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Bandera County Courier is published weekly by Gail S. Joiner, 1210 Hackberry St., Bandera, TX 78003. Subscription price $26 per year in Bandera County, TX; $36 per year for other Texas counties; $40 per year out of Texas. POSTMASTER: send address changes to Bandera County Courier, P.O. Box 1704, Bandera, TX 78003. Periodicals Postage pending in Bandera, Texas.

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The World According to Doug articles from 2006 archived in the on-line edition of the Courier:

The World... According to Doug columns	Stole Radio, Left Music Dec. 28, 2006 Goosed Dec. 21, 2006 Dollar Christmas Flight Dec. 7, 2006 First Place Nov. 30, 2006 The music lesson Nov. 23, 2006 Letters at HQ Nov. 16, 2006 Fuel and ole #1 Chick Oct. 26, 2006 The rooster and fox Oct. 19, 2006 Very Close Call Oct. 12, 2006 Driving Lesson Oct. 5, 2006 Flight Sept. 21, 2006 Little Turkey Sept. 14, 2006 Plastic Army Soldiers Sept. 7, 2006 Domino Aug. 31, 2006 The Hammer Aug. 24, 2006 Legend of Sleepy Kerrville Aug. 17, 2006 Love at first sight Aug. 10, 2006
World According to Doug	First column: published July 20, 2006
Current Doug columns	Doug columns from 2007

The World... According to Doug Stole Radio, Left Music by Doug White Published Dec. 28, 2006 Merry Christmas & Happy New Year to you all.    I have to tell another story about one of my favorite people, Sergeant Major James E. Legg. Remember, I wrote about him before; it was the story about the glider wings.     Well, there I was with the Sgt. Major, we were on maneuvers in South Korea during one of the Eighth Army's exercises. We had set up camp in a place south of Seoul.     Everything went like clockwork. The only problem I recall was a vehicle we call deuce and a half that had a spare tire in the back that was stolen while the vehicle was moving. The driver and passenger said they never stopped.     However, after reaching their destination the spare had just vanished. Things happened like this off and on, they call the people that steal stuff in Korea, "slicky boys." They are very clever and what happened to my boss shows just how clever.     He came out of his tent the next morning and he was mad.     I asked him, "What happened, did you sleep on your bayonet and stick yourself?"     He said that the transistor radio that he had won in a golf tournament had been stolen by a slicky boy.     The thief took the radio and left the music. I said, "How in the world did he do that?"     He replied, "Look at this", and showed me a gob of wires and an exposed speaker with a receiver that picked up the exact AFKN (Arms Forces Korean Network) station he was listening to that night. The slicky boy swapped the device for his radio without missing a beat. Actually stole the radio and left the music!     He said, "That fellow sure went to a lot of trouble to get my radio!" Then he started laughing and said, "You know, I am going to keep this darn thing because this was just too clever a device."     Hope you enjoyed the story.     Doug     PCWhiteKnight@WebTV.Net     http://community.webtv.net/pcwhiteknight/WelcomeCatLovers

The World... According to Doug Goosed by Doug White Published Dec. 21, 2006    This story is from 2000 during the Spirits of Christmas. For those of you that don't know about the wonderful program, which is quite an operation by the way, there are many families that just don't have enough funds for a Christmas for themselves or their children.     Well, this program assists those families in need through the combined efforts of the Helping Hands folks and our own group of volunteers, which numbers many dozens of folks. We receive donations and have people that purchase the gifts for the children whose names are submitted through the local agencies and we have sorters, gift wrappers and yes, Santa and delivery elves. It all comes together to make a very special time of the year even that much more special.     The story is about my ole buddy Kenny Dunn, a Santa volunteer, and his elf, Pam Lico. They were on their delivery route and according to Kenny, there were two geese in a pen right by a gate.     Well, Kenny opened the gate for Pam and all of a sudden one of the geese goosed him on the behind. The goose tried to take a piece of that Santa suit from Kenny's rear!     As they were getting ready to leave after Santa's visit, a pot belly pig ran through the home they were visiting.     Kenny said to Pam, "Gee, I did not bring that pot bellied pig a gift."     Hope you enjoyed the story. I wish you all a Merry & Blessed Christmas!     Doug     PCWhiteKnight@WebTV.Net     http://community.webtv.net/pcwhiteknight/WelcomeCatLovers

