News From The Round Table At Pouland's

Joe Henry Smith came in for sugar beet seeds after getting his garden tractor in running condition. All the tractor needed was a filter, Joe Henry said, "You'd think they could make a filter that would last for more than 20 years!" After all that, we didn't have any sugar beets. John Scott came in to buy a new Stihl trimmer; his old one only lasted for 12 years.

Joy and Pete Weeks will be attending the spring graduation at Texas Tech in Lubbock. They are the proud grandparents of senior Madeline Rae Harris who will be graduating Cum Laude with a BS degree in Exercise Sports Science. Madeline's mother was Jeanette (Weeks) Harris; her dad is John and she also has a 16- year-old little sister. Melvin Ray Thompson came in carrying his young granddaughter, Lexi. They came in to buy Colorado pinto beans.

J. L. Bell was on a mission to buy Colorado pinto beans for his wife, Verna Mae. The Bells built a new home in their subdivision, Bell Oak, off FM58 and left their home in Burke on highway 59. They stay busy in the yard digging and planting and are making plans to go fishing on Lake Rayburn. Their son-in-law, Nick Trout, came in and bought stuff to treat the pond at the Bell's former home in Burke. The pond has always been a pretty landmark in Burke; hopefully Nick will get it back looking pretty.

Our thanks to Brenda Platt for gathering mayhaws from the river for her mom, Lois Ellison, who made homemade jelly and sent us a pint by her husband, Levy Ellison. Judge Esther Barger brought me a homemade chocolate pie just for letting her granddaughter ride in my "slug" bug. It was very good and I did share it with everyone at the RT.

Christi and Wylie Quarles have been very busy gathering mayhaws from the Quarles' orchard. In ONE day, they gathered 45-1/2 gallons, handpicked on their knees. Christi is selling the mayhaws for $7 a gallon (frozen). Call her at 829- 3022 or 936-465-0169 if you want fresh mayhaws.

Janie (Smith) formerly of Diboll came home for a family reunion. She wanted to take mayhaws back home with her. She was visiting with Andrea and said she is part of a culinary team that is preparing for a TWO million dollar wedding reception.

Harold Burchfield lives in Hull Daisetta with his wife Sharon. Harold stopped by for garden seed. They used to come and visit here about every other weekend until the gas prices went out of sight.

Virginia Curry is the 90-year-old sweet mother of Charlotte McClintock. They stopped by after a doctor's visit on their way home near Wheeler Cemetery in Polk County. Virginia recently celebrated her special birthday with friends and family at the home of Charlotte and Tic Toc Mc- Clintock.

Clayton Busby was in buying plants for his garden. He is just now getting started on his garden after recovering from a fall in his house. Clayton celebrated his 80th birthday in March.

Melissa Arrington helped get the Diboll 4H involved with Join Hands Day. This organization sends care packages the first Saturday of each month to the troops in Afghanistan and Iraq. Lucy Burris of the American Legion Auxiliary Unit #113 gathered the packages that were donated by the Diboll 4H. If you are interested, get more information www.ala113lufkin.org.

Casie Parish has been home spending time with her parents, Butch and Charlotte Parish. Casie had been in Houston wrapping up the details of the Kids and Spouse Program for the TDIAI Conference to be held in June. She is currently working as a DNA Analyst in the CODIS division of the Texas Department of Public Safety- Crime Laboratory. The Parish's son, Airman First Class Jeremy Chase Parish is currently stationed at Yokota Air Force base in Japan and preparing for his deployment to the Middle East in May. Keep him and his family in your prayers.

Dick Miller attended high school in Meeker, Oklahoma where he loved to play baseball. He played with a group on an American Legion summer team but they didn't have any uniforms until Carl Hubbel, Hall of Fame pitcher for the New York Giants in the 40's, rounded up several used uniforms and sent them to Dick's team. Dick got Ernie Lombardi's uniform, another Hall of Famer who happened to be the largest man on the team. Dick weighed about 100 pounds so he must have had to wrap that wool uniform around him twice. Dick has kept this uniform stored in a tin suitcase for almost sixty years.

The Millers' daughter and son-inlaw, Terri and Gary Monteau, were aware of the old baseball uniform and did extensive research into baseball memorabilia. They arranged to find enough tickets for them, Dick and Linda to attend the popular Antique Road Show in San Antonio last July to have the uniform appraised. Sure enough, someone there recognized that Dick had something of value and asked him if he would appear on TV (after having his head powdered!). The uniform was valuable enough that it was taken to Sotherby's in New York and published in one of their sale catalogs.

The Monteaus made all the arrangements for them and the Millers to fly to New York City for the auction that was held in April. Reluctantly, Dick and Linda agreed to go. It was a beautiful five days full of lots of sightseeing that included Ground Zero, Yankee Stadium, the Statue of Liberty, Central Park, the subway system and several open air bus tours. Accept for several thousands, we can't find out exactly what the old uniform sold for but Dick is willing to give out his autograph if anyone is interested. We also know he celebrated another birthday on May 11th. Happy Birthday!

I too celebrated another birthday on May 8th, one year away from the magic number. My daughter Andrea and Wayne (Ward) cooked rib eye sandwiches for lunch and served homemade avocado green sauce and baked beans. Geraldine (Pouland) and Aline Stovall each made me a delicious peach salad. Bettie Havard made me deviled eggs. Mary Lou Havard brought me flowers and a cheesecake. JoNell Placker joined us for lunch and brought me a beautiful wind chime. Bess Andrews brought me lilies and fresh mint from her yard. Ginger Capps baked me homemade cookies. It was a good day for me and others that enjoyed the good food were: Dee Adams, Roy and Hugh Robert Lyles, Spider Linton, Richard Rainwater, Don Wier and John Ralph who has yet to tell me "Happy Birthday". Maybe next year! Thanks to everyone who made my day very special!

Congratulations to Megan Baldree who graduated from East Texas Baptist University. She chose to play in her last conference softball tournament instead of walking across the stage to accept her diploma in Sports Medicine. So her mom, Rita Baldree and her grandmother, Garvis Baldree, drove to Dallas instead of Marshall and watch Megan play her last game. Megan said she has enjoyed her four years at ETBU and would do it al over again. She is also the granddaughter of Jack and Cleo Mason of Diboll and the late Gay Baldree. Her dad is Doug and her little brother is B.J.