December Living 2008

& Happy Holidays

MerryChristmas

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2 | Living | www.bigspringliving.com

Bruce Schooler photo

The Living Christmas Tree, a Big Spring tradition in its 30th year, and was held Dec. 5-6 at First United Methodist Church.

Thomas Jenkins photo

Everyone has their favorite part of the Christ-mas season. For some, it’s the Biblical story of Christ’s birth told through a live nativity scene. For others, it might be the sparkling of

thousands of lights of the awe-inspiring sight of beauti-fully decorated homes or dozens of unique Christmas trees.Whatever makes your holiday season, Big Spring has it: Locals will celebrate in a variety of ways, from the traditional to extraordinary. But beware, if you take part in one or many of these special holiday events, there might be a moment when you remember what it’s like to be a child who has waited all year and … finally it’s Christmas!First Church of the Nazarene hosts its live, drive-through nativity Dec. 12, 13, and 14 from 6:30-9:30 p.m. With scenes from the early prophecy of Jesus Christ’s birth through his life, ministry and resurrec-tion, this unique undertaking utilizes more than 150 church members — some of them acting out Bible stories in full costume and makeup, others painting


Christmas in

Big Spring

By Debbie L. Jensen


detailed scenery or handling the live animals that help to tell the story. Several hundred visitors each night from the local area and beyond drive through the scenes, often listening to the story on CD or cassette. It is a free event each year but donations are accepted for the nativity fund.“We started in October getting ready,” said CJ Ward, assistant to the pastor. “We make some changes every year, adding something or changing a scene so it’s a little differ-ent. People send comments back in saying how much it meant to them, and that’s what we like to hear.”The Heritage Museum’s holiday spirit started early this year with a visit from Mr. and Mrs. Claus in November, and a forest of Christmas trees will be displayed all month, along with the three winners of the gingerbread house contest. Christ-mas cheer of the sweet variety will be part of the fare at the annual Red Dress luncheon Dec. 13 when women will gather from 10 a.m. to noon,

wearing their most festive frocks. A cookie exchange is on tap, along with a performance by the children’s choir from Marcy Elementary. Ladies should RSVP to the museum and plan to bring four dozen of their favorite cookies.Looking for some holiday style? If

so, join the Big Spring Symphony Guild Tour of Homes on Dec. 14. Four homes and one newly renovated party location will be on display for ticketholders to this annual event. Organizer Eulaine McIntosh said a special treat is in store as guests can visit the former site of Big Spring Hardware downtown, which has been transformed by new owners. “This is now a very elegant and beautiful setting for parties and events of all kinds,” McIntosh said.For the $10 ticket, you can also see the home of Sharon and Bill Wiese, who now live in the house once belonging to the late Dorothy Gar-rett; also Richard and Jeanie Knocke; David and Nancy Foster; and local entrepreneur Lane Bond, who will decorate his entire house with the work of local artists. Buy your ticket, which will benefit the symphony guild organization, at the chamber of commerce, Faye’s Flowers, Blum’s Jewelers, Heritage Museum, First Bank of West Texas (both locations),

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or from any symphony guild member.If it’s a brighter holiday you seek, the annual Festival of Lights will deliver a with thousands of twinkling bulbs making up dozens of scenes concen-trated in and around Comanche Trail Park from Dec. 15-31. Visitors will drive through after dark to see the work of hundreds of volunteers from many local businesses, schools and community organizations to turn on the Christmas sparkle. Admission is free but donations are greatly appre-ciated. “I want to hit 20,000 visitors this year,” said founder Pat Simmons. “We have come close to that but we haven’t made it. I hope this is the year.”This event often draws many out-of-town and out-of-state visitors — even several dozen last year from other countries. A new addition — a lighted display at the base of the north side water tower — is hoped to reach out to drivers on the Interstate. Signs in-stalled on I-20 will direct them to the


Photo By Bruce Schooler

201 West MarcyBig Spring, TX 79720

432.267.3363

Festival which, as always, has been updated and improved.Simmons prefers the giant poinsettias most of all the lighted decorations. “People coming from all over com-ment on those,” she said. “They say they’ve never seen anything like them anywhere.”Finally on Dec. 20, the Big Spring Symphony will present the Nutcrack-er Ballet performed by Midland Festi-val Ballet with help from some young local performers. The traditional holiday show starts at 7:30 p.m. and tickets are $15 each for adults, student tickets $5 each or four for $15. Those tickets are available at the chamber of commerce, Blum’s Jewelers, the Heritage Museum, First Bank of West Texas and Faye’s Flowers, or call the symphony office at 264-7223.For many people in Big Spring, it seems the Christmas season officially begins that first weekend in Decem-ber, when the Community Christmas Parade sponsored by the Big Spring Herald rolls down Gregg Street to an enthusiastic crowd. This year was no different.“This parade seems to mark the of-ficial start of the Christmas season in our community, and we’re happy to see that it does,” said Ron Midkiff, publisher of the Big Spring Herald. The parade sets the stage for many other activities, including the parade watch event at the Heritage Museum. Parade goers this year were treated to cookie decorating demonstrations, and kids were able to make and take home their own creation. Mr. and Mrs. Claus stopped by to meet and greet the museum crowd and families toured the holiday exhibits.Then First United Methodist Church’s Living Christmas Tree took center stage with Saturday and Sun-day night performances, a “gift to the community” that has been giving for 30 years. Jim Wright, music minister, said musicians, singers and dozens of behind-the-scenes workers combined their efforts to create a musical tribute

to the holiday and as always, tickets were given away free to anyone who wanted an evening of what makes Christmas special – music, warmth, family, and angels everywhere. About 100 singers came from just about every church in Big Spring.If you’re one of those for whom Santa can’t come soon enough,

your gifts can’t be unwrapped quick enough, and you can’t hear the story of the shepherd and wise men of-ten enough, then you’re in the right place. Because in Big Spring, finally it’s Christmas!


