A guy with a guitar

By Lynette Sowell   Season 15 of American Idol kicked off last week with auditions recorded over the summer.

What do people learn at professional conventions?

By Willis Webb   There are all kinds of conventions and everyone who attends one has stories to tell. We’ve all heard or read about conventions that are wild and woolly, some that are sedate and those of each kind that are filled with uplifting and informative programs.

Success hard to handle for ‘Old Yeller’ author

At the peak of the “Old Yeller” craze, the Palace Theater in Dallas invited dogs and their human companions to a special showing of the film version of the best-selling book on Jan. 11, 1958. Frederick Benjamin Gipson was born on a farm near Mason in 1908.

Ding dong

by Renae Brumbaugh   Sometimes I do something so unbelievable, I scratch my head and ask myself, “Did that really just happen?” Actually, those moments occur more than just sometimes. They seem to transpire more and more often, lately.

Guilty by choice

By Lynette Sowel   For my first column of 2015, I hesitated a bit about whether or not to write about the idea of personal responsibility and choices. Why not write about fun stuff, like a new calendar, or the excitement about new year’s resolutions? Or goal setting?

The Mom and I won The Dad over to our way

By Willis Webb   By Sawyer Webb, The Famous River Wonder Dog aka Little Wild Dog aka Le Pup Savage I conspired with The Mom tosneak a column in  place of the one The Dad (aka Willis Webb, aka mildmannered reporter Clark Kent aka The Kolyumnist) usually writes for Texas community newspapers.

Rice given no chance in 1938 Cotton Bowl

by Bartee Hailie With the possible exception of their mothers, no one gave the Owls of Rice Institute much of a chance against the unbeaten Colorado Buffaloes and All-American “Whizzer” White in the second Cotton Bowl on New Year’s Day 1938.

Stop Whining!

by Renae Brumbaugh There are about a zillion reasons to be a proud Texan. I was born here, and have lived here most of my life. I am proud of our strong history. I am proud that we can fly our flag at the same level as the U.S. flag, because we were once an independent nation.

‘Hot toddy’ for bad colds I really hated it…at first

By Willis Webb   With the easy availability of doctors, clinics andhospitals plus the  proliferation ofover-the-counter  drugs and medical prescriptions, one doesn’t hear much about “home remedies” anymore.

The week between

By Lynette Sowell   It’s that in-between time of year, when the weight of the previous months has piled up behind us. Most ofthe time, I like the  idea of hibernating and doing nothing for that final week. It’s quieter, for one thing. Businesses slow down, some even close for abreak.