An adapted version of “The Town Crier” sent by Jeanne Harman on March 30, 2019.

I want to begin with a beautiful link that SuEllen Golden Wilson sent. It is all about our America, the Beautiful. We are indeed blessed that America is our home and that we grew up in the best of times. Now, sit back and enjoy some pretty sights. Thank you, SuEllen, for sharing with us!!!

The pictures reflect a 4 minute-road trip around America by Charlie Daniels. Monologue begins about 30 seconds into the presentation.

WARNING!!

Bev Murphy Wells spends every summer in Florida. She wants to warn us of the scam on seniors that she has learned about while being in Sun City Center, Florida. Below is the scam:

FedEx Scam
Two men (maybe women too) perpetrate as FedEx artists are victimizing seniors. They convince seniors to turn over their credit cards and then take their credit cards and purchase hundreds of dollars in gift cards. The scam starts over the phone with Crook number 1 calling to tell his potential victim that his or her credit may have been compromised. A $6000 purchase has been made and if it wasn’t the resident, the bank will need to verify his or her possession of the card to ensure no fraud was committed on their part. If the resident is unable to do so, an offer is made to send a FedEx courier to the home to pick up the card and take it to the bank for them. Crook number 2 then arrives at the home, dressed as a FedEx employee, wearing an official-looking shirt and badge and carrying FedEx envelopes. The victim places the credit card in envelope and goes through a transaction making the process seem legitimate. The courier even convinced a couple of victims to put additional cards in the envelope by telling them “if one card is compromised, others probably were.”
Sun City Center in Florida was targeted 25 times because the crooks knew it was a target-rich environment. So many older people here cannot get out on their own.
In addition:
1. Do not send money grams or wire transfers.
2. Don’t answer calls from people you don’t know (let them leave a message). If you don’t know the caller, don’t call back.
3. Never “pay” for prizes, gifts, or lottery winnings.
4. If someone wants to pay you with a gift card, gift cards are not a legitimate form of payment. How do you know how much is on the card? Are you going to take the time to call the number on the back of the card? Most older people wouldn’t.
5. Get a second opinion.
And as you know, if it sounds too good to be true, it is.
Older people are major targets for crooks!
Be careful out there!

Feedback From Our Graduates

From Jeanell Buida Bolton:
“I was at that game when the “Beat the H– Out of Temple” sign was run across the stadium, and twenty later years later, I would tell my classes about it–and the punishment of the miscreants–as an example of how times had changed. They couldn’t believe anyone would get into trouble with a spirit sign. And, by the way, by then, MOTHERS were also making signs and some of them made BTHOofT look like a birthday party invitation.”

From Joe Riley:
“Thank you for a great edition of “Waco Town Crier.” It has been moving, funny, informative, touching, and celebratory.

All of the articles deserve praise and favorable comment, but I particularly focused on, and enjoyed reading, your feature on Linda Sue Shelby Lyons. I was there at SMU with Linda Sue,and I am relieved to learn that it was the advanced math that caused her to leave and go home to Waco and Baylor, and not my dancing. I did cause her to do a few fast turns around and perhaps even on the floor. She’s had occasion at our reunions to remind me of our dance-displays, more antics than graceful gliding, I’d say.

Linda Sue is one smart and accomplished lady and a credit to our WHS 1960 graduating class. Thanks for highlighting her and all the others whose stories bring us laughter, great memories, and even sometimes a tear for being “gone too soon.”
Sincerely, Joe Riley”

From Betty Barkley Flowers:
“I have just watched the Youtube video of “Don’t let the Old Man In”! and of course, just loved it!
What wise words for us all! “Don’t let the Old Woman in”, for us ladies!”

From Tommye Ruth Blair Toler:
“I enjoyed the newsy Town Crier. That song, Don’t Let the Old Man In, is a great song with a wonderful story. Thanks for sharing. I also enjoyed the stories from Hal Johnson and Jim Monnig and the newspaper clipping from David Dibb. The video of the couple dancing is great and, I agree, it will be David and Janie McPhail in years to come. I laughed at the story of Richard Quick and his “pets”. I also liked Richard’s photos in last Crier. We have some really great artists in our class!
And speaking of our artists, your article on Linda Shelby Lyons was fantastic. She is very talented in several areas. The paintings and the stained glass are so beautiful. I particularly liked Johnathan Livingston Seagull.

My thoughts and prayers to everyone who is ill or struggling with issues that come with our ages.”

From Norma Cissell Smith:
“I LOVED THE DANCING AND TOBI KEITH. ALL OF THE GRADS’ INFO WAS VERY INTERESTING, TOO. I REALLY ENJOYED EACH ARTICLE.”

From Cathey White Land:
“I loved the video and all the news. Keep ‘em coming, please!”

From Charlotte Suttle Kleibrink:
“It is so interesting to hear about everyone.”

