0711 CLM - Country Line Magazine

4 • The Only Texas Lifestyle Magazine C OU N T RY LI N E M AGA Z I N E
IN THIS ISSUE
F E AT U R E S
josh turner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
austin film festival . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
DEPARTMENTS
Nashville Music News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Texas Music News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
on the trail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
by Kendall Hemphill
Homespun . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
Recipe & Grandma’s Hints
by Shirley Baker
’Round About Texas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
by Sandra Greaney
Country news . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
The Texas Outdoor Zone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
by Larry LeBlanc
Fishing Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
by Don Gordon
w w w. c o u n t r y l i n e m a g a z i n e . c o m
5 1 2 - 2 9 2 - 1113
MAILING ADDRESS
9508 CHISHOLM TRAIL • AUSTIN, TEX. 78748
LETTERS & COMMENTS
[email protected]
OR MAIL TO ADDRESS ABOVE
PUBLISHER & EDITOR |
T. J. Greaney
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Don Gordon, Kendall Hemphill, Larry LeBlanc, Sandra
Greaney, Sheryl Bucsanyi, Shirley Baker
I
90 Percent is Better
Than Where I Was …
I have been pretty avid about
working out for the last several years. I
started going from 5-6 in the morning,
then 6-7 a.m. the last year or so. Yes,
early each morning, but it worked for
me and I got pretty fit — until.
One of the things I have always
had is a hard head. I don’t mean
physically like extraordinary hard
bone — I mean I just did what it took
to get the job done, sometimes right or
wrong. It was the same with my
working out — I invented ways to
work out, I also watched guys I saw
there regularly and copied their
workout. I eventually made friends
with guys there and worked out with
them.
The problem was that every once
in a while I would show up and my
partners would not. That is fine; it’s
not like I didn’t miss once in a while
but that is when I continued to try and
do things my body did not agree to.
Recently, not long after a few of these
days alone at the gym, I began to hurt
in my chest and shoulder.
That is when the doctors
appointments began. We started with
first things first — heart and blood
work. All good. So why all the chest,
neck and shoulder pains? This went on
for weeks, months. Nights of lost sleep
and daily discomfort, pain. The doctor
suggested several very expensive tests.
So here is where God began to
work. Friends at church and my home
Bible study began to pray for me. One
of them, Marci, was going to school to
be a physical therapist and suggested I
might try physical therapy. Problem is
we don’t have insurance and we were
already stacking up bills from all the
other doctor visits. She told me about
a student program at Texas State
University in San Marcos where they
charge a small fee for full therapy.
Marci gave me the contact
number and I made an appointment.
When I walked into that clinic I could
not bend my head forward. My
shoulder and chest were in constant
pain and my left arm and hand were
numb. I felt at times I just would not
be able to go another minute.
Over the next few weeks I went to
San Marcos two or three times a week.
The pain moved around and shifted
spots. I had to do therapy at home and
take some medication I didn’t like. But
F
I saw progress. My student therapist
was Sarah. I was her first patient and
at the end of October I finished my
last session with her. She was leaving
to work at a clinic as were the rest of
the students, so my time with her was
up. But the last thing she got to do
before she left was write in my file that
I was 90 percent recovered.
I had never been so miserable and
I was praying for relief just about every
moment of the day. I knew I didn’t
have the money to have more testing
or doctor work but was going to have
to do it. The point is to say I needed
help and trusted God to provide me
with a solution. The program at Texas
State is a special little secret and open
to the public when the students are in
class. I understand more now how
chronic pain, especially back pain, can
just be devastating.
Mine was a problem with a disc in
my back, manifesting in pain and
numbness. I am still doing the
exercises Sarah taught me. I have yet
to return to the gym for fear I might
re-injure myself. So if you see me
sitting around with my arms out
flapping like a duck, it’s Sarah’s fault.
If you need some sort of physical
therapy, try Texas State. Most of all,
trust God will help you with whatever
the problem is you are to overcome;
He will never let you down. Been
there, seen it.
God Bless and share His love,
T. J. Greaney
Publisher
[email protected]
C OU N T RY LI N E M AGA Z I N E The Only Texas Lifestyle Magazine • 5
MUSIC CITY WALK OF
FAME PRESENTED BY
GIBSON GUITAR
ANNOUNCES
INDUCTEES
Rodney Crowell, Bob DiPiero,
Vince Gill, Jimi Hendrix, Buddy Killen,
and Barbara Mandrell to be Honored
Nov. 5 on Nashville’s Music Mile
Music City, Inc. today announced
the third class of inductees to the
Music City Walk of Fame presented by
founding sponsor Gibson Guitar:
Rodney Crowell, Bob DiPiero, Vince
Gill, Jimi Hendrix, Buddy Killen and
Barbara Mandrell. The six honorees
will be recognized officially with the
unveiling of commemorative sidewalk
markers on Monday, Nov. 5, beginning
at 3 p.m. in the Hall of Fame Park in
downtown Nashville. The induction
ceremony, which is sponsored by Great
American Country (GAC), is free and
open to the public.
Reba McEntire poses with her star at last year’s Music City Walk of
Fame induction ceremony.
The Music City Walk of Fame is
an official project of Music City, Inc.,
the charitable foundation of the
Nashville Convention & Visitors
Bureau (NCVB), and is produced with
the support of presenting sponsor
Gibson Guitar and sponsors GAC, the
City of Nashville and Metro Parks.
“This class of inductees showcases
the immense talent, creativity and
diverse musical styles that make
Nashville, Music City,” said Butch
Spyridon , president of the Nashville
Convention & Visitors Bureau. “Each
honoree has left an indelible mark on
our city’s musical heritage and music
worldwide. It is a privilege to pay
tribute to their great success.”
Created in the fall of 2006, the
Music City Walk of Fame, on
Nashville’s Music Mile, will be a
landmark tribute to those from all
genres of music who have made
significant contributions to preserving
the musical heritage of Nashville and
have contributed to the world through
song or other industry collaboration.
With the induction of this new class of
honorees, there will be 18 total stars
along the Walk of Fame. A new
brochure promoting the Walk of Fame
is now available in Visitors Centers,
hotels and venues across the city.
6 • The Only Texas Lifestyle Magazine C OU N T RY LI N E M AGA Z I N E
Permanent sidewalk medallions
made of stainless steel and terrazzo,
with each honoree’s name displayed in
a star-and-guitar design, will be
installed in the sidewalk along the
Music Mile, the roughly one-mile
stretch of Demonbreun Street from 4th
Avenue South to the Buddy Killen
Circle at 16th Avenue South. The
plaques for this class of inductees will
be inlaid in Hall of Fame Park on
Demonbreun, between 4th and 5th
Avenues South.
Nominations were open to the
public and accepted in the categories
of Artist, Musician, Songwriter, and
Producer/Music Industry Executive.
Application forms were reviewed by
the Music City Walk of Fame selection
committee.
“This outstanding third panel of
inductees showcases enormous talent
which has its roots in our great city,
Nashville,” said Henry Juszkiewicz,
Chairman and CEO of Gibson Guitar.
