God Bless America
CHITCHAT CORNER
LINDA K. BALLARD

Oh, yes, the red, white and blue are flying high in celebration of the Fourth of July weekend. "When I was a child," said Janet Murray, "My family always came to Kilgore on the Fourth of July to be with "Meme and Poppie (Victor and Zera Samford) and to watch the fireworks over Lake Cherokee. I would go back and tell the "city kids," I got to see the fireworks twice - once in the sky and again on the lake. I thought I was something else to have that privilege," she said. What a blessing we have had bestowed upon us to celebrate freedom in a safe place and what a blessing it is to have those with the courage to continue to fight for that freedom…God Bless America.

A Patriotic Service will be hosted at St. Luke's United Methodist Church this Sunday, July 6 at 10 a.m. with dinner on the grounds to follow. There will be six Methodist Churches involved in the patriotic service including CrossRoads, Pirtle, Danville, Laird Hill and St. Luke's. It promises to be a day of remem- brance…

July 7th earmarks the fortieth year that Missionary Talmage F. Butler, his wife Marjorie and son Stephen became missing when a private charter plane failed to complete a flight schedule and presumed dead. The Butler family, enroute to West Africa for their term, was having a weekend of ministry in the Bahamas Islands when the tragedy occurred. A memorial service was held on July 21, 1968 in the Kilgore College Auditorium. Books and albums had been published regarding their missionary work. They will be honored in a worship service by Reverend Brian Nutt at Grace Fellowship (formerly First Assembly of God Church) this Sunday. An offering will be taken in their behalf towards the Talmadge- Butler Memorial Scholarship for students studying to be a missionary.

Oh, yes, they're celebrating - Forest Home Baptist Church will be holding a groundbreaking ceremony on their new sanctuary after the 11:00 service. As hard as they have worked to see this day come around, we may hear a firecracker or two going off in that direction…

The gals at ManPower wore their patriotic costumes to work on Thursday. "I'll do anything for a buck," Kathy Luker jested. "They (ManPower) sent me a twinkling badge on a American Flag T-shirt that is two sizes too small to wear along with a red, white and blue pinwheel to wear on my head. For some reason Tara (Briggs) got a halo to wear on her head…maybe that's because she is so sweet. (From the laughter, I think ManPower knew exactly what they were doing.)

Speaking of little firecrackers - Robert and Mary Lynn Latham are now great aunt and great uncle to Reed Joseph Clouatre. His parents are Calvin and Angie Nix Clouatre. Angie is a former Kilgoreite. Reed's grandmother is Peggy Nix Velvin and his grandfather, David Nix , who currently resides in Jefferson. "And if the sonogram is right, it's a boy," said Mary Lynne as they will also becoming great grandparents in September. "And so, we're naming him Jeffrey Oliver Russell- Grothe. How's that for a name," she laughed. (For some reason Mary Lynn reminds me of the young woman who lived in a shoe…enjoy those kids.)

"So far there are no fire bans set," said Officer Daniels of the Kilgore Police Department. That's a far cry from the previous years. "But, be careful," he added. " We want it to be a safe weekend for everyone."

May the Red, White and Blue Continue to Wave and May His Love and Laughter Fill Your hearts and Your Homes Throughout the Week. We may be reached at 903- 984-2593 or at chitchatlinda@aol.com