Reevesville News
Thursday, November 6, 2008
By: Lee Roy
Stafford
Hi everybody. I hope you all had a great week. We have had
some
beautiful weather and we all better get out and enjoy it, because
as
the old saying goes, winter is just around the corner.
We had a
light frost this past week and some of the locals are already
raking a few
leaves. I have a pecan tree and the pecans are starting to
fall to the
pleasure of the squirrels and crows.
The grade school basketball season
in under way so go out and support
the boys and girls as they play their
best.
A big hello to Dearl and Judy Morris. Here's looking forward to
seeing
you again. Maybe you all can come down for a visit before
winter.
The older married man was asked by his young friend, "What's the
secret
to your long marriage to your wife?" The husband replied, "We
agreed
that when we married that I would make all the big decisions and
she
would make the all the small one." His friend replied, "Has
it
worked?" "Yep! Forty years and so far not a single big
decision!"
I was sorry to hear of the death of Judy Murley. She was
always
friendly to everybody and a very nice Godly lady. She will be missed
by
her friends and especially by her family.
We had a large number of
trick-or-treaters at Reevesville Church
fellowship building and also a large
number of adults with good appetites.
We still have some very sick loved
ones in and near our community that
needs our prayers.
It is very hard
on the family to see their loved ones sick especially
around the holiday
season.
Two parents were hysterical after their small child swallowed
a
quarter. The wife screamed to her husband, "Call 911!" Instead,
he
picked up the phone and called their pastor. Crying, she asked,
"Why
would you call our pastor? We need medical help!" He answered,
"Our
pastor can get money out of anyone!"
This weeks Bible Quiz: At
what time of the day did Jesus rest by the
well in Samaria? For the answer,
read John 4:6.
Remember: It's funny how tiring it is to serve God for
one hour, but
how quickly teams can play 60 minutes of basketball.
See
you in church! Until next Week.
| Reevesville News
by: Lee Roy Stafford
Vienna Times
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Hi everybody on a cold Saturday here in Reevesville. We have had a bad
week weather wise as we had about 11 inches of rain in a 36 hour period
from early Tuesday morning through part of Wednesday which was a record
according to the weatherman. The water was over the road from Big Bay
almost to Reevesville and I had never seen that before. It has mostly
run off now.
I hope everyone had a great Easter weekend bu the main thing we have to
remember is Jesus died on the cross for our sins and was resurrected on
Easter Sunday morning. To be a Christian and live in His Grace we
"have" to believe that.
Congratulations to Ross Hill in his switch from being head girls
basketball coach to being the head boys basketball coach for the Vienna
High School. Ross has always been a good coach so the switch won't be
any problem for him or Vienna High School.
The CEO of a large company had to go to the hospital for a series of
tests. He was hard to get along with and tried to boss the nurses like
he did his employees and only the head nurse could get him to do what
they wanted him to. She went into his room one day and said, "Sir, I
have to check your temperature." He immediately started to complain and
chew out the nurse. The head nurse opened his mouth for the
thermometer. She said, "This is not an oral thermometer, this is for
the other end so turn on your side please." The big shot business man
said some choice words but he could see she wouldn't take "no" for an
answer. Finally he turned over and she did her job. She said, "Stay in
that position and I'll be back in a few minutes." The grouch didn't
move and he could hear people laughing as they went by his open door in
the hall way. About 45 minutes later his doctor came by in to see him
and said, "What's going on here?" The man said, "Haven't you ever seen
a man get his temperature checked?" The doctor replied, "Yes, many
times, but never with a carnation." The moral of the story is if you
have to go to the hospital, be nice to the nurses because they can stick
it to you in the end!
This week's Bible quiz: Which disciple doubted Jesus had risen unless
he could see nail marks in His hands? For the answer, read St. John 20:25
I had a nice phone call from my good friend Leatrice Wieneke. She is
doing great but would like to be home for Easter Sunday services in her
home church. We all wish you could be here with us Leatrice!
Remember:
The worst place to live is beyond one's income. My wish is
everybody was able to attend your home church for Easter Sunday
services. Until next week. | Reevesville News
by: Lee Roy Stafford
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Metropolis Planet
Hi everybody, on a cool rainy early spring day here in Reevesville. A
big happy birthday wish is sent to my favorite sister, Barbara Koneman.
May God give you many more. Also, a big happy birthday wish to my
great-grandson, Trentyn Stafford. I'm still mad about you for beating
me at bowling that evening at your birthday party. May God give you
many more happy birthdays.