The World... According to Doug Dollar Christmas Flight by Doug White Published Dec. 7, 2006 Photo courtesy of the California Military Museum at Camp San Luis Obispo. Visit: www.militarymuseum.org/CampSanLuisObispo.html.    There I was stationed at Hunter Army Airfield, Savannah, Ga. This was 15 Dec 68, got a flight called "air hop" home for the Christmas holidays from Hunter AAF. The rule was the flight was free, but the parachute cost a dollar. And if you did not have to deploy it, which is a good thing, you did not receive a refund.     Well, the plane was an Army U-6 Beaver and it could carry up to five people. There were two of us not counting the pilot, Major Kitterman. Little did I know just how exciting this flight would be. For one thing it would take eight hours to fly from Georgia to Texas. After several hours in the air the sun was gone and I could actually see car lights below.     I asked the Major, "Sir, is that normal for the cars below moving faster than we are?" He laughed and said yes, that is normal and that it could be worse, we could be in the slowest aircraft in the Army's inventory, the Otter, we are in the second slowest bird.     Well, there we were very close to the Texas coast then all of a sudden a loud pop and then the windshield was covered with black oil from the cylinder that blew. Major Kitterman, was cool as a frog, not worried at all.     I asked him," Sir are we going to have to ditch this plane and use this $1 parachute?"     The other fellow was not saying anything; his eyes were as big as saucers, he was waiting for the pilot to answer my question. Major Kitterman, said, "Well troops, I am sorry, but you will not get to use the parachutes today! I am going to take the plane down and land at a Naval Air Station close by."     Well, he took the U-6 down and made a great smooth landing using mostly instruments. While we had some coffee, the Naval Air Station mechanics replaced the cylinder and we were ready to leave in a very short time.     I recall the cool Major saying to the Navy fellows that repaired the U-6. "Gee, I wish our Army mechanics could repair our birds that fast", and smiled shook their hands and we were off to Ft. Walters.     After he dropped us off, the Major flew the U-6 to Colorado. The next day I rode a Greyhound bus to San Antonio, and Dad picked me up there. I had a great Christmas with my folks in Pipe Creek. Flew back to Hunter AAF by commercial flight.     Hope you enjoyed the story.

The World... According to Doug First Place by Doug White Published Nov. 30, 2006    There I was with two high school friends, Roy Dugosh & Mike Tanner, back in 1968. Gee, that was 38 years ago. Roy and I were Seniors and Mike was a Junior.     Well, the story goes like this.     There was a talent show in Medina and we all played instruments, Roy and I played the guitar and Mike played the drums. We got together one day at my home just playing around then the idea came to me that we should enter the talent contest in Medina.     We all three agreed on the spur of the moment. I recall that Mike had a friend in San Antonio that would assist us with the music selection. It turned out to be a cool piece called "Wild Weekend" originally by the Rebels. Roy could really make that guitar sing on that one, so we decided to use it in the talent show.     And another piece called "Jack the Ripper" seemed to fit our fancy. Roy played lead and I played rhythm. We only practiced one time all together.     Mike and I lived closer and practiced a bit more. Roy had the music down to a "T" and there was no problem with his lead guitar playing. I, on the other hand, needed more time with the music.     The big night came and there we were on stage, and very nervous. Then the announcer asked, "What is the name of your band? We don't have one listed." We looked at each other sorta confused, because we had no idea of a name. We said, "How about The Roy Dugosh Band?" and there it was a done deal.     Cool, huh? The music went fine and there we were graced with a first place ribbon. I will never forget the loud cheering and clapping when we were given first place in our category. Wow! that was a great night!     Hope you enjoyed the story.