“We are honored to sponsor the Music
City Walk of Fame and look forward to
celebrating Nashville’s rich musical
heritage for many years to come.”
SARA EVANS
DIVORCE FINAL
Official statement as of Sept. 28,
2007. The parties have agreed that it is
in their best interests and those of their
children to amicably resolve all issues
in their pending divorce. Each wishes
the other well in all future endeavors.
Both parties are fully committed to
raising their children in a cooperative
and positive way. Both parties are
loving and caring parents. They
request that everyone respect the
family’s privacy. The parties will have
no further comment regarding any
allegations of fault or misconduct
alleged by either party in these divorce
proceedings.
13TH ANNUAL
INSPIRATIONAL
COUNTRY MUSIC
AWARD SHOW
Organizers of the 13th Annual
Inspirational Country Music Award
Show (ICM’s) announce some of the
performers and presenters who are
confirmed to appear on the annual
award show that will be held at the
historic Acuff Theater, Sunday, Nov. 4
at 6 p.m. CST. The show will be aired
on four major networks with over 180
millions subscribers in the United
States, Canada and to over 170
nations throughout the world.
This year’s show will again include
a star-studded list of performers and
presenters such as: the reigning
Entertainer of the Year, Pineland,
Texas native Mike Hammock, who
will perform “Safe IN The Arms of
Love”; on the show as well as Lee
Greenwood,
Tammy
Cochran,
Emerson Drive; Mike Manuel; the
Bellamy Brothers; Blue County; Brad
Cotter; CrossCountry; Mary James.
Cotter will perform his hit single,
“GOD’s Fingerprints.” Additional
performers and presenters will be
confirmed in the coming weeks.
Texas native and reigning
Inspirational Country Music
Entertainer of the Year, Mike
Hammock, will perform at this
year’s award show Nov. 4.
C OU N T RY LI N E M AGA Z I N E The Only Texas Lifestyle Magazine • 7
by Pauline Reese, Sheryl Bucsanyi & TJ Greaney
Pauline’s Notes
Fall means festivals which means a
lot of opportunities to hear some great
Texas music.
If you’ve never been to the New
Braunfels, Tex. Wurstfest then you’re
missing out on a unique experience!
This is over a week of concerts and
events starting Nov. 2-11. The
Wurstfest is for the whole family. They
have authentic German cuisine as well
as a huge line up of Polka bands
including Grammy winner Jimmy
Sturr and his orchestra. I got to meet
Jimmy and the boys up in New York
this year at Farm Aid where they
performed. You talk a bout make you
get up and dance! Grab the family and
head down to see him at Wurstfest this
year. Tell him I sent you and that I said
he’d buy you a pivo (Czech for beer)!
wurstfest.com
Sad news … Bocktoberfest 2007 in
Shiner, Tex. has been cancelled this
year! The owner of the Shiner Brewery
decided to cancel this year’s festival
due to a loss of money and it required
too much time from his employees.
What a bummer! I guess there’s always
next year.
I got a phone call from Country
star Aaron Tippin a few weeks back and
he told me that he’s finishing up a new
gospel album that he produced with his
wife Thea Tippin. I’ll keep you posted
on a release date. Also the couple plans
to spend their Thanksgiving in Iraq to
entertain the troops. Now that’s what I
call great Americans!
Don’t forget the deadline for the
Freddy Powers Cruise for a cure is
sneaking up on us! The Caribbean
Cruise is Feb. 10-17 with Freddy and
his band as well as the High Country
band and I. freddypowers.org
Monty “Hawkeye” Henson is
touring round the country pickin’ and
singin’. He has the honor of
performing at the Cowboy Symposium
in Ruidoso, N.M. this month with the
original Texas Playboys. One of my
amigos Mr. Johnny Bush will be the big
headliner this year.
Davin James is starting a new
record this month! He’s not sure of the
8 • The Only Texas Lifestyle Magazine C OU N T RY LI N E M AGA Z I N E
title yet but you can put in your vote at
his Web site. Also, if you want to see
him in a more intimate setting then
look for his shows at Puffabelly’s in
Spring, Tex. near Houston.
Congratulations to Gary P. Nunn!
His new single is out and it’s the most
requested song on the Range in Dallas!
It’s called “Adios Amigo ”and it’s my
new favorite Gary P. song. Check it out
at garypnunn.com
Nov. 9 is my annual Birthday Bash
at Poodie’s Roadhouse Bar & Grill!
Hope ya’ll can make it out!
PA U L I N E R E E S E I S A P R O U D T E X A S
MUSICIAN. TO FIND OUT MORE, VISIT
PA U L I N E R E E S E . C O M
Sheryl’s Notes
BIG STATE FEST
REVIEW
A Country Music Sea of People,
Islands of Bar-B-Que, Waves of Cold
Beer Fast Cars and Lots and Lots of
Country Music
The Big State Festival Oct. 13-14
at the Texas World Speedway in
Bryan-College Station was a huge
success. The line-up was incredible. So
many country music sensations
stampeded stages, it was difficult to
choose which ones to watch.
Unfortunately, some country
music fans lost their vehicles. On
Saturday, approximately 20 cars caught
on fire in the parking lot. At the Big
State Fest press conference some
seemed to blame the jinx on Robert
Earl Keen. They blamed Keen, because
back in 1974 during a Willie Nelson
picnic at the Speedway, Keen was
there. A guy on stage announced that
there was a minor fire in the parking
lot. The fire burned 40 cars. The first
license plate that was announced
happened to be Keen’s car. Later,
someone from the festival asked Keen
if he wanted to meet Willie. He met
Willie, listened to the rest of the music
and hitched a ride back to Houston.
But hey, you can’t go wrong with
headliners such as Garry Allan, Kevin
Fowler, Chris Cagle, Robert Earl Keen,
Willie Nelson, Tim McGraw, Dierks
Bentley, Craig Morgan, Miranda
Lambert, Lyle Lovett, Lynyrd Skynyrd,
Billy Joe Shaver, Los Lonely Boys, Jack
Ingram, Bruce and Charlie Robison,
Trace Adkins, Leon Russell, Reckless
Kelly and Kelly Willis. And, fans got a
chance to catch some new faces such
as the Eli Young Band, Luke Bryan,
and The Wreckers.
WOW! What a weekend!
TJ’s Notes
NEWLY LAUNCHED
“GROUNDED IN
MUSIC” PROGRAM
SEEKS COMMUNITY’S
SUPPORT
On Monday, Nov. 5 Grounded in
Music will host its first benefit concert
to raise money to support its number
one mission: “to inspire children to turn
to music as a hobby, career, outlet, or
alternative to life on the streets.”
The concert will be held at
Antone’s located at 213 W. 5th Street
in Austin. Featured artists will include
Adam Hood, Sonny Burgess, Doug
Moreland, Jason Allen, Josh Grider,
Owen Temple, Justin Johnson, Ryan
Turner, Ryan James, Kyle Park and
many more.