I attended the basketball benefit games Vienna Grade School this past
Friday evening between the eighth grade students, their parents and
others. I sort of felt sorry for the eighth grade girls' mothers as the
youngsters whipped up on them pretty bad. I guess the girls can tell
them what they did wrong on the ride home.
Back before the young couple got married, the lady said to her fiance,
"When we get married, I want to share all your worries, troubles, and
lighten your burdens." He replied, "It's very kind of you, darling, but
I don't have any worries or troubles." She answered, "just wait until
after we're married. You'll have plenty."
I was sorry to hear of the death of James Ward Wright. Ward was my
neighbor here in Reevesville several years ago. He and my uncle, Bill
Buttrum, used to run around together in their young days, and Ward spent
a lot of time at our home here in my childhood days. I remember before
he moved north, he walked up to our house and had breakfast with Karolyn
and me, and we had a great visit. Goodbye, old buddy, you'll be missed.
After listening restlessly to a long and tedious sermon, a 6-year-old
boy asked his father, "What does that preacher do during the rest of the
week?" "Oh, he's a very busy man," the father replied. "He takes care
of the church business, visits the sick, ministers to the poor.... and
then be has to have time to rest up. Preaching a sermon isn't an easy
job, you know?" The boy thought for a moment and said, "Well listening
isn't too easy either."
This weeks Bible quiz: Did Jesus ever return to the city in which He
made the water into wine? For the answer, read John 4:46.
Remember, one-half the troubles of this life can be traced to saying yes
too quickly and not saying no soon enough. See you in church. Until
next week.
| Reevesville News
March 12, 2008
By: Lee Roy Stafford
Metropolis Planet
Hi everybody on yet another cold and snowy Saturday morning here is
Reevesville. The county snowplows have made three or four trips down
this away trying to keep the roads clear. Thanks, guys! I'll bet the
robins wish thy had stayed down south a few more weeks. The good ole
weatherman says it will warm up this week sometime. I sure hope so!
This time last year we were thinking about mowing our lawns, but now we
are just wishing the snow would go away. What a difference a year makes.
Doug and Brandi Fisher have bought a new smaller car so thy can get
better gas mileage. They don't like this $3.25 a gallon gas. I don't
either, but as long as we buy it, it probably won't come down.
The wife was upset that her husband was not as sweet to her as their
neighbor was to his wife. One day she said, "Take a look at the
neighbors. H's always sweet to her and kissing her constantly. Why
don't you do that?" The husband replied, "I'd certainly love to, but I
don't know her well enough." He probably would have a hard time kissing
her after that with a fat lip!
I was sorry to hear of the death of Kenneth Anderson of Karnak after a
long illness. Kenneth and I became friends when I worked for Vienna
High School and took our buses in for inspections. He will be sadly
missed by his family and many friends.
A man got up and left in the middle of the pastor's very long sermon and
returned near its end. The pastor asked him, " Where did you go?" "I
went to get a haircut," the man replied. "Why didn't you do that before
the service?" The gentleman answered, "I didn't need one then."
Our church has special prayer every Sunday for the sick and shut-ins in
our community. Let's remember to do that every day of the week.
This week's Bible quiz: What was the first miracle performed by Jesus?
For the answer read John 2:9-11.
Remember , an apple a day keeps the doctor away.... so does having no
medical insurance.
A big happy 50th Wedding Anniversary to Bud and Lou Buttrum. May God
give you many more. A big get well to my buddy Cliff Mathis. Remember,
God will take care of you.
See you in Church, until next week!
| Reevesville News
by: Lee Roy Stafford
March 5, 2008
Metropolis Planet
Hi, everybody on the first Sunday morning of March. Yesterday was a
beautiful day and some of our citizens, including myself, were cleaning
up the broken tree limbs in their yards from the recent ice storm.
I saw a robin in my yard a couple of days ago and they say that is a
sure sign spring is just around the corner, but I'll bet we have some
more bad weather. I sure hope not!
Spring always means one thing, we switch from basketball to baseball.
Maybe the Cardinals will have a better year than everybody is predicting.
A policeman pulled the man over and asked, "Sir, do you realize your
wife fell out of the car several miles back?" the man replied "Thank
God, I thought I had gone deaf!"
I was sorry to hear of the death of D'Anson Walker after a long
illness. I had a nice visit with Dee and his wife Eleanor some time
back and Dee and I talked about our softball playing days many years ago
among other things. Dee was a good neighbor and a friend to all. He
will be sadly missed by his many friends and family. I'm sorry I didn't
visit Dee more often. We should all visit the shut-ins and the people
in the nursing homes more often.
