SCENE IN PASSING
MARIE WHITEHEAD
Here we go with the third issue of January. Like me, you may still be trying to figure out what happened to December. It has been an interesting new year so far. Last week it was my privilege to view one of the most beautiful landscapes in Cherokee County. I thought I had seen all of the breath-taking sites. What a sight... I stood atop a mountain on Bobby and Hazel Tosh's ranch. You can't get there via public roads. It is on private land with a private road, straight up a mountain. And when you get there, that's when you lose your breath, gasping from the view spread out below. It is possible to see water storage tanks and the top of the courthouse

From afar, the view is available if you're on Rider Road and at the exact point.

have said all this to set you up. The top of the mountain I have described is the location of a colossal cross constructed by owners, family and friends of Bobby and Hazel. There must be 10,001 Christmas light bulbs which illuminate the approximately 50-foot-tall wooden cross.

Another equally spectacular feature on the way to the mountain top is a huge extrusion of blue grey rock, maybe 50 feet up and a city block long. The rock is frozen in time from its formation, folded like clothes. One thing which interests me greatly is that the stone is the wrong color. The rocks

have seen in Cherokee County are the typical, reddish-brown-orange tone of our well known iron ore. The columns on the main floor of the state capitol in Austin and many other iron objects in the capitol were manufactured in Rusk at the furnace operated by the state's prison system. Research has documented the wide distribution of goods made here from our iron ore. Pipes for the water system in St. Louis are another. It was not my intention to go in this direction with iron ore. I just wanted to make a distinction between the commonly seen iron ore rock and those which form this blue-grey rock wall.

What a memory for my book of 2008. I hope to live long enough to have more words to say about this land...and its future. I wish that I could take you to this spot where the mountain meets the sky, where you can almost touch the infinite universe and feel the presence of our Creator. Did I say "breath taking?" (See page 7A for a photo of the cross.

This was not on my list of possible topics today. It deserves so much more space. I am so grateful for the opportunity to have visited the Mountain Top of Hazel and Bobby Tosh.

It was great to hear (remember everything in '08 is going to be great?) that the City of Rusk plans to name its municipal building in honor of the late James Long who served our city in many capacities. Mayor and judge are among his titles. He really loved his hometown. It was his town's blessing that after retirement, he returned "home" for his final stage of life. He and his beloved wife Edith are either related to many of you, or, at least known by you. This will be a future event, surely.

I recently learned from Harl and Michelle Brannon that they were able to "spike" the concession stand contract with TSR operator, American Heritage. And yep, a pun was intended. They are known to downtown Rusk as the purveyors of great food at the Iron Horse Mercantile. This business was established by our own Stephanie Cox Caveness, who with her spouse, Coach Louis Caveness retired, and came back home. I just wish that all of the former citizens who long to return could do it. It is sad to consider the great memories carried away and those same folks want to come home and make new memories. We can be very grateful for the many who have made this dream come true. People like Councilman Donnie Woodard,and others come to mind.

Join me to say prayers of gratitude for evidence of auditory hearing returning to our dear friend Sissy Crysup. Also, the successful repair of a detached retina in the eye of Charles R. Hassell. Now, these are my Hallelujah, health news notes. Good news is great to tell, don't you agree? I have one more quick item: our Bonner Street neighborhood has grown by two with the addition of Bobbie and Dominque Tarraborelli. He retired as a fireman from the Metroplex fire department some years ago. They have been residing near Oakland since then, but wanted to live a little closer to a lot of good neighbors- -Earl and Nancy Finley, Sam and Claudia Florian and Ike and Norma Daniel to mention a few. Watch for the party we want to have at Whitehead Enterprises when we observe the 158th year of service to thousands of citizens since Feb. 27, 1850. (No, I was NOT here then.) Now, you can grin. Roll it into a smile, let it rest on your face for at least one minute. 'til later?

herald@mediactr.com