Madisonville Consolidated Independent School District hosted its annual Veteran’s Day Program Friday, Nov. 10. They honored the veterans of Madison County belonging to the branches of the Army, Navy, Coast Guard, Air Force, and Marines. 

The 1958 graduating class of Madisonville High School held their 65th class reunion at First Baptist Church Family Life Center. Eleven members, plus spouses and children, attended.

Billy Frank Savell was born on the kitchen table in what was known as “The Fellowship Community” in Madison County, the town of Madisonville, Texas, to Howard B. and Georgia Mae (Wells) Savell on October 29, 1930.

Billy was a Staff Sargeant and Jet Mechanic for T 33 Fighter Jet Training Planes during the Korean War. He served his country with pride from January 19, 1951 through January 1955.

He served at Lackland AirForce Base in San Antonio, TX, Amarillo AirForce Base in Amarillo, TX and Craig Air-Force Base in Selma, Alabama.

These days, it’s getting harder to tell what’s real and what’s not, both in words and images. Thanks to technological advances coming so fast it makes one’s head spin, software programs can now convincingly duplicate voices, falsely enhance or create totally realistic-looking landscapes that never existed with people who were never there, and even show “live” images of actors, politicians and others speaking or moving that are completely fabricated but are very hard to detect as deceptions.

This past week I realized that I neglected the Crossleys when writing recently about local champions. Though the Museum has some of their items are on exhibit, I forgot them, You may not recall Winn Crossley (1905-1982), Ethel Crossley (1906-2003), or their daughter, Marian (1933-2003).

The Texas Legislature, conceived as a part-time body to meet every other year for 140 days, is now in its record fifth session (counting the regular session). When the impeachment trial of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is included, legislators have been in Austin pretty much the entire year, as the Texas Tribune noted. While legislators are paid just $7,200 a year in salary, per diem payments — meant to cover their expenses while in Austin — have mounted. If the fourth special session goes a full 30 days, taxpayers will have spent $4.8 million keeping lawmakers in Austin.

Thursday, Nov. 9, Erica Greene and Pat Patterson of Madison County Veterans Services read books to children at the Madison CountyLibrary in celebration of Veterans Day..