HIGH POINTS FROM EL CAMINO REAL
CHRIS DAVIS elcaminoreal@consolidated.
The closer it gets to Christmas the busier things are getting along El Camino Real. It looks like folks in Alto are going to have to start doing their Christmas shopping in July since we are going to be traveling to Yellowjacket football games all the way through December. I haven't heard anyone fussing. I can't think of a better present for our little town than back-to-back state championships, anyway. I guess I better quit bragging and get busy giving you your four bits' worth of news.

Darlene Lindsey was a little late getting me the news about her new greatgranddaughter, but I figure it's better late than never. Brandon and Betsy Glaze Barron have a beautiful new baby girl. Brook Joyce Barron was born Nov. 19 and came into the world weighing 7 pounds and 2 ounces. I saw her picture and she is a pretty baby. When I read her name it made me hungry for homemade bread and peanut brittle. Her other greatgrandmother is Joyce Brooks and she can really cook. Brandon's momma,

The Alto Yellowjackets and Granger Lions shared a moving moment of prayer after the game in Huntsville Friday night. PHOTO: LAURIE GOULD

Brenda Kay, is living way up north and Betsy's mom and dad, Ricky and Nan Glaze, are going to get all that sweet baby's sugar before she gets a chance. Congratulations to the parents, Brandon and Betsy.

My friend and coworker,

Charlotte Dixon, is home from the hospital after surgery and is recuperating slowly but surely. We miss her at work and at the football games. Please keep her in your prayers for a full recovery!

J. C. Dover is at home recuperating form his heart trouble and trying to get over missing the Alto Yellowjackets big win on Friday night when they played the Granger Lions. I talked to Nellie on Sunday night and she said that J. C. was getting stronger everyday and is very optimistic about being at the state championship game on Saturday. I hope he can make it to the game, even if he isn't up to helping me sell programs. I'll probably have to put up with having James Mason for help again, but you just have to take what you can get. Get well soon , J. C., the Yellowjackets need all their fans in Midlothian on Saturday.

The Cherokee County Juvenile Services is working on their 3rd Annual Toy Drive for some needy children in our county. They are ready to graciously accept your new, unwrapped toys for boys and girls 0-17. Cash donations will also be accepted and used for clothing and food baskets. All gifts will be distributed by Santa Claus and his elves to families active within Cherokee Juvenile Services. A box has been set placed in front of their office on the third floor of the Cherokee County Courthouse. These men and women have done some nice things for lots of children in our area over the past few years, and I hope you can help them on this worthwhile project.

A steady stream of cars left Alto on Friday afternoon heading for Bowers Stadium in Huntsville. It looked like they had pulled the stopper on Alto and the whole town was emptying out. Many of us were more than just a little nervous at the prospect of taking on a team with a line the size of the Granger Lions. Folks just kept pouring into the stands from all over the area. Word of this semi-final battle had obviously spread throughout the state and folks were hungry to see a great football game. When the Granger Lions came running onto the field my heart sank at the thought of our guys battling those big bruisers. We held them and made them punt and then we scored on our second play. This all happened before I could even get back in the stands from selling programs. It was the best football game many of us had seen all season, and everyone got their money's worth out of that game. Alto was leading 28-7 at the half. One of the Granger fans said that they had Alto just where they wanted them during halftime, "in the locker room where they couldn't score." Alto defeated Granger by a score of 35-9. Alto's speed was more than Granger could handle, but they played hard to the last play and were really a class act. When the game was over and the two teams separated on the football field, I noticed the Granger players begin to move over to the center of the field next to where the Alto players were receiving their trophy. One of the Granger players asked the Alto players to pray with them and they all prayed together on the middle of the field where they had just finished playing their hearts out. You can take prayer out of our schools, but thank God you can't take it out of our kids. Granger may not have scored as many points as Alto on the football field, but they sure scored a lot of points with everyone who witnessed this display of character and sportsmanship. The Yellowjackets will battle the Seymour Panthers at 3 p.m. Saturday in the Midlothian ISD Stadium. The stadium is new and really nice. It holds about 8,000 people, so if you want to carry a few friends there ought to be plenty of room. Alto is beginning to pick up a following as they look to add number 28 to their winning streak of 27. Please come and support our Alto Yellowjackets as they battle to bring home a second state football championship to Cherokee County.

I could probably think of a few more things to tell you, but they'll have to wait. If you have something that you want told, send it to me and I'll spread it around. I'll see ya next week! And remember, Earth hath no sorrow that Heaven cannot heal.