january living magazine
DESCRIPTION
January Living Magazine Big SpringTRANSCRIPT
A family traditionHow The Stampede became a West Texas icon among dance halls
Crossroads offers a winter havenSandhill cranes enjoying the safety of Howard County
Love for the livestockArea students get ready to show off in area livestick shows
Mystery solved...A Big Spring man turns mystery shopping into sporting dream
January 2010
Showcase of Homes Inside
Jan mag.indd 1 12/15/09 12:06:20 PM
Back In Motion Chiropractic CenterDr. Howard Hornsby • Dr. Jody D. Reid
Come see what caring, gentle and safeChiropractic care can do for you.
Traditional & Low Force ChiropracticOn Site X-rays • Acupuncture
• Therapeutic Modalities• Licensed Massage Therapy• Workers’ Compensation• Medifast Weight Loss
• Spinal Decompression for Pinched Nerves & Disc Injuries• Cold Quartz Laser
Most Insurances Accepted
432-267-BACK (2225) • www.backinmotionbigspring.com1113 SCURRY
BACK IN MOTION NEW.indd 1 11/13/09 11:45:06 AM
Swedish, Deep Tissue,
Prenatal, and Hot Stone Massages
Body Wraps • Facials
• Reflexology
264-66511115 S. Scurry • Located Next to Back In Motion
Serenity Spa
Serenity Spa second.indd 1 11/13/09 11:45:33 AM
NEW LOCATION!
210191 Back in motion serenity full page.indd 1 12/10/09 10:57:05 AM
Jan mag.indd 2 12/15/09 12:06:22 PM
Living Magazine 1
Happy New Year,January is upon us.
The cold weather has set in and we all are do-ing our best to bundle up with the unusually cold winter. The holidays are be-
hind us with the memo-ries fresh on our minds. We now look toward the New Year in hopes of peace and happiness for all. Our military force is
being strengthened in Afghanistan with addi-tional troops being de-ployed. We all hope for their speedy and safe return. Here at Living we
share some ideas in this January edition that will inspire you to make a better life for you and your family. Inside this edition are financial tips as well as ideas to help the mind and body.Joe Zigtema shares the story of Ralph Kennedy, a local who landed a
dream job as a “mystery shopper” for Cowboy Stadium. Bill McClellan talks about a familiar sight — Sandhill Cranes migrating through our area. Read Thomas Jenkins’ story about The Stampede and its begin-ning in 1954 while John A. Moseley explores New Years resolutions. And Steve Reagan talks about some very pampered contestants — stock show animals. Peace be with you this New Year. All of us here at Living wish everyone
the best year ever. Take care and remember to lend a helping hand to those in need. Enjoy,Ron Midkiff
On the Cover:Jody Nix and the Stampedeby Thomas Jenkins.
Featured StorieS
2 A family tradition
5 Betterpersonalfinancial management
8 Resolving the new year
18 Crossroads offer a winter haven
21 Loveforthelivestock
24 Paintyourtownforprofit 26 Know your numbers
28 Mystery solved...
Publisher: Ron Midkiff
Contributors: Kay Smith Dr.ScottBarclay BruceSchooler Thomas Jenkins Steve Reagan John A. Moseley BillMcClellan C.L. Wayne Moore
Calendar
PublishedbyHeritagePublications(2003)Inc.Copyright 2009.All rights reserved.Living Magazine is published 10 timesyearly and mailed individually free of chargetohomesandbusinessesintheBigSpring, Texas, area. Editorial correspon-denceshouldbesenttoLiving,P.O.Box1431,BigSpringTX79720.Foradvertis-ingratesandotherinformation,pleasecall(432)263-7331.
Jan. 1 — Happy New Year
Jan. 2 — Homespun Christ-mas and Christmas Tree Forest at Heritage Museum.
Jan. 9 — Fraternal Order of Eagles 8th annual Chili Cook-Off benefiting West Texas Cen-ters for MHMR.
Jan. 21 — Hangar 25 annual membership meeting.
Jan. 21 — Healthy Woman’s First Anniversary Dinner and Women’s Expo.
Feb. 18 — Go Red for Women luncheon at the Dora Roberts Community Ceneter.
Feb. 20 — Big Spring Sym-phony presents “Symphony in Motion.”
Vol. 2 Edition 1Publisher’s NoteContents
Back In Motion Chiropractic CenterDr. Howard Hornsby • Dr. Jody D. Reid
Come see what caring, gentle and safeChiropractic care can do for you.
Traditional & Low Force ChiropracticOn Site X-rays • Acupuncture
• Therapeutic Modalities• Licensed Massage Therapy• Workers’ Compensation• Medifast Weight Loss
• Spinal Decompression for Pinched Nerves & Disc Injuries• Cold Quartz Laser
Most Insurances Accepted
432-267-BACK (2225) • www.backinmotionbigspring.com1113 SCURRY
BACK IN MOTION NEW.indd 1 11/13/09 11:45:06 AM
Swedish, Deep Tissue,
Prenatal, and Hot Stone Massages
Body Wraps • Facials
• Reflexology
264-66511115 S. Scurry • Located Next to Back In Motion
Serenity Spa
Serenity Spa second.indd 1 11/13/09 11:45:33 AM
NEW LOCATION!
210191 Back in motion serenity full page.indd 1 12/10/09 10:57:05 AM
Jan mag.indd 3 12/15/09 12:06:32 PM
2 Living Magazine
A family tradition...
F ew conversations con-cerning country and west-ern music in West Texas can go on long before the
subject eventually leads to one of Howard County’s most well-known attractions, The Stampede.
It’s a fact most local residents ac-knowledge with a quiet nod or a tip of a cowboy hat, a polite smile or a toothy grin. And why not, consider-ing the local dance hall — erected by Hoyle and Ben Nix in 1954 — has become a Lone Star legend, recently getting a similar nod from Texas Monthly Magazine, which featured it as one of the premier dance halls in the state.
Any mention of The Stampede these days is bound to be accom-
panied by a reference to local country and western musician and traditional country music legend Jody Nix, son of Hoyle Nix, and his Texas Cowboys. And while the tradition of The Stampede began in 1954, don’t be fooled, as the Nix family tradition goes even further back.
“The tradition started with my dad, Hoyle, and my uncle, Ben, right here in Big Spring in Novem-ber 1946,” said Nix. “They both had long careers and left a legacy and trail of music I’ve kept alive, and I plan to keep alive as long as I can.
“The folks with Texas Monthly contacted me earlier this summer and told me they wanted to do a
piece on The Stampede, and I was just tickled to death. I mean, it’s a dance hall. It’s not anything really fancy, but it’s a big part of our fam-ily tradition, and a big part of the country and western tradition out here in West Texas.”
Nix said the stage at The Stampede has hosted some of country music’s brightest stars over the years, but few have been able to compete with the run Bob Wills and the Tex-as Playboys had between 1956 and 1969.
“My dad, Hoyle, got to be really good friends with Bob Wills, and during that time they would play at The Stampede two or three times a year,” said Nix. “Again, it goes back to that tradition of country music
By Thomas Jenkins
Jan mag.indd 4 12/15/09 12:06:41 PM
Living Magazine 3
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we have, and Bob Wills was certainly a big part of that.”
Nix knows a thing or two about the legend-ary dance hall himself, starting all the way back when it was first built.
“I was two years old when The Stampede was built, so I’ve had the opportunity to be a part of its 55-year history,” said Nix. “The first time I got to actually play on the stage I was about four years old, and the band let me sit in on the drums. To look at us then and now, it’s really a good feeling.”
Each year, in mid-November, the Nix family — along with country and western dancers from all over the state, and even further — celebrates its musical history with a performance at The Stam-pede, and according to those who have attend-ed, it’s truly something to see.
“This has been a really big event for us the last several years. I started doing this in Novem-ber of 1996 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of when this all started, and we’ve just kept it go-ing through the years,” said Nix. “We had several reunions of the former West Texas Cowboys, as well.
“They come from all over the place to see that
Jan mag.indd 5 12/15/09 12:06:46 PM
show, and we’re more than ap-preciative of that fact. My favorite part is the nostalgia. Remembering how all of this started and where it’s come to today. We’ve kept a tradi-tion alive all these years, and peo-ple have supported us. And it hon-ors the men who started the whole thing.”
And while change has certain-ly been felt in the country music world — as well as The Stampede, as Nix and his Texas Cowboys con-tinue to carry on the tradition start-ed by Hoyle and Ben — there’s one thing that will never change about the West Texas icon.
“It’s a family place. It always has been, and it always will be,” said Nix with a smile. “That’s one thing that will never change.”
