Opinion

As we move closer to Thanksgiving, many people’s thoughts turn toward family gatherings and sharing the things we are most thankful for. When I think of November, I think of the two major holidays, Veterans Day and Thanksgiving; but something else also falls in the month of November — National Family Caregivers Month.

While attending the Cassville football game versus Monett a few weeks ago, my nephew Silas asked, “When was the first time Cassville played Monett?” This seems to be a perfectly reasonable question to ask someone labeled a historian sitting right next to you. However, I told him I’d have to get back with him, as I didn’t have the information at the top of my head.

This devotional and directory is made possible by these businesses who encourage all to attend worship services. Guess what? There is a major American holiday that happens between Halloween and Christmas! You may not notice this among the retailers, but it is on the calendar! It’s called Thanksgiving — that’s the day before Black Friday.

It takes a pantry’s worth of ingredients to create the kind of atmosphere everyone will enjoy on Friday nights under the flood lights. From talented players making exciting plays to coaches putting them in positions to do so, and from the cheerleaders riling up the fans to said fans’ participation in the yells, engagement and entertainment on the field and off can make for a great night of high school football.

This week, my assigment was as unique as they come, interviewing a Bigfoot hunter. Master Trackers Rick Dyer and Jeremy Ware have been around town, and when we saw their truck, we just had to ask what they were doing here. The story on Dyer is filled with hoaxes, the Men in Black and some unabashed confidence that there is a Bigfoot down in Butler Hollow near Seligman. Dyer plans to use deer urine and pork ribs to lure the creature out. I, for one, am just glad they don’t like trout. This photo Dyer provided is a Bigfoot he said he killed and had confiscated. I have just a couple questions. Are Bigfoot naturally blurry? Will Dyer sas-squash his critics? Is there a cave creature hiding in Roaring River Spring? Nevermind. Let’s just move on before I scare myself over a baffle.

Last Thursday, I went to see The Show in its 30th year, and through all the lights, sounds, and even Drake Thomas’ snakeskin emerald green suit, my fish eye couldn’t stay off Jim Craig. There are lots of legends about Jim. He once played a trombone note so loud Flat Creek ran backward. A few years back, his sunglasses caused a solar eclipse. We have reports today his backup vocals are still echoing down at Campbell Point. It was a treat to see the man in action. If Jim’s energy is any indication, his replacement for the last number, middle school band member Jacob Hudson, should have a few legends of his own soon!

Autumn is falling away as fast as the leaves on our trees, and with the change in weather will come a change in sports seasons. I’ve been covering high school and collegiate football for 15 seasons now, starting in 2009 stringing for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette to this Friday, and hopefully more this year, now as publisher of the Cassville Democrat.

We witness the last Halloween Jack-o’-lanterns flicker out and it’s as though a switch flips and suddenly the holiday season is upon us. It’s the time of year when stores transform overnight.

I love the Fall season in so many ways and for so many reasons. This has been a consistent theme for me.

“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” That it what we read in James 1:27 in the New Testament. This text is a great reminder to us of an important biblical truth: healthy faith results in actions that reflect the character of God.