Amer-icans are constantly redefining

what is considered “old.” Sixty is the new 50, 70 is the new 60 and we all live longer than ever before. But as we age, we become more susceptible to illness and disease. For adults over the age of 60, these illnesses can be very serious. The good news is that many illnesses can be prevented through proper immunization. In fact, adults over the age of 60 can greatly lower their risk of developing influenza, pneumonia, shingles and tetanus through a simple injection. For older adults, vaccines are a pre-ventable measure towards a healthier future.

InfluenzaWith flu season just around the cor-

ner, it is important for older adults to make getting the flu vaccine a top priority. A flu shot is the best pre-vention against contracting the flu. According to the National Institute on Aging, the flu vaccine reduces hospitalizations by about 70 percent and death by about 85 percent among older adults. The typical flu infec-tion costs the average person three to five days off work, and costs our economy over $2 billion in total eco-nomic costs. The vaccine contains the six worst strains of the flu virus from the previous year’s flu. It is recommended for adults age 65 and

older, as well as persons of any age with chronic medical conditions,

such as chronic heart, lung and kidney diseases, as well

as all diabetics.

PneumoniaPneumonia is a severe infec-

tion or inflammation of the lungs that, when combined with the

flu, is the seventh leading cause of death in our country. Many pneu-monias are caused by bacteria and a vaccine is available that prevents pneumonia from 23 types of pneu-mococcus bacteria. According to the National Foundation of Infectious Diseases, more than half of pneu-mococcal cases and nearly all deaths in adults could have been prevented with the vaccine. The shot can also prevent some of the serious compli-cations of pneumonia, such as infec-tion in the bloodstream and through-out the body.

The pneumococcal vaccine is usu-ally given only once in a person’s lifetime and can be administered at the same time as the flu shot. It is usually given at the age of 65, but individuals with COPD, major heart disease, congestive heart failure, or diabetes should receive it at age 50. You should be revaccinated once after five years if you did receive the pneumococcal vaccine before the age of 65.

ShinglesShingles is a painful skin rash

caused by the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus that causes chicken-pox. For people who have had chick-enpox, the virus remains dormant in the nerve tissues and reactivates

when the body’s im-mune system is weakened by age or physical or emotional stress. The lifetime risk of shingles is 20 percent, and the shingles vaccine reduces that risk by more than 50 percent. The shingles vaccine, which was approved in 2006, is recommended for anyone over the age of 60 and for patients who have had shingles in the past.

TetanusWhen we think of tetanus, we often

think of rusty nails. However, tetanus is much more than that. Tetanus is caused by bacteria that enter the body through wounds or cuts exposed to soil. Most people who develop teta-nus infections are over the age of 65. It is recommended that children and adults receive the tetanus vaccine ev-ery 10 years. Tetanus boosters today now also include a booster for Per-tussis (or Whooping Cough).

Dr. Scott Barclay recently joined

the Family Medical Center team of physicians with a new office on the second floor of the Malone & Ho-gan Clinic, “Cornerstone Family & Sports Medicine.” Dr. Barclay is a qualified and experienced fam-ily practitioner who looks forward to making a positive difference in the health of our community. He’s thrilled to have moved his family and his practice to Big Spring, and is now accepting new pa-tients. To schedule an appointment, call 264-6361 or visit his Web site at: www.BigSpringDoc.com.


Boosters ForBoomersBy Dr. Scott Barclay

A concealer,

also called a highlighter or cor-rector, is the product to use for covering up the dark circles or shadows that show up under the eyes when you are tired or have been sick.

Three helpful hints about highlighters. 1. Use a highlighter three to five shades

lighter than your foundation. 2. If you use liquid foundation, use liquid high-lighter. If you prefer cream foundation, use cream highlighter. 3. You can change the shape of your nose, lift the cheek-bone, soften laugh lines or bring out a receding chin.

Step-by-step highlighter application:Apply foundation to your face 1. and blend it until smooth and even. This is the base you will build on for your entire makeup application.Lightly brush on the highlighter 2. in the areas you wish to bring out.Using a soft patting, blotting 3. motion, blend the highlighted area with the flat side of a latex sponge wedge. As you blend, make sure the edges of the highlight pattern become indis-tinguishable and the highlights appear natural.Complete your face makeup 4. with whatever other powder, cream or liquid products you wish to use (contouring agents, cheek color and so on).Fix the look with loose face 5. powder.

Our makeup artist can teach you these and many other tips to make your daily makeup routine easier and more effec-tive.