The World... According to Doug The music lesson by Doug White Published Nov. 23, 2006    I call this piece: The music lesson, it goes like this:     There I was at home the summer of 1964. My friend and neighbor, Edgar Paul Heinen, came by for a visit and was excited about this new record by a group called the Ventures. He asked if he could play it on our phonograph; I said sure.     He had his new shiny, lemon oiled red Gibson guitar with flat wound strings and a big Fender amp with him. After he was all set up to play his guitar he put the Venture album on the phonograph and played a selected piece. Edgar then played right along with the record.     It was perfect you could not tell his playing from the Ventures. What a special day that was. After he finished the piece he handed me his beautiful electric Gibson guitar and asked would you like to learn to play? I said after that cool music, you bet! I was excited that he was willing to teach me to play.     I remember just like it was yesterday, his first instruction was hold the Gibson as you would want to play it. Then said aw, looks like your going to be a lefty, Doug. and so I was.     We had some great times playing together. His Fender Amp was the top of the line and had that reverb sound, too. We would practice in a little white building that used to be White's Cafe prior to 1960. Ed Jennings used the building as his Justice of the Piece Office, J.P. Ed Jennings let Edgar and I practice our playing in that wonderful old white building. I believe Ed Jennings enjoyed us coming around to play our guitars as much as we did. I later learned that Ed Jennings played the saxophone in a big band back in Kentucky prior to coming to Pipe Creek.     Anyhow, Edgar had a lot of patience with me and we used fractions to read the music. i.e., 3/4's would be third fret fourth string. Yes, it would have been easier to learn to read the music instead of the fractions like we did.     Anyhow we played stuff like "Walk Don't Run", "Pipe Line", "Wild Wood Flower", "Wheels", etc.     He made it look so easy when he played the guitar. Little did I know that two years after this special time, Edgar Paul Heinen would be killed in action in Vietnam. The piece he taught me to play first is still my favorite, "Walk Don't Run."     Hope you enjoyed the story.     Doug     PCWhiteKnight@WebTV.Net     http://community.webtv.net/pcwhiteknight/WelcomeCatLovers

The World... According to Doug Letters at HQ by Doug White Published Nov. 16, 2006    There I was on call with Hq Special Troops Eighth U.S. Army in Korea in 1969. There were two officers on CQ duty. And if they required assistance to have emergency leave orders cut for anyone leaving country I was the troop assigned to get it done.     I decided to go to the HQ where the duty officers were and type a letter home. I noticed that one officer on duty was a Warrant Officer CW-2 and the other was a 1st Lt. The 1st Lt. actually outranked the Warrant Officer. The CW-2 was with a flying unit 55 Avn and was a pilot in that unit. I noticed he was wearing his service ribbons and and his highest award was the Bronze Star. The 1st Lt. was more than likely an Admin Officer. He also wore his service ribbons; the highest award was National Defense Medal.     Well, I did not pay much attention to what the two officers were doing until I heard the 1st Lt. say, well it is getting late and I am ready for bed so I suppose you had better set up the Army cot and prepare my bed.     Mr. Whatever I was doing stopped at that instant and I went in their duty area and stated to the CW-2 that there was no way he was going to prepare that 1st Lt.'s bed.     The CW-2 smiled and said it is not a problem. Specialist White, the CQ Book says the lower ranking officer will make up the bed for the senior officer on duty.     I said, yes, Sir, I know that the instructions state that, however, there is no way that a Bronze Star recipient is going to make up a bed for someone with lesser awards.     For you that don't know the Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration and is the fourth-highest award for bravery, heroism or meritorious service.     I did not ask the CW-2 how he received the award, however, knowing he was a pilot and had been to Vietnam, I knew it had to be for bravery or heroism.     Anyhow I took over that particular duty for the CW-2.     The next morning as I checked in on them, the Warrant Officer smiled and said, thanks Specialist.     I replied, Sir it was my pleasure and by the way I short sheeted that 1st Lt. We saluted each other, laughed and pressed on with our mission. My boss was Sergeant Major Legg and after telling him what had transpired, he pulled that particular instruction out of the CQ book and tore it up!     Hope you enjoyed the story.     Doug     PCWhiteKnight@WebTV.Net     http://community.webtv.net/pcwhiteknight/WelcomeCatLovers

