas school districtsto review their emergencyoperation plans.“It is essential that weensure all Texas schoolsare equipped and ready tocarry out a strategic planto secure the safety of studentsand staff in the eventof a threat such as the onethat occurred today,” Perrysaid.Perry also referredschool districts to the TexasSchool Safety Center atTexas State University inSan Marcos as a resourceto assist in developing aplan of response or improvingan existing plan.A 2005 state law requiresschool districts andpublic junior colleges toadopt and implement amulti-hazard emergencyoperations plan that includesdistrict employeetraining and mandatoryschool drills to preparestudents and employeesfor responding to an emergency.In a statement of condolencefollowing theConnecticut shooting inwhich 20 schoolchildrenand six adults were killed,Perry said, “The fact thatso many victims werechildren weighs heavilyupon the hearts and soulsof each Texan and everyAmerican.”Texas’ chief law enforcementofficer, Attorney GeneralGreg Abbott, had thisto say:“As a board member ofthe Texas School SafetyCenter, I am committedto making sure educators,students and law enforcementare working togetherto prepare Texas schoolsfor the unthinkable. Wemust not wait until it’stoo late to act. We remindall schools to review theirschool safety plan to ensurethey have proper proceduresto keep studentsand campuses safe.”DNA system hits milestoneTexas Department ofPublic Safety on Dec. 12announced its DNA indexingsystem, that throughcross-referencing andmatching helps solve homicides,sexual assaults,burglaries and robberies,had reached its 10,000th“cold hit” resulting in anarrest or conviction.Since 1998, the DPS reported,its CODIS Lab,which shares data with anationwide FBI database,has helped solve 644 homicides,3,399 sexual assaults,4,273 burglaries,556 robberies and hundredsof other miscellaneouscrimes in Texas andother states.Texas law requires registeredsex offenders andconvicted felons sentencedto Texas Department ofCriminal Justice or juvenilescommitted to theTexas Juvenile Justice Departmentfacilities to providea DNA sample.Sales tax collectionsimproveTexas Comptroller SusanCombs on Dec. 12 reportedthat state sales taxrevenue in November was$2.34 billion, up 13.1 percentcompared to November2011.Collections were strongin retail trade, manufacturing,oil and natural gas,construction and telecommunications,Combs said.December local sales taxallocations totaling $552million will be sent to cities,counties, transit systemsand special purposetaxing districts, up 15.5percent compared to December2011, she added.LBJ Library to cut ribbonThe LBJ Presidential Library,located on the campusof the University ofTexas at Austin, on Dec. 22will open a redesigned coreexhibit, and much more.The opening, on whatwould have been Lady BirdJohnson’s 100th birthday,features unprecedentedaccess to private telephoneconversations of PresidentLyndon B. Johnson, aninteractive Vietnam Warexhibit showing elementsof the president’s decisionmakingprocess and newtheaters and films aboutthe president, civil rights,LBJ’s legacy and the FirstFamily.YOURVIEWSSensitivity tomental healthissues neededAfter reflecting onrecent events and listeningto the debate over allof the possible solutions,I had a thought. One ofthe biggest aspects wehave overlooked is themental health of our nation.We have gone from“Ricky and Lucy” sleepingin separate beds, hearinga gunshot off cameraand someone falling tothe floor, to … well weall know. We have slowlybeen desensitized to thepoint that we no longerrecognize what a mentallyhealthy person looksor sounds like.We need to put our effortsinto having accessto, being exposed to andbeing educated about theissues that affect a mentallyhealthy person —not just kids but parents,professionals, nonprofessionalsand “everyday”folks. If we continue toput “me” and “I” before“we” and “us” and notbeing a compassionatepeople, we are going tobe dealing with this for along time.M. MartinChicoMemories make great giftsBY BRANDON EVANSbevans@wcmessenger.comEvery day grows dimmer.The sun itself growsweary by late December.Friday, Dec. 21, markedthe winter solstice. It’s theday of the year when theheart of our solar system appearslower in the sky thanit will at any other time ofthe year.The sun floats low