‘ROUND TOWN

Washing those hands applies to more than COVID these days. The stomach bug is going around and, evidently, it likes circling our town, since it seems in no hurry to go away. So wash those hands!

Have you browsed through the latest edition of Postcards Magazine yet? Several years ago this magazine was the brainchild of Wes and Karen Altom of Huntsville. Karen, though, is a hometown gal, remembered by most of you as Karen Stevens, the daughter of Betty and the late Lanier Stevens.

The Altoms gave Madisonville a little recognition with a great article on Bluebird Haven Estates. Blue Haven is the beautiful wedding venue on Collard Street owned by Sallie Reid. We shared a little info with you about it a few weeks ago and if you would like more info, give Sallie a call at 936- 245-0057.

Another neat article with Madisonville’s name tagged is a poignant one that appeared in the golf column on March 30 USATODAY.COM. It was an interview with Texas A&M Junior Sam Bennett and his arm, but nothing to do with his golf swing.

Titled “Bennett looks at his arm to lean on father’s advice”, the article was then picked up by News18 Sports and RocketNews.com. Do a little googling and you’ll most likely find it. It’s special.

And while we’re on the subject of articles, Madisonville hubby Ronnie Nettles was featured in the March edition of The American Quarter Horse Association Journal. The article told the story of an unplanned business that now ships worldwide. And to think it all started 35 years ago because he really just wanted a pair of stirrups that didn’t hurt!

Mrs. Gigi Henson has been under the weather and spent a little time at St. Joseph’s hospital. By the time you read this she should be settled in at the rehab center of our CHI St Joseph Madison County Hospital. Drop your cards to MRs GiGi at P.O. Box 997,Madisonville, TX 77864.

Here’s what’s going on ‘round town.

It’s roping time! This Thursday at the Crossroads Cowboy Church arena the books open at 6 p.m. and the action starts at 6:30. It’s going to be a fun night so grab your kids, your friends, maybe a lawn chair or two and head to the arena.

There is still a need for volunteers from our community, though, and without help events like ropings can’t be held. The good thing is you don’t have to know one thing about roping to lend a helping hand. If you can help, please call Joey Frederick at 281-808-2443 or David Hammit at 936-348- 1810.

About that Madisonville Cemetery annual membership meeting held this coming Saturday: it starts at 10:00 a.m. If you go later than that you may miss it.

But you do need to go. Most of us have a loved one there and we need to do our part to help keep the cemetery up. Now you don’t have to mow, but a contribution to help pay those who do would be nice. And since the cemetery association is a 501C organization, your donations are tax deductible.

The meeting will take place near the Madisonville Cemetery Information Center unless it rains. If it does, go to the Kimbro Center.

Jenny Gonzalez, General Manager at the Fannin Oaks Golf Course & Event Center, is busy getting the pool ready for summer! The event center has membership packages for using the facility and you can learn all about it at oakridgemadisonville@ gmail.com. Check it out. This is a good thing.

It’s clean up month for Madisonville and that’s a good thing, too. Most of us have plenty of items that can’t be put with regular trash pickup. This month, Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m., you can take those items to the City of Madisonville Rock Yard located on Mickey Leland Street.

Well, some of them. There’s a list of things you can’t take there, like appliances, batteries and pesticides, so it’s best to check the list before loading a lot of items you’ll have to bring back home and unload. For more info call the City Hall at 936- 348-2749.

One more thing: you will need to present a water bill or driver’s license to enter and unload.

How about some birthdays? First, belated happy birthday to John Henry, who celebrated another year April 4. John will be quick to tell you he has these birthdays because he received a liver transplant several years ago and he has a great testimony to go with it.

Samuel and Jake Cole celebrate their birthday this Thursday and I think the twins turn 17 this year. Then Cindy Starns celebrates her birthday this Friday, April 9, while Matt Reed does the same next Monday. Winding out this week’s birthday list is Shane Vance and James Duke who blow out candles next Tuesday, April 13.

And finally, I recently ran across the quote, “Sometimes our lives have to be completely shaken up, changed and rearranged to relocate us to the place we’re supposed to be.”

Not too sure who said that and not sure why I kept it then, but it definitely applies to this era we are living in.

If our lives have ever been completely shaken up, it’s been this past year. If they have ever been changed and rearranged, it’s definitely been this past year. Unfortunately, times like those can encourage complacency and even breed despondency. It’s easy to get in a rut, easy to just go from day-to-day, easy to even get lazy, especially when you’ve been in lockdown.

But spring is here. It’s a good time to put last year behind us, a good time to think ahead with plans and dreams for the future; a good time for a little shaking and rearranging.

Who knows? It just might relocate you to the place we’re supposed to be.