THE IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury The State of Texas is known far and wide for its citizens’ love of football. Taken a step further, names of school mascots can cause head-scratching and sometimes absolute disbelief when their plural names are discovered. There are some “doozies.” I don’t know if Trivial Pursuit is often a game of choice these days, but Googling for
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By Jim Nichols Every episode started in the same way. The scene was a police squad room in the Hill Street Precinct. Assembled were the officers who apparently were preparing to leave for their shift. The sergeant was at the front of the room speaking to them and bringing them up to date on the most recent criminal activity in
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Born in a stable, worshipped by shepherds and kings — and children in robes. Glenn Dromgoole is a former editor of the Abilene Reporter-News and the author of numerous books. He and his wife, Carol, own Texas Star Trading Company.
Read moreBy Janice Six As one who still enjoys seeing movies on the big screen, appreciates contemporary art, supports freedom of expression, and applauds Broadway musicals, why wouldn’t I consider giving “Journey to Bethlehem” a standing ovation? Here’s the main reason: It’s the statement at the end of the movie—the statement in all caps and boldface type that reads: “WHILE TAKING
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By Loretta Fulton The timing couldn’t have been better. Sunday, Dec. 3, was the first Sunday in Advent, the period leading to Christmas with its theme of “hope.” On Tuesday, Dec. 5, the Abilene community came together to celebrate the grand opening of the Hope Center, a project of First Baptist Church to expand its outreach ministries as a means
Read moreBy Danny Minton Billy Miske was a blue-collar heavy-weight fighter in the early 1920s. He fought in the days when a fighter, after knocking down his opponent, could still stand over him and continue to beat on him until the bell rang. Billy fought the great Jack Dempsey. Dempsey beat Billy for three rounds until the fight was called. He
Read moreTHE IDLE AMERICANCommentary by Dr. Don Newbury Irony’s definition has been stretched to the breaking point for me. Verily, Humpty-Dumpty’s nursery rhyme about his “wall fall” pales greatly when compared to the fall-out of a deposed football coach who had a “falling out” with his employer. The shocker, though, is that deposed Coach Jimbo Fisher will be paid some $76 million to
Read moreBy Marianne Wood Perhaps you need a Dammit Doll. I discovered that I did one day while at an appointment with my daughter about one year ago. The doll provides good therapy. On visiting a new physical therapist who turned out to be a-mazing, my daughter and I noticed a brightly-colored stuffed figure at the reception desk. Boldly emblazoned on
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December is filled with religious observances, including Christmas, the best known locally. Although Abilene has a small representation of religions other than Christianity, some of the following observances are celebrated in private homes or small gatherings. Christmas always falls on Dec. 25, but many other religions are lunar based, meaning their observances fall on different dates each year. Following is
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Spirit Of Abilene 