By DON THEMER,
FHPL Board Member and Messenger Staff Writer A DECADE in the life of FORNEY, TEXAS, has come and gone so quickly. As Grandma often told me during her later years, “When my age was 5, it seemed to take years until my next birthday came again. Now that I am in my 80s, it seems as if my previous birthday celebration was just a month or two ago!” Think how fast it goes for Forney, since it has been nearly 200 years since the first little community began to form around 1850. Let’s review some headlines/ articles/ads during December a decade ago. (printed as close to the “originals” as possible)
Thursday, December 5, 2013.....** City of Forney ‘Christmas on Main’ event is this Saturday.....Forney’s 10th annual Christmas event will happen rain or shine..... vendors, artisans, foods, crafts, rides, pictures, parades, tree-lighting, (much free).....By Brian Brooks, City Manager **Lions Club Angel Tree is almost here.....214 Angels from 96 Forney families need help.....in front of the Xeric Garden at the subcourthouse..... By Don Orman, Lion **Lights are twinkling across the outline of Downtown Buildings–another reason to come to Historic Forney!..... By Jennie Moore **HIGH STYLERS Styling Salon.....Roland Tyler **Six county residents complete classes to become Master Gardeners.....Debbie Gamble, Janie Hill, Rita Ware, Mary Nell Renteria, Louise Bridges, Linda Sanders..... By Rebecca Morrow, Master Gardener **Three Rights Make a Left.....(Of course I want to be Grandpa Walton)..... “A terrific Thanksgiving”.....By Ken Leonard **Ask the Counselor.....All throughout history, people have noted four distinct personality types. The Greeks called them Sanguine, Choleric, Phlegmatic, and, yes, Melancholic.....By Susan Lautz **The Scoop on Seniors.....”Our days are happier when we give people a bit of our heart rather than a piece of our mind.” By Joyce Lane **Movie Review: FROZEN.....” Frozen will warm even Scrooge’s heart.”.....By Mary Draughon **SMITH PLUMBING– 30+ Years Experience..... Emory Smith **Woods Automotive– ”Serving Forney For Over 19 Years” **City approves alcohol variance for Zanata downtown restaurant.....Approval came with a unanimous “yes” vote......By Judy Griffin **Billy Odom Roofing & Construction **Pope Pecans–Cracking and Shelling **First-half surge helps North Forney roll past Royce City, 49–29 (Varsity Men)..... By Michael L. Morrill **N F H S varsity women’s basketball notes–Lady Falcons now 3–5 overall.....By Michael L. Morrill Forney Messenger..... Notary Public Available **Last Chance to Sign Up for Little Dribblers–Sat., Dec. 7–contact Dan Chambliess **Sheppard’s Kitchen– Free lunch and clothing--Little Flock Baptist Church **Proclamation–Darren Rozell, Mayor–commend Community Value and Thrift Center.....dedication/efforts..... helping those in need and recycling….to keep Forney beautiful **Obituaries: Steven Nolan Calvery.....Mary Helen Hall Derby **Laymen’s Corner: Set Yourself Free.....”When the new day comes, name all the worries you have and just ask God if he will take them for one day. Tell Him He can give them back when the day is done (if He wants to).”..... By Willie Holt **Dr. Les T. Sandknop Family Practice **Christmas Open House–December 5th–City Bank Forney.....”Bring the family and join us for heavy hors d oeuvres, door prizes, and pictures with Santa.”
