ALL AROUND LUFKIN
Janice Ann Rowe

The Future Christian Leaders of America (FCLA), which is a local Christian based youth development organization for teenagers, held its first banquet on Saturday, Dec. 29th from 6- 9 pm at First Street Cafe. The restaurant is located at 113 N. 1st St. in Lufkin. Included in the banquet ceremonies was a tribute to Mrs. Hattie Rhodes who has just stepped down after 47 years of service in the youth department of First Missionary Baptist Church. She held various positions in the youth department.

Nancy Manning had a Sip and See for her newest grand son, John Standley Kirk, born September 27 to Amy and Brett Kirk of Kingwood. John Standley is named for Nancy's dad and a relative of Brett's. John's 5-year-old brother is William and his 2-year-old sister is Eliza. Great grandmother is Jimmie Standley of Nacogdoches who will celebrate 90 years on January 12. Great aunts and uncles are Jo Ann and Bob Barton of Garrison, James and Becky Standley of Nacogdoches. Nancy and Leon Manning are the grandparents.

Janie Slack was at the Sip and See and brought a recent picture of granddaughter, Clara Lucile Nester, with her first smile. Janie wants to go to Denver to see her.

I drove down Robinhood and it looks like a disaster area. Trees are uprooted and have fallen into houses. Bob Brown said it was called a "straight line wind", but it looked like a tornado. Burnice and Rosemary Blackstock had a tree fall on their house. Jerry and Janelle Hennington had a tree fall this time and one during Rita. Charlie White is on the left of Jim and Mary Jane West, and a tree fell between their houses and he had four trees fall on houses on Sleepy Hollow. Fences are down, blue tarps on houses and roofers were busy replacing shingles.

Rosemary and Burnice Blackstock had all of their family, Beth and Bob Brown with Pearson and Keaton, and Ann Blackstock with them for Christmas. Beth and Bob took a trip, and Rosemary and Burnice got to have the boys after Christmas.

Martha and Ray Carswell attended the Texas Bowl game between TCU and University of Houston at Reliant Stadium with Ellen and Richard Winn. Ellen was Martha's roommate at TCU. Emma and Abby Carswell were in town during the Christmas holiday and rode the Texas State Railroad train from Rusk to Palestine with Martha and Ray.

Woodie Hicks was almost desperate to watch the TCU bowl game and Ernest had teased her that she could go to the Sports Shack and watch it on the NFLnetwork. She was looking for someone with a satellite that could get the game when she found Jane and Ken Johnson. I was invited as Woodie's friend and we watched the game with the Johnsons plus Ramsey and Karen Johnson and their dog Shady, three-year-old Ryder Johnson and his dad Hunter. Thanks to the Johnsons now Woodie can wear her TCU shirt proudly since they won.

Joan Poplin and her family were in Provo, Utah for the New Year where they skied at Sundance Resort owned by Robert Redford. The group with Joan was LeeAnn and Mark Condron, Bill Frank Poplin, Tiffani and Jeff Brantner. Pappa Bill Poplin stayed in Lufkin and Dennis Poplin came from Seattle, Washington to stay with him and then grandson Clint Haygood stayed with him when his basketball tournament was completed. Joan had always wanted to go on a sleigh ride, and this wish was completed and they sang Jingle Bells while the horses pulled the sleigh of six people. While on the ride, they saw deer and a coyote. They saw Robert Redford at the cafeteria and asked if they could get his autograph and were told no. The group rode snowmobiles in the deep snow and they saw icicles that were 3 feet long.

Brandy and David Abney had a get away for a long weekend after Christmas at a Bed and Breakfast at Gruene Homestead Inn. They heard three different bands on Saturday at Gruene Hall.

Duncan and Carlyn Garner were in Lynchburg, Virginia for Christmas with Lewie and Dee Garner. They traveled to see the Garner children in Fredericksburg, Virginia. While in Virginia, they saw the movie "Charlie Wilson's War" in a packed theatre. Duncan and Carlyn had lunch with Dr. Richard and Janet Huddleston and family from Nashville, Tennessee after Christmas here in Lufkin. They were passing through on their way to Houston.

Lynn Smith's college communications course required a project and she interviewed

Kay Trout, and Woodie Hicks has the DVD of those interviews with her mother.