4 Living Magazine
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February 20, 2010 Symphony in Motion 8 pm Big Spring High School Auditorium March 27, 2010 Symphony Pops Extravaganza 8 pm with Paul Williams Howard College Coliseum
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Keith Graumann
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Jan mag.indd 6 12/15/09 12:06:54 PM
Living Magazine 5
Better personal financial management
A s we start the year 2010, we probably have goals we wish to reach, things we want
to do, and certainly, successes we would love to experience. Achieving your financial goals may be one of those areas you plan to address this year. Be-cause so much of our life is af-fected by wise (or poor) money management, you have made a great choice. Developing a spending plan will certainly car-ry you along a successful path toward achieving good money management skills. In this arti-cle, we will look at money safety tips and the first steps to take in developing a spending plan.
Tips on money safetyCredit card safety can never be
over-emphasized. Anecdotal evi-dence suggests millions of dol-lars are lost to credit and debit card fraud each year. In addition to taking out protection against consumer fraud, there are some basic credit and debit card safety measures you can take.It is extremely important to know
where your credit and debit cards are at all times. Do not make it easy for others to gain access to
your credit card numbers. Also, if you ever have to use your credit card in a transaction that requires a carbon copy (this should be ex-tremely rare), ask for the carbon sheet and destroy it. This may prevent someone from using the information left imprinted on the carbon to commit fraud. Do not give your credit/debit card num-ber to anyone online or by tele-phone unless you are positive the person is legitimate.When your credit/debit card
expires, you should destroy the card by cutting it into several pieces in a crisscross format. Be sure to cut through both the elec-tronic strip as well as the three-digit number on the back of the card, cutting them into multiple pieces. When you discard the pieces, place them into different trash bags and dispose of them on different trash days.You also need to be extra care-
ful with the cash you carry. Avoid carrying more than $50 in cash, and keep it in two separate loca-tions, if possible. Keeping cash in a purse is normal for ladies; how-ever, if you were to keep some of it in a secure pants or jacket pocket then all your cash won’t be lost if your purse is stolen. I still recall an experience that my
wife had when we were on vaca-tion many years ago. A thief en-tered the condo where we were staying and got away with her handbag containing $600.Some people choose to keep
large sums of money at home because they do not trust banks. Yet, a bank is the safest place to keep money. At present all cus-tomer accounts such as savings, checking, and Certificate of De-posits (CDs) are federally insured for up to $250,000. Check with your bank of business for more details. I highly recommend that rather than storing your money at your home, you should open an account with a bank of your choice and keep the money there instead.
First steps in planningIn our previous article, I sug-
gested that everyone should de-velop a spending plan because having and using it helps us to discipline ourselves in how we spend our money. The first step in developing a spending plan is to account for every penny you spend.Probably, the best time to start
is on the first day of a new month. It is a good idea to carry a little
Jan mag.indd 7 12/15/09 12:06:56 PM
6 Living Magazine
note book so you can jot down the amounts and reasons for every bit of money you spend. Whether it is chewing gum, gas-oline, or a refrigerator that you purchase, you must be sure to write everything down. On a dai-ly basis, you should then spend a few minutes each evening to transfer the notes from your note-
book to a larger, letter-size Daily Flexible Spend-ing Expense Sheet as shown. You will record flexible expense items, adding additional catego-ries as needed, until you account for all categories during the first month of developing your spend-
ing plan.Note that each day in the month
is accounted for. You will need to use about three sheets to include all the days in the month. Add the amounts across your
sheet for each category to arrive at a total on every page; then add the total for each category on ev-ery page to get your month’s to-tal.You will now have your monthly
expense totals for each catego-ry. Then, enter each monthly ex-pense total into the appropriate categories on a Monthly Flexible Expense Sheet. Be sure to enter your amounts under the “Actual” column for the correct month.Now, you will have completed
the first month to show the actual amount of money you spent un-der Flexible Expenses.In next month’s article, we will
work on completing the first month’s spending plan by includ-ing the Fixed Expenses Sheet, money earned and your first plan for spending.
C.L. Wayne Moore, Ph.D, is the vice president of American State Bank
www.becomeacasa.org
Court Appointed Special Advocates
CASA OF WEST TEXAS
Become A CASA Volunteerand be rewarded with some of the most
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For more information, please contact
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Living Magazine 7
Jan mag.indd 9 12/15/09 12:07:01 PM
8 Living Magazine
W elcome, 2010! A new year and all it entails is ahead of us, and a great many people will
try to make significant changes in their lives in some way this year.That means New Year’s resolutions,
doesn’t it?Of course it does. Everyone makes
them.Well, maybe not all of us, but cer-
tainly most of us will make a resolu-tion or two, regardless of how half-hearted they are.You see, New Year’s Eve has always
been a time for looking back to the past and, more importantly, forward to the coming year. It’s a time to re-flect on the changes we want (or need) to make and resolve to follow through on those changes.Several surveys look at what most
people choose for their New Year’s resolutions. Here’s at top 10 list:1. Spend more time with family and
friends:More than 50 percent of Americans
vow to appreciate loved ones and spend more time with family and friends this year. Make plans to meet up with friends for an evening of ca-maraderie at a favorite restaurant or take the family to a place for family fun. Work shouldn’t always come first! 2. Fit in fitness:The evidence is in for fitness. Regu-
lar exercise has been associated with more health benefits than anything else known to man. Studies show that it reduces the risk of some cancers, increases longevity, helps achieve and maintain weight loss, enhances mood, lowers blood pressure and even improves arthritis. In short, ex-ercise keeps you healthy and makes you look and feel better.3. Lose weight:Over 66 percent of adult Ameri-
cans are considered overweight or obese by recent studies, so it is not surprising to find that weight loss is one of the most popular New Year’s resolutions. Setting reasonable goals and staying focused are the two most
important factors in sticking with a weight loss program, and the key to success for those millions of Ameri-cans who made a New Year’s com-mitment to shed extra pounds. 4. Quit smoking:If you have resolved to make this the
year that you stamp out your smoking habit, over-the-counter availability of nicotine replacement therapy now provides easier access to proven quit-smoking aids. Even if you’ve tried to quit before and failed, don’t let it get you down. On average, smokers try about four times before they quit for good. Start enjoying the rest of your smoke-free life.5. Enjoy life more:Given the hectic, stressful lifestyles
of millions of Americans, it is no wonder that “enjoying life more” has become a popular resolution in re-cent years. It’s an important step to a happier and healthier you! Consid-er getting out and trying something new. Take up a new hobby or try your hand at skiing. Go to a theater perfor-mance, or head to the local spa. 6. Quit drinking:While many people use the New
Year as an incentive to finally stop drinking, most are not equipped to make such a drastic lifestyle change all at once. Many heavy drinkers fail to quit cold turkey but do much bet-ter when they taper gradually, or even learn to moderate their drinking. If you have decided that you want to
Resolving the new year
By John A. Moseley
Jan mag.indd 10 12/15/09 12:07:04 PM
Living Magazine 9
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432.267.3363
Start your New Year off Right...Walmart has great deals on HealthFood and Fitness Equipment to helpyou reach your goals.
stop drinking, there is a world of help and support available. Alcoholics Anonymous offers meetings through-out the week. There are also a num-ber of treatment-based programs, as well as support groups for families of alcoholics. 7. Get out of debt:Was money a big source of stress in
your life last year? It’s not surprising, considering these economic times, so join the millions of Americans who have resolved to spend this year getting a handle on their finances. It’s a promise that will repay itself many times over in the year ahead. 8. Learn something new:Have you vowed to make this year
the year to learn something new? Perhaps you are considering a career change, want to learn a new lan-guage, or just how to fix your com-puter? Whether you take a course or read a book, you’ll find education to be one of the easiest, most motivat-ing New Year’s resolutions to keep. Howard College offers a wide variety of “lifelong learning” courses.9. Help others:A popular, non-selfish New Year’s
resolution, volunteerism can take many forms. Whether you choose to spend time mentoring a child or building a house, there are many nonprofit volunteer organizations that could really use your help. Or if your time is really in short sup-ply, maybe you can at least find it in you to donate the furniture, clothing and other household items that you no longer need, rather than leaving them out by the curb to fill up our landfill.10. Get organized:On just about every New Year reso-
lution top 10 list, organization can be a very reasonable goal. Whether you want your home organized enough that you can invite someone over on a whim or your office organized enough that you can find the stapler when you need it, these tips and re-sources should get you started on the way to a more organized life.Remember, however, the clock is
ticking. Most behavioral experts say making a decision about one’s reso-lution early is a good step toward keeping it later.
Discover Another World,
Read!
You never know
what you
might find.
Jan mag.indd 11 12/15/09 12:07:09 PM
As I have written in the past, one of my favorite ways to relax and get rid of some stress is to explore the back roads of Howard County with my camera. I usually try to get out early in the morning when the light is not too harsh. I will also venture out in late af-ternoon an hour or two before sunset. The worst time of the day to take scenic photographs is when the sun is high in the sky. The sun is just too harsh and there are few shadows which add tex-ture and depth to a photo. An added benefit to starting early is the possibil-
ity of experiencing one of our beauti-ful West Texas sunrises. Some people don’t realize that our sunrises can rival the sunsets because…well it happens early in the morning. You have to get up with the chickens to see them, but to get your equipment ready and get to your location you want to shoot you have to wake up the chickens.
