'Round Town by Gala Nettles

If you like good eating then don't miss the Bethel Cemetery's annual picnic lunch, which will be held on the cemetery grounds Saturday, July 7. That's not this Saturday, but next Saturday. Go early so you can get in plenty of visiting.

The meat and paper goods will be provided, but bring along a vegetable, maybe a dessert, and of course, if it's a special recipe, make sure you bring it. You know the ladies are always hunting good recipes. And don't forget your lawn chairs.

If you'd like more information about Bethel Cemetery's annual picnic, give Ray or Glyna Brown a call at 348-2705.

As you probably know, our community lost Dr. Kasey Jemelka, owner of Central Veterinary Clinic, who died Wednesday, June 6, 2007 at the age of 34. Funeral services were held in Yoakum, the home of her grandparents, June 12, and a memorial service was then held at her clinic Wednesday, June 13.

Kasey's mom lived here a short time before she passed away. Kasey is survived by her father, Dr. Erwin D. Jemelka of Centralia, Wash., teenage twins Ashley Gunlock and Stephanie Gunlock, and younger daughters Kaylee Needham and Natalee Needham; two sisters and three stepsisters, as well as her grandparents Dan and Lillie Jemelka.

Condolences can be sent to her dad Dr. E.D. Jemelka at 20831 Zenkner Valley Road Centralia, Wash. 98531. The two younger children Kaylee and Natalee Needham are with their dad, Dr. Johnny Needham and that address is P.O. Box 843 Coleman, Texas 76834. Many of you will remember Johnny, who was also a part of Central Veterinary Clinic until the couple divorced. Send your cards for the two teenage girls in care of Kasey's sister, Abby Jemelka, is 4310 Ave. B #202 Austin, Texas 78751. You can also sign an online guestbook the funeral home offers. That email address is www.thielecooper.com.

How about some birthdays? First, happy birthday to Laney Baker Sikorski, June 27. Hard to believe, but Laney will be 25 and she's teaching these days. June 27 is the same day that Patsy Matejka blows out her candles. Patsy is one of those friendly faces you see working at Madisonville State Bank. Wednesday, June 28 will be a busy day for birthday cakes. Todd Binnicker, Teressa Ward, Ross Pettenger, Linda Hunter and Patti Rowley will surely be taken out to dinner that evening since that's their birthday. Tanner Hollis and Diane Ranton will celebrate their birthday on June 29 while Myra Ward, Ronnie Mosley, Judy Cole and Candace Neal will then close out the month when they blow out candles on June 30. Candance by the way will turn that magical age of 20.

Did you make the reception hosted by Madison County Museum for the “Bye Bye Birdie” cast and pick up your ticket? You know, this is the long awaited weekend. The first production will be Friday, June 29 at 7 p.m. Then on Saturday, June 30 there will be two shows, the matinee at 2 p.m. and the evening show at 7 p.m. If you missed getting a ticket, stop by Madisonville State Bank or Normangee State Bank or Curves out in the shopping center and get your ticket early. Don't worry though; you can buy your ticket at the production as well.

Speaking of productions, it's already time for you artistic people to start preparing for our annual Art Show and Sale, which this year will be held Saturday, October 20 in conjunction with the Mushroom Festival. Put your thinking cap on and we'll share more information about this later.

Finally, have you ever heard the saying “Those who can, do; those who can't complain?” That really came home to me recently.

We live in an age of cynicism and controversy, a pair of twins who happen to be a cousin to complaining. They are like water eating away at a rock little by little, completely unnoticeable to the normal eye and those cousins can rule your life without you even knowing it - unless you choose differently.

A good example of how cynical society has become happened recently on the news. It was a simple thing: a certain star did a good deed. Instead of praise for the good deed, though, the news media questioned the motive for the good deed, and after two or three news clips of that, it made you wonder if the star was a criminal.

Now granted, there is nothing wrong with questioning when there is a sincere need to do so, but common sense has to have a say in that. Unfortunately, cynicism, controversy and complaining seem to be piled on top of Common Sense these days. When Common Sense rules the pendulum of society swings in the middle, but it's possible that today's society doesn't even know where the middle is.

Of course, complaining can happen for a number of reasons. It can happen because that's the “in” thing to do; it can happen because it's the way a person deals with their own insecurity, or it can happen out of habit from hearing it so much. And yes, there is a difference in complaining and commenting; it's usually in the tone.

Recently, Wess Brown, the pastor of Cross Roads Cowboy Church challenged us to go a week without complaining and to prove that we are doers rather than complainers.

WellŠŠI THOUGHT I was a doer, not a complainer, so the week wasn't going to be a problem for me. Instead, what a reality-check that week turned out to be. I heard myself complain about the weather, complain about the road, complain aboutŠwell, you get the picture.

Complaining really is kind of like the water eroding the rock; you just don't realize it until someone points it out. We all need a check-up every once in a while. I'm glad I got mine.

Go ahead; take the pastor's challenge and see how you do.