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Enola Gay Mathews
October is more than half over! Time passes fast.
On Halloween night 1987, the Hopkins County Sheriff 's Posse gathered in a county cemetery for an organizational meeting. Cletis Millsap prepared a squirrel stew for the event and became a charter member. I wasn’t there, but many of my fellow posse members were. Some charter members are still active after 35 years and volunteer to serve at events such as parades, the MADD Walk held last month, and the annual Drug Take-Back Day coming up on Saturday, Oct. 28, in Atwood’s parking lot.
Several volunteer members of the Posse are also deputies working part-time or full-time in specific duties for the sheriff 's department. Currently, the Posse captain is Frank Tieman and the lieutenant is Lisa Hooten.
I attended the Mount Vernon Country Fest on Saturday, Oct. 14. It has swelled to a large shopping and eating event with over 100 vendors surrounding the square, plus a car show. Attractions included a roving camel for photos. The camel’s presence stirred up some of the dogs on leashes and the brief skirmish caused some excitement for persons nearby. Thankfully, no harm was done! I ran into some of the Dorner/ Chester clan in Smoky Alley, just downhill from the square. Only 10 or so stew entries were in the cookoff. Once upon a time, the Mount Vernon Stew competition was very big, rivaling the Hopkins County contest. These events foster pride in the old-time tradition of cooking for a village in a big pot over an open fire.
Speaking of tradition, the October-long 2023 Winnsboro Autumn Trails celebrates 65 years of local heritage. The AT Committee began Trail Ride weekend on Oct. 20 with Friday’s parade and grand entry into town, plus the annual Trail Ride campout in City Park with the Mule Rodeo on Saturday night. Wrapping up the weekend is the Sunday “Jeeptober” Jeep Parade through the backroads and colorful scenery of the Wood/Franklin County areas. Got a Jeep? Join up!
Copies of the new Mel Haven Cemetery book are on the way! The large-size unibind book was compiled and written by Rhonda Bechhold of the Hopkins County Genealogical Society. An advance copy was presented in a brief ceremony on Oct. 13 by HCGS President John Sellers to members of the Mel Haven Cemetery Society. Besides photo documentation of the major cleanup/restoration of the grounds of the former “colored cemetery,” the book includes an alphabetical listing of people buried there, including names from many gravesites formerly lost to overgrowth but now included in the register. This book will be a great gift idea.
Doris White, who is Karon Northcutt’s mom, will be honored for her 88th birthday with a party on Sunday, Oct. 29 from 2 p.m to 4 p.m. at The ROC. No gifts please, but anyone can bring a pansy for her flowerbed.
The Fall Festival Hay Bale Decorating Contest has inspired imaginative depictions of life in Hopkins County using round and square hay bales. Colorful entries include storybook characters, superheroes, and farm scenes with more being added. Judging takes place on Oct. 25, so watch for the large award ribbons to be placed on winning displays after Saturday, Oct. 28.
I will be busy at the Help-A-Child Benefit on Saturday, Oct. 21, and will watch for you there!
In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the Sulphur Springs News-Telegram will publish a special section to honor the survivors, those fighting the fight, and those who lost their battle, to be published Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023.
Let’s savor and enjoy October; it’s all downhill from now till year’s end!