‘ROUND TOWN

If you thought those piggy banks were just for kids, now might be the time to think again. According to a USA Today article published last Wednesday, we may need that piggy bank money to help keep us warm this winter.

The article stated, “With prices surging worldwide for heating oil, natural gas and other fuels, the U.S. government said it expects households to see their heating bills jump as much as 54% compared to last winter.”

That’s more than half! This may be the year to layer those clothes.

Those of you who use natural gas are supposed to only see an increase of 30% more than last year. At least that’s better than 54%.

But there may just be a little good news for us Texans, that is if winter doesn’t act like it did last year. According to We Energies, a northern states energy company, the typical residential customer will pay an estimated $25 more a month this winter compared to last year. Now, that’s up north so, maybe, just maybe, we southerners won’t have to rob those piggy banks.

I should have stopped researching there. But no, I didn’t. I just had to check “The Farmers Almanac” prediction for our Texas winter. It said, “bitterly cold temperatures for the 2021-2022 winter season,” especially January.

So now you’ve been forewarned! Might better start padding that piggy bank!

On to what’s going on ‘round town.

The Mushroom Festival wasn’t the only fun activity taking place in Madisonville last Saturday. The Class of ‘64 also held their annual class reunion that afternoon. Eleven class members met at Legends Steakhouse and reminisced over some good times.

Coming up this Thursday at Fannin Oaks Golf Course and Event Center is one more week of golf scramble kicking off at 5:30 p.m. It’s $15 for members and $25 for nonmembers. Not a golfer? Go play Bingo! That starts at 6:30 p.m.

This Saturday at Fannin Oaks is also the annual Sandra Standley Memorial Golf Tournament. Tee time is noon and no doubt there will be plenty of good golfers to watch. Dinner will be served that evening with kids eating free, so moms you won’t have to go home and cook.

Next Tuesday from 6-8 p.m. at the Kimbro Center is the last meeting to discuss the pros and cons of the upcoming hospital district will be held. I strongly urge you to study everything you can find on this proposal and look for the parts you might not like. Why? Because the parts you like will most likely be there no matter how you vote.

In all my years of writing, many times I thought I knew what I wanted until I spent the time seriously researching. Make phone calls. If you’re on Facebook, check out what others write, but do so with a grain of salt. In essence, just do your homework. Then vote.

Hats off to Vault Nutrition, who has joined our Madison County Chamber of Commerce. Ribbon cutting is planned for next Tuesday, Oct. 26 at noon. The Vault Nutrition is on the north side of the square next to Walkers Vintage Café

That’s the same day for the Madisonville Intermediate School Fall Festival and Silent auction. The good folks over at the school are excited that the annual event is being reinstated this year. Missing last year was a bummer!

This year’s Fall Festival will be held Oct 26 from 5-7 p.m. To make it really special they need your help, though. If there is something you can donate to help make this festival special, contact Leigh Ellen Howeth at lhoweth@madisobnvillecisd. com. And if you can help with the Festival, Mrs. Fox needs to hear from you. Her number is 936-348-2921.

On to next Friday week, that’s October 29, when the Madison County Chamber of Commerce and Madisonville Area Revitalization Initiative host their round town Trick or Treating. It’s worth just sitting around the square and watching all kinds of cute princesses, cowboys, little football players and all kinds of dressed up kiddos.

Businesses around the square will be treating them from 2 p.m. until 5 p.m. Businesses that will be participating will have an orange flyer in the window.

Another special Fall Festival will be held Sunday evening Oct 31 at our First United Methodist Church. It’s a family event that’s guaranteed to be fun. You’ll even be able to take pics home of your group. Stay tuned for more about this next week.

Then Oct. 28 will be the ribbon cutting and grand opening for Quick Visit Urgent Care, another business joining our Madison County Chamber of Commerce. The new business is located across Highway 21 from the Sheriff’s office and will host its open house from 11-1 p.m.. Go check them out!

Hats off to Pam Mclain! Pam is a 21 year breast survivor having been diagnosed in Oct. 1999. Thanks for sharing Pam. You’re a hero!

On our birthday list are Clint Cannon and Tracy Farris celebrate theirs birthday Oct. 21 while Debbie Drake and Renee Howe share their birthday Monday, Oct. 26. Winding out his weeks list is Buddy Ward, whose birthday is Oct. 27.

And, finally, did you know that usually when someone says negative things to you they are trying to build themselves up? Negativity is synonymous with insecurity, self-doubt and pessimism. For us, how we react to that person is what is important and retaliation, whether with anger or a negative comment, isn’t the answer. Really, the answer is in how you see yourself.

You may remember two great positive thinkers, Norman Vincent Peal and Zig Zigler, two men with enough confidence in themselves that they didn’t have to have someone else patting them on the back all the time.

Zigler combined good content and humor in much of his speaking. He once stated.

“Don’t be distracted by criticism. Remember, the only taste of success some people have is when they take a bite out of you.” That’s pretty confident thinking.

Peale splattered his speeches with thoughtfui words of wisdom. Peale once said “Flatter me, and I may not believe you. Criticize me, and I may not like you. Ignore me, and I may not forgive you. Encourage me, and I will not forget you. Love me, and I may be forced to love you.”

Maybe showing your confidence with a loving response is exactly what the insecure person needs. Who knows, you may be the influence who changes that negative thinking to a more positive one. Somebody needs to help them, so why not you?

See ya ‘round town.