Last weekend Steve, Sheraden, Kendelle and Jan Porter celebrated Kendelle's 18th birthday and Jan's fourth year of being a breast cancer survivor. Visiting Skydive Spaceland near Houston, Kendelle and Jan enjoyed their first Tandem Skydive from 14,000 feet. What an incredible experience! Sheraden also joined them for her second Tandem Skydive. Her first being in the spring along with several SFA and Aggie friends. Steve enjoyed the view from the ground and gladly offered to baby-sit Sheraden's new Boston terrier puppy.

Ronnie and Bobbi Robinson had a wonderful trip to Fripp Island, S.C., this month. They flew into Savannah and enjoyed a wonderful dinner at Paula Deen's Lady and Sons restaurant. They visited with a friend and her husband that Bobbi had met on the Internet playing bridge 10 years ago. They have a lovely home on the Atlantic Ocean. One of their neighbors, Pat Conroy, author of "The Prince of Tides," had a book signing of his new book "South of Broad." They drove into Hilton Head to play duplicate bridge. It was a interesting group of players.

The Lufkin Duplicate Club celebrated its second birthday with a luncheon and bridge game at the remodeled Senior Citizen Center. Sixty attended the luncheon with special guests from Beaumont, Livingston and Nacogdoches. Bill and Hellen Revelle of Lufkin placed second.

Kathryn Williams and Bobbi Robinson have reinstated the former pageant system. The Forest Festival was their first. The next pageant will be the Baby and Miss Winterfare Pageant on Dec. 12 at Pineywoods Community Academy Naranjo Auditorium. Contestants compete in Christmas costume, sportswear and Christmas dress. For more information call (936) 229-2897 or bjr5950@suddenlink.net.

Sheila and Robert Telford are the grandparents of Allison Jean Moss, who is three months old. Her parents are Jeremy and Erin Moss, of Houston. The name Jean is for five grandmothers.

The Robert Telford's house on Allendale is for sale. They bought the home of James and Mary Gibbs on Pine Valley. James and Mary have moved into their new home on Templewood Lane.

The Wishing Well opened this week. Joann Roquemore has been working with Jill Zenor to get things in order for the holidays. She will have the Elves, aka Merry Fairies, by Mark Roberts. Their hours will be Tuesday to Friday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Watch for the "open" sign on some Saturdays. I visited with Joann and her mom Mary Morton.

Ernest and I went to the Lufkin Middle School seventh & eighth grade Super Bowl games last week with Karla and Abby Yates. Some playing were Will Chance, who had parents Becca and Jeff Chance, sister Caroline and aunt Emily Watts with Chip Watts. Gentry Ford had parents Amy and Rusty Ford and grandparents Carolyn and Roy Cates. Don Dickerson was there to see his twirler granddaughter Kaitlin Dickerson, daughter of Keri and Jason Dickerson. Kym, David and Kristi Guzman were watching Caleb kick off. Kim and Todd Kassaw were there to watch Tanner. Molly Haney was watching grandson Logan Haney. Glen, JonAnna, Kimberlin, Charlie and Addyson Arnold were there to watch with Anita and Chris Caraway. Mary Gail and Kevin McCarty were there to see seventh grade son Jerry McCarty. Jennifer and Jim Cumbie were watching their seventh grade quarterback Trey. We heard Tyler Abney's name on several plays. He is the seventh grade son of David and Brandy Abney. Brian Spore had Paul on the seventh grade team. Kelly and Jimmy Ford's son Parker was on the seventh grade team. Carrie Schroeder had son Matthew on the seventh grade team. Mary Moore and Hayley Byron were watching Ryan Moore. Tracy and Jeff Portwood were watching John. Another one that is a punter is Cort McPherson, son of David and Pam McPherson. I always like to go see the talent. There were 99 names on the eighth grade roster and 126 on the seventh grade roster. There has to be talent coming up with this many young men participating. The eighth grade band marched and the twirlers performed. Dillon Osgood was in the eighth grade band and had parents Donna and Sumner Osgood to watch him. The seventh grade band played for their twirlers to perform. Some cheerleader parents were Barbara Peterson with Kate, who is the mascot; Ashley Verner with Jordan; and Melanie Sanders with Chancey. The stands were full of parents, grandparents and friends. It was a big night, and everyone was a winner. David McElveen was the in-stadium announcer, and he knew all of the boys from the Lufkin Middle School. Principal Vickie Evans and assistant principal Jesus Gomez had to "police" a fight on the field.

On Friday, Nov. 13, the Lufkin Dance Club will sponsor a country western dance, "Back from Dodge City," at the SPJST Lodge. Bring snacks at 7 p.m. Dance to the Silver Eagles from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. Members pay $5, guests $6. Call (936) 632-3977 for more information.