•••“Begin anti-aging treatments when you

are 25. You can’t repair wrinkles and lines once they are there.” —Fabienne Guichon, Oak Brook, Illinois

•••Loofa Sponge AlertLoofahs are a popu-

lar tool to buff the skin and help slough off old skin cells. There has been some publicity recently that loo-

fah sponges can become contaminated by bacteria and cause kin infections. However, Dr. Edward J. Bot-tone, a microbiologist at Mount Sinai Hospital and Medical School in New York, says the problem can be prevented if the sponges are allowed to dry thor-oughly between uses.

Enjoy your loofahs, but be sure to fol-low package directions.

Raise Your HandKeep your hands youthful; schedule a

hand treatment or manicure today.An exfoliation treatment sloughs off

dead skin cells and stimulates new cell growth. A paraffin treatment moisturizes and softens dry, overworked hands and soothes muscle aches and pains. Mani-cures “finish” the look of your hands like makeup does for the face.

Ask your therapist to recommend the bet treatment for your hands.

Betty J. Kelley is a skin specialist with Big Spring Skin Care Clinic, 104 W. Ninth St. in Big Spring. She can be reached by calling (432) 267-5557.

Cindy PittmanEscrow Officer

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Away With

Dark Circles!By Betty J. Kelley

Sometimes, the best way to learn about history is build it with your hands.Third-graders at Elbow

Elementary in the Forsan school district recently learned that les-son recently as part of their stud-ies of Howard County history. Teacher Jeanette Lindsey said the students made posters and models of various county land-marks, including the Settles Hotel and the historic spring which gave Big Spring its name, as part of a recent class project. “We’ve been studying the his-tory of Howard County,” Lindsey said. “We went on field trips to places like the Settles ... and we had the kids pick something that represented our community for their projects.”

A majority of the projects turned out to be models of the Settles, which is currently undergoing a $20 million restoration. “We took a trip to downtown Big Spring ... and (the hotel) was the main thing the kids talked about,” Lindsey said. “It was like they were drawn to it.” The children had about a week to finish their projects and the fin-ished products show some unique thought and effort. “Some of the kids worked with their parents or grandparents on their projects,” Lindsey said. “They all did great.” Models came in all shapes and sizes — and tastes. Caleb Hernandez, for example, made a model of the hotel out of graham crackers. When asked what drove

him to make a edible hotel, he shrugged his shoulders and said, “I like the idea.” Eating his creation, however, is strictly out the question, he said. “The crackers are held together with glue,” he warned.Elbow Principal Steve Osborn was very proud of the students’ work. “I think this was one of the best projects we do all year,” Osborn said. “The kids get to examine their heritage and maybe this helps them understand more of their history and what made How-ard County the way it is.”


Recreating

History

— Elbow style

By Steve Reagan

A recent Internet poll question: Why Are So Many Artists Poor or Scraping By?

The results stated there were two answers picked most true out of five.

Respect and value of owning art •hasn’t been cultivated with the general publicToo many artists are clueless •about productive business prac-tices

A close third answer was that there are more artists than there are serious buy-ers.

Many artists I know are not car sales-men and are introverts. That is, painting is a solitary, quiet activity which calms even the severest of frazzled nerves, and uplifts even on a bad Monday. Some painters like to hang onto anything they create and would not dream of parting with these most intimate parts of them-selves.

The business side does not appeal, takes too much time, and requires con-stant attention. Talking to strangers who might seek them out or wander into their studios is not for everyone. Making small talk even about your own work can be daunting.

A California female artist stated when she worked as a traveling notary, she’d been in about 8,000 homes, and practi-

cally no one had originals on their walls. If so, the works were from people’s “aunt or grandma who paints,” and were beginner-level. The wealthier folks, she noticed, have the real masters hanging.

Unfortunately, not enough people can buy up all of those.

Definitely it is a sad fact that the public views artists as a group who are only happy and successful when starving. In

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Artists, it starts with us

By Kay Smith

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historical times, painters were in fact wealthy craftsmen on a par with other respected professionals such as lawyers and doctors.

It is not surprising when many of us also fail to value artwork realistically, or to understand the difference between art and decoration, that the public gets confused and bewildered. If I turned one out in a few minutes it would not be art necessarily but if I spend days or weeks working on a piece it should cost more. Award-winning works carry a higher

price tag as proven winners should.Engaging prospective clients in dis-

cussing explanations of my individual processes is one way to educate. I really don’t have the magic wand regarding great tips for educating the public other than writing or talking about it. We must build value in our work but to do this we must first see the value ourselves. The public must appreciate our long hours and our passion producing our visual language. They must stop expecting art to be given away via donations.

In conclusion, we either can educate our buying public and find educated buyers, or carry on just scraping by. It starts with us.

Kay Smith is the owner of Brush-works Studio Gallery at 2106 Scurry in Big Spring. She can be reached by phone at 263-2788 or by e-mail at [email protected]. Her Web site is at http://www.kaysmithbrushworks.us

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NEW

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NEWNEW


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READY FOR IMMEDIATE MOVE-IN! 3 bedroom, 2 bath brick home with study (could be 4th bedroom),central heat/ref. air, metal fence, storage building. Great curb appeal, $61,500.