From Clara Sue Griffis Arnsdorff: (on March 7)
“I am ‘snowed in’ again, so reread the Town Crier again—and enjoyed it—again. I especially liked the humor. The one about ice on the windows really hit home. I sell lots of ‘stuff’ on Ebay, and am constantly calling my husband in to help….I am getting better, and sometimes, in my defense, it is NOT my fault. Many other times it is. That joke made me laugh out loud. Thanks.

We have had more than our share of snow this winter, and I have tried to catch up on things in the house….but that’s really no fun. Right now we have a fresh 6 inches of snow, and the piles on each side of the driveway are about 4 feet high—the snow blower throws it there, and it stays until Spring—or maybe Summer. The schools will have to add snow days to compensate for the frequent closures. I remember very few weather cancellations in Waco during our school days, but I’m sure there were some.”

From Bev Murphy Wells:
“Loved the Clint and Toby youtube story/song! Really enjoy reading about everyone’s travels and talents! Great story on Linda Shelby Lyons. Wow, what talent! We have so many talented class mates. The article on depression was enlightening.”

From David Dibb:
David Dibb ran across this old Football program. This was dated October 9, 1959 price-15 cents. My, my,…. how times change.

Does it bring back memories?

Linda Shelby Lyons:
Linda has still been undergoing tests for her health issues. If you will recall, she has two types of cancer. She is currently receiving a monthly shot for the neuroendocrine cancer and has had no side effects, so far. They are not able to operate on it due to the location by the inferior vena cava. Her throat tumor which is a different cancer is very tricky due to its size and location. The tumor is very near her carotid artery which makes surgery very risky. As of present, doctors think it is lymphoma but still want more biopsies. Most likely it will be treated by radiation and/or chemo. It is also inoperable.

Phyllis Brooks:
On Monday, March 18, Phyllis had her first chemo treatment–two chemo drugs and one immunotherapy drug. She will have one treatment every three weeks for a total of four treatments. If she can tolerate the chemo, she will receive a medication to keep it from growing. Her cancer is incurable. She says to thank everyone for their prayers and postings. After the first treatment, Phyllis reports that she is tolerating the chemo. She has had a little nausea at times, she is eating 5 small meals a day, but says her taste buds have changed. Her second treatment is April 3rd.

Jeanne Holland Harman:
My only child, Curt, has just been diagnosed with DLBCL non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. He starts chemo treatment March 29 at Baylor Medical in Dallas. He will have 6 treatments, three weeks apart. I ask that you put him on your prayer lists. I hope so much that these treatments can cure Curt and not be too difficult on his body in the process. We are not sure how he got this but he had the flu shot on November 2 and in the latter part of November the knot became apparent on his neck. Curt did not notice the knot at first but my granddaughter, Courtney, noticed it in December. At first, doctors like to tell you it is a salivary gland or other things… as this was the same thing doctors told Linda Shelby Lyons. Because of Linda’s experience, Curt decided to keep pushing for a more definite answer– and it is a very good thing that he did! So, if you have a knot to appear….by all means exhaust all avenues to find out exactly what it is. Sometimes these things are difficult to pinpoint and time is of the essence when cancer is involved.

April Birthdays

1 Edgar Gatlin
6 Pam Wilson McCanish
Nancy Guggloz Rogers

THE TOWN CRIER WANTS YOU

You can see from the different comments posted this month how much our graduates enjoy reading what others have done and what talents they have. It can be a talent of cooking, reading some good books, working in a garden, golf, traveling, even playing poker …..talents are limitless. You do not even have to have a talent—just tell us something about yourself. Please, won’t you share with us? The Town Crier is hungry— help feed it!

Pictures

David and Janie McPhail recently completed a 7 day cruise in the Eastern Caribbean. They departed Ft. Lauderdale, FL and visited Grand Turk, San Juan, St. Thomas, Half Moon Cay. Each of the stops included guided tours via road or boat. Below are a few of their pictures from their trip.

Beverly Murphy Wells is at it again! (She travels as much, if not more, than David McPhail!)
Below is a picture of Bev in Key West, Florida at the zero mile marker of US Route 1, aka the International Highway. Bev and her son were tourists of this area in March. US Route 1 was America’s first interstate highway of the East Coast. The zero mile marker is the southernmost point of the United States. To make it here represents “reaching the end of the road”. Of course, if you start here you must travel 2,390 miles northward before arriving at the “beginning” in Fort Kent, Maine. In the 1950’s both Key West and Fort Kent took up the claim to be the beginning of the Route —so I guess it is up to you which is the beginning/end of the road. Whichever, it is one long drive from start to finish!
Do we have a graduate who has traveled from start to finish of the International Highway? Does anyone have it on their bucket list?

Clara Sue Griffis Arnsdorff:
“We have finally lost most of our snow cover—but now flooding is a major problem in Eastern Nebraska….hopefully the warm sun and lack of rain will help to dry us out. Here are the pictures of our front and back yards during the major snowfall.”