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Even though I am writing this before Thanksgiving, I would use a line from the movie “Pretty Woman” – “If I forgot to tell everybody, I had a wonderful time, thank you.” Now it is officially time to get the Christmas spirit going, even though it was started long before Halloween. I am going to try to decorate the yard, if time allows, so watch for the glow. The truth finally came out in a trash can beauty conversation. Someone asked if the trash rates would rise yearly, and the city council g...
Enjoy the day with family stories and great food. There are several places in Alva and surrounding towns for a free meal Thanksgiving Day. Check the Newsgram out for the places and times. Parents, don't be too proud to take your kids out for a good meal. If you know someone who is alone on Thanksgiving Day, call them, or get a car full and take them out for dinner. Afterwards, pick up drinks and take a drive around town or out through the country before taking them home. You will make everyone y...
As we were driving away from the salvage, a friend flagged us down and wondered if I had a strange cat at the salvage. I hadn't seen any extras, so he told me his story. He brought some stuff to leave for me, and when he went to get back in his truck, his cat was sitting by the door and promptly jumped out. He said it panicked and ran away before he could catch it. They have unsuccessfully found two or three lookalikes, but not his. I haven't talked to him for a couple of days, but if you have...
I had an appointment a week ago Tuesday for a heart procedure at Oklahoma City. Jeff drove me down, and we got there a little early, so I went on in. No one was at the desk, and there was an Alva couple waiting on his procedure. We visited right along; noon came and went, and nobody was at the desk. In a little while somebody showed up, but never asked me what I needed. At about ten to one I asked the lady if it was going to be a while and if so, could I clock in and sweep and clean until they...
In reality it is still pretty great, but it needs a little polishing around the edges. This was done in 1969 by Red Skelton as a skit. I want everyone who votes and is radical in their thinking to read this or better yet find the skit on the internet and listen to it carefully, to its words and meanings. Our country is at war within itself because of all the lies, propaganda and pot-stirring that is called a presidential election. Whatever you believe and whoever you vote for, when it is over,...
On the way to the salvage there is a house with an Elephant Ears plant. I have been both envious and jealous about the plant's owners, because they look really great and it is one of the few plants Cleo was never successful at growing. Much to my dismay, after the frost the huge leaves were turning brown. I take back half what I said about Jack Frost, because the brown leaves are gone, and it looks great again. Congratulations to Diana Morrison as the 2024 Beadles Hawaiian Luau Queen. She is suc...
That's the box I want to mark on the presidential election. I have listened to all the bashing, pipe dreams, unfulfillable promises and lies I can stand. I was disgusted the last election and picked out what I thought was the lesser of two evils. No more! This time I refuse to lower myself to their level. I know most everyone has a favorite, and for whatever reason you support them, I salute you. Myself, I am not going to vote for either of them as my protest of both parties’ stupidity. W...
On the dating site I look at (I am down to one because I don't have a car that will get to Brazil, and no one from Alva is on the other sites), many of the ladies insist on having intelligent conversations. Just what is that? If you talk about religion, you soon will be bantering about which church will get you to heaven. If you talk politics, in a bit you are so stirred up at the other's opinions you will try to slip out the back door. Sports is not calming either. When she can tell me how...
He'll make America GRREAT, again. I saw a T-shirt that said, “With America So Divided,” I'm just glad to be on the side that believes in God, has the most guns and knows which restroom to use. Don't forget to watch the parade. Saturday is homecoming. Years ago, a friend told me it was NWOSU's homecoming. I am not part of the college, but if you came back to Alva to visit with family and old friends, a big welcome home from the Junkman. Years ago, in simpler times, our family and some friends wou...
Jack made it with his Falcon convertible and frog passengers, so I sat with him and had a good time visiting. It was a bummer that we got rained out, but for whatever reason God saw fit to give us our much-needed rain this weekend. The farmer group can now sow wheat. My friend Bettles (If you are from Great Bend, Kansas, no one ever knows your name, just your nickname) won a trophy. Nephew Joel was fourth in the burnout. As always, the car club did a spectacular job. High fives to all! If you...
I hope everyone has a great time. I'm not sure if brother Jack is going to make it because he has family visiting. I lack the energy and want to get one of my cars out this year. There are plenty of activities to go around, so enjoy it all. Cleo loved to show off her "Pie Wagon," the Model T C-cab. Unfortunately, it has been out of commission for years, and she got to where she could not get in it to ride. I hope everyone has a fun weekend. Don't forget the free food this evening. I had an...
Not really, she is an anchor on Channel 9 news. Besides being very cute, she is an excellent spokesperson. She posts important things on Facebook like silver alerts. She is also an avid sportsman, but she may not mention dove hunting again. She had a nice picture of herself and her husband going dove hunting. The nuts all showed up with comments. We got Bible quotations, killing for food, doves are the peace animal, well you get the idea. You go girl and keep all the fish and little animals on...
