SWISH – Vanessa Calzada of Horizon City dunked a basketball during kids games at the Sanderson July 4 celebration on the Courthouse Lawn Friday. Meanwhile, Kylie Dominguez of Sanderson tried her hand at Very Miniature Golf while Vanessa’s twin sister Alexis looked on.

CRANKY – Camry Lopez, daughter of Rick and Alma Lopez of Midland, took her turn turning the crank to make homemade ice cream Saturday. Helping with the chore, from left, were Anthony Rodriguez, son of Michelle Rodriguez, Damian Swain, who belongs to Shannon Swain and Don Hays, and Jesse Roberts, son of Travis and Katie Roberts.

ONE MULEPOWER – Buster McSparran and his mule-drawn wagon have become a regular fixture in the Sanderson July 4 parade each year. With him Friday were wife Dianne and Doris McSparran Tollett. Oh, yea. The mule is Sally.

PECOS BRIDGE – The Pecos River Bridge near Langtry, which soars 270 feet above the legendary river, will be rehabilitated starting early next month. Traffic will be restricted on one way only during the 20-month project and heavy and wide vehicles are urged to take a detour through Ozona and Sonora.

NEW OLD HOME – Jennifer Miller and Kenny Stafford are turning the old Harrell at the south end of Second Street in Sanderson into a home. Looking on was Camie. The couple plans to offer deer dressing services part time and a lot of time relaxing in the peaceful old building. 

COMMON CONCERN – Terrell County Sheriff Clint McDonald discussed ways of getting the word out about border violence with film actor and producer Robert Duvall last week. Duvall may do a two-part mini-series for television so “Hollywood can get the attention of Washington.”

CAMP BOUND – Three Sanderson High School students headed to band camp in San Angelo last week. Set to go, from left, were Cordell Lawson, Juliana Castro and Jimmy Rapp. The Band Boosters paid for the trip as well as repair on the students’ instruments.

SWEET SUCCESS – Culture Club President Page Mitchell presented first place awards to the top ice cream makers Saturday. They are youth division winner Luke Carroll and adult winner Heather Gully. Heather’s charge, Morris, 4, looked on. Luke prepared a strawberry confection while Gully made a honey-vanilla yoghurt. People lined up all through the Courthouse Lawn waiting their chance to buy some confection for $2 a pop. The money raised will go to Culture Club scholarships.

TASTE OF SUCCESS – Judges in Saturday’s homemade ice cream contest, from left, Tammy Truesdell of Sanderson, Nelson Cooke of Bulverde and his brother Darrell Cooke of Hearne, had a tough, if not sweet, decision to make. All their effort paid off, though. They got to be first and they got to taste them all. Who needs to be paid?

PISTOL-PACKIN’ KID – Pistol Babb of Post won first place and a saddle in a riding competition at Bowie last month. Congratulating the six year old were, AASP & RC Queen Delci Willis and Region VII Princess Ali Burks.

ALL IN THE FAMILY – The Cantu family came calling for the Fourth.  From left are Tyler, Julianna, heather and Jocelyn.  Tyler is the son of Albert Cantu.  Cory Cantu also made the trip.

FREE MARKET – Sul Ross State University Economics Professor Dr. Larry Sechrest is a Libertarian who spoke out on a wide range of issues in an interview with the News Leader. Free trade and market economics are the “life blood” of a free market and the opposite of war, he said.

ANTHEM – Jimmy Davis of Sanderson drew plenty of favorable response with his rendition of the Star Spangled Banner Saturday night. Behind him were Terrell County Bs sidemen Ernie Ayers, left, and Marvin Davis.

COMING HOME – Eric Cooksey will return to his native Sanderson this summer from El Paso where he has been teaching music in the Ysleta Independent School District. He has been hired by Terrell County ISD to provide music education as “band director.”

YUMM – What would the Fourth of July be without watermelon? Griselda Rodriguez, daughter of Alex Rodriguez of Austin, formerly of Sanderson, found out Friday. Looking on, from left, were great grandfather Jose Rodriguez and cousins Myra and Anthony Rodriguez.

