HIGH POINTS from El Camino Real
CHRIS DAVIS
Folks along El Camino Real were making snowballs Friday

and mowing grass by Sunday. The weather in East Texas seems to get a little stranger every year. It has gotten where a fellow doesn't know whether to cut wood or plant potatoes. I'm leaning towards planting the potatoes. I can't imagine winter holding on for too much longer, but we haven't forgotten that snow last Easter. Enough about the weather, I need to give you your four bits' worth of news.

We were all saddened at the passing of our friend Marie Merriwether on Sunday. It seems like only yesterday that she was working in the Southwestern Electric Office when it was downtown and her husband J.R. was always around town somewhere. The Lord blessed us with great memories of these two people to warm our hearts when we remember them in the future. She was a sweet lady and one that we will surely miss. Please keep her daughter Judy Griffith and all the rest of her family and friends in your prayers as they mourn her passing.

Dixie Dolcater passed away last week and was brought back home to Alto to be laid to rest. Dixie served a few terms on the Alto City Council during some turbulent times in our city, but she always held her ground on issues she thought were right. She was a nice lady and worked hard for our town. She had many friends here who have passed on before her. When she lived here as a young girl her name was Hortense Thomas; after she married she came back as Dixie Dolcater. I like Dixie Dolcater better myself. Please keep her family in your prayers this week.

Commissioner Byron Underwood, Rusk Senior Joey Marchetti (Go Texas Scholarship Recipient from Cherokee County) and County Judge Chris Davis pose after riding in the Grand Entry of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo on Saturday.

I hate this time change business, and I cuss it every year. I know cussing the time change won't make it go away, but it makes me feel a little better when I'm done. I don't have as much trouble adjusting to the change in the fall, but this springing forward messes up my sleep for a week or two. The wife gets mad because the kids don't want to get out of bed to go to school. Everything ends up being my fault and all I did was change the clocks.

Cherokee County Commissioner Byron Underwood is the ambassador for the Cherokee County Go Texan Committee. The Go Texan Committee is made up of people who work in conjunction with the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo to provide scholarships for some deserving student in our county. Byron invited me to go with him to the Houston Rodeo on Saturday to ride in the Grand Entry with him and this year's recipient of the Go Texan Committee Scholarship winner for Cherokee County. This year's winner of the Go Texas Scholarship is Rusk High School Senior Joey Marchetti. I had met Joey at some of the other ag shows this year, and I am not surprised that he was selected for the scholarship. He is a fine young man and I'm sure he will put the $15,000 scholarship to good use when he heads to Texas A&M this fall. The rodeo folks loaded Byron, Joey and myself on a wagon pulled by three of the biggest red mules that I've ever seen. Byron and Joey sat towards the front of the wagon and I sat on the back. I let Byron sit up front because I didn't want anybody making any comments about three pulling and one pushing our wagon. I'm a real nice fellow. We waved until our arms gave out in the grand entry. The Go Texan Committee puts in a lot of hard work for this scholarship program and deserve a big pat on the back for their worthwhile efforts. I didn't fall out of the wagon in the Grand Entry, so maybe I'll try my hand at the bull riding next year.

Many of our area school students and teachers will be enjoying their spring break holidays next week. Several of these youngsters will be spending their holiday at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo showing their heifers. The ag kids left here at home will probably be spending their spring break getting their projects ready for the Cherokee County show at the end of this month. I wonder what ever happened to the days when people went to the beach or snow skiing on spring break? I guess those days went out with 50 cent a gallon gasoline. The price of gas will definitely be factor in lots of folks plans for the spring break holidays. My middle son Grant is getting his driver's license this week, and I can't help but think about how different this experience will be for him with gas prices too high to allow for much riding around.

I guess I've bent your ear enough for this week. If you have some exciting news going on around your place be sure and fill me in on it. I'll see ya next week! And remember, Don't expect people to listen to your advice and ignore your example. elcaminoreal@consolidated.net