The week after Thanksgiving, we got another snow storm. It was only a cou-ple of inches but I wanted to get out and see what images I could capture with my camera. As I left the house and turned east on Midway road, I realized there was not a sin-gle vehicle in sight. Soon I realized the reason that there was no traffic. Not only was it very cold but the roads were very icy. But I had a mission and I wasn’t going to let a little winter weather de-ter me. I decided to make a right and go to Moss Creek Lake. I stopped along the road several times as I saw interesting subjects shrouded
in snow. As I looked at the results on the LCD on the back of my camera, I was disappointed. So far there were no great images that I could enlarge and hang on our wall. As I slowly made my way toward Moss Creek Lake, I saw a snow covered patch of cactus along a fence line. I love old barbed wire fenc-es with old wooden cedar posts. They have a lot of character and no two are alike. I stopped in the middle of the road as there was no traffic to be seen for miles. As I got closer to my sub-ject I was composing the image men-tally and I was getting a little excited
10 Living Magazine
By Bruce Schooler
Exploringthe back
roads
Jan mag.indd 12 12/15/09 12:07:16 PM
Living Magazine 11
City Of Big SpringCONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU
Convention & Visitors Bureau
Contact Us to list your Eventon the website or Channel 17.
Orto reserve the
Dora Roberts Community Center
Our New Location at215 W. 3rd St.
215 W. 3rd St. Big Spring, TX 79720www.visitbigspring.com
Dora Roberts Community Center is locatedon the bank of the Comanche TrailLake and is a perfect location for
weddings and receptions
(432) 263-8235
2011
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about the possibilities. As I brought my camera up to my eye to compose the shot, I saw it. There, right next to the post partially covered with snow, was a bright red beer carton. It was right in the middle of my image that I had composed in my camera. I could already see that if I tried to remove it, that it would leave a bare spot and the picture would be ruined. I tried to take some images with the beer carton out of the picture but it just wasn’t how I envisioned the image.
I got back in the van and drove toward the lake all the while mumbling under my breath. Why do people do that? Can’t they wait until they get home and use the dumpster? I cooled down as I approached the lake entrance.
As I mentioned at the beginning of this article, I take scenic pictures to relax and relieve stress. I wasn’t going to let this ruin my outing. At the lake entrance I turned right and took the pe-rimeter road that goes along the fence. I stopped periodically and took a few pictures; OK, how about more than a hundred. I was starting to get in the groove again to where the only thing on my mind was capturing the beauty
that God has given us. It was a great time. Then I rounded a corner and drove slowly down a steep hill into a low area that was secluded. I was get-ting excited about the possibilities that lay before me. Then I saw something that made my blood boil. Scattered all along the road were old appliances, tires and other objects that had been dumped there. They were partially cov-ered by the snow but it was obvious that someone had used this beautiful area as a dump ground. Needless to say my creativity went out the window. I tried to shoot around the junk, but my heart was not in it.
Folks, I don’t usually get on my soap box, but I wanted to use this chance to encourage everyone to be a good citi-zen and not litter or dump old appli-ances out in the country side. Even if you are not into photography, it creates an eyesore and takes away from the scenery that is before you. One way to help keep our little corner of the world cleaner is to volunteer. When Keep Big Spring Beautiful asks for help on the cleanup days take a few hours out of your busy schedule and help pick up trash. I want to also thank the organi-
Jan mag.indd 13 12/15/09 12:07:20 PM
Big Spring
110 West Marcy432-263-1284
Jan. 2010
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IMMACULATE NEWER HOME built in 2005. Spacious 4 bedroom, 2 bath featuring 2 living areas, 2 dining areas, study/office, WB fireplace, master bath with 2 showers. Covered patio, sprinkler system, 2 car garage. 2,444 living sq. ft.
NEW IMMACULATE and move-in ready! 3 bedroom, 2 bath home with 1,821 living sq. ft., gas log fireplace, nice sequestered master bedroom, pretty landscaped yard, wood fence, 2 car garage. Built in 1999.
COMFORT AND SOPHISTICATION displayed throughout this spacious 3,068 sq. ft. home. 4 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths, 2 living areas, separate formal dining, FP, great master bed/bath suite, gorgeous kitchen, double garage.
COVER PAGE JANUARY 2010.indd 1 12/14/09 9:17:20 AM
12 Living Magazine
Corporate Retreats - Weddings - Special Events
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Book Your Wedding Party NowTake Advantage of our new outdoor climate controlled environment !!
zations that have adopted stretches of highways and streets to keep clean. People that belong to these organi-zations help to make Big Spring and Howard County a better place to live. You don’t have to be a member of an
organization to help though. All you have to do is just not throw trash out your car window. If it isn’t thrown out along the roadside it doesn’t have to be picked up. OK. I just climbed down from my soap box. I feel better now.
If you want to contact us at Red Barn Studio, you can call us at 432-466-3315 or email us at [email protected]. Have a blessed Christmas and a Happy and Prosper-ous New Year.
Jan mag.indd 14 12/15/09 12:07:25 PM
Big Spring
110 West Marcy432-263-1284
Jan. 2010
DESIGNED FOR ENJOYMENT - One of a kind home with 3,665 living sq. ft. 4 bedrooms, 3 baths, formal dining, FP, den, gameroom, study/office, new windows, covered patio, sprinkler sys., 2 car garage.
NEW UNIQUE TRI-LEVEL home in Highland South. Approx. 2,312 living sq. ft., 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, 2 living areas, spacious utility, WB fireplace, nice landscaped yard, 2 car garage.
SPECTACULAR 4 bedroom, 3 bath with 3,500 living sq. ft. Two living areas, garden/sunroom, study/office, 2-fireplaces, gorgeous kitchen, exquisite updated features and amenities. Lovely landscaping, 2 car garage.
PAMPER YOURSELF with this lovely 3 bedroom, 2 bath home built in 2008. Features include office/study, separate formal dining, WB fireplace, 2,200 living sq. ft., wood fence, sprinkler system,many extra amenities!
SPACE ABOUNDS in this large home with 4,635 living sq. ft.! 5 bedrooms, 3 full baths, 2 half baths, formal living, family room, gameroom, study/office, WB fireplace, 2 dining areas, sunroom. 2 car garage, covered patio, inground pool & pool house.
TURN YOUR ATTENTION to this unique tri-level in great residential neighborhood. 5 bedrooms, 3 baths, formal living, gameroom, sunroom, fireplace, covered patio, spa/hot tub, 3 car garage, landscaped corner lot.
IMMACULATE NEWER HOME built in 2005. Spacious 4 bedroom, 2 bath featuring 2 living areas, 2 dining areas, study/office, WB fireplace, master bath with 2 showers. Covered patio, sprinkler system, 2 car garage. 2,444 living sq. ft.
NEW IMMACULATE and move-in ready! 3 bedroom, 2 bath home with 1,821 living sq. ft., gas log fireplace, nice sequestered master bedroom, pretty landscaped yard, wood fence, 2 car garage. Built in 1999.
COMFORT AND SOPHISTICATION displayed throughout this spacious 3,068 sq. ft. home. 4 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths, 2 living areas, separate formal dining, FP, great master bed/bath suite, gorgeous kitchen, double garage.
COVER PAGE JANUARY 2010.indd 1 12/14/09 9:17:20 AM
Living Magazine 13
Jan mag.indd 15 12/15/09 12:07:25 PM
LOTS OF IMPROVEMENTS made to this attractive 3 bedroom, 2 bath. Recent new carpet, updated kitchen and baths, storm windows, 1 car carport. $60’s.
UPDATED OLDER HOME in Edwards Heights. 2 bedroom, 1 bath, fireplace, wood deck, refinished hardwood floors, crown molding, carport. $60’s.
LOTS OF POTENTIAL! 3 bedroom,1 1/2 bath mobile home with central heat/air, sunroom, covered patio, nice landscaping and fencing. 1.25 acre, Coahoma ISD.
BARGAIN BUY! Large 4 bedroom, 2 bath with bonus room, formal dining, fenced yard and 2 car carport. Approx. 1,956 living sq. ft., priced at $62,000.
PRICED AT $62,000 this 3 bedroom, 1 bath on 0.498 acre will fit your budget! Central heat/ref. air, covered patio, workshop, pecan trees, 2 car carport, totally fenced.
NEW FORSAN - 3 bedroom, 2 bath with central heat/ref. air, separate formal dining, inside utility, lots of storage and outside buildings, 2 car carport. 1.5 acre inside city limits, 21.5 acres outside city limits.
CUTE & COZY 2 bedroom with large kitchen/den combo, WB fireplace, hardwood floors, central heat/ref. air, storm cellar, 1 car garage. Extra lot with water well included. $58,500.
TWO FOR THE PRICE OF ONE! 2 bedroom, 1 bath with 1 car garage plus a 1 bedroom, 1 bath used for rental property. Both have central heat/ref. air. $55,000.