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GREAT BUY on this updated/remodeled 3 bedroom, 2 bath with 2 living areas or could be 4th bedroom. Newer kitchen cabinets and dishwasher, central heat/ref. air. $55,000.

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THIS LARGE HOUSE needs some TLC. Located near college and elementary school,vhas lots of living, dining and kitchen space, 4 bedrooms and 3 baths. Priced to accommmodate updating and repairs. 3,225 sq. ft., on corner lot. $40's.

NICE STARTER HOME, could be very charming with a little TLC. 2 bedroom, 1 bath with mock �replace, fenced front and backyard, 1 car garage. $29,900.

COAHOMA ISD - Cute 2 bedroom, 1 bath located on quiet street in Sand Springs. Remodeled bath, recent carpet throughout, large yard with mature pecan tree, storm cellar. Priced at $27,000.

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507 E. 4th - NICE COMMERCIALBUILDING with approx. 7,953 sq ft.Display and customer service area,storage area, two offices and rest room,warehouse with skylights and overheaddoor. Good location.

307 W. 4th - GOOD COMMERCIAL BUILDING SITE - Property has 3 lots, concrete building, the two houses on property will be moved.

502 E. FM 700 - PRIME LOCATION for any commercial business, for sale or lease. Approx. 11,242 sq.ft., fenced, 2.52 acres.

1701 & 1703 GREGG -SPACIOUS PROPERTY in high traffic location.Could be used for variety of businesses. Also includes 2 bedroom, 1 bath house behind property at 207 W. 17th.

1011 W. 4TH - GOOD COMMERCIAL LOCATION- Nice building with approx. 7,356 sq. ft., office area, shop, living quarters and completely fenced back yard.

1510 LANCASTER - PROSPEROUS LAUNDRY BUSINESS- Newly constructed building and parking lot in 2007 with top-of-the-line Dexter brand equipment. Lots of paved parking area.

105 SPRING CREEK - BRICK CHURCH BUILDING with pews, 9 class rooms, large front lot, fellowship hall, approx. 2 acres. Sand Springs.

Commercial Properties


1901 W. 16th - NICE PROPERTY with approx. 9,900 sq. ft. plus additional metal building with 2,000 sq. ft., paved parking, 5 acres included.

710 S. GREGG - GOOD INVESTMENT PROPERTY - Nice brick office building, recent updating and landscaping, large parking area, high traffic location.

611 GREGG - GREAT BUSINESS LOCATION with approx. 1,572 sq. ft., central heat/ref. air, basement, storage shed. Could be used for variety of businesses.

115 & 117 E. 18TH - GREAT INVESTMENT PROPERTY! Attractive brick duplex. Each unit includes 2 bedrooms, 1 bath with laundry room, spacious living and kitchen areas, attached garage.

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COMMERCIAL LOTS AND ACREAGE916 Lamesa Hwy. - 6 lots, great commercial site.Marcy & Runnels - Good commercial location, $65,000.Thorpe/Wasson - Commercial lots-frontage, $80,000.FM 700 - 3.9 acres, good commercial location.S. Service Rd & FM 700 - Good building site, 1.08 acre.N. Hwy. 87 - I-20 Frontage, 5 ac. tracts, $399,000.500 E. FM 700 - 1.8 acre, corner lot.1208 E 4th - 50 x 140 on corner lot, $12,000.1210 E. 4th - Corner lot, $12,000. 1900 Wasson - 150 x 150 corner lot, $20,000.1901 Wasson - 150 x 150 corner lot, $20,000.1210 E. 5th - Corner lot, $6,000.1611 E. 4th - Corner lot, $65,000.S. Inter. 20 - 29.8 acres, S. I-20 & Snyder Hwy.1101 Scurry - Nice retail property, $75,000.1201 Scurry - Good retail location, $20,000.1202 Scurry - Nice retail lots, $7,000.907 E. I-20 - 127.32 acres, great commercial location.

RESIDENTIAL ACREAGEKentwood -5.08 acres, South of Merrily St.Kentwood - 89.10 acres, East of Kentwood.Stanton - 7.10 acres, beautiful building site. $35,000.Hearn - 3.86 ac., undeveloped land, $11,500.Baylor Blvd. - Morgan Ranch Estates, 5 and 10 acre tracts.Driver Rd. - Country Club Estates, fantastic building sites.S. Goliad - 9.681 ac., prime acreage, beautiful building site.Campestre Estates - 5ac. tracts - $12,500. (32 tracts available).1106 Todd Rd. - 38.48 acres, 2 wells, windmill, storage barn.Oasis Ave. - 20 acres, water well needs pump. $37,900.Coahoma. - 4 acs, great building site for new subdivision or business.

RESIDENTIAL LOTSBaylor St. - 18 residential lots, $6,500 each.Parkland Estates - Thorpe / Wasson, $35,000 each.Fenn Ave. - Residential lots available, $7,500 ea.Kentwood - 17 lots west of Rebecca. Forsan - Warren St., nice building lot, $4,500.Connally - 7 lots, $11,500.Parkway Rd. - 70 lots, great building opportunity, $250,000.Coronado Hills - 6 residential lots. $49,000.Scott Drive - $18,000.804 Highland - $12,000.712 Craigmont - $17,000.720 Craigmont - $17,500.3802 Dixon - $8,000.3800 Dixon - $8,000.3802 Parkway - $4,000.3800 Parkway - $4,000.4031 Vicky - $15,000.4000 Vicky - $8,000.2513 E. 25th - $10,000.1308 E. 6th - $8,000.712 Colgate - $6,850.702 Caprock - $36,000.

