Friday, June 26, 2015

Yes, it is Friday...


Yes, it is Friday...

June 1998 in Oak Springs...

Will appear in a couple of weeks...


I'm taking a couple of weeks off to work on some other projects, thank you so much for stopping by.

Here was a good short read, in the meantime (and, there is more where that came from):


OR...


Most of you have not read "Back to the Homeplace" yet, the first novel that started this all. It is still an excellent read, and sets up all the subsequent stories, in the 1990s and the 1800s... now would be a great time to read it. [It is free to download to Kindle, if you have Kindle Unlimited, and you surely do! The print copy is great fun to have, as well!]



In either event, Happy Reading!!

Dr. Bill  ;-)

Friday, June 19, 2015

May 1998 - Life in Oak Springs, the Homeplace


Life in Oak Springs, the Homeplace
May 1998


This series of posts on each Friday during 2015 continues the stories of “The Homeplace Saga” series of family saga, historical fiction families in the area of Oak Springs following the novel “Christmas at the Homeplace,” which ended as 1997 began. Here is a peek at ‘Life in Oak Springs,’ and the surrounding valley, in May of 1998.


[Palamino Horse - Wikimedia Commons - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Palomino_Horse.jpg]

Heather Gates, in the Junior Class at Oak Springs High School, at annual awards day, once again earned the Most Outstanding Project in the FFA (Future Farmers of America) competition. Her project involved her Palomino breeding program, again, this year, but also added the rest of the breeding program at the Bevins Stables to her project program. Once again, her instructor predicted success for Heather at the State level and mentioned that it would also likely qualify for the National FFA convention, based on his experience with these things. Heather was quoted as saying; “I’m really just doing my job with the horses at the Stables. I am very pleased that others feel that I am doing a good job.”

On May 11 and 12, Monday and Tuesday, the McDonald Conservancy hosted workshops and tours involving current and prospective directors, invited expert guests in four natural conservation fields, and selected primary donors/sponsors totaling 24 persons. The participants interacted with the experts, took in-field tours of related Conservancy land, and discussed plans and prospective plans presented by Executive Director Ronny Cox and Board Chair Peter Bevins. This event was based at the Homeplace Country Inn Heritage Hall and activities were scheduled to provide time for informal discussions among the participants. Meals were catered in the Hall to provide maximum time for interactions. Cox said following the event, “This gathering was one of the most productive I have had the pleasure to participate in. New ideas were generated, some prior plan assumptions received confirmation, and many possible future activities for the Conservancy were considered. The Board and I look forward to the opportunity to digest all that was discussed in these two short, very active, days.” Bevins added, “This gathering demonstrates why we hired Ronny Cox as our Executive Director. We’ve wanted to do something like this. He got it done, and more successfully than we could ever dreamed of. Very good two days of discussions. Much focused work ahead of us.”


Locals:

Sullivan End-‘O-the-Road Livestock Auction held a well-advertised Cattle Auction on Wednesday, May 20. Among the lots were 9 cows and calves, including two cows with twin calves, and 2 bulls, from the Bevins herd offered by Bart Bevins and Scott Gates.

The Oak Springs Enterprise on Wednesday, May 13, featured a special graduation section with a photo and feature article on each of the 2015 Oak Springs High School graduates.


Social Notes:

Heather Gates was feted for her FFA Project success with a reception at the Homeplace Country Inn Heritage Inn hosted by her mother, Beverly (Gates) Threshold, and her husband, Winnie, of Jackson, Mississippi, her father, Paul Gates, of the east valley, along with her aunt, Karen Winslow, proprietor of the Country Inn. About 35 guests, family and friends attended the reception, held on Saturday afternoon, May 23.

Graduation parties were held around the valley for this year’s High School graduates of Oak Springs High School through the latter part of the month of May.

Lori Winslow and Trace Watkins were seen dining at the Oak Springs Country Club, Saturday night, May 30th. Also seen dining there that evening were Don and Linda Kirk, Christopher and Nicole Ogden, and Brian and Jennifer Kirk, at a table for six.


