HIGH POINTS FROM EL CAMINO REAL
CHRIS DAVIS elcaminoreal@consolidated.net
Folks along El Camino Real were pleased with the little dab of rain we received last week, but it wasn't nearly as much as we had hoped. The deer better start eating all the acorns they can because it is liable to be a while before the oat patches start growing.

I don't know why I keep worrying about oat patches - it's too hot to hunt now anyway. You didn't give your four bits to find out how the grass is growing, so I better get to giving you your four bits' worth of news.

James Polk Richards Sr. passed away last week at the age of 85. Mr. Richards was from Rusk but he had ties here in Alto and in the Bulah Community. His wife Genelle is part of the Holcomb family, so James Polk was always sweating along side the rest of us at the Holcomb reunion.

He was a good man and he will be missed by many friends and lots of family. Please keep his wife Genelle and the entire Richards family in your prayers while they mourn his passing.

My cousin, Mark Davis and his wife Stephanie, are the proud parents of a fine looking baby boy. Ross Lloyd Davis was born Oct. 1. He weighed 6 pounds and 9.6 ounces and was 19 ½ inches long.

I'm afraid that the poor little fellow isn't going to have any hide left on his forehead with all the kissing he's getting from his new sisters Corin, Brooklyn and Ashley.

I don't think my cousin has realized that having a baby on the first day of squirrel season will mean that he will be at a skating rink or some other place celebrating birthday parties on the Saturday when hunting season opens while everyone else is in the woods. Congratulations to Mark and Stephanie on their new addition. Welcome to Alto, Ross.

I told you a few weeks back that the Alto Independent School District has plans underway to build a much needed new elementary school.

On Oct. 16 at 7:30 p.m. a public forum will be held in the Alto High School Cafetorium to inform the public on the plans and costs of the new elementary school and to answer any questions that might need answering.

The bond election to finance the new school will be in November, so it is very important that all of the Alto ISD voters are educated on the new school proposal before they go and vote. Come out to the meeting and be a part of our children's future.

The Methodist Women of A Frank Smith United Methodist Church have reordered 500 more of their great cookbooks and have them ready to sell for the holidays.

I can't believe they didn't ask me to pose for the cover of this cookbook, since the nice figure I have today was caused by eating recipes out of the old Methodist cookbook for most of my life.

These new cookbooks have all of the old recipes from the past of people who have long since passed on with brand new ones from members today.

The covers of the cookbooks are hard, so they ought to last a long time and hold up to sticky fingers, flour and splatters.

The cookbooks are $15 each. The Cookbook on CD is $10, or you can get the Cookbook & CD for $20. If you are interested call the church at (936) 858-4347 or Betty Davis at (936) 858- 4708 or contact any of the Methodist ladies.

Getting a copy of the book was the easy part, now all I have to do is get my wife and the book together at the stove.

Pam Green Black had to be feeling pretty blue on Oct. 3 when she stepped over the hill and turned 40 years old. I ran into her in the Dollar Store with her children and I know that several folks in there thought they were her grandchildren.

I've been listening to that mouth of hers for so many years now, I just expect to hear it when I go to town. We are all hoping she will mellow out now that she has gone over the hill, but I'm not going to bet any money on it. Happy 40th birthday to Pam Black.

Mindy Scott celebrated another birthday on Oct. 6. Mindy has been just a few weeks older than me for our entire lives, but you would be surprised at how much wiser that made her.

She has been offering wonderful advice to me since kindergarten. She thinks the two-week head start on life made her a lot smarter than me. I always thought that it just made her look older. Happy birthday to an old friend.

My nephew Jake West celebrated his birthday on Oct. 5. He isn't 30 yet, but he is as close as you can get. The family celebrated over dinner in Lufkin. His grandmother is my motherin law and they took her too. I wish these kids could have birthdays more often. Happy birthday, Jake.

The Alto Yellowjackets continue their winning streak with a 43 to 0 victory over the Huntington Red Devils. This week the Yellowjackets travel to Oakwood. The Little Mexico Mexican Restaurant will be filled with Alto folks on Friday night, so you better leave early if you want to eat. Congratulations to the Yellowjackets for playing some great football.

I guess that is about all the news I know worth telling. If you have something important going on in your life that needs spreading around, just drop me a line or give me a call. I'll see ya next week.

And remember, Personality can open doors, but only character can keep them open.