SPACIOUS OLDER HOME in Washington Place subdivision. 1,803 living sq. ft., 3 bedrooms, 1 bath, hardwood floors, large storage house, tile fence, covered patio, 1 car garage. $52,000.
NEW PERFECT PLACE TO START!! Nice 2 bedroom, 1 bath with central heat/ref. air, gas log fireplace, tall ceilings, spacious rooms, recent new privacy fence, inground pool, workshop, large storage, 1 car garage. $60’s.
WELL KEPT manufactured home on approx. 1 acre, Coahoma ISD. 3 bedroom, 2 bath, total electric, covered patio with wood deck. Price reduced to $44,900!
www.home-realtors.net 432.263.1284 1.800.295.8938
FIX “n” SAVE yourself some money! 2 bedroom home with great curb appeal! 1,152 sq. ft, fenced backyard, 1 car garage, 2 car carport. Priced at $40,000.
PRICED TO SELL at $35,000. Extra nice 3 bedroom with central heat/ref. air, pretty kitchen with nice cabinets & countertops, 1 car carport.
POSSIBLE STARTER or investment property. 2 bedroom, 1 bath, nicely painted interior, hardwood floors, 1 car garage. $30’s.
NICELY PRICED 4 bedroom, 2 bath with 2 living areas, WB fireplace, central heat/ref. air, above ground pool and 3 car carport. Located on approx.1 acre, Coahoma School District. $70’s.
home realtors page three january.indd 1 12/14/09 5:33:42 PM
DELIGHTFUL TRI-LEVEL featuring 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, WB fireplace, central heat/ref. air, covered patio, workshop, 2 car garage. Nice Kentwood home on corner lot.
DESIRED LOCATION in beautiful Coronado Hills. 4 bedroom, 2 bath, WB fireplace, nice Pergo flooring, 2 carattached garage, sprinkler system.Additional garage/workshop, carport & greenhouse in back.
EXCEPTIONAL PURCHASE! Nice 3 bedroom, 2 bath Kentwood home with 2 living areas, WB fireplace, roof is only 2 years old, heating/cooling replaced in 2008, covered patio, sprinkler system and 2 car garage.
NICE SUBURBAN HOME on 3.3 acres, Forsan ISD. 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, fireplace, 2 dining areas, central heat/ref. air, barn/stable, 2 car garage with storage room plus workshop, 2 car carport. $70’s.
PRICED FOR FAST SALE! Nice 3 bedroom, 2 bath Kentwood home with central heat/ref. air, good open floor plan, lovely backyard, great workshop,2 car garage.
REASONABLY PRICED 3 bedroom, 2 bath with 1,939 living sq. ft. Separate formal dining, office/study could be 4th bedroom, beautiful kitchen cabinets, storage building, covered patio, tile fence, 3 car carport. $70’s.
SUBSTANTIAL PRICE REDUCTION on this charming 2-story home in Parkhill area. 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, 2 living areas, WB fireplace, pretty hardwood floors, approx. 2,240 living sq. ft. $80’s!
NEW NICE BUY on this 3 bedroom, 2 bath brick home with 2 living areas, central heat/ref. air, pretty hardwood floors, covered patio, 1 car garage. College Park Addition. $80,000.
A SPECIAL HOME waiting for new owners. Attractive inside & out with recent updating. 3 bedroom, 2 bath brick with 2 living areas, fireplace central heat/ref. air, Pergo flooring, 1 car garage and 3 car carport. $70’s.
GREAT FLOOR PLAN - Nice 3 bed-room, 1 bath with bonus room, central heat/ref. air, storage shed, wood fence and 1 car garage. College Park. $70’s.
www.home-realtors.net 432.263.1284 1.800.295.8938
NEW ATTRACTIVE COLLEGE PARK HOME - 3 bedroom, 2 bath with central heat/ref. air, WB fireplace, nice Pergo flooring, sprinkler system, single garage, $70’s.
PRICED BELOW FHA APPRAISED VALUE! 3 bedroom, 2 bath with central heat/ref. air, 2 living areas, study/office, storage shed, carport. North Parkhill. Low $70’s.
A GREAT OPPORTUNITY to own this nice 3 bedroom, 2 bath with central heat/ref. air, garden/sunroom, tile fence and 1 car garage. Close to el-ementary school and college. $69,500.
FEATURES COUNTRY LIVING in the city. Nice 3 bedroom, 2 bath home nestled on beautiful grounds with lots of trees. Family room, study/office, WB fireplace, covered patio, storage shed, workshop, 2 car car-port. 3.389 acres.
MOST INVITING HOME in desired neighborhood. 3 bedroom featuring 2 1/2 baths, WB fireplace, 2 living areas, 2,000 sq. ft., spacious rooms, lots of storage. Double garage, beautiful yard areas with large trees.
HOME PAGE TWO JANUARY 2010 FINAL.indd 1 12/14/09 5:11:53 PM
14 Living Magazine
Jan mag.indd 16 12/15/09 12:07:29 PM
LOTS OF IMPROVEMENTS made to this attractive 3 bedroom, 2 bath. Recent new carpet, updated kitchen and baths, storm windows, 1 car carport. $60’s.
UPDATED OLDER HOME in Edwards Heights. 2 bedroom, 1 bath, fireplace, wood deck, refinished hardwood floors, crown molding, carport. $60’s.
LOTS OF POTENTIAL! 3 bedroom,1 1/2 bath mobile home with central heat/air, sunroom, covered patio, nice landscaping and fencing. 1.25 acre, Coahoma ISD.
BARGAIN BUY! Large 4 bedroom, 2 bath with bonus room, formal dining, fenced yard and 2 car carport. Approx. 1,956 living sq. ft., priced at $62,000.
PRICED AT $62,000 this 3 bedroom, 1 bath on 0.498 acre will fit your budget! Central heat/ref. air, covered patio, workshop, pecan trees, 2 car carport, totally fenced.
NEW FORSAN - 3 bedroom, 2 bath with central heat/ref. air, separate formal dining, inside utility, lots of storage and outside buildings, 2 car carport. 1.5 acre inside city limits, 21.5 acres outside city limits.
CUTE & COZY 2 bedroom with large kitchen/den combo, WB fireplace, hardwood floors, central heat/ref. air, storm cellar, 1 car garage. Extra lot with water well included. $58,500.
TWO FOR THE PRICE OF ONE! 2 bedroom, 1 bath with 1 car garage plus a 1 bedroom, 1 bath used for rental property. Both have central heat/ref. air. $55,000.
SPACIOUS OLDER HOME in Washington Place subdivision. 1,803 living sq. ft., 3 bedrooms, 1 bath, hardwood floors, large storage house, tile fence, covered patio, 1 car garage. $52,000.
NEW PERFECT PLACE TO START!! Nice 2 bedroom, 1 bath with central heat/ref. air, gas log fireplace, tall ceilings, spacious rooms, recent new privacy fence, inground pool, workshop, large storage, 1 car garage. $60’s.
WELL KEPT manufactured home on approx. 1 acre, Coahoma ISD. 3 bedroom, 2 bath, total electric, covered patio with wood deck. Price reduced to $44,900!
www.home-realtors.net 432.263.1284 1.800.295.8938
FIX “n” SAVE yourself some money! 2 bedroom home with great curb appeal! 1,152 sq. ft, fenced backyard, 1 car garage, 2 car carport. Priced at $40,000.
PRICED TO SELL at $35,000. Extra nice 3 bedroom with central heat/ref. air, pretty kitchen with nice cabinets & countertops, 1 car carport.
POSSIBLE STARTER or investment property. 2 bedroom, 1 bath, nicely painted interior, hardwood floors, 1 car garage. $30’s.
NICELY PRICED 4 bedroom, 2 bath with 2 living areas, WB fireplace, central heat/ref. air, above ground pool and 3 car carport. Located on approx.1 acre, Coahoma School District. $70’s.
home realtors page three january.indd 1 12/14/09 5:33:42 PM
Living Magazine 15
DELIGHTFUL TRI-LEVEL featuring 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, WB fireplace, central heat/ref. air, covered patio, workshop, 2 car garage. Nice Kentwood home on corner lot.
DESIRED LOCATION in beautiful Coronado Hills. 4 bedroom, 2 bath, WB fireplace, nice Pergo flooring, 2 carattached garage, sprinkler system.Additional garage/workshop, carport & greenhouse in back.
EXCEPTIONAL PURCHASE! Nice 3 bedroom, 2 bath Kentwood home with 2 living areas, WB fireplace, roof is only 2 years old, heating/cooling replaced in 2008, covered patio, sprinkler system and 2 car garage.
NICE SUBURBAN HOME on 3.3 acres, Forsan ISD. 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, fireplace, 2 dining areas, central heat/ref. air, barn/stable, 2 car garage with storage room plus workshop, 2 car carport. $70’s.
PRICED FOR FAST SALE! Nice 3 bedroom, 2 bath Kentwood home with central heat/ref. air, good open floor plan, lovely backyard, great workshop,2 car garage.