acrossthe sky, barely raising hergolden head above thesouthern horizon. And herlight vanishes too soon.Shadows march quicklyacross the yard. Nightdescends suddenly this timeof year, like some cosmicentity tossing a pin-prickedpurple velvet blanket overthe world earlier and earlierevery afternoon.And for those dealing withthe loss of a loved one, theirown world grows darker andcolder during this season.It’s no coincidence thatChristmas, our holiest ofholy days, falls just a fewdays after the winter solstice.Even before the birthof Christ and the rise ofChristianity, mankind foundthis time of year sacred.After the darkest day ofthe year, the sun starts tomake a comeback. Littleby little, minute by minute,days grow longer.The growing daylightmeant thedifferencebetween lifeand death. Itsignified rebirth.Just asthings wereEVANS at their darkest,a glimmerof hope and prosperitywas revealed by the cominglight. Christmas coincideswith this astronomical phenomenon.When I was a kid Ithought the most importantthing about Christmaswas the presents. Of courseI knew the story of themanger and the wise menand all that, but that wassecondary to the idea ofbicycles, skateboards andNintendos.But as I’ve grown older,I’ve learned the materialismof Christmas isn’tall that important. Thevalue of gifts isn’t how muchthey cost or even the giftsthemselves, but ratherthe sentiments attachedto them. The joy felt by amom or dad when they seetheir child’s face light uplike a supernova is the realpresent. The toy or dress orvideo game is soon forgotten,but the happinessof the moment is foreverimprinted. The assemblingof far-flung family membersto break bread is the realjewel.But the holiday seasonhas a doppleganger. lt’s acruel irony that the mostwonderful time of the yearcan also be the most heartwrenchingfor people whoare dealing with the deathof loved ones. Just as theearth’s tilted voyage aroundthe sun has made ournights longer, our heartsalso grow darker when wethink about those no longerhere to enjoy Christmaswith us.But they are still here.They live in the laughterand tears of those whoknew them best. And it’s upto us to make their presenceknown this holidayseason. Make their favoritedessert. Give a gift theywould have given. Tell oneof their corny jokes. That’show you ensure they arestill alive. Make sure youhave a good time for them.That’s what they’d want.The greatest gift are memories.It’s how our lost lovedones live forever.As the earth’s tilted voyagearound the sun makesour world a little brighterevery day, celebrate thelight left behind by thosewe loved. Even thoughthey might have left toosoon, they are still here, allaround us.Brandon Evans is a Messengerreporter.
WISE COUNTY MESSENGER, Decatur, Texas, Saturday, December 22, 20125APedro Treviño1930-2012OBITUARIESSamuel Abraham Hines1931-2012Robert Dwayne Ray1948-2012Pedro Treviño, 82, a retiredglass blower, diedTuesday, Dec. 18, 2012.Mass was Dec. 21 at Assumptionof the Blessed VirginMary Catholic Church.Burial was under the directionof Coker-HawkinsFuneral Home in Decatur.Pallbearers were Rene Guia,Eric Keefer, Evan Keefer,Gabriel Guia, Rachael Guia,Samuel Powers and MatthewPowers.Pedro was born May 13,1930, in Salinas Victoria,Monterrey, Mexico to Juanand Leonor Treviño. Hemarried Brigida LozanoDec. 28, 1956, in Monterrey.He is survived by his wifeof 55 years, Brigida Treviñoof Decatur; daughters LupeGuia and husband, Antonio,Lee Hamby, 82, a retiredschool teacher and minister,died Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2012, inFort Worth.Funeral was Dec. 21 atHawkins Funeral Home inBridgeport with Danny Russellofficiating. Burial was inCottondale Cemetery. Pallbearerswere Jay Foster, DaveAdams, David Zachary, RichrdWest, Claude Cain andex Grove.Lee was born Sept. 18, 1930,Wanda Corinne CummingsWilliams, 71, diedSunday, Dec. 16, 2012, afterfighting a courageousbattle with cancer, with herloving husband by her side.Wanda was born June29, 1941, to Homer Thomasand Marguerite CorinneGibson Cummings in FortWorth. She graduatedLewisville High School inof Decatur, Samuel Abraham Hines,Linda Kay Robert Dwayne Ray, 64, ofLeticia Keefer81, a retired chief master ser-Hines of Chico, died Tuesday, Dec. 18,and husgeant,died Monday, Dec. 17,Luling; daugh-2012, in Bridgeport.band, Alvin, 2012, in