Keep in mind that this article is being written by a man of 100% German heritage (ethnicity), whose forefathers and foremothers came to the United States to get away from the rules of the two Kaiser Wilhelms and to support the Democracy of our great country, which also immediately became theirs. Therefore, my knowledge of tamales has been all “American” fostered!
At the beginning of a year, it is a good time to look toward the future. Forney Education Foundation awarded the teacher-requested grants in mid-December giving strong employment prospects to students at both high schools. After a year of uncertainty, we can all look forward to the great things our students will be doing.
Bill Carey (rt) with Striper Express and Luke with some nice stripers landed at Lake Texoma. Photo by Jeff Rice
My longtime friend Bill Carey with Striper Express has a saying, “Remember December” that he often mentions. He’s referring to the awesome striper fishing that occurs during the winter months at Lake Texoma. Lat month, my good friend Jeff Rice and I joined Bill for an awesome day on the water.
This year, Crandall ISD brought back to life the district’s Holiday Card Competition. The contest was open to all elementary students in the district. Campuses submitted their top designs and the work from one talented artist was chosen for placement on CISD’s 2020 holiday card. Winner for this 2020 school year is Maryam Jemberu, fourth grader from Walker Elementary. With her design, Maryam proved that Pirates can enjoy the holiday season while sailing the seas.
In October of 2020 the Sheriff’s Association of Texas awarded Kayce Ivey of Kaufman with a scholarship for the fall of 2020. Kayce Ivey is the daughter of Retired Canine Sergeant Wade Ivey with the Texas Department of Public Safety. Kayce is a student of Texas A & M University in College Station, majoring in English. Kayce was awarded the Sheriff J.R. “Sonny” Sessions Memorial Scholarship, provided by the Sheriff’s Association of Texas. Sheriff Bryan Beavers recently formally presented the scholarship to Kayce Ivey.
Approximately 2.4 million people or 30 percent of people living with dementia in the U.S. may experience hallucinations and delusions associated with dementia-related psychosis. These symptoms might include seeing something that isn’t there or believing something that isn’t true and can be frequent, persistent and recur over time.
The PALs (Peer Assistance and Leadership) students started a penpal program with the residents at Three Forks of Forney. This program was developed in an effort to enrich the lives of the residents that are in need of some human interaction especially since CO- VID has limited families ability to visit their loved ones. Currently, students are collecting items for a Winter Drive to support the residents including: new blankets, non slip socks and Kleenex. Students are already thinking about what to do for the residents during the spring semester. For example, plans for an Easter egg hunt among other things are underway! Their work is having a positive impact on the people they are serving in our community and that makes me one proud Mama Bear!
Mayor Bruce Archer and Judge Greg Noschese
On Dec. 14, Greg Noschese was sworn in as an Alternate Municipal Court Judge for the City of Mesquite’s Municipal Court. Noschese joins Alternate Municipal Court Judges Janice McKee and Robert Beasley who will support Assistant Municipal Court Judge Warren Nystrom and Municipal Court Judge Detra Hill to allow greater scheduling flexibility to meet the current workload of arraignments, warrants, emergency protective orders and court docket preparation with no fiscal impact to the City’s budget.
Betty Haynes and family members, 1951
Ruth Tune McAnally and family members, 1956
Frank Rhea (front left) and family
Harry Power (middle child) with brothers and Y. A. Tittle
Lisa, Glenna, Steve Dozier
Charles and Shirlynn Beason
During the 1950s in Forney, the Themer Family lived at 605 Maple Street, which on some documents was named Maple Avenue. Some of our neighbors were the King and then Rhea families directly across the street, the Smith and then Kinser families across Maple to the right, the Quinn family across Maple to the left, the Thomas family even farther to the left, and next to us towards College Street were the Richey and then Taylor families. Next to us towards Shands Street was the Shipley family, and after them was the Montgomery family. The lots that had two families were “earlier established” lots! The Compton “mansion” was across the alley behind our house and was multi-storied with a basement!
Today, it is raining Persians and Poodles. The sky is meaner and darker than a Taylor Swift Evermore video.
Joined Lt. Gov. Patrick, Speaker Bonnen and Chairman of Appropriations to discuss the Legislative Reference Library
Children’s Advocacy Center for Kaufman County groundbreaking
Groundbreaking of the new Christus Trinity Clinic in Chandler
Presented Deb Neill the Community Builder Award by the Athens Masonic Lodge
Annual Veterans Day service at the East Texas Arboretum in Athens
Attended the 19th Annual Wine and Cheese Gala benefiting the East Texas Crisis Center
Recognized Forney ISD board member Barbara Jo Green, for achieving the designation of a State of Texas Master Trustee
Cedar Creek Lake Area Chamber of Commerce monthly membership meeting
Joined Lt. Gov. Patrick, Speaker Bonnen and Chairman of Appropriations to discuss the duties and protocols of the Legislative Reference Library. Created by the 61st Legislature in 1969, the Reference Library serves as a general research, recordkeeping and reference service agency. Check out the website here: https://lrl.texas.gov/
When cooking or baking at home, few things can prove as frustrating as preparing a dish only to realize you’re missing a key item from the ingredients list. Such realizations often force cooks to stop what they’re doing and make emergency trips to a nearby grocery store. That can delay dinner time or make cooks feel rushed when they ultimately return from the store. But what if there was a way to substitute ingredients without risking flavor? Thankfully, there is.
Holiday festivities with immediate family members or just a few friends rather than larger gatherings may feel different than normal, but you can make the most of the situation with these tips to add intimacy and special meaning to celebratory moments:
Forney Messenger Photojournalist Larry Golden sent in a few photos of Christmas decorations from the area.
**THANKSGIVING (in the “old days”) at the Themer household (the years we did not go to the “extended Schroeder or Themer Family” gettogethers in Oklahoma) meant Wednesday night “Service of Thanksgiving” at Hope Lutheran Church in Dallas and then waking up on Thursday to the wafting aromas of all Mom’s cooking that had already begun at least the day before. I most remember the turkey, ham, giblet gravy, creamy white potatoes, sweet potato casserole with marshmallows on top, two types of cranberry sauce/fresh salad, whole seasoned green beans, congealed orange salad, brown-and-serve rolls and Mom’s home-made bread (often with cinnamon rolled into it or wholegrain), iced tea, and of course, corn-bread dressing with very little or no sage! I remember eating until I just had to lie upon the floor to get ready for the pumpkin and pecan pies, and sometimes apple and cherry to boot! And, we did not eat until everyone was gathered around the table so that we could say our common table prayers and then have Dad’s “prepared” prayer that fit what was going on in the world at that time. And, if there were people at our Church who also were not “going home for Thanksgiving” that year, Mom and Dad invited them to be a “part of our Family.”**
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 936, Forney, TX 75126
Physical Address: 201 W. Broad St., Forney, TX 75126
Phone: 972-564-3121
Fax: 972-552-3599