REASONABLY PRICED 3 bedroom, 2 bath with 1,939 living sq. ft. Separate formal dining, office/study could be 4th bedroom, beautiful kitchen cabinets, storage building, covered patio, tile fence, 3 car carport. $70’s.
SUBSTANTIAL PRICE REDUCTION on this charming 2-story home in Parkhill area. 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, 2 living areas, WB fireplace, pretty hardwood floors, approx. 2,240 living sq. ft. $80’s!
NEW NICE BUY on this 3 bedroom, 2 bath brick home with 2 living areas, central heat/ref. air, pretty hardwood floors, covered patio, 1 car garage. College Park Addition. $80,000.
A SPECIAL HOME waiting for new owners. Attractive inside & out with recent updating. 3 bedroom, 2 bath brick with 2 living areas, fireplace central heat/ref. air, Pergo flooring, 1 car garage and 3 car carport. $70’s.
GREAT FLOOR PLAN - Nice 3 bed-room, 1 bath with bonus room, central heat/ref. air, storage shed, wood fence and 1 car garage. College Park. $70’s.
www.home-realtors.net 432.263.1284 1.800.295.8938
NEW ATTRACTIVE COLLEGE PARK HOME - 3 bedroom, 2 bath with central heat/ref. air, WB fireplace, nice Pergo flooring, sprinkler system, single garage, $70’s.
PRICED BELOW FHA APPRAISED VALUE! 3 bedroom, 2 bath with central heat/ref. air, 2 living areas, study/office, storage shed, carport. North Parkhill. Low $70’s.
A GREAT OPPORTUNITY to own this nice 3 bedroom, 2 bath with central heat/ref. air, garden/sunroom, tile fence and 1 car garage. Close to el-ementary school and college. $69,500.
FEATURES COUNTRY LIVING in the city. Nice 3 bedroom, 2 bath home nestled on beautiful grounds with lots of trees. Family room, study/office, WB fireplace, covered patio, storage shed, workshop, 2 car car-port. 3.389 acres.
MOST INVITING HOME in desired neighborhood. 3 bedroom featuring 2 1/2 baths, WB fireplace, 2 living areas, 2,000 sq. ft., spacious rooms, lots of storage. Double garage, beautiful yard areas with large trees.
HOME PAGE TWO JANUARY 2010 FINAL.indd 1 12/14/09 5:11:53 PM
Jan mag.indd 17 12/15/09 12:07:30 PM
The source of square footage quoted on all properties listed in this magazine is Howard County Appraisal District.
Lots and Acreage COMMERCIAL LOTS AND ACREAGE916 Lamesa Hwy. - 6 lots, great commercial site.
Thorpe/Wasson - Commercial lots-frontage, $80,000.
S. Service Rd & FM 700 - Good building site, 1.08 acre.
N. Hwy. 87 - I-20 Frontage, 5 ac. tracts, $399,000.
500 E. FM 700 - 18 acre, corner lot.
1208 E. 4th - 50 x 140 on corner lot, $12,000.
1210 E. 4th - Corner lot, $12,000.
1900 Wasson - 150 x 150 corner lot, $20,000.
1901 Wasson - 150 x 150 corner lot, $20,000.
1210 E. 5th - Corner lot, $6,000.
1611 E. 4th - Corner lot, $65,000.
1201 Scurry - Good retail location, $50,000.
1202 Scurry - Nice retail lots, $15,000.
1605 Scurry - 0.177 ac., 3 sides fenced.
500 Gregg - 100’ frontage, 140’ deep, $195,000.
1207 Utah - 2 lots, $17,000.
421 E. 3rd - 2 lots, $10,000.
407 W. 3rd - 150 x 150 commercial lot, $19,500.
RESIDENTIAL ACREAGEKentwood - 5.08 acres, South of Merrily St.Kentwood - 89.10 acres, East of Kentwood.S. Goliad - 9.681 ac., prime acreage, beautiful building site.Campestre Estates - 5ac. tracts - $15,000. (29 tracts available).Hearn - 3.86 acres, Forsan ISD, $11,500.South Mountain - 6.187 ac., beautiful building location.1908 Thorpe, 3.16 acres, $29,000.Richie Rd. - 10 acres, $29,500.Baylor Blvd. - 6.74 acres, $39,900.
RESIDENTIAL LOTSParkland Estates - Thorpe / Wasson, $35,000 each.
Forsan - Warren St., nice building lot, $4,500.
Connally - 7 lots, $11,500.
Parkway Rd. - 70 lots, great building opportunity, $250,000.
Coronado Hills - 6 residential lots. $49,000.
403 E. 8th - 2 lots, covered parking, $13,000.
Baylor - 7 lots (2 lots could be commercial).
Scott Drive - $18,000.
712 Craigmont - $17,000.
720 Craigmont - $17,500.
3802 Dixon - $8,000.
3800 Dixon - $8,000.
3802 Parkway - $4,000.
3800 Parkway - $4,000.
601 Bucknell - $5,000.
4000 Vicky - $8,000.
2513 E. 25th - $10,000.
1308 E. 6th - $8,000.
702 Caprock - $34,000.
3204 Fenn Ave. - $6,500.
702 Colgate - $6,500.
706 Colgate - $6,500.
The Home Team
ExperiencedDedicated
Professionalswho will give
you the superiorservice you
deserve.(432) 263-1284
Kay MooreCRS, GRI - Broker/Owner
432.263.8893432.770.5281 mobile
Linda Barnes432.268.1588
432.270.0062 mobile
Clovie Shannon432.263.2108
432.935.2135 mobile
Linda Leonard432.263.7500
432.897.0318 mobile
Joe Hughes432.263.1284
432.270.7877 mobile
Candy Norman432.270.1198 mobile
Charles432.263.1713
432.466.1613 mobile
Shirley Burgess432.263.8729
432.935.2088 mobile
Doris Huibregtse432.263.6525
432.270.8920 mobile
Leslie Elrod432.517.0038 mobile
HOME REALTORS PAGE FOUR JANUARY 2010.indd 1 12/14/09 5:33:08 PM
4000 W. HWY. 80 - Apartment complex with 14 apartments plus RV Park and 6 storage spaces. Will sell Apartments separate from RV Park.
307 W. 4th - Three lots with concrete building, the two houses on property will be moved.
1901 W. 16th - 9,900 Sq. ft., additional building with 2,000 sq. ft., paved parking, 5 acres included.
502 E. FM 700 - For sale or lease, 11,242 sq. ft., fenced, 2.52 acres.
600 MAIN - Office Building with 8 offices, 2 baths, 2 reception areas, storage building, 3,900 sq. ft.
806 W. I-20 - Approx. 5,632 sq. ft., 1.05 acres. Four 5-ton units, 2 septics, adjoining 3.57 acres that can be purchased,
1011 W. 4th - Approx. 7,356 sq. ft, showroom, shop with overhead door, fenced yard.
611 GREGG - For sale or lease, centralheat/ref. air, basement, storage shed.
900 AYLESFORD - Triplex apartment complex - One unit is a 3 bedroom, 1 bath, two units that are 2 bedroom, 1 bath.
308 SCURRY - Could be used for offices or retail, nice downtown location, central heat/ref. air, 3,164 sq. ft.
NEW 1900 WASSON - Nice commercialbuilding, 2,200 sq. ft., 3 large rooms, 2 bath rooms, 0.596 acre fenced with chain link fence.
1313 MULBERRY - DUPLEX - Each unit is a 2 bedroom, 1 bath. Great investment property.
1501 W. 4th - Good location with small office,garage with overhead door and wash bay.
101 AIRBASE RD. - Auto repair business with all mechanical equipment included. Also 1 bdrm, 1 bath residential living quarters.
200 W. BROADWAY - COAHOMA - Inactive service station, owner says tanks are good.Possible owner finance.
303 YOUNG - 4,632 sq. ft., office space, 5 bays with overhead doors. Has long term renter that would like to stay if possible.
Commercial Properties
Specializing in Residential,Commercial, Farm and Ranch,
HUD or VA acquired properties.
All of the properties advertised in this magazine were actively for sale at the time of publication. If the property has sold, or been withdrawn from the market, this is not an offering of that property for sale, and is only a representation of the properties that Home Realtors lists and sells.
HOME REALTORS COMMERCIAL PROP JANUARY 2009.indd 1 12/15/09 11:22:30 AM
16 Living Magazine
Jan mag.indd 18 12/15/09 12:07:32 PM
The source of square footage quoted on all properties listed in this magazine is Howard County Appraisal District.
Lots and Acreage COMMERCIAL LOTS AND ACREAGE916 Lamesa Hwy. - 6 lots, great commercial site.
Thorpe/Wasson - Commercial lots-frontage, $80,000.