The World... According to Doug Fuel and ole #1 Chick by Doug White Published Oct. 26, 2006    There I was with Kenny Dunn, we had just participated in the Christmas in Fredericksburg night parade Dec. 3, 2004, and after eating a nice sea food dinner at Andy's in Fredericksburg, we fired up the ole #1 Chick and headed back to Kerrville to let the Chicken Car roost.     Anyhow Kenny asked, "Doug, do we have enough fuel to get back to Kerrville?"     I replied, "Of course we do, the Chicken Car never lets me down!"     A few minutes after my statement the car coughed and sputtered. Wow, we were out of fuel, and just a few miles out of Kerrville, too.     It was pitch black and the only light was the parking lights and the red eyes of the #1 Chick blinking.     Kenny, being prepared for anything, especially riding with me, had his cell phone. Just before he made a call to get someone from the Kerrville Church's store. We noticed a DPS car headed toward Fredericksburg and the trooper looked at the huge chicken so hard that he actually ran off the road onto the shoulder for a short piece.     Kenny said, "He did not even stop to help us." I replied "If you were in his shoes and up for retirement or promotion would you report to the dispatcher a dead chicken on the side of the road????"     A short time later a young man from the Kerrville store came and Kenny and he went to get fuel in a gas can.     I naturally stayed with the Chicken Car.     A Kerrville sheriff's deputy did stop to assist, his name was Vern, and he stayed until he had to go on a call. I tried to start the car just one more time to move it further off the shoulder and yes, it started and I was able to get off the road a safer distance.     Just as I thought everything was complete and just waiting for Kenny, a car went by and made a U turn and the driver said, "Doug White, are you out there?" I laughed because I knew that voice. It was one of my classmates Aleta Roberts Dominque and her sister Leeannah.     After acknowledging, I approached the car and told them it was pretty sad when somebody sees the chicken car dead on the side of the road and assumes that I am somewhere near!!!     I thanked Aleta and her sister for stopping and said that I was fine and Kenny would be back soon.     Well, right after they left, good ole Kenny showed up with the fuel and the car started on the first try and away we went.     I have not asked Kenny if he would like to ride with me again for fear that he would say "NO WAY!"     Hope you enjoyed the story.     Doug     PCWhiteKnight@WebTV.Net     http://community.webtv.net/pcwhiteknight/WelcomeCatLovers

The World... According to Doug The rooster and fox by Doug White Published Oct. 19, 2006    There I was sometime in the early 1990s after a hard day's work from driving a school bus route and parking the 27J bus in my drive ready for the next school bus run, or as I like to say even to this day the next mission!     Then out of the corner of my eye I saw this red object chasing my prized rooster around the back of the parked school bus and behind the house. This was in broad day light and the poor rooster was just about out of breath and could not out run the fox much longer. I rushed in the house and grabbed my Dad's old faithful 12-gauge shot gun. I quickly loaded the weapon and stepped out on the back porch and there they were coming around the back yard and the fox was only a few feet away from the fleeing rooster.     I pulled up the weapon and did not have to aim at all just pointed in the general direction and squeezed the trigger. The shot was very loud and the recoil was very strong and then I saw that the rooster and fox lay motionless, the fox had the rooster's tail in his mouth. I suddenly realized that I had killed both of them in one shot. As I ejected the spent cartrage, I noticed that it was 00B "buck" shot, instead of the bird shot that I had thought it was.     Well, I was upset that I had taken out my prized rooster along with the fox.     Was a sad day at the White house!     Hope you enjoyed the story.     Doug     PCWhiteKnight@WebTV.Net     http://community.webtv.net/pcwhiteknight/WelcomeCatLovers

The World... According to Doug Very Close Call by Doug White Published Oct. 12, 2006    There I was at the right place at the wrong time. This was back in 1960, I was playing in the old garage and just having a great time, when I found this piece of neat copper looking device with a couple of wires coming out of one end. I noticed that the wires looked just like the ones used on my electric Lionel train set. And since I had been running it not that long ago it was still set up in the living room.     Well, I took this neat device and went to the house. There the train set was ready to go, all I had to do is plug in the power to the transformer and then ready to go. Well, I disconnected the wires to the track from the transformer and was connecting the neat red and black colored wires coming from the copper or brass tube. I had connected the wires and was ready to put the juice to the device when all of a sudden Dad walked in from White's Cafe and took one look at the set up I had and leaned down and pulled the device out of the transformer locking screws.     I don't recall him ever moving so fast. He then got his breath and said "Doug, that was not a toy you had connected to your train set, it is a dynamite cap, where in the world did you find it?"     I told him it was in the garage on the ground.     He said if the power had been turned on it would have blown and most likely I would have been injured from the cap.     Well, needless to say that was the end of that experiment and he hired Pancho that worked for Ed Jennings to clean out that garage and look for all the dynamite caps he could find. It turns out he found a few more and gave them to Dad to destroy.     Dad's timing was perfect and he saved the day.     Hope you enjoyed the story.     Doug     PCWhiteKnight@WebTV.Net     http://community.webtv.net/pcwhiteknight/WelcomeCatLovers

