I had a great visit with Gene Sims and his son, Todd. They were in Holdenville to visit several friends and were kind enough to come by.

One of the first things I learned in Bible School as a youngster in rural Hughes County was that a parable is an earthly story with a Heavenly meaning. And some 70-80 years later, I know of no time in our Nation’s proud history when all of us could use more Heavenly meanings.

Q: I am shocked to hear the deplorable language used by the majority of people these days whether in business meetings, on television, or in the classroom. Does the Bible address cursing, and does God consider it sin?

by Jim Priest I grew up in a union household. My grandad was a card carrying member of the United Mine Workers and his patron saint was John L.

Dayna had a good visit with Lynn Marquis recently. She said that the Red Hatter group is growing and having a great time at their monthly gatherings. She told me that Diane Bowman was hostess at their last meeting, and they played a game where they wrote down something about themselves that no one would know about them. Then, they mixed them up and everyone drew one out of the bowl and had to guess who it belonged to. Lynn said she wrote that she grew up on a dairy farm and never milked a cow! I certainly would have never guessed that! I know Lynn will talk more about it in their monthly article. It sounds like they had a blast! Lynn also told Dayna that her name was inadvertently omitted from her brother-in-law Joe Grizzle’s obituary. I’m not sure how that happened but we do apologize…… Enjoyed a visit with Marge Merriman and Jackie Barnett at the Post Office. The Post Office is my favorite place for seeing folks. There are very few “gathering” places for us old timers anymore….Had a good visit with my friend Jim Bundy. He lives in Branson and Dayna and I had the opportunity to visit Jim and his daughter Tabitha last year and we had a great time. Since March, Jim has had some very serious health problems and has been in the hospital for a long period of time. He is now in rehab and doing much better. Jim is a graduate of Moss High School and still has many great memories of this area. We used to get to see him at the Fairview School Reunion but there has not been one the last couple of years. Jim told me that he visited this past week with Sue Clark Adams. We really miss her since she moved to Kansas to be near her daughters. She is always so much fun to be around….We received the following note from our good friend Maxie Carter - Bill, I enjoyed the Tyson Foods article very much. This has been a huge benefit for the City of Holdenville, and I am proud to have been a part of the selection process. Some little-known facts preceded the signing of the deal were as follows: At that time, I was the manager of the Oklahoma Railroad Program and the railroad connection was a very important element. Mayor Jack Barrett and Ronnie Justice came to my office in Oklahoma City and solicited my assistance in enticing Tyson Foods to locate in Holdenville. I was honored they came to seek help from me. Sure enough, about a week later, Bill Moeller of Tyson Foods visited me about rail service in Oklahoma. He stated Tyson had two locations in mind for their plant, Perry and Holdenville, Oklahoma. When he asked my opinion, obviously I suggested Holdenville. At that time two railroads, the Frisco and Rock Island, crossed in Holdenville and were available for service. When the signing ceremony was held, Bill Moeller came to me and said he suspected I must be a hometown boy. I am fortunate to have been a part of the process. Maxie Carter. Editor’s Note: I had forgotten that our good friend Maxie Carter was instrumental in bringing Tyson to Holdenville. I appreciate his letter regarding our recent article and also his help in making it all possible….Today we want to continue Gert’s Notes from 1991…

Update on my millionaire status Eagerly I had been awaiting the arrival of the envelope. Finally, it came and as I ripped it open, I held my breath.

I have witnessed the destructive power of anger. In one home, uncontrolled anger led to screaming and fighting. Another marriage was nearly killed because anger festered in the relationship for years. In a third family anger drove a wedge between parent and child. These angry people are not “bad guys” aiming handguns at drivers who cut them off in traffic. They are people many would be describe as “good folk”. But for some reason the pit bull of anger has sunk its teeth into their hide and they can’t seem to get loose.

Thanks to Al Wilburn, you can now have a choice of a clever logo to be inscribed on any new tx-shirt you might purchase. And he doesn’t even charge a finder’s fee. For instance, choices might include.

I understand that my friend Ken Chesnutt is doing good after his recent open heart surgery. We have really missed seeing he and his wife, Linda, since they moved to Texas….Dayna saw Elizabeth McClure Shoenecke a few days ago. She was in town to visit her dad, Sam. They were also getting their daughter ready to move into her dorm at college. Elizabeth and her family live in Walnut Ridge, Arkansas, where she is a schoolteacher, and her husband Dr. Marvin Shoenecke is Provost and Executive Vice President for Student Life at Williams Baptist University. The McClure family is so special to us although we don’t get to see them very often….Dayna also saw Bob Riddle and had a great visit with him….. Dayna’s aunt and uncle Dalton and Betty Smith Leewright celebrated their 60 Wedding Anniversary recently. We had planned to attend but were unable to due to a list minute conflict. They are two of my favorite people and I really hope to see them in the near future…..Joe French was one of the many to attend the service of Buddy Keesee and we had a good visit. It was the first time in a long time I had seen Joe. The French family and our family have been friends for many years and there is not a better family. The oldest son Jimmy and I were classmates and I got to see him a few years back at our class reunion. He hasn’t changed a bit….Dayna and her mom, Beth saw Jeanette Stinson and Barbara Prince at the beauty shop and really enjoyed their time together. Whenever I visit with Jeanette I think of all the years she worked at the Street Car Café and later Bobbie’s Restaurant. She was probably the best-known waitresses in Holdenville and loved by everyone. She told Dayna that she recently turned 93 and among those celebrating with her was her threeyear-old great-greatgreat-grandson. He kept patting her on the knee and telling her “Meme, I just love you on your birthday.” Although Jeanette is 93 she still mows her lawn and does ironing. She is an amazing lady and also the “best ham wrapper” I know. That is another story that I will share later….I need to mention also that our good friend Barbara Prince shared that she will turn 92 on November 22 of this year. She is another fascinating and beautiful lady. Dayna worked with her many years ago at the Department of Human Services, where Barbara was a caseworker and Dayna was a clerical worker. She has always been special to Dayna….. Our son Dane filled in for me this past Thursday and said the highlight of the day was his visit with Wayne Bullard. It reminded me of the time my mother told a friend that the only reason she took the Allen Advocate was to read Wayne’s column. I reminded her that I also had a weekly column in the Advocate to which she replied, “I know.”… Speaking of my mother, I would like to share her Gert’s Notes column from August 1, 1991…..

Jim Priest is CEO of Goodwill Industries of Central Oklahoma and can be reached at jpriest@okgoodwill.org. I’m teaching a Sunday School series on the Seven Deadly Sins and the Seven Cardinal Virtues.