Delila Lewin looked pretty in her pink jacket coming out of Brookshire's at Gaslight.

Lauren Read, daughter of Janet Read and Royce Read, is engaged to John T. Saunders III of San Antonio. They have set the date for July 19 in Lufkin. John is in graduate school working on his MBA at Incarnate Word University. They met at Texas Tech University and have dated for two years. John gave Lauren the engagement ring, and his mother had a surprise party on December 13 for them in San Antonio. Going from here were Janet and Royce, and Nancy Hicks. Jane Reily and daughter Anna went from Dallas.

Janet Read had daughter Erin and Mark Bogar with children Abigail, John Mark, Anneliese and Molly here for a week at Christmas. Molly is a year old. They live in Wolfforth, hear Lubbock. Mark is in physical medicine and rehab practice and works at Texas Tech Medical School in Lubbock.

Janet Read trains the CASA Volunteers. Jay Perry is the new Executive Director of CASA and Elaine Bonerway is the program coordinator.

Madelyn and David Porter's son Brian Porter married the love of his life Ginnie Dover on December 15 at the First Christian Church in a close family wedding. They met at Auburn University. Children, Carson 11, Ashlyn, 8, and Davis, 5, were in the wedding. It was a wonderful Christmas at the Porter house with the entire family. In the wedding party was Brian's sister Meagan Smith. Ginnie's parents are Greg and Carol Egger of Atlanta, Georgia. Attending the wedding were David's sister

Suzanne and Edward Wray of Shreveport. The reception was at Manhattan Restaurant.

Llwellyn and Mack Frazier and Elaine Frazier were in Keller for Christmas with

Elaine and Lee Wagstaff and their three-year-old daughter

Audrey Ellen. The Wagstaffs have a new home and this was

great grandmother Elaine's first time to see the house. Llewellyn and Mack were in Cullman, Alabama visiting Lloyd and Emily Frazier and granddaughters Katherine and Caroline before Christmas.

Michelle Haney and daughter Amelia were getting a picture framed after Christmas.

Sharon Adams of Grizzley's has a new van. It only took 6 hours to deal with them.

Happy Birthday: Ruth Berry, John Haney, Nelwyn Berry, Jill Pear Carswell, Audie Brookshire, Rita Rush, Andra Self, Laura Gerhardt, Earlon Williams, Janet Taylor, Billie Cardwell, Paige Perry, Terri Rich, Juanita Gandy, Flo Wood, Steve Wayland, Shirley Jackson, J Neal Naranjo, Clayton Pavlic, Honora Jacobs, Jim Todd, Rod Pittman.

Happy Anniversary: John and Kathy Thannisch, David and Virgia Walker, John and Connie Porter, Sam and Mary Griffin, Mack and Marie Carnes, John and Gail Courtney, Ray and Jean Jayroe, Charles and Renee Witherspoon.

Planned Parenthood of Houston & Southeast Texas, Inc is hosting a Business After Five through the Lufkin/Angelina County Chamber of Commerce to see their new facility on Thursday, January 10 from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. To RSVP call 634-6644.

Stephanie Davis has a website with wedding pictures. I saw the pictures of Shelley Koch and Chance Riehl, Brittany Brookshire and Matt Adams and Ginnie Dover and Brian Porter on the website.

Jetta Westerholm was in a cute picture from Shelley's wedding. This makes three weddings for Jetta and the Koch family. Laura Koch sent the website: stephaniesdavis.blogspot.com.

Steve Jayroe was in Times Square for the New Year's Eve celebrations and to see the new energy efficient ball drop at midnight. The new ball was lit up with 9,576 tiny, energy efficient LEDs that organizers said would draw about as much electricity as 10 toasters. Steve said that he had a good time and would like to go back, but not for New Year's Eve.

Bettie Powell called to wish me a Happy New Year. She misses her customers at Final Touch but is enjoying retirement.

Jordan Flournoy, son of Barb and Tom Flournoy, is home for the holidays from Michigan. He wanted to eat and sleep.

Hunting season is over and I have my husband home. Taylor Haney killed his first deer/doe with his bow. Ernest and son Ern killed 30 quail. Alan Moore killed several hogs for the coyotes. January 6 was the last day of deer season and I bet many were out for that last time to kill.

Tell me about your holiday.

Catch you around town. Janice Ann email: roweja@suddenlink.net