Tickets can be purchased online at
frontgatetickets.com for $10. Doors
open at 8 p.m. and show time begins at
9 p.m. All proceeds from this event will
be used to purchase musical instruments
for under-privileged youth, provide
education in musicianship, teach music
theory, as well as offer music-related
opportunities outside of performance.
RAY PRICE BIRTHDAY
CONCERT
Country Music Hall of Fame
Member Ray Price will perform in
concert on his 82nd birthday at 7 p.m.,
Saturday, Jan. 12, 2008 at Caldwell
Auditorium, 300 S. College Street in
Tyler, Tex.
He recently recorded an album
with his friends Willie Nelson and
Merle Haggard. Titled Last of The
Breed, the CD has received critical
acclaim and the trio completed a 40city sold-out tour in September of 2007
Seating is General Admisson.
Advance tickets are priced at $35 and
will be $40 at the door. For information
and credit card orders, please phone
toll-free 877-560-0098.
JOKERS CLIMB
THE CHARTS
The JWB band has broken in to
the top 100 on the Music Row
Country Breakout Chart! “Please
Catch Me” is at Number 98.
“Please Catch Me,” Jokers Wild’s
second single from their upcoming
From Texas With Love CD, is an uptempo country tune and was written by
co-producer and keyboardist Buck
Aaron Thomas and lead guitarist Gary
Wayne Zaiontz. “If you are so totally in
love with that special somebody that
they take your breath away every time
they enter the room, then this is your
song!” says Buck.
The Jokers Wild Band, a 6-piece
country-rock band, is based in San
Antonio, Tex.
MUSICFEST IS
ALMOST HERE!
Six days, 30 bands, a world-class
ski resort-does it really get any better
than the MusicFest? Now in its 23rd
year, the MusicFest draws thousands of
ski-lovin’, music-lovin’ folks to the
snow swept peaks of Colorado each
January.
The largest group ski trip of its
kind in the nation, the MusicFest
brings the finest Texas and Americana
music to the world-class ski resort of
Steamboat, Colo. for a week full of
sport and song. The festival boasts a
stunning roster that includes both
legends and rising talents alike.
Artists already confirmed for 2008
include Robert Earl Keen Jr, Asleep at
the Wheel, Jay Boy Adams, Band of
Heathens, Ryan Bingham, Bonnie
Bishop, Jason Boland, Wade Bowen,
Kathleen Braun, Johnny Cooper,
Roger Creager, Cross Canadian
Ragweed, Keith Gattis, Josh Grider,
Adam Hood, Ray Wylie Hubbard,
The Jokers Wild Band, pictured here with Jeff Foxworthy, have broken in
to the top 100 on the Music Row Country Breakout Chart.
C OU N T RY LI N E M AGA Z I N E The Only Texas Lifestyle Magazine • 9
Lucas Hubbard, Jack Ingram, Ryan
James, Chris Knight, Stoney LaRue,
Corb Lund, Micky and the Motorcars,
Dub Miller, Doug Moreland, Cory
Morrow, Bill Nershi and Honkytonk
Homeslice, Rich O’Toole, Reckless
Kelly, Brandon Rhyder, Bruce Robison,
Randy Rogers, Matt Skinner, Max
Stalling, Sunny Sweeney, Walt
Wilkins and the Mystiqueros, Kelly
Willis, and more to be announced.
themusicfest.com
TEXAS MUSIC
LEGEND “BIG
BOPPER” GRAVE
UNEARTHED
The Big Bopper, born Jiles Perry
Richardson Jr. in Sabine Pass, Tex., has
been lost to his fans since that fateful
day in February 1959 when he, Buddy
Holly and Ritchie Valens perished in a
plane crash. Now a remnant of “the
day the music died,” his casket has
“resurfaced” and will soon be on
display to the public.
In March of 2007, J.P. “The Big
Bopper” Richardson’s casket was
exhumed for relocation so a fitting
monument could be placed at his
burial site. In order to dispel numerous
rumors involving the crash, the family
used this opportunity to finally have an
autopsy performed. The body was then
re-interred in a new casket, and now
J.P. Richardson, Jr. has generously
loaned his father’s original casket to
the Texas Musicians Museum, located
near the historic downtown square in
Hillsboro, Tex. at 212 N. Waco Street.
The quaint community of Hillsboro is
situated about 60 miles south of
Dallas/Ft. Worth and 30 miles north of
Waco at the split of Interstate
Highways 35 East and 35 West in
North Central Texas.
The Texas Musicians Museum is
planning a Texas-size tribute befitting
the memory of The Big Bopper during
the month of November, with a
unique opening ceremony taking place
on Saturday, Nov. 10. At 3 p.m., an
actual vintage 1949 hearse is
scheduled to arrive, delivering the
flamboyant musician’s original casket.
The internationally famous rock ’n’
roll authority, Bill Griggs will be on
hand to discuss the famous 1959 plane
crash and results of Richardson’s
recent autopsy, as well as The Big
Bopper’s entertaining songs and
innovative music ideas. The
informative exhibit continues through
the month of November.
For more info, call 254-580-9780
or visit texasmusiciansmuseum.com
22 MORE STRAIT
HITS FOR GEORGE
The unprecedented success that
George Strait has earned throughout
his illustrious 26-year-career could
not be captured in the multiplatinum release of his number one
10 • The Only Texas Lifestyle Magazine C OU N T RY LI N E M AGA Z I N E
hits alone. The King of Country
Music has bestowed the perfect
companion piece to his multiplatinum 50 Number Ones with 22
More Hits. Scheduled for release
November 13, 22 More Hits contains
exactly that — 22 fan favorites and
well-known Strait hit singles that
despite not quite reaching number
one at country radio made a timeless
impression on country music fans
across the country.
“I’ve had people ask me why this
song or that song wasn’t on the
Number Ones album,” says Strait. “If
it’s their favorite song, I guess they
don’t care if it was number one on a
chart. This album gave me the
chance to include some of the fans
other favorites and mine.”
These fans know a great song
when they hear one and George Strait
has made a career of giving his fans
what they want. The songs that Strait
compiled for 22 More Hits are all
timeless hits like “Unwound”
(George’s first single and first top 10
hit), “If You're Thinking You Want A
Stranger,” “Amarillo By Morning,”
“The Fireman,” “Cowboys Like Us,”
“You’ll Be There,” “Marina Del Ray,”
and many more. The album also
includes the brand new single “How
’Bout Them Cowgirls.” Providing a
collection of these timeless classics is
a true gift to the fans of George Strait.
The release of 22 More Hits comes
on the heels of the announcement that
Strait will begin his highly-anticipated
nationwide arena tour which kicks-off
Jan. 10 in Austin, Tex. Once again, the
Texas Troubadour gives his fans all
over the nation a chance to see
firsthand the electricity that can only
come from witnessing Strait live.