Cop Shop:

Six juveniles in two cars were arrested for DUI following the High School Junior-Senior Prom late Saturday night, May 2. The cars were impounded and the juveniles were remanded to the custody of their respective parents as they were located during the overnight hours.


"May everyone have a homeplace, if only in your mind."
Dr. Bill  ;-)


Friday, June 12, 2015

April 1998 - Life in Oak Springs, the Homeplace


Life in Oak Springs, the Homeplace
April 1998


This series of posts on each Friday during 2015 continues the stories of “The Homeplace Saga” series of family saga, historical fiction families in the area of Oak Springs following the novel “Christmas at the Homeplace,” which ended as 1997 began. Here is a peek at ‘Life in Oak Springs,’ and the surrounding valley, in April of 1998.





The McDonald Conservancy announced the hiring of Ronny Cox as Executive Director effective April 20. Cox had been affiliated with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources in Rolla for many years. In that position, he had many dealings with The Bevins Trust and the McDonald Conservancy so has been very familiar with their work, mission and direction. Peter Bevins, Managing Director of the Conservancy, was quoted: “On behalf of the McDonald Conservancy I want to extend our warmest welcome our new Executive Director. We never imagined that we could be so fortunate as to acquire the services of this outstanding public servant. Our working relationship, over recent years, has been exemplary, and very valuable in an advisory role as the Conservancy was conceived and founded. To have his expertise available on a daily basis will be extraordinary.” It was learned that Cox found that he qualified for an early retirement program offered by the state at about the same time as the Conservancy directors were considering the possibility of hiring a full time executive director. Cox added he had hoped to get “back into nature” when he eventually retired, and this opportunity was just too good to pass by. He said: “The McDonald Conservancy is one of only a few organizations across the country doing the kinds of things I would really support expanded in the way of public-private undertakings with respect to preserving and maintaining our natural environment. I am pleased to have the opportunity to contribute to that effort.”



Locals:

Lori Winslow met with Trace Watkins at the Jensen and Watkins office to go over the latest plans for the housing development in the east valley. At this stage, they were still blocking out possible combinations of green spaces and different proposed combinations of sizes of lots that might be incorporated. There were still some questions as to the precise borders of the property they would have available to develop, pending the Conservancy needs, the golf course placements, and access to current and proposed roadways. They were also each still getting to know and understand what each of them wanted to see in the develop, conceptually. Gary had stepped back and allowed the two of them to work on this part of the project. He knew they were each totally devoted to accomplishing it, and he was available to assist in any way he could.

Easter fell on April 12, so the Town of Oak Springs sponsored Easter Egg hunt on Centennial Square was held on Saturday morning, April 11.


Social Notes:

Paul, and his daughter, Heather, Gates hosted a family Easter dinner at their cottage in the east valley at noon on Sunday. Guests were Peter, Sheila and Jeremy Bevins, Scott and Rachel Gates, and Julie Barnes.

Matt and Susan Winslow hosted a family Easter dinner at their home on Sunday following church services. Guests were Karen and Lori Winslow and Raynor Crimmons.



Cop Shop:

Two young men were arrested late Tuesday evening, April 14. They were caught while still inside Bud’s Sinclair Auto Service store, rifling through the tools, following a tip called in my a concerned neighbor. Money from the cash drawer was in the pocket of the jeans of one of the young men. These two were identified as two of three juveniles also arrested in February on break in charges. This time, they were held in jail pending  a Juvenile Court appearance.


"May everyone have a homeplace, if only in your mind."
Dr. Bill  ;-)


Friday, June 5, 2015

March 1998 - Life in Oak Springs, the Homeplace


Life in Oak Springs, the Homeplace
March 1998


This series of posts on each Friday during 2015 continues the stories of “The Homeplace Saga” series of family saga, historical fiction families in the area of Oak Springs following the novel “Christmas at the Homeplace,” which ended as 1997 began. Here is a peek at ‘Life in Oak Springs,’ and the surrounding valley, in March of 1998.