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Dennis — also from Big Spring — and I decided we wanted to put my music out in a big way. We recorded my debut solo album, ‘Get It On,’ and I started to tour non-stop.”

McKinney said the road has been a tough place over the last three years, but its the love and support of his friends and family that have made it all worthwhile.

“The hardest thing is being away from the wife and kids for sometimes five or even 10 days at a time,” said McKinney, who is married to his high

school sweetheart, April, and has two children, 5-year-old Jagger Lee and 2-year-old Cypress Grace. “That never gets easier. Lots of phone calls and text messages. My favorite part is getting to play my music for different people and seeing folks enjoy what I’ve created. My band and I really have lots of fun out there. We all get along very well and enjoy each other’s company.

“If it weren’t for my family and friends supporting me, it would have been impossible to do what I’m doing,

Mark McKinney was six years old and just one of thousands of

Crossroads area residents who packed Memorial Stadium nearly two decades ago to see Willie Nelson perform his musical magic.

Mark has the distinction of calling Willie a colleague these days, as the Big Spring native is working his own brand of Texas country magic, and it seems the music charts in the Lone Star State are beginning to fall under his spell.

“Stompin’ Ground,” the single from McKinney’s first solo album, titled “Get It On,” has been steadily moving up the Texas country music charts, bringing a dream that began when he was a sixth-grade student at Goliad Middle School to fruition.

“Music has always been kind of a side project throughout my life, but it’s my true passion,” said McKinney, who has spent the majority of this year traveling and performing all over Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana. “I always wanted to find a way to make music my main gig. About three years ago, my best friend and manager Rob

The Southwest is Mark McKinney’s ‘Stompin’ Ground’


Can’t Let UpBy Thomas Jenkins

but I am so blessed to I have such a great support system. They made this transition for me an easy one and the amount of support I get from them keeps me going.”

And while many potential musicians may look at the Big Spring area as a tough beginning, McKinney said it has contributed to his music in many different ways.

“Ever since I saw Willie Nelson play at Memorial Stadium there in Big Spring when I was 6 years old, I knew music was what I wanted to do,” he said. “I think growing up out there under those big stars and big sunsets made an impression on me. I have so many great memories and adventures from growing up there that I pull from when I write. I will never forget all those people who supported me from the beginning and came to my shows when we were still trying to figure out what we were doing. It was so great to have such a wonderful atmosphere to learn and grow. It’s allowed me to do what I love doing today.”

McKinney said his musical inspirations growing up came from more than one genre, and now that he’s out on the road and playing with other Texas bands and musicians, he’s found some new influences.

“I grew up loving all kinds of music,” said McKinney. “Willie Nelson, Charlie Daniels, Tony Joe White and rock legends like the Beatles and the Stones. My dad was a big music lover so we were constantly surrounded by different genres of music and I came to love and appreciate them all. In recent years have really gotten into James McMurtry, Sunvolt, Ryan Adams and Jet, to name a few. I also enjoy my partners in the Texas scene, like Kevin Fowler, Reckless Kelly and Randy Rogers.

“All of my influences, both past and present, have an influence on the songs I write. I pick my favorite things about each artist or band, roll them all together, and add a bit of my own unique flavor. I think the rock influences show in my high-energy live show and the classic country influences have helped shaped my songwriting skills.”

When McKinney’s not on stage, however, it’s a good bet you can find him outdoors, spending time with his family.

“I love to get away with my son and do some fishing. My boy and I love to fish, and we as a family love to camp. We try to do that several times a year,” said McKinney. “A good

trip to the beach always recharges the batteries as well. I’m also a self-proclaimed chef, so I enjoy spending time in the kitchen and out on the grill, experimenting on new recipes.”

Though the life of a Texas musician may seem to be all fame and glory, McKinney said there’s a tough, dark underside to the beast that’s anything but fun and games.

“I love what I do and I think that is the secret to life, that way it never really feels like work,” he said. “However, some folks think it’s all fun and glory doing this for a living, but it is really very hard work. Long and late hours, very little sleep and lots of down time on the road. Somewhere between it, all you have to try and have some sort of life, find time to write new songs, rehearse them with the band, things like that. Just like with everything in life, you have to find a balance. I love doing this. It’s tough, but so worth it.”

So, what dreams for the future can a man in McKinney’s position possibly have?

“I plan on not letting up,” said McKinney. “I’m going to keep writing new music and bringing it to the people who want to hear it. We had some good success with our video for the single, “Bonfire.” The video was played a lot on GAC (Great American Country). That fired me up and made me want this even more.

“We will keep putting out videos and will be working on some commercials for Bud Light. We just signed a sponsorship deal with them and are very excited about developing that relationship. I just returned from Nashville where I recorded my second album. I’m really pleased with it and can’t wait to share it with everyone. I also want to get back to Europe so I can play and spread my music around the world.”