2008 STAR OF TEXAS
GALA ANNOUNCES
ENTERTAINMENT
The Star of Texas Fair and Rodeo
is planning another black tie Gala at
the prestigious Palmer Events Center
in downtown Austin. Guests will
enjoy an evening of fine dining,
dancing and entertainment featuring
performances by country superstars
Trisha Yearwood and Josh Turner, a
silent auction filled with unique items
and a raffle drawing for luxury gifts.
Parties interested in experiencing this
unique event visit rodeoaustin.com or
call 512-919-3000 to purchase tickets.
TRACY LAWRENCE &
RONNIE GILLEY
PROPERTIES TO
PAINT THE TOWN IN
MAYBERRY
Ronnie Gilley Properties, and
Atlant, Tex. native, platinum-selling
artist Tracy Lawrence will celebrate
the sell-out of Mayberry Place (Phase
1) in New Brockton, Alabama.
In April 2006, Tracy Lawrence
entered into a venture with RGP to
develop Mayberry Place — a quaint
and charming community situated
over 120 acres characterized by its
blend of Old South charm and New
South vitality with a “Mayberry Feel.”
In just three short months, the first
phase of Mayberry Place (located just
minutes north of Enterprise, Alabama
— the home of RGP corporate offices)
was completely sold-out. (48
residential homes)
On Friday, Oct. 26, Ronnie Gilley
Properties and Tracy Lawrence hosted
a celebration event to officiate the
sell-out and introduce the plans for
the next, and final, phase. Festivities
began prior to the hometown high
school football game with a tailgate
party from 4-7 p.m.
Tracy Lawrence, who just
celebrated a No. 1 record with “Find
Out Who Your Friends Are” (featuring
Ronnie Gilley as lead actor in the
corresponding music video), will
perform immediately following the
football game when the New Brockton
Gamecocks take on the Houston
Academy Raiders (Dothan, AL).
Originally scheduled as a grand
opening celebration of Mayberry Place
in early March, this is a re-scheduled
concert event; the tragic tornado that
struck the neighboring town, Enterprise,
on March 1 forced its postponement.
C OU N T RY LI N E M AGA Z I N E The Only Texas Lifestyle Magazine • 11
JOSH TURNER
A
R E A L L I F E F I N D S I T S WAY I N T O T H E M U S I C
AS
JOSH
TURNER
PREPARES
TO
release his third album for MCA
Records, he can easily take a look at his
life and say that this record is
appropriately titled, Everything Is Fine.
The forthcoming CD is the follow-up to
Turner’s double-platinum selling Your
Man, which earned him several Grammy,
CMA and ACM nominations.
Everything Is Fine features 12 songs, seven
of which the talented baritone wrote or
co-wrote including Turner’s fastest rising
single “Firecracker.” The album will hit
stores Nov. 1 and showcases two
incredible duets. Turner teamed up with
the powerhouse vocalist Trisha Yearwood
for the ballad “Another Try” and he
recorded “Nowhere Fast” with R&B
sensation Anthony Hamilton, who
tailored the tune for Turner. Turner cowrote two cuts with one of his heroes,
John Anderson, for the disc. The two
collaborated on “Baby, I Go Crazy,” a
fun-loving song about love and
“Soulmate” described by Turner as one of
the most honest and truly romantic songs
he’s ever written.
“Growing up, traditional country
music was always where my heart was at
because those songs were speaking about
the life that I was living in rural South
Carolina,” says Turner. “It was all about
love and work and life and just the
everyday stuff that people go through. It
has always made me feel good — the
melodies, the lyrics — so that’s what I’m
trying to carry on.”
Real life — including heartaches,
happiness, fishing holes, and everything
in between — has had a way of finding
itself in the middle of Josh Turner songs
since he first burst onto the national
country music scene.
It’s
those
life
experiences that keep
drawing him back to
what has become his
unique
yet
easily
identifiable
country
sound. “Growing up,
traditional country music
was always where my
heart was at,” he says,
“because those songs were
speaking about the life
that I was living in rural
South Carolina. It was all
about love and work and
life and just the everyday
stuff that people go
through. It has always
made me feel good — the
melodies, the lyrics — so
that’s what I’m trying to
carry on.”
Turner’s drive to “carry
on” has led to his latest
CD, Everything is Fine. The
album is grounded in the
traditional music from his
grandparents’
record
collection
he
heard
growing up, with the
addition of fresh sounds
that speak to today’s music
fans. Everything is Fine
captures his personal music
style more than ever.
Nashville’s first taste of
that style came with his
debut at the Grand Ole
Opry in December 2001. The moment
has become somewhat legendary in Opry
storytelling circles. “When the curtain
opened that night,”
the
proverbial
storyteller would
begin, “no one
holding a ticket to
the show had ever
heard
of
Josh
Turner. But by the
end of that chilly
Nashville evening,
the young singer
was all anyone in
the audience could
talk about.” Turner wowed the crowd
with his self-penned “Long Black Train,”
the song that would eventually become
12 • The Only Texas Lifestyle Magazine C OU N T RY LI N E M AGA Z I N E
his first hit. During this performance, the
unknown baritone was showered with
several standing ovations.
After being called back for an encore
during which the
audience rewarded
him with another
standing ovation,
Turner remembers,
“I was fighting back
the tears out there. I
couldn’t
think
straight. I was tore
up.” Josh Turner’s
star began shining
that night and
hasn’t dimmed.
Fast forward nearly six years: Turner
has become a husband to wife Jennifer
“The life that I live
and the experiences
that I have always
affect what comes
out of me creatively.
I think that’s what
makes music real.”
—Josh Turner
and a father to a one-year-old son
Hampton, all while quietly ascending the
path to country music superstardom. Two
of his singles — “Your Man” and “Would
You Go With Me” — have become
multi-week number one hits, he’s an indemand touring act, and he’s a first-time
nominee in the Country Music
Association Awards’ prestigious Male
Vocalist category.
Turner can also celebrate the
success of first-class album sales. His
debut album sold more than one million
copies and his sophomore album, Your
Man, was one of only four country
albums to reach double-platinum status
in 2006. His is also continuously
heralded by critics as one of the
brightest young stars in country music
today and his voice has been compared
to the legendary Johnny Cash. This
status is marked by his recent invitation
to be one the youngest members of the
famed Grand Ole Opry. Turner was
formally inducted by one of his idols,
Vince Gill, on October 27, 2007.
Turner’s success since his debut,
both personally and professionally, finds
its way through the lyrics of his latest
disc and leaves the listener feeling
uplifted and inspired. The first tune from
Everything is Fine to hit the radio is the
infectious “Firecracker,” a song Turner
co-wrote in which he extols the steamy
virtues of his female companion:
“…When it comes to love, she ain’t no
slacker / my little darlin’ is a
firecracker…” Turner says the song
exemplifies how traditional country
music can be fun and positive.
The second collaboration on the
record is with acclaimed Grammy
nominated R&B artist Anthony
Hamilton on the inspiring “Nowhere
Fast.” Hamilton, a co-writer of the
song, tailored the tune for Turner. It
was upon their first meeting in a
Nashville studio that they recorded
this track.