                                                    AJ JUNIOR

THE QUEEN – Camry Lopez, queen of the St. James Festival, rode on a red four-wheeler being auctioned off for the festival July 26. The daughter of Rick and Alma Lopez of Midland was a highlight at the July 4 parade in Sanderson. Andrew Cavendar, son of Myleah Stratton of Sanderson, is the festival king.

PRESENT ARMS – The color guard passed in review at the Fourth of July parade in Sanderson Friday. Danell Graham carried the American flag and Ben Rubio hoisted the Lone Star state flag. The American Legion banner was carried by Jimmy Rapp while Hannah Black carried the Legion Auxiliary standard.

EARLY AIRFIELD – The Terrell County Historical Society placed a marker Friday at the site of the World War I military airfield near the present Sanderson Wool Commission building. Taking part in the ceremony, from left, were Margaret Farley, Joelle Hogg Taylor, Henry Beth Hogg, L.G. Hinkle and John D. Hogg. 

OLDEST BOY – Polo Calzada, second from right, is the perennial winner of the “Oldest Man” contest during the July 4 Old Timers Hour in Sanderson. Calzada, who will be 98 next month, was recognized Friday by Visitor Center chief Carolyn Hutto, left. Looking on were brother Isidoro, a mere 91 years old, and his wife Elena.

PICTURE PERFECT – Rick Vanderpool, left, showed off his brand new poster, “Sanderson, Cactus Capital of Texas,” to County Judge Leo Smith Friday. Vanderpool autographed posters, which show cactus blooms found within Terrell County. They will be available at the Visitor Center for those who missed a chance to buy one.

FOUR WHEELER FLOAT – The first-place commercial “float” in Sanderson’s Fourth of July Parade was this four-wheeler entered by Sanderson Propane. It was driven by Manager Carol Crumbley and her “assistant” Jake.

FAMILY AFFAIR – The “Oldest Man and Woman” at the Old Timers Hour Saturday during the July 4 observance in Sanderson just happened to be man and wife. Albert Gilbreath is 87. His wife, Zee, will be 84 later this month. They were second-day winners. Polo Calzada, 97, and Johnnie Cates, 96, were honored Friday.

SLIPPERY SLOPE – Jace Zeyen scooted down the slide at the Moon Walk during the Independence Day observance Saturday on the Courthouse Lawn. She is the daughter of Mike and Marin Zeyen of Albuquerque and granddaughter of Helen Zeyen of Sanderson.

ASSISTANT – Theresa Rex of Commerce posed Friday with Terrell County Judge Leo Smith. Rex was the “assistant photographer” on a new poster, “Sanderson, Cactus Capital of Texas,” which debuted Friday at the county July 4 observance. The posters depicting cactus blooms around Terrell County are available at the Visitor Center.

OLDEST GIRL – Johnnie Cates, 92, was named “oldest woman” at the Old Timers Hour during Fourth of July celebrations at the Terrell County Courthouse Friday. Looking on were organizer Henry Beth Hogg, left, and Visitor Center boss Carolyn Hutto.

TO CHEER – Next years Sanderson High School cheerleading squad was revealed Friday in the Fourth of July parade. Juliana Castro as “Beaker” the Eagle looked over her teammates, from left, Alexa Davis, Blakeney Chriesman, Clarissa Brotherton, Taylor Johnson, Lizette Ramirez and Roxanna Rodriguez.

BUGS AND FRIENDS – Bugs Bunny got to meet John Pierce and Mikey Shoemaker of Sanderson during the July 4 holiday. John’s mom, Sandy Pierce, took the boys to Kerrville to visit relatives. They went to Fiesta Texas, went canoeing on the Guadalupe River and met Spurs player Manu Ginobili in a Best Buy parking lot. Other than that, they didn’t have a thing to do.

WATER MARK – The adobe wall on an old house on the property of the Harrell Dairy in Sanderson gives testimony to the 1965 flood that wiped out much of Sanderson, killing 26. Kenny Stafford pointed to a wall of adobe that was washed away. Looking on were Jennifer Miller and her dog Camie.