Waco Town Crier – December 2018

An adapted version of “The Town Crier” sent by Jeanne Harman on November 30, 2018.

Important Information on the California Fire known as ‘Camp Fire’

As of 11-25-2018: The rains have come…the fire is contained….but the current numbers of deaths and missing:
85 dead, 475 still missing and more than 13,000 homes destroyed

From Dick Tooker who lives in Chico, CA near the ‘Camp Fire’ (as of November 11th):
SHORT VERSION: We’re OK. Fire never got into Chico Proper where we live, and other than the God-awful smoke and long gas lines, no effect on us.

THE LONG VERSION: Somewhat more complicated.

When we moved here 13 years ago, we bought a house in the Sierra foothills, about ten miles from, and 1,500 feet higher than Chico. It was the place in the country I always wanted. Five acres, a great home, and a spectacular view that looked over a huge vineyard, then the lights of Chico at night, and forty miles further, the snow-capped coastal mountain range that separates the northern California valley from the Pacific ocean. Two years ago, we decided to leave my dream home and move into town, mostly because I simply couldn’t keep up with five partially-landscaped acres any more, and we needed to be nearer healthcare resources. Sad, but you gotta do what you gotta do.

Well, that turned out to be a really good idea. The Camp Fire (way too benignly-named for such a Hell-on-earth phenomenon) turned that house into a smoldering pile of rubble, along with the homes of many of our old neighbors who are still friends. Our previous next door neighbors, who are still our best friends in California, lost their home as well. They’re on vacation in Australia. We’re keeping their dog, and Victoria is now busy clearing out a couple of rooms for them when they get back next weekend. They have no place to stay in Chico.

I should note that our new neighborhood is filling up with refugees from Paradise, CA. The folks directly across the street have taken in 4 people who are suddenly homeless. There are RVs parked everywhere. I can’t describe how bad I feel for all those folks.

It is the worst fire in California history. If you’ve been watching it on television, it’s way worse than it looks from a distance. Paradise, a great little town of 30,000 people, is about 25 miles from here as the crow flies. Fully 90% of the homes in that town have been completely destroyed, and many of the few that are left are badly damaged. 120 businesses burned to the ground, along with both hospitals and all the schools. Some of the dead were trapped and burned alive in their cars trying to escape. For all practical purposes, the town has been wiped off the map. I don’t see how it will be possible for all those people to rebuild.

Pray for California.
Richard N. Tooker

Aubrey Stringer was featured on the front page of the local section of Waco’s newspaper on  November 18, 2018, regarding his sawmill in Valley Mills, Texas. As you know, Chip and JoAnna Gaines of “Fixer Upper” have made Aubrey a familiar name all over the USA.  So….all credits of this month’s Show and Tell go to the Waco Tribune Herald article by Mike Copeland.  Read the article.

December Birthdays

9 & 10-  Sondi Nelson Pace
13-  Jerry Causey
14-  Peggy Wake Thyfault
16-  Chinky Johnson
24-  Howell Johnson
26-  Howard Dudgeon & Joan Beaty Settle
28-  Gayla Miller Webb
31-  Elizabeth Bentley & Gwen Ewing Hodges

Pictures

Tommye Ruth (Blair) Toler recently returned from a trip to Taos, NM.Here are some of the changing colors in that area.

Blast From The Past

Finally …

Here’s wishing everyone peace, good health and contentment in this Christmas Season.  Enjoy the holidays to the fullest w with your loved ones. Stay safe and healthy, and make some happy memories.

3 comments on “Waco Town Crier – December 2018

  1. Thanks to Dick Tooker for the information regarding the Camp Fire. Such terrible devastation there! I’m glad he and his home are safe. I can’t imagine the heartache and terror that must have gone on during that fire.

    Elizabeth Bentley has done such a great job on our website. I’ve enjoyed looking at the photos. Thank you, Elizabeth (better known at WHS as Betty).

    It was good to hear from Anita Incardona Henson.

  2. I just looked at the photos of the reunion—what a great job you and Elizabeth Bentley have done—-I loved looking at them and had lots of fun trying to recognize faces without looking at the identifications. I also looked back at the 40th photos, as that was the last one I attended….thanks for the great work on all this.

  3. This was your best Town Crier! I laughed out loud when reading Ron Sommer’s two funny antics about the humor of the aging process. Then Dick Tooker brought tears to my eyes when describing the Horrific Fires in California. So glad to hear that he and his wife are safe. We got to read about our very own Aubrey Stringer who has always been one of my favorites from Waco. The article just proves that even as young children we can recognize the things that make our hearts sing….even into our later years! Next time John and I are in Waco, we will try to stop by see Aubrey.

    Hope everyone has a joyful Christmas Season. Those who missed our last reunion were sorely missed. What a fun time to see old friends!

    Wishing everyone Good Health for 2019!!!!”

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