Hunter Russell participated in the 2009 Sun Belt Conference Championships in cross country at the University of Louisiana-Monroe. Hunter was interviewed on YouTube. He was invited to run in the regionals in two weeks at Baylor University.

On Monday, Nov. 16 the Soccer Association will have an official groundbreaking at 2:30 p.m.

Emily Watts told me that son Chip Watts is in rotation during his third year of medical school at UTMB in Galveston under Jim Caskey in family practice. He will be in the rotation until mid-November here in Lufkin.

Getting ready for her 4-H project with a pig is Elizabeth Alvis, daughter of Sally and Max Alvis. She named her Penelope and she weighs around 40 pounds and will weigh 250 pounds by sale time at the Youth Fair on Feb. 15-19, 2010.

Youth Season hunter 6-year-old Charlie Arnold was with his dad Glen when he killed his first doe on Saturday. He said that he "gas choked" the doe in Houston County with one shot. Glen said it was cold but Charlie quit shaking long enough to take sight and shoot. They were hunting with Mark and Matthew Gorman.

Eleven-year-old Reagan Jordan was with her dad Art Jordan at their Forks of the River Club near Jasper and killed her first doe last week during Youth Season.

The district cross-country competition was held at Lufkin High School this past Saturday. The Panther boys and girls varsity teams will advanced to the regional competition at UT-Arlington yesterday. Members of the boys' team are Rodrigo Molina, Heraclio Hernandez, Clark Dorman, Erik Alonso, Luis Terral, Ruben Garcia and Brice Page. Members of the girl's team are Olivia McKinney, Kendra Robbins, Ashley Niosi, Bailey Watson, Keyanan Penson, LeeAnn Duke and Jade Hartsfield.

The Mosaic Center Class Nine graduation will be Thursday, Nov. 12 at 7 p.m. at Carpenter's Way Baptist Church, 400 N. John Redditt Drive.

Bob and Jimmie Putnam have kept me informed about Levi Fuller. He will receive his commission from Texas A&M University on Dec. 16 and become a 2nd Lt. in the U.S. Army. He has applied to Texas Tech Law School so he can become a JAG officer. His parents are Sandra and Eldon Fuller. Levi spent 12 months overseas in Kosovo with the National Guard. I remembered him from Lufkin High School where he graduated in 2004 and was an Eagle Scout, along with his other activities. We are proud of him and want to continue to know his progress.

Patti Smithhart verified that her son Manse Draper killed an 11-point that scored 136 on the Pope & Young with his bow in San Saba. This is the best buck that he has killed during bow season.

A board member for the First Street Arts Center that we left off was Debbie Alexander. We hope that they can relocate soon and will let you know when they do.

Lisa Steed called me that I had more Aggie things from the auction, and I saw the Wednesday volunteer Carol Chalfant. Lisa said that Carol is a good painter.

Mary Etta Moreau told me that her minister Jackie Snarr at Keltys Methodist Church had retired and Nov. 1 was her last Sunday. She and husband James will be moving to Springfield, Ill., near her daughter. She had been in Lufkin for eight years.

Mary Etta and Bill Moreau's grandchildren, Sarah and Joseph, are attending college in Oklahoma. Sarah attends the University of Oklahoma and Joseph is a senior at Oklahoma State. Bill and Mary Etta enjoyed watching The University of Texas play both schools. I also heard that Bill and Mary Etta are up in the middle of the night watching the progress on the highway construction when there are road closures.

You meet the nicest people at the post office. I met Joe Simmons who reads my column, and also Sam Griffin and Fadra Danna.

Bennie Velle Davis will be 98 years old on Nov. 11. Happy birthday.

Other Youth Season deer hunters are Jackson Treadway, who is 9. He was with his dad Vince Treadway when he killed an 8-point with an 18-inch spread in San Saba. This is his second deer and both have been larger than his dad's deer kills.

Max McCarty, 10-year-old of Kevin and Mary Gail McCarty, killed his first buck that was 12 points. He turned 11 on Nov. 3 and they plan to have the head mounted. Max, Kevin and Jerry, who is 12, were in the stand together when Max killed it in San Augustine County.

Joel Dillahunty was recognized by the Department of Aging and Disability Services in Austin for his efforts in the beginning years of the live band that played at the former Lufkin State School, now Lufkin State Supported Living Center. He organized and coordinated the music once a month in 1983. Upon Joel's retirement in 2000, Dan Maxwell took over and was also recognized at the Employee and Staff Appreciation Luncheon.

Cyndi and Steve Kullback had his sister and her husband Barbara and Arthur Myers visiting from Newark, N.J. Cyndi and Steve will be in New York for Thanksgiving.

The dealers at Lufkin Antique Mall would like to invite you to their Open House on Saturday, Nov. 14 from 10 to 5 p.m. Join them for light refreshments along with hourly drawings for door prizes, and a grand prize drawing for a $50 gift certificate. Hope to see you!