By Glenn Dromgoole One of the many things I like about Loretta Fulton’s Spirit of Abilene website is that it is trying to keep alive something that has almost become extinct: the importance of personal commentary or personal journalism to the fabric and spirit of a community. Unfortunately, that’s missing from most daily newspapers these days. There was a time,
Read moreBy Marianne Wood I work for a storyteller who writes about and photographs the people he meets and the places that take his breath away. Since I like stories and pictures a lot, I find my work engaging every day. It is challenging but great fun to work for a storyteller. There are many authors, painters, photographers, and songwriters that
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Rev. Nilo Nalugon, pastor of Holy Family Catholic Church, will celebrate the 30th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood with a special Mass at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 5. He was assigned to Holy Family effective Oct. 16, 2023, by Bishop Michael Sis of the Diocese of San Angelo. Rev. Nilo Nalugon, pastor of Holy Family Catholic Church The
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By Loretta Fulton McMurry University welcomed its 11th president, Dr. Lynne Murray, at a news conference and reception Friday, Sept. 27. She will take office in January. Murray was introduced by Dr. Sandra Harper, current McMurry president who will retire at the end of the year. David Bailey, chair of the search committee, and Kathi Edwards, chair of the board
Read moreBy Danny Minton Have you ever walked through a cemetery and read the markers? I do this each time I preside over a funeral at the gravesite. Markers will vary from cemetery to cemetery, with the most interesting found in small-town cemeteries or the older sections of established ones. I read the names and dates that represented their lives. Sometimes,
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By Jim Nichols There are some unexpected stories about Jesus in the Bible. That is, stories in which we see Jesus doing unexpected acts. We see plenty of healings, teachings, and contending with the religious leaders, but in one episode (recorded by three of four gospel writers—that gets my attention), we see him sleeping. The accounts record that the disciples
Read moreTHE IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury I have probably made this claim previously, but most friends know that my respect for redundancy has never been more than trivial. So, here I go again, certain that there finally are but two groups of people–those who have egos and admit it and those who likewise have ‘em and don’t admit it. I’m in
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By Loretta Fulton Delegates from three United Methodist Church conferences will convene in Abilene Sept. 27-28 to vote on melding into one new conference. Delegates to the Unifying Conference are expected to approve forming the Horizon Texas Conference from the former Northwest Texas Conference, Central Texas Conference, and North Texas Conference. If delegates vote in the affirmative, the new conference
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By Loretta Fulton Abilene’s three universities recorded fall enrollment increases over previous years, with McMurry and Abilene Christian universities setting consecutive records. For the first time in several years, Hardin-Simmons University showed an increase, with 1,665 students. That number reflects an 8.5 percent increase in first-time freshman, the university reported. “This growth, along with steady retention rates, has contributed to
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