For more on Mark and his music, visit www.markmckinney.com


Well, it’s time to get your

pointer finger on your right hand warmed up. With Christmas ap-proaching, there are going to be “Kodak” moments galore. We have been pre-paring you for this since our first article was printed in the first issue of “Living” back in June. Christmas is a wonderful time to get some great images.

One event that I personally enjoy photographing is the annual Christ-mas parade sponsored by the Herald. I love the lighted floats with all the kids having a great time. If you have children or family members in the parade you want to capture that mo-ment. Remember to use flash and set your ISO to 800 or higher. If you have a point and shoot camera, the flash will only reach 10 or 15 feet. Always take extra batteries and memory cards.

The “Living Christmas Tree” is another Big Spring tradition that many people attend. It is a gift to the community from the nice folks at the

First United Methodist Church. The tree is huge, so you will need a wide angle lens or get in the balcony, if you want the tree from the floor to the ceil-ing in the picture. If you are in the

back of the church and you are using a point and shoot camera, remember the flash in your camera is too weak to help your exposure. Have your ISO (remember it’s the same as film speed) set to 800 or higher. If you don’t know how to set your ISO, read

the man-ual that came with your camera. You knew I was going to throw that in somewhere, didn’t you? There isn’t room to set up a tripod in the church, so hold the camera as steady as you can to get a sharp image.

The Drive Through Nativity Scene at the Nazarene church is also a great tradition in Big Spring. The different scenes that are set up are awesome. To get great images, you will need a zoom lens as you cannot get out of your car to frame your shot. You will have to adjust your composition by zooming your lens in or out to get the shot you want. You do not want to lean against the door of the car to steady your camera unless you turn your car off. If you leave your car running, the vibration of the motor

Bruce Schooler photo


A great time for taking

some photographs

By Bruce Schooler

will cause your pictures to lose focus. Another great annual event is the

“Festival of Lights.” A lot of people put in many hours to create this beautiful sight. To get images you will be proud of, you need to have a tripod as the exposures will be fairly long. I use the manual setting on my camera and experiment with the shut-ter speeds until I am happy with the results. You want to check the his-togram on your LCD screen if your camera has that function. Don’t you just love digital photography?

Many of our local schools and churches put on programs during the Christmas season. To capture your kids or grandkids during these events takes a certain amount of skill. You are not the only person with a camera who wants to get a shot of Bubba in his theatrical debut. So expect to get the back of someone’s head in a few shots. One little trick that I use to get pictures when I’m in a crowd is to adjust my lens to its widest setting and hold the camera over my head and snap away. You can get some pretty cool shots using this technique. If you have a telephoto lens you can get to the side of the crowd and zoom in and get some great shots.

The last event I’ll discuss is the opening of the Christmas gifts. Whether it is Christmas eve, Christ-mas morning or both, you want to capture the joy of the children open-ing their gifts. You will need flash and if your camera has an external flash, I recommend bouncing it off the ceiling or a wall. Now I don’t mean picking it up and hurling it against the closest wall, but adjusting the flash head so the light bounces off the ceiling or wall. I’m glad I cleared that up. I could just see the letters coming in complaining about broken flashes.

While writing this article, I real-ized how many great events avail-able here in Big Spring and Howard County and how many hundreds of people are involved in putting them on. I want to thank the many volun-

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teers who take the time and put forth the effort to provide these great activ-ities. Let’s remember to say “Thank You” to show our appreciation. Let’s also remember why we celebrate Christmas and be thankful for all the gifts God has given us.

Remember to call us at Red Barn Studio if you have any questions or comments. Our phone number is (432) 466-3315. Our Web site is Theredbarnstudios.com



Common names include the following: false red yucca, Texas red yucca, samandoque, coral yucca and hummingbird yucca. Its real name, however, is Hesperaloe parviflora, just so you know. Don’t let the name fool you though, as it is not one of the Aloes, but is a cousin to true Yucca.

Red yucca is a slow-growing evergreen, clump-forming, perennial that grows to three feet tall and three feet wide (or more under optimum conditions). Native to the Chihuahuan desert of West Texas extending into Central and South Texas (Rio-Grande area) and northeastern Mexico (Coahuila), it naturally grows in gravelly limestone soils with fast drainage and usually inhabits rocky slopes, valley slopes, canyon areas, prairies and mesquite thickets.

Red yucca is adaptable to a variety of soils and is cold hardy to -20° F. In cooler areas, it grows best when placed in a hot spot like a south-facing wall where it can get reflected heat. It is drought tolerant, but grows better with supplemental irrigation during a long, hot summer. Be sure to not over-water it. While it will tolerate partial shade or light shade if the soil has adequate drainage, it blooms best in full sun. It is tolerant of salt and salt spray which suits it for Howard county water.

Red yucca is not a true yucca at all, but is related to the yucca species. It forms a grass-like clump from a rosette of narrow, hard, long, pointed blue-green leaves. The arching blades resemble rolled grass and have curly threads along the edge of the blade

margins. In the winter, the leaves may become a plum

color. Unlike the yuccas, red yucca has no thorns. In its

natural setting, deer browse the foliage.From April through August, the

red yucca produces narrow, bell-shaped, 1.25-inch-long rosy-red

to salmon-pink blooms on racemes which occur on arching, wand-

like, 40-inch to 50-inch stems. The blooms open from the bottom of the raceme upward. There is said to be a cream to yellow blooming variety as well, although I have never seen one. The blooms attract hummingbirds and bees.

