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West Texas news and sports/Dec. 15, 1996
News
It's called the ``Santa Myth'' - the belief that the Christmas season always brings friends and families together, that everything is wonderful, that everyone is happy. Everyone - except, perhaps, you. Mental health professionals say the Santa Myth plays a key role in holiday depression - a condition that becomes widespread during the Christmas season. Instead of enjoying festivities, many people experience feelings of dread, sadness or hopelessness.
Above all else, Linda is a survivor. This 42-year-old San Angelo woman has lived through a series of hells on Earth Ä seeing her three children farmed out to foster homes, suffering through a doomed marriage, swirling into cocaine addiction and more.
AUSTIN - Gov. George W. Bush has two top goals for the second half of his first term Ä finish what he started in 1995 and reform the state's property tax laws. Casting himself as a spokesman for the people, Bush vowed to cut more than $1 billion from state property taxes that he said have doubled over the past decade.
With a ton of Christmas presents piled behind her, Rose swept up the remaining bits of tape and wrapping paper off the floor at Central Fire Station. Next week, when the San Angelo Fire Fighters Association distributes wrapped Christmas gifts to needy teen-agers, Rose will be back at the station to pick up gifts for her children. But on Saturday, she was there to give help - not receive it.
Vintage clothing got Rosemary Starr into collecting buttons. New clothing helps keep her in it. Starr took her collection of thousands of buttons to J. Wilde's on Saturday for ``Extravaganza of Buttons,'' a Christmas benefit for the Concho Valley Association for the Blind.
Installing or replacing a water heater hasn't been an easy process in San Angelo. First, property owners must get a city permit to put in the heater. Second, all installed water heaters must be inspected by a city building official. The procedure is time-consuming and not cost-effective, city leaders say.
Christmas Lights on the Lake might not have been anywhere near ``Christmas in the Caribbean,'' but Jimmy Buffet, who sings a song by that title, probably would have been proud.
Why do some families go to so much work year after year putting up Christmas lights?
For several weeks now the long-overdue debate on redrawing school zone lines has been carried out, and decisions have been made at least for the time being. Although the impending loss of some 300 Grape Creek students from Lake View High school finally forced the debate, it is one that could have probably started several years ago.
Late Hollywood star Joan Crawford always told reporters she was born in 1908 in San Antonio, but Los Angeles author Karen Swenson finds that hard to believe.
Joan Crawford may be the biggest celebrity with ties to San Angelo, but there are certainly others who have gone on to some level of fame after being born in or spending some part of their lives in San Angelo. Following is a list of some of the city's past and current stars:
SAN SABA - It's nice to know that some businesses still do things with the customer in mind. A Concho Valley pecan company did just that with its San Angelo Warehouse.
Waiting for wool prices to rise has become a full-time job for U.S. sheep producers. In their spare time, those same producers have awaited the results of the sheep checkoff referendum they either voted for or against on Oct. 1.
Sports
LUBBOCK - Patrick Smith was like the others on the Iraan High School football team - he was just doing his job. There wasn't anything spectacular about his interception at the Holliday 21-yard line with a 4:12 to go in a 22-22 ballgame. ``I don't remember really what happened,'' Smith said. ``I just stepped in front of the receiver and made the interception. ``I was just doing my job.''
You can see it in their faces. Particularly in the bewildered face of Brigett King and the flushed face of Carey Thiel. They know what they're experiencing, and they know what lurks ahead. And both situations aren't very good.
Corey Edwards has got game. Eighteen seconds in Saturday's game with Eastern New Mexico, he showed as much to the fans at Angelo State. The Rams junior guard went baseline by a Greyhounds' defender and dunked the ball home hard for the Rams' first points.
The Central High School Bobcats have struggled all season long in close games, so Jason Brumm, Chad Hollway and Brian Hazel did their best to keep Saturday's game from being a close one. With Brumm hitting shots early, Hollway hitting them late and Hazel hitting them like he has all tournament long, the Bobcats overwhelmed cross-town rival Lake View 82-64 on Saturday in a consolation game at the Concho River Classic boys basketball tournament.
Derek Michaelis earned a victory of sorts on Saturday night. But it wasn't the one he was looking for. In a battle between two of the top players in the state, Michaelis outscored Austin Westlake standout forward Luke Axtell by pouring in a game-high 24 points. But Axtell (18 points) and the Chaparrals walked away with the hardware, courtesy of a thrilling 52-49 win over Michaelis' Waco Midway squad in the championship game of the Concho River Classic at Central High School.
IRVING - Abilene Cooper High School took advantage of two late Lake Highlands mistakes Friday night at Texas Stadium to advance to the Class 5A Division II state championship game with a 24-21 overtime win.
Augusta National in Georgia has ``Amen Corner,'' the tall pines and the brilliant azaleas and magnolias. Shinnecock Hills in New York offers its treeless links layout, natural roughs and small greens. The Old Course at Royal St. Andrews in Scotland, the birthplace of golf, has its true links layout, sheep-burrowed bunkers and ``The Road Hole.''