Once again, it’s everyday life to
which Turner’s music returns. An
everyday life of heartaches, happiness,
fishing holes, and everything in
between; in Turner’s case, a career
that’s hotter than a firecracker.
Things don’t get much more
positive than with the album’s selfpenned title track, one of
seven songs Turner wrote for
the project. The man in
“Everything is Fine” enjoys
the kind of life to which
everyone aspires. To the
tune of a banjo and a
country fiddle, the song
praises the joys of being at
peace with family and the
Lord, not to mention the
joy of hearing an old dog
singing and the promise of
an upcoming fish fry. “He
realizes,” says Turner,
“that life isn’t perfect, but
everything is fine.”
And though their
property values might
not be appreciating at
dramatic levels, the raucous guitar licks
and driving drums confirm that for the
folks
in
Turner’s
solo-penned
“Trailerhood,” everything is fine, as well.
Love in its many forms is a familiar
theme on Turner’s third studio album.
Ranging from the George Jones classic
“One Woman Man” to the sentimental
“The Longer the Waiting (the Sweeter
the Kiss)” and “Soulmate.”
On “Another Try,” written by Chris
Stapleton and Jeremy Spillman, Turner
spend forever in the dark/ I swear next
time I’ll hang on for dear life/ If love
ever gives me another try.” Turner calls
the song “one of the best ballads I’ve
ever heard, period. It makes you feel
what that guy is feeling in that song,
that failure that he’s feeling,” he says.
“It’s very relevant to what people go
through in everyday life.”
The release of Everything Is
Fine has Turner on a major media
blitz that will showcase him across
the nation. His first television
appearance was Oct. 27 on GAC
when Turner achieved one of his
career goals by being inducted into
the elite group of Grand Ole Opry
members. On Oct. 29 he performed
live on NBC’s “Today Show” and
on Oct. 31 he taped an episode of
“MARTHA” to air on Nov. 6. The
CMA Male Vocalist of the Year
Nominee will appear on the cover of
USA Weekend Nov. 4 to preview
the CMA Awards and he will
perform on the ABC televised awards
show Nov. 7.
duets with country superstar
Trisha Yearwood about loss and lessons
learned…”The reasons I’m alone I
know by heart/ But I don’t want to
THE AUSTIN FILM FESTIVAL 07’
M
“You ever ate a frog?” or “I ’spect you been sittin’ up all night reading the good book”
Most Texans know where those
lines came from — Lonesome Dove.
Inspirational and famous filmmakers,
directors, editors, producers, actors and
screenwriters such as Bill Wittliff and
Oliver Stone shared their expertise
and imagination at the 14th Annual
Austin Film Festival Oct. 11-18.
Wittliff wrote the teleplay for
Lonesome Dove. He shared some stories
about the experience. CBS was willing
to gamble on a western for television.
Robert Duvall was cast as Gus, but
they still needed a Captain Call and
shooting was to begin in two weeks.
They needed someone with market
value and a guarantee. I don’t think
they could have found anyone else
more perfect for the part than hard
core Texan Tommy Lee Jones.
“Making movies is a collaboration
no matter how well we write,” Wittliff
said. “Their interest is in the money.”
When Wittliff writes he said,
“Ignorance is bliss. I really don’t want
to know too much going in. I want it to
be a discovery for me.” In A Perfect
Storm, he said he knew nothing about
sword fishing or great waves.
Some other favorite panelists of
mine included Herschel Weingrod
(co-wrote Trading Places, Twins, Space
Jam), Audrey Wells (wrote and
directed Under the Tuscan Sun and cowrote George of the Jungle), Daniel
Petrie, Jr. (wrote Beverly Hills Cop and
The Big Easy and co-wrote and
produced Shoot to Kill) and Harris
Goldberg (wrote and co-produced
Without a Paddle and wrote and
directed new movie Numb). John
Milius (Apocalypse Now, Jerimiah
Johnson, The Life and Times of Judge Roy
Bean and Red Dawn) was awarded the
Distinguished Screenwriter Award and
Glenn Gordon Caron (Moonlighting
and Medium) was recognized as the
Outstanding Television Writer. Oliver
Stone (Platoon, Born on the 4th of July,
JFK and The Doors) was given the
award of Extraordinary Contribution
to Filmmaking.
Oliver Stone was a huge attraction.
He talked to aspiring filmmakers,
writers and directors about how he first
got into the business. It was after
Vietnam when he decided to attend
NYU Film School on the GI Bill.
Stone said he shot lots of movies in
the Phillipines but then fell in love
with Texas.
“The moment I fell in love with
Texas was the skies. There were
beautiful big skies outside of Dallas.
The people were lovely. The extras
were wonderful. They were bighearted, giving people.”
With all the panelists, honorees,
and competitions, the AFF was once
again successful in inspiring people to
use language of film to tell a story.
— S H E RY L B U C S A N Y I
C OU N T RY LI N E M AGA Z I N E The Only Texas Lifestyle Magazine • 13
by Kendall Hemphill
Feeding Frenzy
M
F
My first deer feeder was one of
those ‘wind powered’ models. It was
basically a five-gallon bucket with a
hole in the bottom. An all-thread bolt
ran through the hole and had a coneshaped thing on it that more or less
regulated the amount of corn that fell
out. Actually, less than more.
On the bottom of the all-thread
bolt was a wide X made of tin. When
the wind blew the tin X it swung the
bolt around and caused corn to fall out
the hole. That was the theory, anyway.
The big sales pitch was that deer would
realize the moving X caused them to
get corn, so they would move it with
their noses, and be too busy to notice
you were shooting at them.
That feeder never worked right.
Either the corn wouldn’t come out at
all, or else all of it would come out at
once. I kept thinking that if I ever
managed to adjust the cone thing just
right the feeder would work perfectly,
and maybe it would have, if it hadn’t
been for reality.
Whenever I went to hunt over that
feeder or check on it, I either found it
completely full or completely empty.
Once in a while there would be some
corn under the feeder, but mostly the
deer had already eaten it all and left.
So I decided to splurge and buy one
of those battery-powered feeders with
the little electric eye on it. If you were
too cheap to buy a feeder with a timer
you could get the electric eye thing,
and the feeder would throw corn at
dawn and dusk. The only problem was
that the old saying about getting what
you pay for is true.
That feeder, in which I placed a
great deal of hope along with the corn,
had no idea when dawn and dusk were.
It threw corn when it wanted to, which
invariably turned out to be when I
didn’t want it to. That feeder hated me.
I would sneak to my stand way
before daylight and wait, and when the
sky started to lighten I would be all
ready, and nothing would happen.
Either it would be a cloudy morning, or
the feeder would be shaded by a big
tree, or the electric eye would sleep
late, or something. Finally, an hour
after sunup, I would start walking
toward the feeder to check it out.
When I was six feet away it would go
off and throw corn all over me.
Evenings were no better. I would
sit in my tree and wait for it to go off,
which it never did until just about full
dark. I could see deer coming toward
me, but they always stayed too far away
until the feeder went off, and by then it
was too late to shoot.
