THE IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury I might never have resented my brother if he’d have been born other than in 1944, when Grapette was getting a foothold in our town. I had enjoyed “only child” perks for seven years, and in first grade observed that my “well-to-do” classmates brought squatty bottles of a purply soda to chase down their ham-and-cheese
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By Loretta Fulton The annual Holy Week Luncheon Series, a tradition in Abilene for over 40 years, will begin Monday, April 14. A brown bag luncheon will be held each day through Thursday, April 17, at one of four host churches–Highland, St. Paul, First Baptist, and First Central Presbyterian. Each day a minister will preach the sermon at another minister’s
Read moreBy Danny Minton Truthfully, it is not easy to come up with something worthwhile to write about each week. If someone is going to take the time to read something I write, I want it to be worth your time and possibly be something you need to make it through the day. I’m the type of person who looks for
Read moreBy Jim Nichols Realizing that I am showing my age here, a hit song played frequently on the radio in 1956 was titled “Transfusion.” There were several “novelty” songs current then (including the likes of “Purple People Eater”), but this one about blood was my favorite. This was the era of hot-rod cars and the chorus of the song performed
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By Nancy Patrick About two years ago, a friend asked me what “woke” meant. It just so happened that I had learned the new usage a couple of weeks before when I had read a magazine article about it. Modern language contains many new words and usages. As an English major and former English teacher, I find anything related to
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Second of two parts By Glenn Dromgoole These Food Elegies – not food allergies – are nostalgic tributes to the importance of food and family. Maybe as you peruse these short “elegies,” you will be encouraged to jot down a few of your own. Dinner with the FamilyNearly every night back thenwe sat down togetheras a family for dinner –except
Read moreTHE IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury The ballyhoo about “no free lunches” was first bandied about in the 1880s and today, Southwest Airlines’ “bags fly free” death bell is on the verge of gonging. Long known for allowing passengers to check two pieces of luggage “free,” SWA is altering its policy and there’s more story-spinning underway than a 10-year-old pulling
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How to helpDonations can be made to Meals on Wheels Plus and the Food Bank of West Central Texas through their websites:Meals on WheelsFood Bank of West Central Texas By Loretta Fulton Thousands of local and area residents could be affected if proposed federal budget cuts dealing with feeding programs are enacted. Both Meals on Wheels Plus and the Food
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McMurry University has rejoined the American Southwest Conference for athletic competition beginning in the 2026-27 academic year. McMurry will join Hardin-Simmons University once again as members of the same athletic conference. McMurry previously was a member of the American Southwest Conference before joining the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference in 2024. According to a news release, the move was imperative for
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