HIGH POINTS FROM EL CAMINO REAL
CHRIS DAVIS elcaminoreal@consolidated.net
We had another picture perfect weekend on El Camino Real, and folks along our old road who got all their chores done last weekend were enjoying some time fishing and just kicking back and soaking up the sunshine. I had most of my work done, but other projects popped up, and I had to cut my kicking back way shorter than I wanted to. In the midst of my kicking back, I remembered that I had to whip you folks out four bits' worth of news before bedtime. News doesn't stop happening around here just because I'm feeling lazy and it's my duty to spread that news around.

Campers for Christ in Alto recently returned from a camping adventure at Brushy Creek.

We were saddened at the passing of Madelyn Sharp late last week. Madelyn was a member of the Brooks family in Alto, and if you didn't know her you probably knew some of her brothers and sisters. Madelyn spent a lot of her adult life in Houston and Rusk. I met her a few years back when she would come by and drink coffee with a group of us who met in Rusk in the mornings. She was a friendly lady, and she will be missed by all who knew her. Please keep her family in your prayers as they mourn her passing.

Rosie Belle Holcomb told me that her high school class of 1957 held their 50th class reunion on Saturday, April 28 with about 24 classmates in attendance. The group celebrated their 50 years at the Chronister Club with a great dinner catered by DeLeons Restaurant in Wells. Cecil Hahn traveled the farthest for the event, coming all the way from Japan. He must have really wanted to see his old classmates. The group had a great time reminiscing and catching up on families and what has been happening since the last time they met. The weather was great and the good turn out made the event even more special. Congratulations to the

Class of 1957 on their 50th class reunion.

About 30 Campers for Christ made it back home safely from their spring trip to Brushy Lake. Campers for Christ started several years ago with a few campers from A Frank Smith Methodist Church. Over the years it has grown into a much larger group with members from several area churches. Did I say Christian fellowship? I meant to say eating and playing dominoes. I guess they might fellowship a little in between. I can't really imagine any sort of Christian behavior in a domino game involving my dad, Billy Ray Johnson, and Harold Parker.

Students from the Alto Middle School were rewarded with a trip to a Houston Astros game on Friday for good behavior and passing grades. Three bus loads of kids and chaperones headed to Houston on Friday afternoon for the game. I sure hate I missed the chance to ride all the way to Houston and back on a bus loaded with kids. My wife was fortunate enough to make the trip and I had to pick her and the boys up at the school at around 2 a.m.. The students behaved really well and everyone had a great time - especially me. I got to stay at home and watch what I wanted to on TV and go to bed early. I wish they would reward those kids more often for their hard work. Maybe next year they can take them on a weekend trip. I'm putting my wife down as a chaperone ahead of time.

I need to remind you that opening day ceremonies for the Alto Youth Baseball/ Softball Assoc. will be held on Saturday, May 5. Grab you lawn chairs and come on out for some great fun.

Don't forget about the Central High Community Homecoming this Sunday, May 6. The gathering should start up around 10 a.m.. Fix a lunch, grab your lawn chair and go visit with your friends and relatives to help celebrate this great little community. Lots of work has been done to improve the old school that is now the community center, so you need to go by and check that out even if you don't feel like visiting.

The Forest Homecoming should be coming up this weekend too, but I haven't talked to my good friend Lanelle Carter lately, to get all the details. She is always good about keeping me posted on all the events in the booming community of Forest. You better call someone and check to see whether Sunday is the big day. You wouldn't want to miss the homecoming and I'm nearly positive it is on the same day as the Central High gathering. If you were to drive out there and they weren't having it, I'm sure they wouldn't mind if you spread your lunch under one of those beautiful trees that shade the Forest Baptist Church lawn.

I was going into a panic on Saturday because my peas were just coming up in spots. I thought about replanting all of them, but decided to give them one more day to come up or get plowed up. I was sure glad I waited because Sunday morning when I went out to check the garden, every one of those pea seeds I planted was breaking through the ground. If the rains will keep coming every week, I ought to have plenty of peas for the deep freeze. Things are looking pretty good for gardening this year, but anything can happen between now and harvest time.

I hope all our cattlemen are getting ready to bale some hay before it starts getting too dry. They don't want to get in a mess like they did last year and have to buy hay for the winter. That drought caused us to have some skinny cows and some ranchers to have some even skinnier wallets. If I had a cow, I believe I'd even save my lawn trimmings.

I've covered just about everything I can think of for now. If you have some news that needs telling, get it to me. I'll see ya next week!

And remember, I don't know why some people change churches. What difference does it make which one you stay home from?