In desperation I screwed a small
piece of tin to the side of the timer to
shade the eye more, so it would go off
earlier in the evening. That worked
perfectly, except that it didn’t go off in
the morning until almost noon. I could
live with that.
The next day the timer quit
working completely.
I decided it was time for a highclass operation, and bought a real timer
and put it on a 55-gallon barrel. It was
the old analog kind, with a dial that
had to be set for the time. There were
little metal clips you attached to the
edges of the dial, and when one of the
clips turned far enough to hit a tripwire
the feeder would go off. Maybe.
The problem was that it was about
as easy to put hot butter in a bobcat’s
ear as to set those clips where you
wanted them. Sometimes the feeder
would go off when I was on my way to
the stand. Sometimes it would go off at
midnight. Sometimes the clips would
fall off and it wouldn’t go off at all.
After months of trial and error I
got those clips all set just right, and had
the feeder going off at full daylight and
half an hour before dark. I was happy as
a puppy with two tails. The next
evening I sat in my stand and waited
and, sure enough, the feeder went off
right on time.
It just didn’t stop. It kept right on
throwing corn until there wasn’t any
left in the barrel, and then it sat there
and hummed, the little plate spinning
like a top. A 55-gallon barrel holds 350
pounds of corn, and it makes a pile shin
high and six feet across. You can sit
there, after dark, and that yellow pile
will seem to glow, and you can see it
with tears running down your face.
My new deer feeder is a two-gallon
bucket. It works every time …
KENDAL HEMPHILL IS AN OUTDOOR
HUMOR COLUMNIST WHO HAS BEEN
S O M E W H AT L E S S T H A N T H R I L L E D W I T H
D E E R F E E D E R T E C H N O L O G Y. W R I T E T O
H I M AT P O B O X 1 6 0 0 , M A S O N , T X 7 6 8 5 6
O R J E E P @ V E R I Z O N. N E T
?
by Shirley Baker
G R A N D M A’ S H I N T S
?
Mix 1/2 cup mild detergent with 2 cups boiling water.
Cool ’til it jells. Whip with hand beater for stiff foam.
Apply with brush to upholstery, lightly. Let dry. Vacuum.
Fill an empty waxed milk carton with briquettes,
then light them to get a fast fire start.
Spot remover: 2 parts water to 1 part alcohol.
Apply with terry towel, lightly. Do not soak. Bloat with towel.
Soak paint brushes in hot vinegar, then wash with warm sudsy water.
A fabric softener may also be used to keep them pliable and soft.
?
?
14 • The Only Texas Lifestyle Magazine C OU N T RY LI N E M AGA Z I N E
CREAMY FRUIT SALAD
1 (8-oz) pkg cream cheese
1
/4 cup powdered sugar
2 Tbsp lemon juice
2 cups peach slices
1 tsp lemon rind
2 cups blueberries
1
/2 cup whipping cream
2 cups grapes, seedless
2 Tbsp chopped nuts
Combine cream cheese, juice and rind, mixing until well blended. Beat whipping
cream until soft peaks form. Gradually add sugar, beating until stiff peaks form.
Fold into cream cheese mixture. Chill. Layer fruit in a 2 1/2 quart clear bowl.
Spoon cream cheese mixture over fruit. Sprinkle with nuts. Chill.
by Sandra Greaney
I
F
I am thankful to get to write this
article for CLM every month and am
truly thankful for your support in doing
so. If you have an event that you want
to tell people about, shoot me an email for consideration and I will do my
best
to
accommodate
you.
[email protected]
Have a blessed and happy
Thanksgiving!
in town
N O V 2 - 4 FOSSIL FEST at Old
Settlers Park in Round Rock. A fun
and educational event for the entire
family. Fossils and related items from
the world over. Speakers, prizes and
displays for all. Indoors rain or shine.
texaspaleo.com
N O V 3 - 4 TEXAS BOOK FESTIVAL at
the Texas State Capitol. Showcasing
Texas and nationally known authors,
the festival features panel discussions,
book readings, signings, live music and
a children’s tent. texasbookfestival.org
AUSTIN CELTIC FESTIVAL at Fiesta
Gardens. Presents nearly 200 artists;
dancers, actors, musicians and storytellers
on four stages. austincelts.org/festival
N O V 4 SUSAN G. KOMEN AUSTIN RACE FOR
THE CURE at Auditorium Shores. Race
sta r t s at 8 a.m. 512-473-0900
[email protected]
N O V 5 • 1 2 • 1 9 • 2 6 MOMS EAT FREE
at the new Gatti Town at South Park
Meadows (with the purchase of a
child’s buffet). This place is an
awesome adventure that brings new
fun and adventure for all ages!
gattitownaustin.com 512-301-7777
NOV 11 A U S T I N -T R A V I S C O U N T Y ’ S
VETERANS DAY PARADE on Congress
Avenue. Take the family and ring the bell
that helps the poor, hungry, homeless and
honors our veterans. Each family can
carry a traditional Salvation Army kettle,
just like the one used at the familiar Red
Kettles, to ring as they march in the
parade. salvationarmyaustin.org
NOV 12 MILITARY APPRECIATION MONDAY
at Golden Corral in partnership with
the Disabled American Veterans. All
U.S. active and retired military are
invited to their local Golden Corral for
a complimentary dinner buffet and
beverage. dav.org, goldencorral.com
N O V17 STEP OUT TO FIGHT DIABETES WALK
at Fiesta Gardens and hosted by the
American Diabetes Assoc. 512-4729838, main.diabetes.org
CROSS FESTIVAL at Auditorium Shores.
This year’s Cross Festival has attracted
artists from all over the country that will
appeal to everyone in Austin who loves
rock, hip-hop, rap, fusion or praise music.
Event benefiting Family Link a non-profit
organization for widows and orphans in
Central Texas. crossfestival.org
THE DOMAIN LIGHTING OF MACY’S GREAT
TREE at 6 p.m. The Domain will kick-off
the holiday season with a grand tree
lighting spectacular event highlighted
by a special performance by Miranda
Lambert. Free! 512-873-8099
N O V 2 0 HEB FEAST OF SHARING
HOLIDAY DINNER Each year this event
provides a holiday meal for more than
8,000 people in Central Texas.
Volunteer shifts are 3:30-6:30 p.m. and
6-9 p.m. heb.com
N O V 2 4 CHUY’S CHRISTMAS PARADE
A procession of giant balloons,
marching bands, vintage cars,
celebrities and floats usher in the
season of giving on Congress Avenue.
888-739-2489
N O V 3 - 1 2 WURSTFEST in New
Braunfels. In addition to a variety of
sausage dishes, there are plenty of
entertainment options during Wurstfest.