The green, ping-pong ball-sized, multi-chambered seed pods turn a tannish brown color when dry. The seeds are flat, black and look more like charcoal crumbles than seeds. These seeds should be soaked for 24 hours before planting to encourage faster germination. The plant also may be propagated by dividing the

offsets from the base of the mother plant.

Red yucca is widely cultivated in Howard county as a landscaping element. It is a great container plant and is a good choice for pathway borders. It may be used as a solitary accent plant, in mass plantings or with various cacti in rock gardens to create a desert-themed landscape. If planting it, be sure that it is not next to plants that need a lot of water. It requires very little maintenance (removal of spent flower stalks and dead leaf blades) and has no serious pest problems.

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The RedYucca

By Walter Word

Some people simply love to be challenged.

Take Howard College’s Earl Diddle, for example.

When Earl Diddle took over the Hawks’ women’s basketball program in January of 2005, he inherited what appeared to be a solid team on paper. After all, the Hawks were about to enter conference play with a 9-2 re-cord.

Things weren’t quite what they seemed either. Howard’s coaches quit on the team during the Christmas break and several of the players fol-

lowed suit. Did-dle obtained the keys to a jalopy, not a Cadillac.

“I was told the situation was bad when I took the job, but I didn’t realize how bad it really was until I arrived,” Diddle said. “When I got here, I had five players, plus a manager. We re-cruited a softball player, so that we’d have at least two subs. Every program I ever inherited had just come off a bad season. Howard was at the lowest of the low, though. I had never seen a program in such disarray.”

The Hawks went winless in the

West-ern Junior College Athletic Con-ference that season and finished with a 9-21 record. Diddle never shied away from the trying times, though.

“I’ve never minded taking on chal-lenging situations,” he said. “The big-gest reason why is that I’m not afraid to fail. I know what’s at stake. I never go into a job with the fear of failing, though.

“This job really tested me, though,” Diddle continued. “I don’t think I ever worked as hard as I did for a two-year period and not see obvious results. There was a lot of frustration. I really had to be patient and trust we were do-ing the right things for the program.”

Whatever Diddle did paid off. In the 2007-2008 season, the Hawks fi-nally had a breakthrough, finishing 25-7 and advancing to the semifinals of the Region V Tournament at Mary Hardin-Baylor in Belton. It was How-


Up to the ChallengeBy Jonathan Hull

ard’s first appearance at the tourna-ment since 2001.

For many, it’s hard to believe a once- dominant program that was contend-ing for JUCO national titles through-out the 1990s could suddenly become so dire. Diddle says the reasons were obvious, though.

“This program became an carou-sel for coaches,” he said. “Coaches weren’t giving a full commitment to it and it just became a revolving door with a new group coming in each sea-son. Nothing can be built when its be-ing treated that way.

“When I came here with (assistant coach) Eric (Rodewald), we made a commitment to this program and to recruit the right type of girls for it,” Diddle continued. “It wasn’t just about getting great athletes or great basketball players. There are plenty of those out there. We also wanted to get the right girls for our system. We wanted girls who would represent us in a positive way off the court and in the classroom.”

Diddle brought Rodewald, who is now the head coach at Frank Phillips College, into the picture from the be-ginning and gives his former assistant a lot of credit for the program’s turn-around.

“Eric did a great job of doing what I want,” said Diddle. “Most assistants

don’t understand that they don’t get to do things the way they want, but in-stead do them the way the head coach wants. Eric was fantastic at that. He did a great job of managing the floor in games and also in recruiting.”

It’s not a secret to any college coach — success lies in recruiting.

“That was our first focus,” said Did-dle. “We knew we had to hit the re-cruiting field hard. It wasn’t easy, ei-ther. We’re recruiting this area against Midland, Odessa and South Plains. The perception among young athletes is there is nothing Howard can offer that those schools can’t. That’s made it difficult for us, as coaches.

“A lot of locals say we don’t try to recruit the area,” he continued. “That’s not true. We try to get local talent first. It’s just that anyone good enough to play at this level of basket-ball has a lot of choices. That’s just

how it works out. That doesn’t mean we’ll stop trying to recruit this area, either.”

Diddle’s vigilance to recruiting the area comes from his experience in a similar situation when he was the head coach at Eastern New Mexico University.

“When I was at Eastern, we always lost the best recruits to New Mexico,” he recalled. “They were the bigger school and kids were drawn there. Then one year we had a breakthrough and actually won a recruiting battle with UNM. It kind of turned the tide from there. We won several more recruiting battles over the next few years I was there.

“You see, the best recruiting is done by a program’s current and former players,” he continued. “That is our best tool. When I came to Howard, the girls in the program weren’t happy with it. That put us at a disadvantage in recruiting. Things will start getting better now that we have had a taste of winning. The atmosphere here is much better and the players are happy.”

Diddle has been turning dire situa-tions to the right direction all his life. However, turning around a women’s basketball program was a new experi-ence. He spent the first 31 years of his 36 years coaching in the men’s game.

