Henderson County Now

Around Town: Buying Organs and Playing Carrot

I absolutely was not drinking whiskey when I bought two electric organs last weekend. And I almost never get bored enough to go out into the garden, cover myself with dirt, and pretend I am a carrot.

These are things I want to get clear before we go any further. Of course, some of you have better things to do than fool around with Facebook. If you are one of these, then you don’t need my explanation.

However, now that I’ve started it I’m going to explain it to you anyhow.

I actually did buy those organs: two beautiful, very heavy, full of tricks electric organs at an extremely reasonable price. I got them from Janet and Bobby Ratliff at Big Daddy’s Flea Market. They work perfectly. They were delivered Monday. We put the smaller one in the dining room at Cedar Lake Nursing Home, and the larger, fancier one in the big assembly room in the old nursing home. Continue reading “Around Town: Buying Organs and Playing Carrot”

Obituary: Elsie Darden

Graveside Services for Elsie Darden, 92, of Athens are scheduled for 10 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2014 at the Oaklawn Memorial Park in Athens.

Ms. Darden went to be with her Lord and Savior on Sept. 25, 2014 in Athens, Texas.

Elsie Ophelia Brooks Darden was born Aug. 15, 1922 in Pauls Valley, Oklahoma the daughter of John C. Brooks and Emily Hearne Brooks. She was a faithful member of the Landmark Baptist Church in Athens. She was a loving, mother, grandmother and great grandmother and will be missed by all who knew and loved her.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her loving Husband Horton M. Darden; two sons, James K. Darden, Alfred M. “Butch” Darden; sisters, Cathleen C. York, Louise Standridge, Virgie Brooks, Vera Simpson and her brothers, John Brooks and Thomas Brooks.

She is survived by her loving daughter, Bonnie Graham and husband Paul of Chandler; two sisters, Dorothy Collins of Harlingen, Hattie Reavis of Porterville, California; three grandchildren, Vickie Coody and husband Devin, Cheryl Belson, James Darden and five great grandchildren, Michelle Rist, Tricia Belson, Amy Belson, Skylar Darden and Aspen Darden. Continue reading “Obituary: Elsie Darden”

Obituary: J.T. Alewine

Funeral Services for J.T. Alewine, 78, of Malakoff are scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 27, 2014 at the First Baptist Church of Malakoff with Bro. Jody Jones officiating. Interment will be held 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27, 2014 at Big Hill Cemetery in Big Hill, Texas.

Mr. Alewine went to be with his Lord and Savior on Sept. 25, 2014 in Tyler, Texas.

Jasper Theodore Alewine was born April 3, 1940 in Big Hill, Texas the son of Theodore Alewine and Ethel Elizabeth Holleman Alewine. He was a Deacon of the First Baptist Church of Malakoff and a member of the Men’s Three Sunday School Class. He loved to play golf and was a member of the Star Harbor Golf Club. The true loves of his life were his family. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather and will be greatly missed by all he knew and loved.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his sisters, Eva Little, Juanda D’Ambrosio and his grandson Senior Airman Taylor Sorenson. Continue reading “Obituary: J.T. Alewine”

HCPAC 5oth Anniversary Celebrates with Musical Tribute

HCPAC performers rehearse for All Those Musicals: 50 Year Musical Revue, opening Thursday, Oct. 16.

HCPAC press release

In 1964, Athens Little Theatre did its first Musical. Beginning Oct. 16, the Henderson County Performing Arts Center will be paying tribute to “All Those Musicals: A 50 Year Musical Revue,” as it celebrates its 50th Anniversary Season. The records are a little fuzzy as to which musical was first, “Fiddler on the Roof” or “Showboat,” but it was the beginning of a fine tradition. In that time at least 60 musicals have been produced at HCPAC. Starting in 1988 the Youth Summer Musicals were added to the lineup.

All Those Musicals honors ‘all those musicals’. Presented in a revue, this show will bring back fond remembrances from shows like “Singin’ In the Rain,” “The King and I,” “The Sound of Music,” “Oklahoma,” “My Fair Lady,” “Cinderella,” “West Side Story” and more current ones like “Curtains,” “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” and “All Shook Up.” If those in the audience now attended even a few of these remarkable musicals, they are going hear some of the most memorable songs brought back for their nostalgic enjoyment.

Many in the cast are current or former performers at HCPAC who were in some of the past productions. A few of the cast are brand new to this theatre. All have the opportunity to showcase their considerable talent. Continue reading “HCPAC 5oth Anniversary Celebrates with Musical Tribute”

Hornet’s 50-year Rushing Record Poised to be Broken

By Toni Garrard Clay/AISD Communications Specialist

Records are meant to be broken, but some of them are highly resistant to doing so.

In 1964, Dick Watt finished his three-season football career with the Athens Hornets in possession of a number of milestones. Watt was both a running back and defensive back, playing both ways, as was typical of the time. By the end of the ’64 season, he held the record for career total touchdowns, which was previously held by quarterback Duke Carlisle. (Carlisle, after whom the Hornets field house was named in 2008, went on to lead the University of Texas Longhorns to a national championship.) Watt also set the record for most interceptions in a season (10), career interceptions (20), and for career rushing yards (2,671).

The total-touchdowns record was broken three years ago by Kendal Sanders, but every other record has stood without being challenged … until now. The career rushing record will likely be held by another Hornet by the end of this season, if not by the end of this week.

“I’m amazed that the record still stands,” said Watt, a prominent Houston attorney. “Fifty years is long enough. I would love to personally congratulate the young man who does it and wish him well.”

There are actually two young men poised to surpass Watt’s rushing record. Senior Devin Hall needs only 128 yards to do so — a feat which could potentially be accomplished during this Friday’s homecoming game against No. 7 Waco Robinson. Junior Logan Fuller, who sat out last week’s game with an injury, is 353 yards shy of the record. Continue reading “Hornet’s 50-year Rushing Record Poised to be Broken”