**Whether you called him Donald, Don, or Montgomery, his teammates and he could play!.....“Don Montgomery..... Ronald Montgomery were noted for various strong defensive plays.”....By Don Themer **Charlotte Shipley..... Apex Realtors **Hoppin’ Around with Cary: Opinion–Observation.....Come and Enjoy Christmas on Main.....“Barring weather issues, I will see you at ‘Christmas on Main.’”.....By Cary Griffin **A+ Plus Quick Haul..... Call Brandon Thursday, December 12, 2013.....** FROZEN in Forney.....Winter arrives early.....By Jennie Moore **Chamber donates to food pantry.....“Phyllis Lyons, treasurer of the Forney Chamber of Commerce, presents a check for $1,000.00 from the Chamber to Lee Lunsford, Trustee of the Forney Food Pantry.” ..... by Judy Griffin **Hoppin’ Around with Cary.....Why we believe in Santa Claus......“We all believe in him in one way or another, because Santa represents the Spirit of Christmas. He crosses religious and cultural lines.”.....By Cary Griffin **State Farm Insurance..... Joe Dan McBeth, Agent **Lions relocate Angel Tree–“Plan B”.....to Brookshire’s Grocery **It’s finally here..... CHRISTMAS..... “It seems like we never had really cold weather around late December and I remember playing outside lots of times in a Tshirt on Christmas Day. Everyone would always hope for a white Christmas”.....By Rick Townsend, Fire Chief **Parnell Plumbing..... Terry Parnell, Owner/Operator **FISD trustees end 2013 with a short meeting.....approved awarding a request for a grazing lease on a portion of North Forney High School property.....By Judy Griffin **FISD elementary student publishes first children’s book.....Emily Hough.....By Lary Coker **North Forney wins in a rout over Terrell, 79–19..... varsity women’s basketball..... By Michael L. Morrill **Eastside Church of Christ.....Thomas O. Fitzgerald, Jr.–Minister **Five ways to help aging parents navigate personal finance in today’s tech world..... Digital options like mobile-only coupons, Internet comparison shopping, and bill-paying APPS require technologies that are not always senior friendly……by Andrea Aker **IRS to employers: Hire veterans by Dec. 31 and save on taxes **Talty Baptist Church..... Interim Pastor–Jim West **FHS Choir entertains Chamber members.....under the direction of Scott Surface..... By Judy Griffin **Forney’s Judge Gent To Run For 86th District Court.....By Wade Gent Campaign **Dec. 7 scam was our ‘day of infamy’..... We were royally scammed out of more than $1000.00 by a “supposed” electric company that (supposedly services our home).....By Cary Griffin **Traditional Painting, Inc.....Painting for 30 Years.....Thomas E. Newton **New child well-being report finds Texas, Kaufman County kids still struggling despite economic recovery..... By Center for Public Policy Priorities **Notice of Request for Proposals: City of Forney requests proposals for a Comprehensive Plan to provide a substantive basis for decision making.....By Peter Morgan **Garage Sale.....9756 Highland Prairie..... New Brinkman Smoker, etc.....12/13 and 12/14 **Bragg Mechanical Services– Air Conditioning and Heating.....Locally Owned Since 1968.....Carrier Thursday, December 19, 2013.....** We’re in drought. Conserve Forney’s water **Holiday Trash Pickup… CWD…For Christmas, trash and recycling for residential customers will be Thursday, Dec. 26. **Lights! Snow! Tree! The City of Forney invited all residents to the annual Tree Lighting ceremony–complete with snow falling in the nighttime sky–on Sunday, December 8.
**Comptroller Susan Combs distributes $580 million in monthly sales tax to local governments **SHOP FORNEY FIRST **Forney Fire Department receives check from TVEC.....part of their “Operation Round-Up Program” (customers round-up their monthly bills) **ADAMS Fence Co...... Bart Adams **Rosalyn Wortham… Independent Beauty Consultant **North Forney brings home 3rd place trophy from 3rd Annual Forney ISD Winter Classic….FISD men’s varsity basketball.....By Michael Morrill **WMS 8th grade girls’ athletics adopt Lions Club Angels again **Obituaries.....Glen “Red” Whaley (resided in Forney, Texas since 1968) **Water of Life…Lutheran Church.....for all who are thirsty **Outstanding city employees (recognized 10-year employees: Bradley Lewis– Firefighter; Steven Steward– Police Officer; Brian Leathers–Firefighter) Dec. 12.....2003 City of Forney Christmas party.....By Cary Griffin **City Council holds 3 public meetings.....last meeting of 2013.....By Cary Griffin **Commissioners Court report.....Special meeting– Dec. 16, 2013.....Item 8–”safety programs which include cameras on school busses”.....By Judy Griffin **Guide to a poison-free holiday..... When asked “What do you think is the most toxic thing about the Holidays, some may reply ‘relatives.’” **10th Annual Warm Up The Holidays.....In the spirit of the holiday season, the staff of the Forney Messenger will be collecting cold weather attire for Forney’s New Life Food Pantry **Baker’s Sand & Gravel..... Gene Baker Jay Bake Jeff Baker **Sprinkler Repair & Backflow Testing.....Dale Daily ***Help Wanted.....Dining Services Supervisor–Senior Living.....Three forks of Forney
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