His first job as a women’s head coach came in 2003 with Butler County Community College in Kansas. How-ard is only his second stop in his ca-reer coaching women, but Diddle is hopeful it is also his last.

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“Nothing is ever for sure, but I real-ly hope this is my final stop,” he said. “I turn 59 this year and it’s always time to consider where my final spot will be. I don’t have a timetable for it. I’ve always said I’ll know exactly when it’s time for me to walk away. As soon as recruiting becomes a job, then it’s time for me to quit. If I can’t just enjoy what I do, then I need to walk away.

“I’ve truly been blessed to have the life and career I’ve had,” he contin-ued. “I’ve had great coaches from the junior high level to the college level. I got to play college basketball under (ex-NBA player and former Cleveland Cavaliers coach) Bill Mussleman. I’ve had success wherever I’ve gone. Yet, my most rewarding moment in coach-ing was when Howard won a game in the regional tournament last season. I felt so good for the girls who had stuck with this program the way they did. I love West Texas and this com-munity. I think this would be a great place for me to finish my career.”


Sciatica is a condition in which the sciatic nerve is being com-pressed or the nerve roots that make up the sciatic nerve are

being compressed. Most often, the nerve roots are more likely to be compressed than the actual nerve itself. The nerve roots that make up the sciatic nerve are the 4th and 5th lumbar nerve roots along with the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd sacral nerve roots. Now a person who has developed sciatica will experience pain and or paresthesia in the posterior-lateral part of the leg. The pain usually starts in the very low back and radiates down the leg and can travel all the way to the foot. Patients will usually describe the pain as a sharp pain, but if the severity of the pain is less then the pain is usu-ally described as a dull pain. Paresthesia in the leg means that there is a tingling, burning and or numbing feeling in the leg. For most people, sciatica can be attributed to improper lifting — lifting objects that are too heavy or a traumatic accident. This condition can occur at any age, but usually is seen in individuals who are 30 and older as their bodies are less flexible and begin to have complicating conditions. Some conditions that will make a person more susceptible to develop sci-atica are degenerative disc disease of the L4 and L5 discs, discs bulges/pro-trusions at L4 or L5, and osteophytes (bone spurs) in the same area. With these conditions, the patient is much more likely to develop sciatica and is usually requires more treatment to cor-

rect the prob-lem that causes the sciatica pain. The true problem that causes sciatica pain is the misalignment of the 4th lumbar vertebra, 5th lumbar vertebra, and/or the sacroiliac joint. The vertebra usually twists or rotates from side to side out of position, while the sacroiliac joint usually twists or ro-tates from front to back out of position. When this occurs, the nerve roots are compressed, causing the pain down the leg. The more compressed the nerve roots are, the more intense and sharp the pain is in the leg and low back.Sciatica can be caused by an acute trauma in which the vertebra are force-fully moved, shifted, or pulled out of alignment. A few examples of this are a fall, an auto accident or lifting a heavy object. Lifting objects that are too heavy or require the lifter to be in an awkward position are the main causes of sciatica. If a person lifts improperly by bend-ing at the waist, not at the knees, and does this on a regular basis, then the sciatica can be caused by simply bend-ing at the waist and picking up some-thing as light as a pen. An individual that has this occur has had an injury to the back in the past that was either un-able to be corrected due to the severity of the injury or it was not treated with chiropractic manipulation to correct the injured spine. In either case, the spine is weak-ened by the old injury, which allows for such minor movements such as bending at the waist to cause the spine to move out of alignment and thereby compressing the nerve roots. When the spine is not corrected back to proper alignment after an injury this leads to degenerative disc disease and

degenerative joint disease (osteoarthri-tis). These are two conditions that

develop over a period of years that leaves the spine weak and a

person susceptible to develop sciatica.

The treatment for sciatica is as simple as

going to your chiropractor so he or she can properly

evaluate your condition to rule out large disc protrusion,

disc prolapse, or any other space occupying lesion that

would require an MRI and or surgery. If these conditions do exist then your chiropractor can refer you to the proper specialist. But as in the majority of these cases, the above conditions are not present then conservative care should begin immediately. Conservative care will consist of manipulation of the lower spine, with the use of physical therapy such as mechanical traction or electri-cal stimulation to the lower spine to loosen the muscles around the lower spine. Home stretching exercises will also be given to help keep the muscles loose between treatments. Depending on the severity of the condition, the patient’s home or work activities may have to be altered or limited for a short period while the spine begins to properly heal. Typi-cally, the patient can expect anywhere from six to 24 treatments to get the sci-atica resolved. A patient’s age, physical fitness and underlying conditions such as degenerative disc disease or degen-erative joint disease will affect how fast the patient recovers. Also, how long a patient waits to receive treat-ment will also determine the length of recovery time. As always, take care of yourself — don’t wait until you cannot get out of bed to seek care. This only causes more damage to the spine and nerve, and it adds to the increase in the num-ber of treatments and the duration of the treatment. Remember, returning the spine to its proper alignment is essen-tial in resolving sciatica.


Sciatica: Debilitating Leg PainBy Dr. James Riley, D.C.

Documents

December Living 2008