HIGH POINTS FROM EL CAMINO REAL
CHRIS DAVIS elcaminoreal@consolidated.net
Folks along El Camino Real have the stars and stripes unfurled all up and down our stretch of the King's Highway to celebrate the 231st birthday of our nation. The grocery stores have been full of folks looking for something to barbecue for the big day. I don't know how many people will be heading to the lake for the holiday. With all the rain we've had here lately, I'm just about waterlogged. I better get to telling you the news before you spend your last four bits on fireworks to celebrate.

I was sorry to hear of the passing of Leon Tyra. Leon had been a regular fixture around here for a long time and had many friends. I didn't hear of his passing until several days after the services. Please keep his family and friends in your prayers as they mourn his passing.

The Alto Chamber of Commerce is having a Garage Sale, Saturday, July 7 in the old Southwestern Electric Building in downtown Alto. That is the building in between the Dollar General and Bonnie Magruder and Sue Jones' gift shop, for those of you who don't remember when we had an electric office in town. If you have items you would like to donate for the sale or have any questions you can call Bonnie Magruder at 936- 858-4921 or 936-858-3637. Proceeds will benefit the Alto Herald Museum.

Children pose for a picture at Vacation Bible School, held this week at Camp Ground Baptist Church on Hwy 294 west of Alto.

One of our little country churches had a big Vacation Bible School last week. Campground Baptist Church in the Lynches Chapel Community had kids coming out of the woodwork when I arrived to let my son, Creager out for Bible School. I was even excited about seeing all the children come out for their Bible School and I'm a Methodist. I was raised in the Lynches Chapel Community and I've got a warm spot in my heart for those two little churches out there. I've heard my grandmother tell that years ago people in the neighborhood would go to both churches as long as they weren't having something at the same time. When the old country schools closed down and children started coming to town to go to school, the kids made new friends in town and the draw of the bigger churches took in lots of members from the little community churches. When folks started making their living in other professions besides farming they began to move off to the big cities and the little communities began to dry up. Pastor Jim Goforth told me that it was the first time they have had Vacation Bible School at the church in 47 years. I think they averaged between 30 and 35 kids per night. Congratulations to the members of the Campground Baptist Church on a great Vacation Bible School .

I usually head to the beach with the family on the Fourth of July, but this year I decided that it would be more productive if I blistered in the pea patch instead of on the beach. With all the recent rains, fast growing grass, and the high price of gas, families have been forced to make different decisions this year on where to spend the gas money. The question we have to ask ourselves is, "Do we want to mow or go?" Whatever you decide to do to celebrate this middle of the week holiday, I hope you have a safe and happy time with your family. Watermelons, homemade ice cream, and barbecues are great anywhere you decide to celebrate. The mosquitoes are getting bigger everyday, so be sure and keep an eye on your small children and make sure that they don't get taken off by a big one. Bug spray and sun screen should be on the grocery list right under the hot dogs and buns for this Fourth of July.

I know that I have left something out of this issue that needed telling, but my mind has drawn a blank. Just as I was finishing up writing down this four bits worth of news, the electricity went off and came back on and all my hard work was lost somewhere in the computer. I'm just glad that there weren't any preachers, women, or small children within ear shot when it happened.

If all else fails you can spread this issue out and cut your Fourth of July watermelon on it. If something worth telling is going on around your place this summer, be sure and let me know. I'll see ya next week! And remember, No burden is too heavy if it is carried with love.