The preacher's 5 year old daughter noticed that her father always paused
and bowed his head for a moment before starting his sermon. One day she
asked him why. "Well, honey," he began, proud that his daughter was so
observant of his messages, "I'm asking the Lord to help me to preach a
good sermon." She asked, "How come he doesn't do it?"
This weeks Bible quiz: How many baskets of fragments of food were
gathered up after the feeding of the multitude? For the answer read
John 6:13.
Remember, a gossiper is a person who talks to you about others. A dull
person is a person who talks to you about themselves. An interesting
person is a person who talks to you about yourself. See You in Church.
Until Next Week! |
Reevesville News
by: Lee Roy Stafford
Metropolis Planet
February 20, 2008
Hi! everybody on a typical February day here in Reevesville after a week
of ice storms downed trees and tree limbs. Some people have been
without electricity since the storm began on Monday. This is the worst
ice storm in my memory as it affected everyone in this area. Thank God
most of the people are now getting their electricity back on.
I am sorry to hear of the death of Lena Troutt and also the death of
Verla Fisher. Lena and her deceased husband Hubert lived in Reevesville
many years. I know Verla from being the sister-in-law of my good fiend,
Bob Fisher. Mrs. Fisher used to call me on the phone once in a while
and we would talk about Reevesville in the good old days. She had many
memories of this area. Both ladies will be missed by their families and
many friends.
Have you heard about the elderly lady who went to the hospital to visit
a friend? She had not been in a hospital for several years and felt
very ignorant about all the new technology. A technician followed her
onto the elevator, wheeling a large, intimidating looking machine with
tubes and wires and dials. "Boy, would I hate to be hooked up to that
thing," she said. "So would I," replied the technician. "It's a floor
cleaning machine." You never know until you ask.
A big happy birthday to Barb Welch and also to my brother-in-law, Bill
Henderson. May God give you both many more.
Here's wishing my sister-in-law, Kathy Stanchik, a speedy recovery from
the flu bug. Kenny may need a little help scooping all the snow you are
getting up there.
The young son said to his mother, "I've decided that I want to be a
politician so that I can go to Washington and help clean up the mess
this country is in." "That's wonderful," purred his mother. "You can
go upstairs and start with your room."
This week's Bible quiz: An artist once painted a picture of the
multitude sitting on rocks to be fed. What was wrong with this
picture? For the answer read John 6:10. Remember, to lift up others,
you must be higher than they are.
|
Reevesville News
by Lee Roy Stafford
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Vienna Times
The water had now engulfed the wyes and three miles of track. Hi everybody on a nice winter day after some rainy and turbulent weather
the first of the week. Thank God we didn't get the tornadoes that some
of the southern states got.
It has been 71 years this month since the flood of 1937 had all of
Reevesville under water. I would like to print some of what Harry Nave,
the Reevesville news reporter of that time, had to say about the flood
of 1937:
"We have had an extremely heavy down pour the last several days which
cascaded the numerous Ozark streams into and down the Bay Creek basin.
Head waters, getting mossy, gave us temporary concern as they ventured
inquisitively about the lowest depressions.
They retreated and again advanced intermittently as further drenchings
fell. Then temperatures held on the 50 mark and rain descended steadily
day and night. Again Big Bay Creek and coharts, sniffed at our gates,
muddy, sullen, and cold. And still the rain poured down. Exploring
rivulets began to trickle between railroad ties, climb the rail and feel
their way down the opposite bank. Rainfall had now settled down to a
continual performance and the waters crossed over to the west side of
the village and started an encircling movement. Then the Ohio River,
following a course of a 1,000 years ago, moved along the ridge of hills
from Bay city westward. Up and over the railroad embankment it crawled
as low basins filled and overflowed. And still it rained and back
waters climbed, rolled and mounted the railroad dump, seeking freedom in
the low lands opposite. Rising floors here and there and folks floors
here and there and folks began moving out.
Now the sky cleared for a couple days and nights and the sun and moon
beamed down ironically on the harassed in the lowlands. Still the
creepy flood rose higher and higher and old timers wondered. More
people moved to the hills or into boxcars.