The World... According to Doug Driving Lesson by Doug White Published Oct. 5, 2006    As the subject says, this story is about a driving lesson.     There I was witness to our friend and neighbor, Authur Fasnich. His parents owned the Barrel House when it was a restaurant. I still remember the wonderful slick-dyed concrete floor with tables all around the perimeter, and the best chicken in the basket in the county at the time. What a wonderful place it was.     Anyhow back to the driving lesson. Turns out that Authur talked my grandfather into wanting to drive one of his daughter's, Margo Talmadge's, automobile. It was a black and white 1950 straight-eight Buick.     For some reason she sold it to my grandfather in 1960, when he was 85 years old and he had never driven a vehicle other than a horse-drawn buckboard wagon. I knew this was going to be one exciting day so I got in the back seat of the two-door heavy Buick.     My grandfather got behind the wheel and good ole Authur was sitting next to him giving some verbal instructions on what to do.     Well, I remember my grandfather saying, "Okay, let's go," and about that time he pushed the gas pedal all the way to the floor and the ole Buick roared with power, he then put the brake down, too. He was pushing them both down and finally released the brake and the car shot across the road in an instant.     Poor Aurthur was trying to get control of the car and did at the last minute just inches from our neighbor's fence that had concrete posts. I just knew we were going to go right thru that fence.     Well, after Aurthur got the vehicle stopped and asked, "Is everyone okay?" my grandfather said, "You know I believe I am too old to be driving." With that he opened the driver's door and stepped out, got the Garrett snuff can out of his pocket and took a dip, he never looked back at that car as he slowly walked away.     Authur and I sat there looking at each other and he said, "Well, Doug, your grandfather is right. Not everyone should drive at his age."     Hope you enjoyed the story.     Doug     PCWhiteKnight@WebTV.Net     http://community.webtv.net/pcwhiteknight/WelcomeCatLovers

The World... According to Doug Flight by Doug White Published Sept. 21, 2006    There I was getting ready for a wonderful demonstration of great control line-flying for my wife's cousins Mike and Josaine and their kiddos. The weather was perfect and the park in Corpus looked like it could handle the Fox 35 engine powered ring master.     I had put it together while assigned to the 3271st Tech Trng Sqdn., Lackland AFB. It was a great control line flyer. For those not familiar with the term control line, it means just what it says; you have two lightweight metal lines going to the model, usually 30 to 60 feet in length, and the wires are connected to a handle that causes the plane's elevator to move up and down.     The flight was going great and then it happened. I was actually moving toward a large mesquite tree. I misjudged the distance and in a matter of seconds it was over. The outside wing of the plane made contact with the tree. The spectator family were feeling sad for me and I made the comment that I wanted to take the plane back to Washington State where I was assigned to the USAF Survival School Fairchild AFB, however, could not take it because of the size of the plane. Well, I laughed and said now there should be no problem packing the model plane due to its new compact shape.     Sure enough, I reconstructed the model while in Washington and it flew again. In fact the photo is the very plane resting in my Dad's weather-forecaster mesquite tree here in Pipe Creek. Hope you enjoyed the story.     Doug     PCWhiteKnight@WebTV.Net     http://community.webtv.net/pcwhiteknight/WelcomeCatLovers

The World... According to Doug Little Turkey by Doug White Published Sept. 14, 2006    There I was on a beautiful day in June 2002, checking out the Pipe Creek Cemetery, I had been a trustee since 1990 and was looking over the older section of the cemetery. Well, I had to visit with the White family.     While I was there. I came across two baby wild turkeys and no mother in sight. Well, after I picked them up, I saw their beautiful mother with approximately 13 more babies. Knowing she had so many, I decided to take these little ones home and give them to a setting chicken that had been having bad luck hatching babies; she had been on her eggs for close to 30 days. Usually a chicken will hatch in 21 days. The mother hen was given to me by my friend and neighbor Patrick Davis, and the hen was a bit on the wild side for sure.     The night I caught her, she was roosting in the pump house and even at that was not easy to catch. Well, these beautiful babies needed a mom and the hen needed babies. So I put them together in a cage and kept my fingers crossed that they would accept each other. The hen really tried to comfort them, but the two wild turkeys would not have anything to do with her and kept their distance. I was feeling very sad that they may not make it, then one morning I did not hear any sound coming from the cage. I saw the hen setting and four little turkey legs below her. What a cool sight that was! She raised them and get this, after they had grown up even larger than her they still roosted together. I would see two large tail feathers on each side of the small surrogate mother hen. They would allow only her to eat with them and actually ran other hens and roosters away from their feeding area.     I have had them now for five years and unfortunately the mother hen passed away in 2005. The turkeys turned out to be both hens. They never laid an egg until they saw a peacock from the Lightning Ranch that was visiting. They have been laying eggs ever since. Hope you enjoyed the story.     Doug     PCWhiteKnight@WebTV.Net     http://community.webtv.net/pcwhiteknight/WelcomeCatLovers