It is strange that low 90s are a welcome change, but I'll take them. I hope everyone had a great Labor Day weekend. I really didn't do anything. I was going to go to the Fairview or Kiowa car shows, but Jack was busy both days. I don't know if anybody noticed, but the more retired you get, the more things there are to do. I may not get to put in the Fair Street Lake. Wednesday afternoon there was a city machine sitting by the leak. Time will tell if they just set it there to fix the leak or...
There is a water leak at 13th and Fair that is over a month old. The city doesn't have time to fix it, so I am going to see if I can build a dam at 12th and Fair, stock it with fish and quit wasting the water. You will still be able to get to the salvage from the west. Anybody have a dozer I can borrow? Don't forget all the activities this Labor Day weekend. I don't know if Jack will make it to the Kiowa Car Show or not. Then don't forget the Woods County Free Fair next week. There are covers...
It looks like the city has decided to outsource the trash business. This has been on the burner for a while because they have not updated equipment as needed. Someone said it showed a profit and the money was funneled elsewhere. I don't know about that, but it goes along with my theory. If the other company does it cheaper and the city is going to handle the billing and not lower our bills, then they will use it for other purposes. The city has been trying to save our city by hiring companies...
That's what dropping the state tax on groceries will save. That is 4.5 cents on the dollar. My only question is, where are they going to get the money to cover this loss? I hope they don't raise fees and licenses, because they are about to put us out of business as it is. I hope the city fathers don't get wind that us Alvans will have a little extra cash, because they will raise utilities 4.5% to make up for our gain. Yet another firm has pitched the city council about saving our town. With so...
I was looking at some stories on Yahoo when I saw one that said Kamala Harris had overtaken the Donald by a couple of points. Lo and behold, on the same page further down it said Trump had taken a commanding lead. What a joke. I wouldn't be surprised if my cat Smokey passed both of them, if I leaked the story to the press. It bothers me that the news media has to speculate, outright lie or make up crap to call newsworthy. What bothers me more is that the general public believes it all and takes...
Today is Sarita Simon’s and Amy Mayes’ birthdays. It's mine too, but these girls make Aug. 2 look so much better. Happy birthday to everyone who has a birthday today. I really hadn't wanted to make it to 76, but here I am. Bummer. First Friday is today. It looks like there are some neat things going on, so come to downtown Alva and get some culture. Calvin Graybill, Warren Little and Max Ridgeway will be there, complete with refreshments. Refreshments? I may need a little culture myself. Tex...
There is going to be a TV show about the rise and fall of the psychic “Miss Cleo,” then a documentary supposedly telling what really happened, bound to be funny stuff. My Miss Cleo said not to waste any money on the TV girl, because she would be happy to tell me about my future for nothing. Then she told me she saw me giving her whatever money she asked for. They may have been more alike than I knew. Please consider being a school supplies sponsor. There is a real need for the help; it is sca...
Last week Linda called and wanted to know where my story was. I told her I would send it in Wednesday evening. Unfortunately, it was Thursday afternoon. I am still searching for Wednesday. My computer has a way to get rid of clutter, and I am going to have to find that button for my mind. This says it all. It is okay to talk to myself, it's okay to answer myself, but sad to have to repeat myself because I wasn't listening. Enjoy Crazy Days this weekend in Alva. It looks like there is going to...
After the debacle they jokingly called a debate, our country may not be able to sink any lower. It was like two 10-year old's trying to pass the blame to each other, with us being the parents. I don't blame Trump and Biden. They are two over the hill guys trying to show they still have it. Sure, enough they don't. A guy that stumbles and talks with his eyes closed trying to form a thought is not president material. A guy that just argued about how bad his opponent has done and cannot seem to...
May your punks stay dry, and your fingers remain unburnt. Get the family together and feed everyone and give the kids good memories. There is a lot going on for the Fourth, so enjoy. If you are looking for real comedy this week, Biden and Trump are going to have a debate. However long it lasts, Trump will tell how senile Biden is and Biden will tell how corrupt Trump is. Neither of these bozos have a clue about how to save our country from going down the toilet in the next four years. It is bad...
I forgot it until the kids fed me a really good meal and told me why. There was quite a discussion on the “Alva Rants and Raves and Gossip” Facebook page about the trash services the other night. Joe Parsons tries to answer all the questions he can and help keep the natives calm. He seems to be a proponent of outsourcing the trash to a private company. The main talk is about how much cheaper it would be. This company is going to do it for a profit. What we need to do is look at how they wor...
Even if you don't like the choices, some countries give you no choice. First, let me say we have some very special people working in all departments for the citizens of Alva. Please don't blame them for poor management from above. The fix is in, if we let it happen, that is. Do you think that the city has not taken care of all the sanitation department problems out of stupidity? Hardly. We are having subpar services, not by the workers but by the city's management of funds and timely repairs to...
This evening is the First Friday Art Walk. Enjoy. South Barber, Kansas, is having a free lunch program from now until July 26. You don't have to be a South Barber student to attend. Any student from anywhere who is under 18 is welcome. Call 833-722-7237 for information on times and location. Parents, please don't let your children miss a meal. Thanks to South Barber USD 255 for sponsoring this event. On a related note, I saw where the city of Kiowa, Kansas, had found a company to pick up...