An arts and craft show, dance contests,
live music and more are staged
throughout this 10-day celebration of
sausage. Although the main attractions
are located on the Wurstfest Ground in
Landa Park, activities are actually staged
throughout New Braunfels and
surrounding Comal County. Opens at 5
p.m. on weekdays and 11 a.m. on
weekends. Closes at 11 p.m. Sunday
through Wednesday, midnight on
Thursdays and Fridays and 1 a.m. on
Saturdays. Admission is $8. Children
under 12 are free. wurstfest.com
N O V 7 O L’ T I M E M A R K E T D A Y S
offering 6,000 sq ft of antiques and
collectibles at 7500 Hwy 29 between
Georgetown and Liberty Hill. 512-931-2303
N O V 9 - 1 0 5TH ANNUAL STATEWIDE
PECAN FESTIVAL in Early, Tex. Besides the
famous Pecan Recipe Contest, this year’s
fest will feature live entertainment; a
children’s area featuring art, storytelling
and writing, coloring contest, t-shirt
contest and nutritional poster contest;
specialty vendors; a Pecan Breakfast and
the Pecan Store with tons of gift ideas,
flavored pecans and raw pecans for sale.
statewidepecanfestival.com
N O V 2 3 - 2 5 PHOTOS WITH COWBOY
KRINGLE i n Gruene. Create a Christmas
memory with photos of the kids with
Cowboy Kringle, their own brand of Santa.
Pictures will be taken in the breezeway
between The Grapevine and Gruene
General Store. Packages are available. 830629-5077, gruenetexas.com
E-MAIL YOUR EVENTS TO
[email protected]
F O R C O N S I D E R AT I O N . S PA C E L I M I T S
O P P O R T U N I T Y.
out of town
NOV 2-3 GEORGE WEST STORYFEST
George West (NW of Corpus Christi) is
proudly celebrating its 19th anniversary
with everything from folklore to fable,
history to tall tales, ghost stories to
cowboy poetry and even sacred stories
are told. With live oak trees for canopies
and hay bales for seats, thousands gather
each year to celebrate this time-honored
tradition. georgeweststoryfest.org
N O V 3 - 4 WIMBERLEY MARKET DAYS
On the first Saturday of the month from
April through December, find the
unusual and unique at Wimberley
Market Day. Over four hundred and
fifty vendor booths line tree-covered
paths winding over sixteen acres, filled
with everything from crafts to furniture.
visitwimberley.com/marketdays
C OU N T RY LI N E M AGA Z I N E The Only Texas Lifestyle Magazine • 19
Gardeners, as
plants turn
brown, get green
T
F
Though a hint of fall is in the air, at
least one more gardening task remains
— take the online Earth-Kind
Challenge.
Whether you score a piddly one
frog or a hopping five, the site provides
feedback about how to be a better
steward of the land through gardening
and landscape practices, according to
Dr. Don Wilkerson, Texas Cooperative
Extension horticulturist and EarthKind advocate.
“The more frogs you score, the more
you are doing to help preserve and
protect the environment in which we
live,” Wilkerson said. “And the other
thing that’s cool is that for each response
you give, the test responds with ideas of
what you might do to be even better at
environmental stewardship.”
Earth-Kind is an Extension
program that “combines organic and
traditional gardening and landscaping
principles to create a horticultural
system based on real-world effectiveness
and environmental responsibility,” he
noted.
The test, at http://aggiehorticulture.tamu.edu/EarthKind/EKCh
allenge.html, asks about a person’s
landscape design, mulching habits and
use of irrigation. It also queries one’s
habits in fertilizer and pesticide use,
composting, rainfall harvesting and
provisions for wildlife habitats.
Throughout the 25-question test,
links to Extension fact sheets provide
information for quick learning, he said.
“That way, if you score a 70-80
(three or four frogs) like most of us, you
get some instant messages about what
can be done to get a higher score,”
Wilkerson said. “A person can find out
where they stand in the environment
and figure out what to do better. It may
be as simple as reducing yard waste by
composting.”
A three-page flyer on composting,
for example, is linked to the question
about what percent of yard wastes are
bagged and placed curbside for disposal,
he noted.
“If a person admits to placing most
grass clippings and leaves in bags bound
for a landfill, a low score might lead
him or her to click on the information
to learn how to make use of such waste
in a way that will improve the soil,”
Wilkerson said.
Such a test with a useful guideline
could simplify the gardening experience
at a time when keeping consumers
interested in growing plants is critically
important, according to Anna Ball,
president and CEO
of Ball
Horticultural Co.
“Here we are the ‘green industry’
and most of the elements of gardening
are seen as negatives: chemicals, water,
energy, time and physical work,” Ball
said at the Distinguished Floriculture
Lecture held recently at Texas A&M
University. “Sustainability is the next
wave. Plants grown this way are prettier,
they attract the young generation, and
they breathe new life into our industry.”
As chief executive officer of a 100year-old family horticulture business,
Ball said, using “green” practices both
internally for company practices and
externally for consumers will help the
industry grow while helping the
environment.
“We need to make it easy for our
customers,” Ball added.
Wilkerson said the Earth-Kind test
is but one feature available from
Extension for people who want to learn
ways to beautify living spaces while not
harming the environment.
An online Earth-Kind plant
selector lets the user enter particulars
such as “red flowers, grows in shade and
gets 3-feet tall,” Wilkerson said. The
database then provides a list of the best
landscape plants, specific to the user’s
region, with the best drought, heat and
pest tolerance, he said.
The Earth-Kind site, http://aggiehorticulture.tamu.edu/EarthKind/, also
has links to beneficial insects, rainfall
harvesting, Earth-Kind roses and Texas
urban landscapes. Visitors to the Web
site also can subscribe to a free monthly
newsletter for tips, watch ‘green’ how-to
videos and download podcasts.
— K AT H L E E N P H I L L I P S
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16 • The Only Texas Lifestyle Magazine C OU N T RY LI N E M AGA Z I N E
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Official Water of
The Texas Outdoor Zone
Texas Proud!
C OU N T RY LI N E M AGA Z I N E The Only Texas Lifestyle Magazine • 17
by Larry LeBlanc
The nuances of
Hoppe’s Number 9
W
When cleaning a rifle note the gunsmith protects the stock with a
cloth and uses a rod guide through the action.
standing still and there are a couple of
their products that I am really impressed
with beside Hoppe’s Number 9 and they
are the BoreSnake and the Elite line of
gun products.
The BoreSnake is used by just about
all of the shotgunners I have come into
contact with lately and it is the fastest,
easiest way I have seen to clean a barrel.
It is a woven cord that is 160 times larger
than the comparable patch that has
bronze brush woven into the fibers with
a long string tied to the end with a brass
weight at the end. Stamped on this brass
weight is the caliber or gauge of the
BroeSnake. You simple drop the brass
weight down the barrel from the breach
and pull it through the barrel. Once is
usually enough, but if you need a second
pass put a few drops of lubricating oil on
it and your barrel is spotlessly clean.
When the BoreSnake gets dirty you
put it in a washing machine bag or an
old sock and wash it in the washing
machine and it comes out clean and
ready to use again.
For years shooters and hunters have
relied on solvent-based cleaners to
remove residue and copper fouling from
the barrels and actions of their guns.