The World... According to Doug Plastic Army Soldiers Published Sept. 7, 2006    There I was a young kid with nothing to do, very dangerous indeed! Anyhow, I was probably a third or fourth grader and had my plastic army soldiers all over the back yard and near a pond that my grandfather and I had built for our goats to have water and even had some fish (perch) in it.     Well, I got this great idea after seeing a barrel full of brand new shiny 16d nails on the side of our smoke house and since Mom loved to sew, I knew where to get some sewing thread. Well, with the nails and thread I decided to make telephone lines all around the pond and just all over the area and it looked pretty neat. My plastic army soldiers could now talk to each other over the phone and running telephone lines was a piece of cake!     Well, later in the day long after I had lost interest in playing with the soldiers, tanks, and trucks I was watching Popeye cartoons on Captain Gus's T.V. program, and Dad walked in the living room and asked, "Doug, do you know why one of the goats is dragging about 15 lbs. of nails tangled up with your mothers sewing thread?"     Oops, it took me over an hour to get that poor goat untangled from that mess. Needless to say that was the end of my working for the telephone company. That goat was actually a walking wind chime. The nails sounded pretty cool, but that nanny I called Jackie was not a happy camper. She later forgave me for this and graced us with twin kid goats.     Hope you enjoyed the story.     Doug

The World... According to Doug Domino by Doug White Published Aug. 31, 2006    There I was visiting with my friend, Louis Stein, at his garage in Bandera. They had been working on the North Prong and came up on a very large momma feral hog and she attacked them. They had no choice but to put her down. She had several babies and they gave them all away to local people, I just happened to be at the wrong place at the right time. Louie said, "Doug, you need one of these baby hogs." I ended up with a beautiful little black and white spotted feral hog, hence the name "Domino." What a cool animal she was.     I had a bus route and also worked in the Alkek dining hall. I was able to get plenty of slop for the hog in those days and I got about five gallons a day for that hog. I was authorized to park my bus, 27J, at the house and I carried the five-gallon bucket home daily for Domino.     The cool part was that the hog was running loose around the place and when she heard that bus being backed in the drive, she would make a very loud screeching sound and run toward the bus loading door, then follow me to the feeding area, just happy as a hog (pun intended).     After she ate the food she would actually roll over belly-up and want me to scratch her on her belly. She loved being spoiled.     Well, the day came after eating all that wonderful leftover food that she was beginning to grow so I had to build a pen for her. She loved the new pen and would stay in without any problems. Her mother, I was told, was over 400 pounds and Domino was well on her way, too.     Now, I was always lead to believe that hogs are very smart. With Domino I found that this is not true. Domino and I often played checkers and you know I beat that hog two out of three times.     One day I came home and saw Domino sitting still and noticed that she was too still and when I called her name she did not respond. I found out later from my former Ag teacher, Mr. Telvy Robbins, that she might have gotten a sticker burr in her throat and that did her in. Anyhow her mother, I was told, was over 400 pounds and Domino was well on her way, too.     I actually did not want the animal at first and at last I would not have taken a thousand dollars for that crazy wonderful wild hog.     Hope you enjoyed the story.     Doug     PCWhiteKnight@WebTV.Net     http://community.webtv.net/pcwhiteknight/WelcomeCatLovers     [t07]Proud parents, Brian and Jennifer Jilek welcomed their new daughter, Shelby Elizabeth Thursday, Aug. 10, at 2:42 p.m. Shelby weighed 8 lbs. 12 oz.     She is also welcomed by grandparents Brad and Cathy Spinks and Mark and Mary Jilek, all of Bandera.

