Category: Malakoff

Around the Town: A Nasty Knot for Thanksgiving

Loretta Humble
Loretta Humble

By Loretta Humble

If this column doesn’t make much sense, I’ll admit it won’t be the first one. But this time I have an excuse: I just got a big knot on my head. I mean, I saw white light and heard strange noises. I don’t know if I was headed for the light, but if I was, they didn’t take me in. I woke up in about a second. I did get a lot of attention out of it, as I did it right in the front parking lot of Cedar Lake Nursing Home. Actually it was kind of spectacular, as I fell flat on my back, on the concrete, and just lay there for a minute before I was discovered.

I had my hands full with two plates of scraps for my dogs, and I was trying to open the very back door of my old SUV without putting them down. I just lost my balance and went down. Of course, if you are going to hurt yourself, the nursing home is a good place to do it. I was soon surrounded by nurses, who took good care of me and wouldn’t let me move around until they had watched me for a long time. That was yesterday afternoon. This morning my knot is gone, and I think I’m as good as new, but now I have to write a column quick, so this did at least help me fill a couple of paragraphs. Continue reading “Around the Town: A Nasty Knot for Thanksgiving”

It’s Tea Time at Johnson Chapel AME Church

Sis. Ann Barker receiving her 1st Place trophy from Rev. Linda Ross, Pastor of Johnson Chapel AME Church.
Sis. Ann Barker receiving her 1st Place trophy from Rev. Linda Ross, Pastor of Johnson Chapel AME Church.

By Delanda Johnson

It was tea time at Johnson Chapel AME Church on Saturday, Nov. 22, with everyone coming to hear the special guest speaker and to have a little fun.

The theme for the event was “Empowering Today’s Christian Women,” to encourage the women in the community and the surrounding counties.

Speakers for the event were: Sis. Gwen Cook of Malakoff, Sis. Mollie Royall of Athens, and Sis. Ann Barker of Malakoff. Continue reading “It’s Tea Time at Johnson Chapel AME Church”

Around the Town: Loretta Having Fun

10422509_10203070460184236_4706640719943842385_nBy Loretta Humble/Around the Town

My friend John Walker came to visit this last week. It’s been a while since he has been down. He has been busy with some changes in his own situation while I have been so puny down here, I haven’t felt like going out and finding fun things to do like we used to.

But John is about to go on a big trip and be gone for a while, so we wanted to be sure and visit one more time before he leaves. He is headed for Chile, to spend nearly a month with his son, a successful businessman there. Then when he gets back to the States, he is going to turn right around and head for Seattle to spend Christmas with his daughter who lives there.

We had such a good time this weekend, I now feel inspired to go out and do more fun things. But I’ll have to do them without John till January. Continue reading “Around the Town: Loretta Having Fun”

Two Boxers Meet Again in Malakoff

Carl Ivy, left , and Bobby Vascocu.
Carl Ivy, left , and Bobby Vascocu.

By Loretta Humble and Billy Keith Bucher

Two old boxers, friends since boyhood, are getting a chance to hang out together and relive old memories. We enjoy getting to listen to some of it, because they have some pretty impressive memories to share. In their day, each of these guys was top rated in their division in the United States.

Bobby Vascocu isn’t doing that great physically, and is in Cedar Lake for Rehab. But he swears he is going to beat all this stuff, and be back on the golf course with Carl before long. Carl Ivy, among other things, keeps the grounds looking good at the nursing home, so is there a lot. They have lots of chances to visit. This is some of what we heard.

Bobby Vascocu began his boxing career at the ripe old age of 5. His father, E. A. “Lucky” Vascocu, a well-known boxing promoter and trainer, had him out there early every morning running behind professional boxer Roy Copland. They say sometimes Bobby would give out, and Roy would just pick him up and carry him through the rest of his workout. Bobby had his first fight at the East Texas Athletic Club when he was 6. By the age of 8, he was competing and winning in Golden Gloves Tournaments, as well as doing some impressive competitive swimming. Continue reading “Two Boxers Meet Again in Malakoff”