S. Service Rd & FM 700 - Good building site, 1.08 acre.
N. Hwy. 87 - I-20 Frontage, 5 ac. tracts, $399,000.
500 E. FM 700 - 18 acre, corner lot.
1208 E. 4th - 50 x 140 on corner lot, $12,000.
1210 E. 4th - Corner lot, $12,000.
1900 Wasson - 150 x 150 corner lot, $20,000.
1901 Wasson - 150 x 150 corner lot, $20,000.
1210 E. 5th - Corner lot, $6,000.
1611 E. 4th - Corner lot, $65,000.
1201 Scurry - Good retail location, $50,000.
1202 Scurry - Nice retail lots, $15,000.
1605 Scurry - 0.177 ac., 3 sides fenced.
500 Gregg - 100’ frontage, 140’ deep, $195,000.
1207 Utah - 2 lots, $17,000.
421 E. 3rd - 2 lots, $10,000.
407 W. 3rd - 150 x 150 commercial lot, $19,500.
RESIDENTIAL ACREAGEKentwood - 5.08 acres, South of Merrily St.Kentwood - 89.10 acres, East of Kentwood.S. Goliad - 9.681 ac., prime acreage, beautiful building site.Campestre Estates - 5ac. tracts - $15,000. (29 tracts available).Hearn - 3.86 acres, Forsan ISD, $11,500.South Mountain - 6.187 ac., beautiful building location.1908 Thorpe, 3.16 acres, $29,000.Richie Rd. - 10 acres, $29,500.Baylor Blvd. - 6.74 acres, $39,900.
RESIDENTIAL LOTSParkland Estates - Thorpe / Wasson, $35,000 each.
Forsan - Warren St., nice building lot, $4,500.
Connally - 7 lots, $11,500.
Parkway Rd. - 70 lots, great building opportunity, $250,000.
Coronado Hills - 6 residential lots. $49,000.
403 E. 8th - 2 lots, covered parking, $13,000.
Baylor - 7 lots (2 lots could be commercial).
Scott Drive - $18,000.
712 Craigmont - $17,000.
720 Craigmont - $17,500.
3802 Dixon - $8,000.
3800 Dixon - $8,000.
3802 Parkway - $4,000.
3800 Parkway - $4,000.
601 Bucknell - $5,000.
4000 Vicky - $8,000.
2513 E. 25th - $10,000.
1308 E. 6th - $8,000.
702 Caprock - $34,000.
3204 Fenn Ave. - $6,500.
702 Colgate - $6,500.
706 Colgate - $6,500.
The Home Team
ExperiencedDedicated
Professionalswho will give
you the superiorservice you
deserve.(432) 263-1284
Kay MooreCRS, GRI - Broker/Owner
432.263.8893432.770.5281 mobile
Linda Barnes432.268.1588
432.270.0062 mobile
Clovie Shannon432.263.2108
432.935.2135 mobile
Linda Leonard432.263.7500
432.897.0318 mobile
Joe Hughes432.263.1284
432.270.7877 mobile
Candy Norman432.270.1198 mobile
Charles432.263.1713
432.466.1613 mobile
Shirley Burgess432.263.8729
432.935.2088 mobile
Doris Huibregtse432.263.6525
432.270.8920 mobile
Leslie Elrod432.517.0038 mobile
HOME REALTORS PAGE FOUR JANUARY 2010.indd 1 12/14/09 5:33:08 PM
4000 W. HWY. 80 - Apartment complex with 14 apartments plus RV Park and 6 storage spaces. Will sell Apartments separate from RV Park.
307 W. 4th - Three lots with concrete building, the two houses on property will be moved.
1901 W. 16th - 9,900 Sq. ft., additional building with 2,000 sq. ft., paved parking, 5 acres included.
502 E. FM 700 - For sale or lease, 11,242 sq. ft., fenced, 2.52 acres.
600 MAIN - Office Building with 8 offices, 2 baths, 2 reception areas, storage building, 3,900 sq. ft.
806 W. I-20 - Approx. 5,632 sq. ft., 1.05 acres. Four 5-ton units, 2 septics, adjoining 3.57 acres that can be purchased,
1011 W. 4th - Approx. 7,356 sq. ft, showroom, shop with overhead door, fenced yard.
611 GREGG - For sale or lease, centralheat/ref. air, basement, storage shed.
900 AYLESFORD - Triplex apartment complex - One unit is a 3 bedroom, 1 bath, two units that are 2 bedroom, 1 bath.
308 SCURRY - Could be used for offices or retail, nice downtown location, central heat/ref. air, 3,164 sq. ft.
NEW 1900 WASSON - Nice commercialbuilding, 2,200 sq. ft., 3 large rooms, 2 bath rooms, 0.596 acre fenced with chain link fence.
1313 MULBERRY - DUPLEX - Each unit is a 2 bedroom, 1 bath. Great investment property.
1501 W. 4th - Good location with small office,garage with overhead door and wash bay.
101 AIRBASE RD. - Auto repair business with all mechanical equipment included. Also 1 bdrm, 1 bath residential living quarters.
200 W. BROADWAY - COAHOMA - Inactive service station, owner says tanks are good.Possible owner finance.
303 YOUNG - 4,632 sq. ft., office space, 5 bays with overhead doors. Has long term renter that would like to stay if possible.
Commercial Properties
Specializing in Residential,Commercial, Farm and Ranch,
HUD or VA acquired properties.
All of the properties advertised in this magazine were actively for sale at the time of publication. If the property has sold, or been withdrawn from the market, this is not an offering of that property for sale, and is only a representation of the properties that Home Realtors lists and sells.
HOME REALTORS COMMERCIAL PROP JANUARY 2009.indd 1 12/15/09 11:22:30 AM
Living Magazine 17
Jan mag.indd 19 12/15/09 12:07:33 PM
18 Living Magazine
“This would make a great Thanksgiving picture. There are turkeys everywhere!” the young girl said over the phone.Well, not exactly. What the reporter/photographer
found when he arrived wasn’t a rafter of turkeys but rather a herd of Sandhill Cranes.Though the two don’t really look alike, they are both
large birds, which probably led to the youngster’s confusion. Sandhill crane adults — the young are called colts — are about four-feet tall on the average, with wing spans of six feet.Sandhill Cranes are a common sight in much of
the state from November through February. These “winter Texans” vary in numbers from location to location, depending on climate, food availability and — perhaps most importantly — a source of water.“They are coming in as a part of their migration. Their
summer home in Canada, Alaska or Siberia would be way too chilly this time of year,” said Big Spring resident Bebe McCasland, who is federally and state licensed to rehabilitate wild birds. “They must have a source of water in which to stand overnight as a protection from predators such as foxes and coyotes. Those bodies of water will be frozen over up north.
“Many of them come right down through the middle of the United States. That specie has chosen playa lakes, small ponds — anything where the water is a depth that will keep four-legged creatures from bothering them.”Though some people will say the cranes have been
declining in numbers in this area for probably 30 years, One-Mile Lake and other bodies of water still make it an attractive winter habitat for the birds.“One-Mile Lake is a wonderful haven. On the south
side is the railroad track, which protects them. On the west and north they are protected, too. If you try to wade out there, you will literally sink up to your knees or hips. It’s a murky, muddy mess. And on the east, there are a few houses, mainly abandoned,” said McCasland. “So the birds can come in and have a sanctuary all to themselves.”But that sanctuary is not always reliable. Like so
many other bodies of water, One-Mile Lake is reliant on rainfall, and the Howard County area has had precious little rainfall for much of 2009.“The lake level is down so low the birds are not
protected by the depth of the water,” said McCasland. “They have to find other sources.”
By Bill McClellanPhotos by Bruce Schooler
Crossroads offers a winter haven
Jan mag.indd 20 12/15/09 12:07:38 PM
Living Magazine 19
And they’ve been doing that for years. Based on fossil records, cranes are the oldest known bird species still surviving, dating back millions of years. They’ve been coming to the Permian Basin for hundreds of years at least. Certainly, it wasn’t many years back that Big Spring residents saw an abundance of the large birds.“Back in the mid-1970s, you’d
see 7,000 cranes fly into One-Mile Lake,” McCasland recalled. “Now, it’s more like 700. I can remember at Natural Dam Lake seeing 35,000 to 40,000 cranes. The sky to the west would be black with them. The last time I went to Natural Dam Lake there were just a few thousand.”There are likely several reasons
the crane population has dropped throughout the Crossroads area.“They need a food supply. My
observation is when the food supply is down, the number of birds is down,” said Rick Liles, Farm Service Agency executive director. “Where I see them is
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20 Living Magazine
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usually in grain sorghum fields.”Food supply is certainly a factor,
said McCasland.“Grain sorghums are appealing
to them. Also they are after worms and grubs. When farmers plow under the remnants of their crop, the birds go after not only worms and grubs but mice, too,” she said. “They will also go after small aquatic life.”But when food is scarce, the
cranes will eventually move on, despite the fact, according to McCasland, that it is not unusual for the birds to fly 40 to 60 miles a day.“Climate changes, changes in
farming practice — more and more cotton being planted. It all makes a difference,” said McCasland.One Big Spring resident who isn’t
too concerned about the decline in the number of cranes is Howard Walker, owner and operator of The Harley Davidson Shop in Big Spring on W. Third Street. He’s been feeding cranes for more than 20 years.“One day when I was having the
store remodeled — seems like it was the mid-1980s, I’m not sure — I came in and the workers told me ‘You should have been here earlier. There was an 8-point buck on the corner.’“I didn’t see the buck but sure
enough I found tracks. So I got some deer corn and put it out,” said Walker. “The buck came back but just once and never again. But I looked out one afternoon and there were a bunch of sandhill cranes eating that deer corn. They’ve been coming back ever since.“I have 30 to 50 regulars who
come back every year. They are amazing birds to watch,” he said.“The reason we don’t have many
this year is all those salt lakes have dried up. There’s no protection for the cranes at night,” Walker said.“But we get our fair share. We’ll
get more moisture, the lakes will have water in them again and there will be more cranes.”And he’s not talking turkey.