The World... According to Doug The Hammer by Doug White Published Aug. 24, 2006    There I was with a mission to build my first ever walk in closet and close in the back porch for my wife, Beth, and myself.     The job was a bit more that I thought it would be, Beth assisted me all the way. We had to put more support piers under the new floor and my good ole class mate John Hamilton assisted me with the size beam we would need and how far I could extend the new structure from the old safely. After all was set up my Beth and I worked together and it went very well.     We had completed the project and it looked very much better than I thought it would. I was so motivated that I decided to replace some of the old shiplap that existed from the old structure that was now enclosed.     Well, there I was with my wrecking bar, which was kinda fun ripping out the old stuff. I was just almost to the bottom of the wall when I saw this root sticking up from between the walls. I knew we had fruitless mulberry trees and they will grow just about anywhere, you just cannot get rid of them.     Anyhow, I said to myself how in the world did this root get up thru this inner wall, there was no way a plant could survive in there all these years, we are talking in the mid 40s. So I reached down to put at the root knowing it would be a real job to get it out of that wall and all of a sudden there it was in my hand, surprise, surprise, it was a 60-year-old finishing hammer that Dad dropped while building the old house he was most likely working in the attic and dropped the hammer down the narrow wall channel. I can hear him now upset and saying know way I am going after that hammer good night, Irene.     Hope you enjoyed the story     Doug     PCWhiteKnight@WebTV.Net     http://community.webtv.net/pcwhiteknight/WelcomeCatLovers

The World... According to Doug Legend of Sleepy Kerrville by Doug White Published Aug. 17, 2006    There I was, the day prior to the scheduled parade getting the Chicken Car ready for Kerrville's 20th Annual Kerr County Fair Parade Oct. 9, 1999. Everything was coming together perfectly. I had picked up the Chicken Car at the Churchs Kerrville store where it was on display.     Then I had the idea to check with the place where they change the oil for the car to see if it was up to date. One of the employees directed me to park the car between their business and a vacated building. The over hang from the vacated building caught the beak of huge chicken head and I was unaware of what was about to happen.     When I heard the contact it was too late. I pushed the brake down and the head came rolling down the front of the car. As my heart skipped a beat I heard voices from the near by Penny’s store approximately 1/2 block away say Oh! No! Well, all I could do at this point was to hit the switch and let the bird crow while the head was on the ground, even the wires were exposed that controlled the lighting of the Chicken Car's eyes.     The head is made of fiberglass and the beak was the only part that had sustained damage from the impact fortunately. I felt so bad about this and knew we were not going to participate in the scheduled Kerrville parade and maybe never again. I had to contact the owners of the Chicken Car (Ron & Janice) who were out of town at the time.     I put the huge chicken head in the front seat of the vehicle and off I went to the Main Office. The head weighed a good 25 lbs. for sure!     After arriving I told the secretary, Amanda Garritt, what had happened and she just laughed and said sure, Doug, sure. She did not believe my story at first, after a little more of explaining she did and got Ron & Janice on the phone.     I explained to them what had happened and that I would of course pay for the repairs and that it was nice working for them knowing full well it was over!     Well, they just laughed, I was the only person upset about the accident. All they wanted me to do was make contact with the owner of the building that had the overhang to see if repairs were needed.     Then Janice, said " Doug, you are not out of the parade, since it is October, let's put a big pumpkin where the chicken head was and spider webbing around the tail and the pumpkin."     I did and it looked great, Amanda, assisted me with a banner for each side of the car which read "Legend of Sleepy Kerrville" The parade went like clock work and the Chicken Car looked pretty cool the horror music coming out of the P.A. system enhanced the theme. We were actually awarded fourth place. Then after that and prior to the next parade the Chicken Head was remounted and looks great to this day!     Hope you enjoyed the story.     Doug

