HIGH POINTS from El Camino Real
CHRIS DAVIS elcaminoreal@consolidated.net
The high price of gas hasn't seemed to slow folks along El Camino

Real down one bit. Cars and motorcycles are whizzing by, and the oilfield trucks just keep a coming. We don't always get the news as fast as everyone else so maybe people around here don't know that they are talking about a recession. Folks here just keep on building stuff, adding on to their places and spending money like they have plenty of it. I guess it'll be a pretty big shock to find out that times are bad and we've just kept on working and making do like we always have and didn't even notice it. Somebody told me that people were planting gardens to try and help with their grocery bills. I've been planting one for over 20 years. I do it for my sanity and if it helps with the grocery bill that's good, too. I better get on with my four bits' worth of news before you figure out we are getting on hard times and decide to save your money.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of Cherry Grimes and Gage Lankford, a mother and son who died in a car accident last week out of Rusk. Gage was the five-year-old son of Donald Lankford of Rusk. The little boy's 12 year old sister Lauren is in a Shreveport Hospital being treated for severe injuries she received in the accident. Donald is the brother of Cory Lankford of Alto and Aaron Lankford of Rusk. Whether you knew the people or not, we all hurt when we hear of such a tragedy in our community. Please keep these folks in your prayers during this terrible time.

Derek Ross passed away last week during a medical procedure in Tyler. Derek was 25 years old. He was the son of D.D. "Woody" Ross Jr. and Seletha Ross. Woody works in maintenance at Alto Elementary School, so everyone knows the family well and shares in their sorrow. Please keep the Ross family in your prayers in their time of grief.

Ms. Ethel McCuistion passed away recently. I read about it in our church bulletin. Ms. McCuistion sold eggs on El Camino Real west of Alto for many years. Many folks just knew her as the "egg lady." I remember the sign that stood in her yard for years it said "Ethel's Eggs." I wish I had more information on where she was living and how she has been since she left Alto, but this is all I know. She left us with some good memories and for that we are thankful.

Wayne and Tina Bobbitt's son, Chris graduated May 9 from the welding program at Southwest Collegiate Institute of the Deaf in Big Springs. Chris stands about 6" 3" and is a pretty big ol' boy. I remember when my wife, Jay Anna was Chris' speech teacher at school and they talked in sign language. I always wanted to learn sign language, but I never had the chance. I just know one sign and that is the one people give me when I drive by or they see me out in my yard. I guess everybody knows that sign. Chris is coming home in a few weeks to see everybody, but he'll probably be spending most of his time fishing and hog hunting. We are all very proud of Chris and are ready for him to get busy making money in the welding trade. I imagine his mom and dad are really going to be proud he is out of school and making money. Congratulations to Chris Bobbitt on his new diploma.

The annual Shiloh Cemetery Homecoming is going to be this Sunday, May 18 under the pavilion at the Shiloh Cemetery on FM 752 out of Alto. Bring a covered dish and get ready to enjoy some good visiting with folks you haven't seen since last year. The officers for the Shiloh Cemetery Association are President Harrison Black, Vice-President Frank McClain, Secretary Joy Jones and board members are Bobby Holcomb and Mary Nell Danheim. If you want to make a donation to the cemetery fund mail a check to the Shiloh Cemetery Assn., P.O. Box 315, Alto Texas 75925. The weather ought to be great this next weekend, so you'd be better off to drive on out and enjoy the covered dish luncheon and bring your check then.

Alto High School senior Matthew Barnes received a great honor last week when he was named a state officer in the FFA ( Future Farmers of America). Matthew is the first student from Alto High School to be a state officer. He served as area president for the FFA this past year. I talked to Matthew out at the team roping the Alto Buyers Group had on Saturday. Matthew plans to pursue an agriculture degree at Sam Houston State University after graduation. We are all proud of Matthew's accomplishments, but we are having a terrible time getting the big grin off his grandfather, Bob Wallace's face. Congratulations to Matthew Barnes, our new state FFA officer.

The Alto Yellowjacket baseball team and the Alto Ladyjacket softball team are moving along in the playoffs and we are expecting some more great games. I hope your schedule will allow you to go out and catch at least one of these great teams this season.

I'm going to have to save some of my news and pictures for next week's issue because we are running out of room. There is so much going on around Alto that I may have to start writing this column like a soap opera and leave you hanging every week. Keep the news coming and I'll keep spreading it around. I'll see ya next week! And remember, Happiness consists in being perfectly satisfied with what we have got and with what we haven't got.