Jan mag.indd 22 12/15/09 12:07:50 PM
Living Magazine 21
Love for theLivestock
W hen one thinks about a diva, one probably conjures up im-
ages of opera singers or rock stars.But cows? Hogs? Goats?Barnyard animals don’t usually
come to mind when you think about pampered creatures, but for a select few, life is awfully good this time of year.As hundreds of area youngsters
prepare for a wave of area live-stock shows early in the year, their project animals are liv-
ing the high life, indeed. When shows are held in Big Spring, Stanton and Garden City in Jan-uary, the animals on display will look more like pampered pets than run-of-the-mill livestock.Show animals typically receive
the best of everything — food, medicine, grooming, even lodg-ing — from their human han-dlers in the months leading up to livestock shows. And the tab isn’t cheap — parents report spending thousands of dollars in some cases to care for their chil-dren’s exhibition animals.
Not only is caring for these animals an investment in mon-ey, it also requires a significant investment in time — hours a day, every day for up to a year or more.“Every child is different, but
in general, if you want to do a good job on your (animal), you’ll spend at least one or two hours a day on it,” said Rebel Royall, Glasscock County exten-sion agent. “Raising show ani-mals take time. You could spend six months prepping a hog for livestock shows, seven to eight
By Steve Reagan
Jan mag.indd 23 12/15/09 12:07:52 PM
22 Living Magazine
months on goats and lambs and a year or more on steers.”Generally, steers, hogs, goats,
lambs and rabbits are shown at 4-H livestock shows. Cattle, lambs, goats and hogs are easily identifiable as barnyard animals — but rabbits?“Rabbits are pretty much a
starter project for many of the kids,” Howard County Extension
Agent Tommy Yeater said last January. “That’s the perfect kind of animal for a kid who lives in town and doesn’t have the space to care for a larger animal. You
can put a rabbit in a cage in the back yard, but you can’t neces-sarily put a steer or a pig in your back yard.”Steers, on the other hand, are
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Living Magazine 23
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easily the most high-mainte-nance of the show animals.“Steers are the most expensive
and time-consuming,” Yeater said. “Some weeks, my kids will spend four hours a day, three days a week, caring for one ... And when you consider it takes about $11 a day to feed one, you can see how expensive it gets.”So, given the significant amount
of time and money that must be spent on this venture, what’s in it for the youngsters?“They learn a lot of things, but
probably the most important thing is that they’re responsible for another living thing,” Royall said. “Also, for those whose go to shows out of state, they’ll see a lot of things and meet a lot of people they otherwise wouldn’t meet.”But it’s more than just the child
involved — indeed, raising a show animal can involve the en-tire family.“Most of the time, (the child)
is just following what the family has done,” Royall said. “We have some families that show pigs or some that just show goats ... For this type of project to be suc-cessful, the whole family needs to be involved. “It really is a family type proj-
ect,” Royall added. The more the family is involved, the better the results.”The schedule for area junior
livestock shows this year in-cludes:• Howard County — Jan. 6-9,
county fair barns.• Martin County — Jan. 15-16,
Martin County Community Cen-ter.• Glasscock County — Jan.
8-9, Glasscock County Commu-nity Center.
Jan mag.indd 25 12/15/09 12:08:00 PM
Are you a neighborhood artist? I am. Maybe the keys to success for painters like me are as close as the corner store.We hear a lot about difficulties of
making a living in small towns. It is hard to get established and the potential market is minimal. But personal experience has taught me that it really isn’t any easier mak-ing it in big cities. Obstacles there can be far greater due to an elit-ist attitude about what constitutes “art” can sometimes be found in large urban centers. For example, my work currently
hangs in Dallas’ Dutch Gallery with no tangible results so far. Like similar cities its size, Dallas boasts numerous galleries with a well es-tablished arts community. But few show much interest in the kind of representational paintings I do. In-stead, the art that galleries exhibit and the media rave about tends to be of the political statement genre
or just plain silly. My or-dinary small town scenes have their own market niche. I’m adept now at rendering lesser sized paintings mostly of local scenes that I don’t have to charge an arm and a leg for. When starting my own studio downtown in 1995, I concentrated on finding my own buy-ers in the neighborhood where I live and work.It has proved a winning
strategy largely because our town has a tremen-dous asset: Relatively crime-free downtown and midtown neighbor-hoods and businesses where people can walk from place to place.
Paint what yourcustomers knowCity neighborhoods
(even farms or ranches around here) not only provide good places to show your work, they are a real joy to paint. When I learn of a pig farm I’m over the moon. Re-cently, I spotted miniature donkeys grazing on the 11th Place exten-sion road. Most of my small color-ful scenes of neighborhood life of people shopping or animals play-ing are fun and saleable. Since you can’t predict what people will like or purchase I simply paint what appeals to me. Our local art orga-nization, Big Spring Art Associa-tion (BSAA), frequently sponsors outdoor events, or en plein air, in which the public can watch us working in action or just join us.
Find a good venue to displayLook for places to show your
work such as banks, credit unions,
realties, florist shops, cafes or res-taurants, any place there’s heavy foot traffic. A popular store with only a few feet of window space is a better choice than a community center with few visitors. BSAA is always on the prowl for new places. Just recently, Moss Creek Ranch approached us with exhibition op-portunities that excited all of us with me and Sue Bagwell being the first artists displaying our work.
Make your reputationIt is important to make yourself
known when first starting. Play up your image as a neighborhood artist. Give talks to civic groups and conduct classes. Our BSAA welcomes artists for its programs offered free to the public on a monthly basis, every third Tues-
24 Living Magazine
By Kay Smith
Paint your town for profit
Jan mag.indd 26 12/15/09 12:08:06 PM
day at 7 p.m. in the county library basement.For publicity, include the media
with interesting story ideas. Unless you are famous, it isn’t enough to only send out show invitations or produce a boring press release. I try to emphasize some new angle in the short articles for this publi-cation.Being a neighborhood painter has
taught me important lessons about making it as an artist. One is that “average citizens” are interested in art. They’re also willing to own art by forking over cash or plastic after seeking you out once they become aware of your work. Many people continue to be intimidated by high-end galleries and never intend to set foot in one. To reach these folks, display and promote your work in a down-to-earth way.Be realistic and start with low
prices on miniature or small works that fit into standard ready-made frames and mats such as 4x6, 5x7, or 8x10 sizes. As your reputation grows, get more ambitious. Re-member this: Customers will have more confidence in your work if they see your prices going up, but they won’t react that way if you have to reduce them.
Seeing successful resultsOnce you’ve developed your style,
whatever that is, found a good ven-ue and held a few exhibitions, you may be surprised with the results. (You can exhibit in your own home, a store, the college or museum, or just set up your wares anywhere).It wasn’t long before people start-
ing calling to visit my studio or stopping by out of curiosity. They also offered commissions. Some were the typical “Will you paint my house (or barn)?” Others bor-dered on the bizarre and strange. Many times it is a pet portrait of a favorite loved one who has passed.I am now established enough to
stage shows annually, sending or dropping off postcard invitations. In building your own database of collectors you can branch out into
other towns.This experience has also changed
my attitude toward more tradi-tional venues such as juried shows. While such displays are an excel-lent way for us to gain recognition and exposure from our peers and the arts community, I’ve found that show acceptances or wins such as Best of Show somewhere else means little to the buying local public. I do still enjoy competition by hauling paintings off to various
juried events and/or submitting online digital entries. Even with all this exhibition expansion, I still get more excited when someone in town, just down the street, calls and wants to own one of my paint-ings of local scenes.
To see examples of Kay’s work, visit Brushworks Studio at 2106 Scurry or visit her Web site at http://www.kays-mithbrushwork.us.Phone (432) 263-ARTT
Living Magazine 25
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26 Living Magazine
If you’re beginning the New Year armed with healthy resolutions, it may be a good idea to start off knowing your numbers. Good health, however, is more than a low reading on the bathroom scale: it involves many other variables. Bone up on your health IQ and learn the scores that make the dif-ference in how your health measures up. Blood Sugar/Glucose
Your blood sugar measure-ment reflects your body’s capability of converting the food you eat into energy. A high blood sugar reading – which indicates a problem processing nutrients – can point to the possibility of diabetes. The three types of diabetes are:
1) Gestational Diabetes –
which can develop during pregnancy;
2) Type 1 Diabe-tes (now known as Insulin-Dependent Diabetes) – for-merly called Juve-nile Diabetes since it affects children, teenagers or young adults; and
3. Type 2 Diabe-tes (now known Non-insulin De-pendent Diabetes) – formerly called Adult-onset Diabe-tes since it is more and more preva-lent among over-weight children and adolescents.