 [Image Source: Wikimedia Commons]


Following are excerpts from an interview published in the Oak Springs Enterprise between reporter, Rachel (Nixon) Gates, and Diane Bevins, General Manager of Bevins Stables and Trail Rides in the east valley. The subject was their horse-breeding operations and the interview also included horse-breeding partners, Heather Gates and Dr. Jennifer Bevins.

Diane said: “Yes, we take great pride in the strides we have made in our horse-breeding program here at the Stables in the last couple of years. Heather Gates, although still only a junior in High School, has taken the lead for us and it has been an award winning process, to date. I see much more of the same in the future. We each get strong technical guidance from our veterinary partner, Dr. Bevins, of course. We breed both purebred Palominos and high-quality non-purebreds as well. We have two birthing stalls, and now try to have two births in January and two in March, if all goes as planned. And things usually go as planned.

“I should also mention that we highly value our association with a number of the other members of the Palomino Horse Breeders of America in the region. We have had many interactions that have been mutually beneficial over a number of years. We couldn’t have done what we do without those colleagues and friends.”

Rachel asked: “What mix of purebred to non-purebred to you use in your breeding?” To which Diane replied: “One or two purebreds a year is our current goal. We don’t want to expand the lines too quickly. Quality over quantity is our current strategy. We also desire to slowly grow our trail ride options, which requires more non-purebred horses. And, we need to sell some horses each year, in each category, to help finance the whole operation.”

What are your primary responsibilities, Heather? Rachel asked. Heather replied: “I would say I have two primary responsibilities right now. First, because I am still in school, getting that done right is a high priority. The horses are my FFA project, so that meshes nicely. Second, I am responsible for all the ‘grunt work’ with the breeding process, directing and helped out by the other stable employees. The care and comfort of the brood mares and their foal are my responsibility. All the record keeping for the breeding stock and their offspring are my responsibility.”

Rachel turned to Jennifer,  “And Dr. Bevins, how do you fit in the equation?” To which she replied, “My responsibilities are general health of the animals and technical advice and assistance to the horse-breeding process. We use all artificial insemination, so I’m responsible for having both materials and equipment available, and I assist and supervise the operations, along with Heather, and others as may be required. I regularly monitor the reports Heather prepares on the condition of all the animals, and recommend and treat as needed. It is a real pleasure to be involved in this first-class operation and process. Our outcomes have been outstanding.”

Turning back to Diane, Rachel said: “Dr. Bevins may have answered my final question. Do you consider the horse-breeding operation here at your Stables to be a success?”

Diane replied: “Very much a success, for all involved. My first purebred Palomino was Marilyn, way back, many years ago. Sunshine, Heather’s principle Palomino mare, is an offspring of Marilyn. We have developed other excellent mares and have been able to sell a number of male and female offspring for premium prices. On the other side, we have continued to upgrade our trail horse herd, while selling a regular number of horses both old and young to help support the stables and the breeding. We also do some breeding for other horses that we board. For example, Christopher Ogden owns Shadow over there in the second birthing stall. This is her second foal in the last two years. We are all very pleased with how our program is succeeding.”


Locals:

The Sullivan End-‘O-the-Road Livestock Auction announced that the first “Cow-Calf” Auction of the season would be held on Friday, March 27, 1998. A find selection of locally raised stock was expected at the sale event. Refreshments would be available from vendors at the Auction House.


Social Notes:

Travis and Inman, and their children, Zach and Kayla, spent Spring Break week in Branson. They enjoyed Silver Dollar City and many of the other local attractions.

Peter, Sheila and Jeremy Bevins spent Spring Break at the Lake of the Ozarks, boating and fishing, they said.


Cop Shop:

There were no incidents reported this month.


"May everyone have a homeplace, if only in your mind."
Dr. Bill  ;-)