Simmon's Sporting Goods

I just returned from a weekend road trip to northeast Louisiana (Sunday, March 4, 2007). The mission was to meet up with fellow BTR Scorers Jack McConnell, Missouri; Ed Waite, Ohio; Steve Lucas, Alabama; Mike Handley, Alabama; and our host, Cecil Reddick, Louisiana to measure and record some of the largest deer entered into the Big Buck Contest sponsored by Simmons' Sporting Goods, Bastrop, LA.

We gathered at Cecil's home on Friday evening and drove to Jim Bowie's Relay Station at Enterprise, LA for supper. The food was excellent and the live southern gospel harmonica music by Billie Williams was very entertaining. There was a huge crowd present.

We returned to our accomodations at the Potluck Duck Camp just off Dummy Lane somewhere north of Little Dick Road for a great visit and restful night. It was by no means a Holiday Inn Express but I sure slept like it was. Camp was so far away from civilization, I thought I could hear "Dueling Banjos" off in the distance.

On Saturday we measured approximately 60 whitetail deer racks. We had some very impressive ones come through the door. I had 9 deer make the record book and three didn't. I will feature a couple of them later on.

We finished the day across the street at the Catfish House 2. We had a really nice fish buffet. Everything tasted great. The fried okra was extra awesome. Four hours later, we returned to camp and visited until midnight.

The alarm clock went off at 6 a.m. and everyone started loading their vehicles for the long drive home. We all had a great time. It was fun but a lot of hard work. Our mission was accomplished on time and under budget. We can hardly wait for the upcoming Buckmasters Expo in Greensboro, NC.

JMc.

New Family Member

My nephew and his wife, Eric and Jamie Jo Crayton are now the proud parents of a 7 lb. 12 oz baby daughter, Allison Paige Crayton. She was born at 2:00 p.m. today February 17, 2007 at St. John's Hospital in Springfield, MO.

World League Wrestling

World League Wrestling appeared in Fordland on Saturday, February 10. WLW Founder and Legendary Pro Wrestler, Harley Race, 8 time World Champion, WWE and WCW Hall of Famer was on hand at this fund raising event which was sponsored by the Fordland High School FFA Chapter. Also appearing was Christie Summers, the current WLW Women's Champion. She successfully defended her title Saturday evening.

WLW will be appearing in Eldorado Springs on March 3 and at Ava on March 23, 2007.

Worth Mention Again - Team in Training

The following was posted already but worth mentioning again. I hope you can visit Beth's website and kindly donate to this worthy cause. Already, she has surpassed three financial goals for her team. Beth is truly a very remarkable person.

"Beth was an outstanding student employee in our Public Safety Department at Missouri State University a few short years ago. Since graduating and going on to bigger and better things, she has managed to stay in touch with some of our staff members and is doing well in the marketing field. She has joined "Team in Training" and will be running a 26.2 mile Spirit of St. Louis Marathon on April 15, 2007 in St. Louis, Missouri. This will be her first marathon. For more information about Beth and "Team in Training", please visit her website at www.active.com/donate/tntgmo/tntgmoBMaddox and make a donation to help fight leukemia and other blood related cancers."

JMc.

I'M BAAAACK!

Now that I'm fresh out of the hospital, I'll get back down to business as usual... maybe. I'm doing much better now than at first. Still recuperating none the less.

Yes, I spent three nights there trying to get over what I thought was food poisoning or the dreaded Yellow Dog Fever. The six hour visit in the ER itself was like a near death experience. Why these ER docs take so long to admit someone is way beyond me. It's obvious the doctor I had lacked all common sense. But that is a story I will keep to myself for now.

My nurses and nurse aides were exceptional at St. John's. Each did an excellent job and made sure that I was comfortable. One nurse aide I hadn't seen since I graduated high school in 1973! She looked exactly the same but. . . a little. . . heavier. I can't say she didn't think the same about me. I'm sure she did. We had a really nice visit and we caught each other up on life's events from our old stomping grounds.

It was nice to return home and get back into my own bed. Plus, my food tastes better too. More later.

JMc.