And, if your blood sugar is elevated, but not within the range that quali-fies as full-blown diabetes, you’re considered to have Pre-Diabetes – which can be managed with good lifestyle choices like eating right, los-ing weight and staying ac-tive; and doesn’t necessarily progress to diabetes.
Long-term, high blood glu-cose damages nerves and blood vessels and can result in heart disease, stroke, blindness, kidney disease, nerve problems, gum infec-tions, and even the loss of limbs. Body Mass Index (BMI)
Maintaining a healthy weight range for your age is good, but your body mass
index (BMI) reveals more about your health. BMI is the ratio of your weight adjusted for your height. Your BMI is an important number be-cause it is considered to be a more accurate definition for overweight and obesity than weight alone.
A BMI value of 18.5 to 24.9nis considered the ideal range for good health. Num-bers ranging from 25 to 29.9 place you in the “overweight” category, and a BMI of 30 or greater is considered “obese.” The Thyroid
The thyroid gland works in conjunction with the pitu-itary gland – which produces thyroid-stimulating hormone
By Scott W. Barclay, D.O.
Know your numbersKeeping your scores in the right range adds up to good health
Important numbers to know
Pre-diabetes:• Impaired fasting glucose (IFG)
of 100 – 125 mg/dl• and/or Impaired glucose toler-
ance (IGT) of 140 – 199 mg/dl
Diabetes:• Random plasma glucose > 200
mg/dl and/or• Fasting plasma glucose > 126
mg/dl and/or• Two-hour plasma glucose > 200
mg/dl• An A1C test (average blood glu-
cose level over the preceding 2-3 months) of 6.5 or greater.
Jan mag.indd 28 12/15/09 12:08:08 PM
Living Magazine 27
(TSH) to help make two thy-roid hormones: thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). These hormones en-sure the proper growth and development of the brain in children, and in adults they regulate the way the body uses energy.
When thyroid hormone lev-els are out of kilter, our bod-ies do not process energy properly. This can affect our metabolism (and therefore our weight), energy level, sleep patterns, heart rate, digestion and menstrual cycle.
A simple blood test can tell if the thyroid gland is work-ing properly and diagnose thyroid problems. Among the tests and measurements your doctor may use are: total T4 and T3, free T4 and T3 (meaning the amount of T4 and T3 in your blood-stream*), and thyroid-stimu-lating hormone (TSH) levels.
The TSH test is considered the best screening test for detecting thyroid disease. High TSH levels may be
caused by an un-deractive thyroid (hypothyroidism) or thyroiditis. Low TSH levels may be cause by an overactive thyroid gland (hyperthy-roidism), a thyroid nodule (a growth that is usually non-cancerous), or first-trimester pregnancy.
Normal thyroid hormone ranges include:
Total T4: 4.5 to 11.2 micrograms per deciliter (mcg/dL).
Free T4: .7 to 2.0 micrograms per deciliter (mcg/dL).
Total T3: 80 to 220 pointsThyroid stimulating hor-
mone: 0.4–4.5 mIU/L. Cholesterol
And don’t forget to have your cholesterol checked at least every 3-5 years in adulthood. High cholesterol levels have been linked to heart disease and stroke, America’s No. 1 and No. 3 causes of death.
Obesity and a poor diet are big factors, but commonly, high cholesterol is an inher-ited condition that cannot
be detected by “what you look like or eat” and goes un-known without testing.
Many of these tests are routine parts of an annual physical; others are intro-duced as you age or have health issues that indicate that a screening is needed.
Your personal physician will know which routine tests you should have based on your age, gender and health.
Remember that this informa-tion is not intended to replace the advice of your doctor, but rather to increase awareness and help equip patients with information and facilitate conversations with your phy-sician that will benefit your health. You can learn more about health screenings by visiting www.smmccares.com and clicking on the Health Resources link or contact Dr. Scott Barclay at Cornerstone Family & Sports Medicine. Dr. Barclay is a board-certified family practitioner, with more than 13 years experience in caring for a broad range of health concerns. His office is located on the second floor of the Malone & Hogan Clinic. To schedule an appointment, please call 264-6361. Check out his Web site at www.Big-SpringDoc.com
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28 Living Magazine
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Ralph Kennedy lives for the Texas Longhorns and Dallas Cowboys.
You can see it on the black pickup truck his wife Charlene got him for Christmas last year — Longhorn mud flaps, Longhorn floor mats, Longhorn steering wheel, Longhorn trailer hitch. On game days, when he cheers on his beloved team from his living room re-cliner, he is decked out head to toe in burnt orange — worn white sneak-ers with the Texas logo, Texas sweat pants, faded burnt orange T-shirt and a crisp, new UT ball cap on his head.
Even his Schnauzer, Buddy, wears
Longhorn orange on fall Saturdays.“I’ve been a Longhorn fan my whole
life,” he says with pride. “Don’t cut me, because I bleed orange.”
On Sundays, Kennedy trades out the burnt orange for Cowboy silver and blue. He has autographed pictures of what he calls the “real Cowboys” from the early days of the NFL that sit in his office like shrines to the Cowboys’ glory days of old — players such as Charlie Waters, Eddie LeBaron and Don Perkins.
But Kennedy, 61, had never fulfilled his lifelong fantasy of seeing the Longhorns or Cowboys play a game in person. And with ticket prices for Texas and the Cowboy games sky-
rocketing into the hundreds, he could never afford to go.
Until this year, when he hit the ulti-mate jackpot.
Kennedy, a retired Army and Viet-nam veteran, is a mystery shopper — he is paid by marketing research companies to “shop” various estab-lishments, evaluating factors such as cleanliness and quality of service. This summer, he became certified for the mystery shop of mystery shops — Cowboys Stadium in Arlington.
That’s the huge new $1 billion, mega-screened sports palace monstrosity Cowboys Stadium Jerry Jones built for his Cowboys — and Kennedy gets two free tickets to any Cowboys Sta-
Mysterysolved...
By Joe Zigtema
Jan mag.indd 30 12/15/09 12:08:20 PM
Living Magazine 29
dium event of his choosing for as long as he wants to shop. He saw three Cowboy home games this year already, he watched his Longhorns take down Nebraska with a last-second field goal and he’s got the Eagles-Cowboys game circled on Jan. 3.
He finally got to realize his dream of seeing his two teams in person — for free.
“I’ll never forget the day he came in here, and he was so excited his face was like three shades of red,” Charlene Ken-nedy said.
Kennedy gushes with excite-ment when he talks about the ex-perience.
“It’s just like a dream come true,” he said. “I feel like the luckiest guy in Texas. It’s just unreal.”
As part of the deal, Kennedy gets to take a guest with him to the games. He said he takes turns inviting various family members to go with him, which has made him a popular guy around family circles, and around town.
“He’s got more friends now than he ever needs,” Charlene Kennedy says with a chuckle.
Even strangers aren’t bashful about asking for the free ticket, Ralph Ken-nedy says.
“I had a waitress in a café, right in front of my wife, say, ‘Leave your wife at home, I’ll go with you,’” he said. “I’ve got more best friends now than I’ve ever had in my life.”
Sorry, Kennedy has to say to most folks. He’s keeping it in the family for now.
“We’re just blue collar, hard-work-ing folks. We could never afford to go there on our own,” he said. “But to be able to experience that with some of my family, that’s a really neat experi-ence.”
Kennedy’s excitement when he de-scribed the stadium itself is almost palpable.
“I can’t tell you in words what it’s like to walk in that stadium,” he says. “It would blow you away. Cowboys Stadium is something that has to be lived and experienced.”
When Kennedy went to the Big 12
game, it was 29 degrees outside. But not in the stadium.
“That thing is climate controlled, it’s just comfortable as you’re sitting right here right now,” Kennedy said at his Big Spring home. “They’ve got so many bathrooms, you don’t have to go anywhere to find a bathroom. And when you get in there and look at that video board that stretches 60 yards long … It’s awesome.”
Kennedy says there is no limit on how many games he gets to go to. He can pick any game for as long as he wants to “shop.”
“Next year, now that I’m fully re-
tired, I’ll probably take at least one game a month,” he said. “It would be kind of excessive to go out there mul-tiple times per month.”
Kennedy won’t give away the secret to how he stumbled upon the oppor-tunity, but he says he isn’t restricted to just football games, either. All events at the stadium are open to be-ing shopped, including concerts, bas-ketball games and the Super Bowl to be held in Arlington next year.
“You think I could afford to go do that? That’s way out of the average guy’s life,” he said.
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