The World...according to Doug Love at first sight by Doug White Published Aug. 10, 2006    Have you ever wondered how I came to drive the famous chicken car?     Here's the story:     Sometime in late 1994 or 1995 (who knows), my wife Beth and I were in Houston for Thanksgiving. On our way back to Pipe Creek, we saw an interesting sight, a Cadillac with a huge chicken head on it. I thought to myself, "what an interesting vehicle! Who in the world would want a car with a chicken head and tail on it?" Then, not too long after that, I saw the car in a Pepto Bismol commercial . It looked so cool!     The person driving it was a very happy black fellow. I said to myself, "Man! I would do that if the opportunity presented itself." Little did I realize that day would come.     I saw the chicken car in a garage near where the new Tivy High School is located now and stopped by and talked to the fellow that was working on it (putting on a manifold, as I remember). He stated that Churchs Chicken was going to use it parades, etc. I went down to the Kerrville Churchs Chicken store and put in a job application just like anyone would do that wanted a job with those folks. It was sort of funny, the way they looked at me when I put in the application. I commented that I did not want to be a manager or cook–just wanted to drive their chicken car.     Well, they had no idea that the car was even in existence, so they politely told me, "Sir, we don't have a chicken car."     I said, "Well, if you ever get one, remember this day, okay?"     Then, that very summer of 1996, I got a call from owner Ron Bowen. (His wife is Janice. I met her later, and found out she is the brains of the outfit.) They are wonderful. Any how, Ron called me up at home and asked if I was serious about driving the chicken car in a parade. I answered, "You bet I am! I have no future, why not drive a car with a huge chicken head on it?"     Well, he laughed and said, "Your first parade is in Center Point. You can pick up the car at our place."     The next thing I knew, I was in my very first parade with the #1 Chick, as the license plate proclaims. It was a great parade, and so much fun! I had no idea how much the crowd would love seeing this car with the crazy driver!     After that, I became a regular at parades in the local area: Kerrville, Bandera, Comfort, Boerne, Fredericksburg, and even once in San Antonio. What a pleasure it has been, being called the "Chicken Man!" I love the title and really enjoy participating in all the wonderful parades. We have even done nighttime parades, usually at Christmas time. Well, I don't mind telling you that my most special parade is always the Center Point celebration. It was my first, therefore will always be special in my heart. We participated this past July 8 and received a much-appreciated second place ribbon. And just five days prior to that, the Comfort 4th of July parade honored us with a third place ribbon. It may sound strange, but there is such a magic feeling driving that car now my 10th year!     The car is a 1977 Coupe de Ville, but Ron says it is a Coop de Ville. Any how, that is how it all started, this strange love affair with a weird-looking car that makes so many people smile and laugh and cheer during parades. There is nothing like being known as the Chicken Man driving the #1Chick!     Well, hope you enjoyed the story. Stand by for another Chicken Car story in the near future–like how about next week by none other than the Chicken M?     Smile, Doug

World According to Doug Published July 20, 2006    There I was one early spring day in the year 2005, clearing some cedar from the old White's place with my skid steer (older version of a Bobcat). Anyhow, I saw this great log laying in my way and something said, “work around it and don't destroy it.”     So I carefully worked around the very old, gray, hollowed-out tree and said to myself, “I remember that tree from the early 60s.”     My grandfather, James R. Coker, was approximately 85 years old at the time. He was born in 1875 and was living with us in Pipe Creek. He passed away a little over four months after his 91st birthday, March, 1967. He loved to show me how to do neat things, like grow and harvest popping corn,, hunt varmints, bait and set steel traps, nature walks, and work with honey bees (another story). He explained cool things, like how to select a good walking stick and how to kill a snake with the stick if need be.     Anyhow, this old log was a key part of a hunting lesson from the early 1960s. While rabbit hunting with my grandfather, we saw a rabbit (cotton tail) run and hide inside that log. Grandfather’s old hunting dog Blackie and my dog Skiddie worked around that old hollow, downed tree, knowing the rabbit was there, but unable to get to it.     Believe it or not, that tree was old even in the 60s. Anyhow, Grandfather said, “today we are going to smoke a rabbit out of a log.” He went back to the house and I stood guard at the tree.     He returned with his bee smoker and got it going and had me puff smoke into an opening on the log while he stood by the other opening. Well, the rabbit had enough of that smoke and shot out of the opening where my grandfather stood. He grabbed the rabbit barehanded and swung the rabbit in such a way that it could not bite him. It was over in a matter of seconds.     The rabbit was harvested. Well, after the nice flash back, I was about to continue my mission of clearing the cedars away from the live oaks when I saw it. It actually caused me to stop the skid steer and dismount it. I cautiously walked up to the old log and saw an old coat hanger hanging on part of the log. It was the very one my grandfather used so many years earlier to stretch out the rabbit and field dress it. He would also use a hanger to twist the fur of the rabbit around and pull the rabbit out of hollow stumps. He would skin and clean the freshly harvested rabbit and back we would go to the house.     Nothing like fresh wild rabbit for dinner! Back to the hanger–it was still bent in the shape Grandfather had bent it into more than 45 years ago! Wow! even the black lead base paint was still present. No, just kidding! It was just rust-coated by now. I could not believe my eyes that the hanger was still there on that log from so long ago and in pretty good shape at that. Oh, I carefully put the hanger back on the log and went on about my business.     Hope you enjoyed the story.     Doug