HIGH POINTS FROM EL CAMINO REAL
CHRIS DAVIS
Another spring-like weekend in January got some folks to thinking about whether or not the fish might be ready to start biting. I spent my weekend digging in the garden and putting out a little lime so that fertilizer would take hold when I plant in the spring. I enjoy digging in the dirt as much as I like gathering up your four bits' worth of news every week. Maybe I ought to start writing for one of those tabloids and then I could dig up the dirt and write about it.

I was sorry to hear of the passing of John Reasonover last week in Nevada. John lived in Alto for several years. He ran the shoe and leather shop in the minimall by the farm produce for a little while and I was working in the sporting goods store next door. John was born with a birth defect that left him with only a few little fingers, but I never saw it keep him from doing anything he wanted to do. He was a lot of fun to be around and though I haven't seen him in a good many years, it is still sad to know that he has passed. Please keep his children Jake, Cheyenne, Joe Henry and the rest of his family and friends, in your prayers as they mourn his passing. A memorial service for John will be held Friday.

Ray and Cathy Penn have been our neighbors for years and I watched all their kids grow up. When my oldest son Garrett was a baby, we'd pass by the Penn home and I'd always say something about the Pinheads living there. One day when Garrett was about two we pulled up next to Cathy at the grocery store. Garrett looked over from his car seat, saw her in her car, and said, "Daddy there's that Momma Pinhead." Well the Momma Pinhead has finally graduated up to Grandma Pinhead. Eric Penn and his wife Amber are the proud parents of a brand new baby boy. Harrison Polk Penn was born Dec. 20 in Jacksonville. The baby is doing great and Eric and Amber are slowly breaking into the routine of parenthood. The baby's Uncle Ricky Richards told me that you had to bathe in Purell and other germicides before you could get close to the baby. I figure they are just telling him that so he'll stay away. Congratulations to Eric and Amber on their new baby boy, and a special congratulations to Grandma and Grandpa Pinhead!

A slick road almost caused a tragedy for some sweet tooths in Alto last week. Ben Johnson was heading home to momma last Monday night when a rain slick road caused him to lose control and take out the Donut Palace sign and mailbox. If his truck had gone a few more feet we might have all been eating cold honey buns from the Pic-N-Go for breakfast. Ben and his dad Tony Ray had the sign back up in a few days and Ben's truck is at the body shop waiting to be repaired. The Donut Palace has caused some pretty extensive body damage here in town. I've even seen some bodies there that were nearly totaled out, including my own. The Donut Palace owner David Chan took the whole accident very well - probably because Ben is a former Alto Yellowjacket and David Chan is one of the Yellowjackets' biggest fans. Tony was upset about Ben's accident, but said that he'd been even more upset over wasp stings on tender places.

Sylda Landrum dropped us a note a few weeks back and wanted everyone to know that she is still alive and well in Madisonville. After her husband Beechum passed away, I always told her I'd give her a discount on her next wedding. She told me in her note that she is still looking. I hope she finds a rich one and they adopt me right after the wedding. Good hearing from you, Sylda, we still love and miss you here in Alto.

Pastor Kirby Hill of the First Baptist Church will be leaving his ministry here to begin a new one in Carthage. Jan. 27 will be his last Sunday in Alto. The Hills were regulars at all the football games and other events in town. They will be missed not only at First Baptist Church but in our community as well. Best wishes to Rev. Kirby Hill and his family as they move on to a new place for the Lord's work.

Many of us sent our older children back to college this past weekend, so we are having to adjust to the absence. I guess it doesn't matter how old they get you still worry about them and miss them when they aren't home at night. I miss Ben Franklin the most, but several Thomas Jeffersons, and a few Andrew Jacksons went too. Some of them were tattered and old, but I wish they were back home sleeping in my wallet tonight, so I wouldn't worry so much. What if they are shut up in the vault at some old university or in the cash register of some beer joint? Oh, how I do worry when they are gone. I'm just kidding, we miss our boy when he is gone off to school as I'm sure you all miss your kids.

The sign wars have begun so an election can't be far off. Political signs are cropping up everwhere telling folks it's time to start making up their minds who to vote for. These new political signs that are on wire frames have nearly ruined the tomato business. The old political signs had some great wooden stakes that were great for staking tomatoes when the election was over. These new wire things won't hold up anything you raise in the garden. Politicians had a lot more support when they were giving a free tomato stake with every yard sign.

I wish I could think of some more news that needed telling, but excitement has been in short supply around Alto. If something exciting is happening around your place that can be told, then you better let me know about it.

I'll see ya next week! And remember, If God brings you to it, he'll bring you through it.

elcaminoreal@consolidated.net