Three
work trains, supervisors and 100 men fought day and night to hold the
railroad bed to no avail. Now, nearly every house in town was flooded
and people moved to ridges and additional box cars. Now Saturday night,
the hamlet practically deserted and dark. The only sound, work trains
pushing through 48 inches of water. An owl hooted dismally in the deep
swamp to the south, and as I recall it, my mental reaction to that
macabre taunt was 'hoot and be damn to you.'"
This story is from the book "Harry Nave's News from Reevesville,
IL.Volume 1." I edited it some to shorten it. If you want to buy this
book, contact Gary Hacker of the Johnson County Genealogical and
Historical Society. I hope you enjoyed the story, Lee Roy.
Mike Stafford and Doug Fisher have now sold their fur from trapping and
the news is they flooded the fur market and the price of hides has now
gone down drastically. If they had saved their skunk hides, the buyer
would not have had enough money to have paid them. Great going guys!
Now they are supposed to give me lessons on trapping big coons.
Remember: You're getting old when you are cautioned to slow down by the
doctor instead of by the police.
|
Reevesville News
by: Lee Roy Stafford
Metropolis Planet
January 30, 2008
Hi everybody and I hope you all stayed warm during this bitterly cold week.
Since all the deer hunting seasons are over it seems all the deer have
now come out of hiding. Going to work one morning this past week I saw
deer in four different places in the several miles from Reevesville
north to IL 146, so everybody be careful and don't hit one with your car.
A belated happy birthday to an old friend, Dee Walker. May God give you
many more.
My uncle and aunt, Bud and Lou Buttrum, will have their 50th wedding
anniversary celebration Saturday, March 8 beginning at 1 p.m. at 310
Ferry Street, Metropolis. Buffet dinner will be offered all day.
Friends and family are all invited.
Returning from her honeymoon, a young bride cried to her mother, "We had
a wonderful honeymoon but as soon as we returned my husband started
using ugly four letter words when talking to me." Her outraged mother
demanded, "Tell me what words he said to you!" The daughter replied,
"They're too awful to repeat." After the mother insisted, the bride
said, "Mama, he said I was going to have to learn to dust, wash, iron,
and cook." The mother sat down beside her daughter and they cried together.
I was sorry to hear of the death of 84-year-old John Palmer of
Glendale. John was my dad's railroad section foreman the last several
years dad worked. John was well liked by everybody that knew him. He
will be sadly missed by all his friends and especially his family.
This week's Bible quiz: What relative of David was appointed to be
captain of the host in place of Joah? For the answer read II Samuel 19:13.
Remember, smart when you believe only half of what you hear, brilliant
is when you know which half to believe.
See you in church. Until next week.
|
Reevesville News
By: Lee Roy Stafford
January 23, 2008
Metropolis Planet
Hi everybody on an extremely cold day here in Reevesville. It's so cold,
the trains are going by faster so the engineers can get home and sit by the
fire.
The doe-only deer season is in now. I hope the hunters don't freeze trying
to bag those smart and sneaky old does out there.
Larry Mizell and myself have decided, since his wife Barb has retired she
should study up on how to grow those good tomatoes and other vegetables just so
Larry can have something good to eat. Just kidding, Barb.
I hope you are enjoying your retirement and be sure to keep that Larry busy
so he will stay out of trouble.
A farmer and his new bride were riding home from the church in a wagon when
the old horse stumbled. The farmer said, "That's once." A little further
along, the poor old horse stumbled again. The farmer said, "That's twice." A
little later, the old horse stumbled again. The farmer didn't say anything as
he pulled out the shotgun and shot the horse, His new bride yelled, "That was
an awful thing to do." The farmer said, "That's once."
That was a story from the horse and buggy days.
I just filled my bird feeder, and the feeder and the ground are already
covered with hungry birds. The little birds sure need to be fed in this cold
weather, so be kind to our feathered friends and feed them.
I have a friend who feeds her birds, and she says a sparrow hawk eats also,
but he dines on the little birds. That hawk had better be careful, he might be
hit between the eyes with a baseball bat.
It was good to have breakfast with an old friend, Bill Oliver, this
morning. Come out to the restaurant next Saturday morning, Bill, and I might
let you buy our breakfast.
The pastor at the wedding was obsessed with fishing. He asked the groom,
"Do you promise to love, honor and cherish this woman?" "I do." said the groom
meekly. Turning to the bride, the pastor said, "Reel him in." The pastor might
have been in a hurry to go fishing.
This week's Bible quiz: Why did John baptize at Aenon, near Salim? For the
answer read John 3:23.
Remember, there is never a good time to do a bad thing. There is never a
bad time to do a good thing. See you in church. Until next week. | |