Georgetown.ters Eva Roop Service was held Dec. 20 atTREVIÑOof Plano, andLenore Treviñoand MariaGraveside service was Dec.21 at Aurora Cemetery inAurora with the Rev. GaryHINESand husband,Hugh, of JohnsonCity andJones Family Funeral Homein Bridgeport and was officiatedby Joey Vick. BurialRAYPowers and Sessions officiating. Christian-Cindy Turala was in Chico Cemetery.husband, Daniel, all of Carrollton;grandchildren René,Gabriel and Rachael Guia,Eric and Evan Keefer, Samueland Matthew Powers;three great-grandchildren;a brother, Anastacio Treviño;sisters Juanita Vega andLourdes Garcia; numerousHawkins Funeral Home inBoyd did the arrangements.Samuel was born April 11,1931, to John and Eula (Bohen)Hines in Roswell, N.M.He married Linda Kay PoplinMarch 12, 2005, in Luling.He was a proud veteran of theUnited States Air Force duringof Fort Worth; son RobertHines and wife, Marti, of Atlanta,Ga.; grandchildren JaniceAnn Brooker and husband,Denis, of Georgetown, JohnRobbie Tuttle III of KansasCity, Kan., Samuel AbrahamTuttle of Bastrop and JamesEdward Tuttle of Austin; 11Bobby was born May 26,1948, in Martinez, Calif., toWilliam Hugh and GladysLouise (Brown) Ray. Hemoved to Texas in 1968 andmarried Barbara Bailey inJune 1970. The couple laterdivorced, and in June 1979he married Tammy Bank.nieces, nephews and a host the Vietnam War.great-grandchildren; three He was employed by Giffordof friends.Samuel was preceded in great-great-grandchildren; aHill for 33-and-a-halfHe was preceded in death death by his parents; his first sister; two brothers; other familyyears where he was a heavyby his parents and brother wife, Pearl Francis Hines inmembers and friends. equipment operator. ThePorfirio Treviño.2003; and his brother, Harveyjack of all trades, he trainedWise County Messenger,December 22, 2012Hines.Survivors include his wife,Wise County Messenger,December 22, 2012the first female Euclid driversand was quite fond of allthose “crazy ladies.” He retiredin January of 2009.His passions were ridingto Bill andEdith (Tinsley)Hamby inYuba, Okla. Hemarried GlendaMcDonaldMay 31, 1952,HAMBYin Durant,Okla. Lee was a minister andtaught math at Haltom HighSchool from 1967 to 1985. Heserved in the United StatesArmy during the Korean conflict.Lee was a member of theLee Hamby1930-2012Cottondale Church of Christ.He was preceded in death byhis parents; son Anthony LynnHamby and wife, Joy; and sistersAlice Wells and MarthaHamby.He is survived by his wifeof 60 years, Glenda Hamby ofParadise; sons Ronnie Hambyand wife, Audrey, of Aurora,Keith Hamby and wife, Donna,of Fort Worth, and BurlHamby and wife, Wanda, ofFort Worth; daughters GayWanda Corinne Cummings Williams1941-20121959 and married RoyceO’Neal Williams of LewisvilleDec. 18, 1959, at CentralBaptist Church. Theywere married for 53 yearsthis December.Wanda was precededin death by her parents,daughter Shawna ReneeWilliams, son Devin RoyceWilliams and granddaughterKimber Williams.BRIDGEPORTShe is survived by herhusband, Royce Williams;daughter Kimberly Williams;son Lance Williams;grandchildren Jeremy Williams,Sarah, Cody andKyle Perryman, MeganWilliams, Ashley Corceland husband, Ronnie;and great-grandchildrenBrooklyn and Vance Williams.Sanford and husband, John, ofCottondale, Vonna Kebort andhusband, Jeff, of Cottondale;13 grandchildren; 22 greatgrandchildren;brother TinsleyHamby of Clara; sisters ShirleyCoburn of Houston, EulaBell Suiter of Lindale andJackie Degraffinreid of OklahomaCity; numerous nieces,nephews, cousins and a host offriends.Wise County Messenger,December 22, 2012Funeral was Dec. 19, atMulkey-Mason FuneralHome of Lewisville, andburial followed at McCurleyCemetery in Lewisville.Memorials may be madeto Paradise Band Boosters,c/o Paradise High School.For online condolences, visitwww.mulkeymason.com.Wise County Messenger,December 22, 2012City employees recognizedBarbra Orozco1932-2012his Harleyand watchingNASCAR.He loved hisfamily, hisfriends, hisdog Daisyand his Harley.He was quick with ajoke, always ready to helpanyone and would give youhis last dollar.He is survived by childrenMelinda Kay (Cissy)Barrett, Charles GarmanRay and Lacy Annette Ray;grandchild Hayley NicoleBarrett; and great-grandsonEaston Lane Barrett.He was preceded in deathby his father; sisters BrendaLee Gatlin and Belinda LouiseTaylor; and