KILGOROUND

DARN . . . I wish I could count. I thought last week’s Kilgoround was my last for the year. But, alas, this is the absolutely, final, last Kilgoround for 2005 I will write. I promise!

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NEIGHBORS and friendly people ... Ruth Aaron has become a fast friend. Last Friday she made a special trip to the News Herald office to deliver a recipe for gingerbread to me. I’ve been searching for an old-fashioned gingerbread recipe. Well, thanks Ruth... you found the right mixture and my friends and family enjoyed it!

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OPAL MOUNT is very fortunate and lucky and also has a new friend. Recently, Opal accidentally left her purse in a shopping cart in the Wal-Mart parking lot. The purse was found by Jan Teel who, at first, thought she was on “Candid Camera.” Realizing she wasn’t, Jan turned the purse into Wal-Mart

officials. Opal, discovering her purse missing, called Wal-Mart and was assured her purse was safe and sound. Opal wants to thank Jan and the people at Wal-Mart for helping her.

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KILGORE LIBRARIAN Linda Johnson spent Christmas in the hospital. She’s been undergoing tests at Regional Hospital in Longview. She will is expected home for New Year’s Day.

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SPENDING Christmas (or any time for that fact) in the tropics is just about everyone’s dream. Philip and Amanda Nobles made that dream come true. They left last week for Belize. Amanda will be back in her office Jan. 3. If not, maybe she’s practicing for “Survivor: Belize.”

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SPEAKING of Christmas dreams... Kilgore Utilities Supervisor David Hackley won’t get his Christmas present until April but he knows about it. He’s going flying in a World War II trainer. The deal includes doing loops and rolls. The entire adventure will be videoed from various angles. So, smile David and enjoy! FYI David and his wife hitched a ride in an open-cockpit bi-plane several years ago while visiting Kitty Hawk. But, that plane or pilor didn’t do rolls, David said.

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OOPS! Last Sunday we ran a story about Mrs. Zelma Draper celebrating her 100th birthday with family and friends. Accidentally one of her granddaughters was listed by her maiden name. Carey Elder is now Carey Kelley. She and her husband Dave live in Austin. Sorry, Carey, for that.

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FOOD IS PROBABLY the last thing on our minds right now, especially sweets, but time is growing near for the annual Girl Scout Cookie Sale. Cookie sales are scheduled to start in our area Jan. 6 and end Jan. 22. All proceeds go to support the girls in the area. A portion goes to the troop and the remainder goes to help fund volunteer support and training, the girl program, council camp facilities and the council’s financial assistance fund (available so any girl can participate in Girl Scouts regardless of financial circumstances). So when you hear a knock on your door, pull out your wallet. Boxes sell for $3.50 (and even contain cookies -like shortbread, peanut butter Tag-alongs, Samoas, Thin Mints, etc.).

Blowing out the birthday candles today are

Kelly Caddell, Dontarius LaShion Haynes, Laura Compton, Vernon Rayford, Alice Lowery, Sharon Camp, Mrs. S.C. Hadaway, Riki Watkins, Michael Tyiska, Derek Watson, Kedejah Bush, David Wingfield, Mark Logan, Justin Hargrove, Bill Maxwell, Jimi Mankins, Margie Hawkins, Jathan Watson, Lisa Herrington, Lance Staples, Lyenza Vinson, Nathan Lundgren, Bobbie Faye Norris