Many of the most effective of these
solvents and cleaners require careful use
and handling as petroleum distillates
have been used in most of this type of
product. For those who are sold on the
idea that man is destroying the world
with his use of fossil materials Hoppe’s
has a new line of products called the
Elite Gun Cleaners.
The Elite line is an ammonia-free,
odorless, non-toxic, biodegradable and
non-flammable. What in the world
18 • The Only Texas Lifestyle Magazine C OU N T RY LI N E M AGA Z I N E
could anyone want than that? And it
does the cleaning job. They also have a
gun oil, copper remover, two different
black powder cleaners and all of it is
earth friendly.
The only problem I can see with the
new Elite line is the odorless part and
one of the main reason I use Number 9 is
because of the pleasing, memory jogging,
aroma; there was also the fact that it
works, so I always had the fact that my
guns got cleaned and I enjoyed the
fragrance to motivate my purchasing
choice.
So neighbors good old Hoppe’s
number 9 is still around for those of us
who cannot get too excited about
depleting the worlds oil supply by using
it as a substance in our gun cleaners and
really enjoy the ever pleasing fragrance
and for those who have no functioning
olfactory senses or just want a
biodegradable gun cleaner Hoppe’s is
still the product that can get the job
done for you.
P H O T O G R A P H Y B Y L A R R Y J. L E B L A N C
F
When I pull out my new, state of the
art, range box in preparation to cleaning
one or more of my guns, I cannot help
but get a good whiff of Hoppe’s Number
9 that emanates from the ancient depths
of my memory and rises to the present
sending a message of joy to my olfactory
senses, even before I open the range box.
The smell is distinctive; it is
beautiful, its gun cleaning. The smell
has the ability to bring to the surface of
my mind any one of the thousands of
time throughout my life that I have
performed the ritual of cleaning a firearm
and the actions that necessitated the use
of Hoppe’s number 9.
Hoppe’s Number 9 is a powder
solvent that originated in the year 1903
when Frank August Hoppe mixed up 9
different chemicals and created the
world’s most potent gun cleaning
solvent. The purpose of this agent was to
dissolve powder residue in the barrels
and on guns.
Since 1903 they have not been
by Don Gordon
A
F As
dawn was breaking on
Saturday, Sept. 29, the Central Texas
Bass Championship was already
underway. Anglers competed for cash
prizes plus the first place team was to
win an additional bonus of lodging and
guide service on either Lake Huites or
Lake Baccarac in Mexico. While the
teams were busy rounding up their best
five fish, the Texas Outdoor Zone
hosted a “kid fish” at the weigh-in site.
From 9 a.m.-1 p.m. 56 children
competed for prizes and trophies — fun
for all participating! A little before the
2 p.m. deadline, the fishermen started
arriving with their catches. The weighin was professionally run by the Fishers
of Men weigh team. While waiting for
the results, the tired anglers rested in
the shade, enjoying cold drinks and
catfish catered by the Manchaca Fire
Hall. The competitors were given grab
bags with a collectible t-shirt and
tackle. In addition, a raffle was held
benefiting Youth in the Outdoors. The
crowd was also treated to a display of
pro-grade rods built by Dayne Pryor of
the new TOZ ROD Company.
And the winners were:
1ST
2ND
3RD
4TH
5TH
6TH
7TH
8TH
9TH
10TH
WHITED/POLKINGHAM
13.00LBS
ROE
12.72LBS
CANTWELL/CANTWELL
12.61LBS
MAGNELIA/FISHER
12.43LBS
ABOUD/CARTER
12.23LBS
STAGNER/STAGNER
11.69LBS
ORENDER/ORENDER
11.38LBS
FREITA/ZAVALA
11.20LBS
GUZMAN/JONES
11.15LBS
WALDROP/WALDROP
10.78LBS
Thanks to all of the great sponsors
who made this happen!
ACADEMY SPORTS AND OUTDOORS
GRANDE BASS-TROPHY HUNTER BAITS
PRINTING SOLUTIONS
TOZ ROD
CAMPER CLINIC
MANCHACA FIRE HALL
LAKE HUITES & LAKE BACCARAC GUIDE TOURS
FISHERS OF MEN WEIGH-IN TEAM
Fishers of Men held their annual
awards banquet Oct. 18 at the Hill
Country Bible Church. What a
wonderful evening, a dinner provided
by Rudy’s BBQ, an excellent guest
speaker — FLW pro, Clark Wendlant,
and music by Citizen 360! Two good
friends of mine were awarded the honor
of Anglers of the Year. Dale Read and
OUTDOOR RADIO
LIVE
IN
AUSTIN
The Texas Outdoor Zone Radio Show
www.texasoutdoorzone.com
Paul Carmen now qualify for the
Fishers of Men National Tournament.
Co n gratu l ati o n s, g u y s ! A l m o s t
everyone involved with Fishers of Men
were recognized except for one —
thank you, Jeff Cook, our tournament
director, for an exceptional year.
The Fishers of Men are having an
open tournament on Saturday, Nov. 10.
A $100 entry per team makes you
eligible to win the $2,000 guaranteed
first place prize. Texas Boat World in
Harker Heights is the title sponsor.
Forms are available at Academy on 183
and IH35 — ask for Clint. They are also
available at the Arbor Car Wash and
Lube Center. All entries can be mailed
to: Fishers of Men, Attn: Jeff Cook,
10101 W. Parmer Lane #413, Austin,
Texas 78717 or call 512-413-4178
The Sportsman’s Warehouse in
Round Rock has the forms and can
accept checks for entries. Online
registration can be done at
fomcentex.com.
For all of you who like to check out
bass fishing online, I have a new
address for you and also two sites to
check out for helping our returning
veterans.
The guys at austinbassfishing.com
have challenged the TOZ team to a
“grudge” tournament. The projected
date is Dec. 1 with half a day on Lake
Travis and the other half on Lake
Austin. The trash talk should start
soon so check it out on abf’s Web site
or on texasoutdoorzone.com. Click on
Fishing Team and the blog for new
postings.
Another site you should visit is
armybassanglers.com. These guys are
doing a tremendous service by educating
people about returning veterans. They’re
also involved in a project called
Returning Heroes Home. You can find
out more at returningheroeshome.org.
Skeeter Bass Champs 2008
Feb 2, Lake Travis | March 1, Lake Belton
April 5, Lake LBJ | May 10, Lake Belton
June 7, Lake Choke Canyon
For more info visit basschamps.com
Fishers of Men 2008
February 23, Lake Buchanan | March 29, Lake LBJ
April 26, Lake Belton | May 24, Lake Stillhouse Hollow
For more info, call 512-413-4178, or visit fomcentex.com
CHECK OUT THE TOZ BASS TEAM BLOG FOR
NEWS AND TIPS AT TEXASOUTDOORZONE.COM
Exclusively on 1300AM The Zone
6 - 8 am
Every Saturday
Morning
C OU N T RY LI N E M AGA Z I N E The Only Texas Lifestyle Magazine • 19