grandsonsJoshua Aaron Largent andCaleb Alexander Barrett.Wise County Messenger,December 22, 2012Darla Kay Bridges1966-2012Darla Kay Bridges, 46, ofParadise, died Dec. 17, 2012,at her home, surrounded byher family.Funeral was Dec. 20 at IndianCreek Baptist Churchin Mineral Wells with burialat Cottondale Cemetery underthe direction of Baum-Carlock-Bumgardner FuneralHome.Kay was born in MineralWells, the daughter of Carrolland Bobbie (Masterson)Barbra Orozco, a lovingmother, grandmother andgreat-grandmother, diedTuesday, Dec. 18, 2012, atthe age of 80.She was preceded in deathby her daughter, CynthiaGoss, of Fort Worth.She is survived by herdaughters Donna Currieof Decatur and Diana Borghesiof Burleson. She wasa loving grandma to 19grandchildren and 24 greatgrandchildren.Funeral was Dec. 21 atLaurel Land Memorial Chapelin Fort Worth. Burialwas immediately after theservice.Wise County Messenger,December 22, 2012Cox. She is survived by herhusband, Robert Bridges;parents Carroll and BobbieCox; sons Scott Nesky, Tylerand Cody Bridges; daughterSydney Nesky; and brothersBobby and Billy Cox.She was preceded in deathby her sister, Carla Gay Cox,and sister-in-law LindaGrines Cox.Wise County Messenger,December 22, 2012We honor most all funeral plansoffered by any funeral home.BY ERIKA PEDROZAepedroza@wcmessenger.comThe city of Bridgeportrecognized the accomplishmentsand continuing educationefforts of its employeesat its meeting Tuesday.During a personnel report,human resource managerJudi Conger outlinedseveral personnel changes,including the city’s sevennew hires, five terminations,three worker’s compensationclaims, threewho took a short-termleave of absence as outlineby the Family MedicalLeave Act, an update onopen enrollment, mandatenotifications sent and the“much appreciated” wageadjustments approved forthis fiscal year.Conger also noted accoladesto employees including: honors presented bythe police department attheir annual Christmasparty — Officer AntoniaValdez as the Sgt. RandyWhite Officer of the Year;Officer Richard Taylor,Employee of the Year; andShelia Webb, Civilian Employeeof the Year. Elvira Pendergraft,court clerk, completingthe first of three levelsof the Texas MunicipalCourt Clerk CertificationProgram, administeredthrough the Texas CourtClerks Association withTexas State University.Upon completion of theprogram, the recipient isdesignated as a certifiedcourt clerk. Conger earning aBachelor of Applied Artsand Sciences in businessoccupations from TarletonState University onDec.15. She is a member ofDelta Mu Delta (businessadministration honor society),the National Societyof Leadership and Successand Delta Epsilon Iota(academic honor society). Marisol (Perez) Cano,library assistant, completingthe fourth of fivecourses in the Small LibraryManagement TrainingProgram through theTexas State Library. Sandy Hefner, libraryassistant, completingtraining for the EvergreenInterlibrary Loan/CourierService. Jackie Lowrie Read, librarian,attending a trainingsession on ordering ebooksfrom Overdrive. Jesica McEachern,city secretary, participatingin the Texas MunicipalClerks CertificationProgram, administeredthrough the Texas MunicipalClerks Association andis associated with the Universityof North Texas. Itrequires extensive studyin four major areas of municipaloperation. Amy Standard, directorof financial aervices,and Shelly Neckar, accountingmanager, attendingthe Government FinanceOfficers Associationof Texas (GFOAT) Conference. Amber Fogelman,main street and communityrelations manager, attendingsummer and winterMain Street training.Dump Trucksfor Hire1401 Halsell • Bridgeport940-683-1704Rick’s Metal Recycling3280 S Hwy 101 • Bridgeport, TX940-683-3770TOP PRICEACCURATE WEIGHTON ALL METALSMon. - Fri. 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. • Sat. 8 a.m. - 2 p.m.Terry Vaughan Concrete• House Foundations• Driveways• Basements• Retaining Walls• All Concrete Work940-627-5987WCMESSENGER.COM/SUBSCRIBETerry and Derrick Vaughan817-832-1484940-393-2544940-683-4200We Can Haul• Gravel• Topsoil• Cushion Sand• Select Fill• Brick SandCommercial and ResidentialServing all of Wise County and Surrounding AreasD&T Excavation• Land and Lot Clearing• House Pads• Driveways and Parking Lots• Roads• Demolition
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