LOCAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE EDITION FEBRUARY 2004 Bay Shrimper Blues PLUS: Preserving History— With Time Running Out 1,300 Years at Natural Bridge Caverns FEBRUARY 2004 In This Issue A MAGAZINE ABOUT TEXAS LIVING Shrimper, Schools, Freezer Foods, Festival A shrimper’s life is hardly lyrical. It’s tough—broiling days in the sum- As the day begins, mer, little work in the winter. As the Stingaree 2 passes from its shrimper Mark Gilbert puts it, “Add home canal across and subtract it all: I’m making mini- the Intracoastal mum wage.” But Christopher Cook’s Waterway on its way writing always sings, so a gritty day to Galveston Bay. and a poor catch turn poetic when he Randy Mallory tags along. This is Black History Month, so we present a photo essay on the Rosen- Bay Shrimper Blues . 6 wald schools, a public/private cooper- By Christopher Cook, Photos by Randy Mallory ative effort that raised the very low Bay shrimpers like Mark Gilbert sing the same blues standards of black education during as independent farmers—no benefits, no retirement, this country’s segregated past. We’re shifting government regulations, foreign competition hoping that our readers will help his- and unpredictable harvests. But his father was a torians identify additional Rosenwald shrimper and so was his grandfather. It’s the only schools in Texas so their legacy can be life he knows. preserved. Refer to the article for a contact number. Preserving History— A rescue by co-op employees is With Time Running Out . 12 highlighted again in Co-op Principles By D’Ann Johnson, Photos by Alan Pogue in Action. We wrote about two rescues Courtney Miller is surprised The all-but-forgotten Rosenwald schools improved last September. Look on page 4 for by Shane Goswick, who black education before segregation was declared the saga of Hub and Kooter and the offers his sweetheart a unconstitutional.The founder of the program was four-wheeler. single flower from a nearby Julius Rosenwald, president of Sears, Roebuck & Readers submitted some great flowerpot.The Goswicks Company. In 1932 there were 527 Rosenwald “Freezer-Friendly Meals” this month. belong to Panola-Harrison buildings in Texas. Historians have identified Food Editor Shannon Smithson dis- EC. For more sweetheart 30 of those that remain. cusses the idea of getting together photos, turn to page 35. with friends and preparing a month’s meals for the freezer. How’s that for Texas Living . 26 efficiency? Also check out Festival Freezer Favorites,Texas Independence Day at of the Month; there’s no better time Washington-on-the-Brazos. than Texas Independence Day to visit Washington-on-the-Brazos. Focus on Texas . 35 Enjoy! February is for smooching. Texas, USA . 38 Natural Bridge Caverns, by Laura Barton and Judy Wilder. Peg Champion Vice President, Communications/ Publisher COVER PHOTO BY RANDY MALLORY TEXAS CO-OP PRINCIPLES IN ACTION V OLUME 60 FEBRARY 2004 NUMBER 8 Concern for Community Sometimes Texas Co-op Power is published by your electric coopera- tive to enhance the quality of life of its member- customers in an educational and entertaining format. Takes a Dramatic Turn B Y T ONY C UMMINGS TEXAS ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES BOARD OF DIRECTORS he easiest way to tell this Bill Harbin, Floydada, Chair story is to start with coop- Debbie Robinson, Quitman,Vice Chair T Mark Rose, Giddings, Secretary-Treasurer erative member and Oakland Gerald W.Lemons, Itasca resident Hub Taylor. Hub, as he Audie Morris, Decatur insists upon being called, lives in Leroy Skloss, Karnes City Carl Thompson, Roby East Texas on County Road 1701, surrounded by acres and acres PRESIDENT/CEO Mike Williams, Austin of pastures and woods. STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS It was November 25—deer ADVISORY COMMITTEE season—and around 8:20 a.m., Rick Haile, McGregor, Chair he decided to take his number Charles Castleberry,Tulia,Vice Chair John Q. Adams, Bellville one companion and best friend, Barron Christensen, Douglassville Kooter, hunting. Kooter is Hub’s Kim Hooper, Bluegrove dog. Hub loaded his deer rifle Larry Oefinger, Hondo Roland Witt, Coleman and Kooter on his four-wheeler Audie Morris, Decatur, Board Liaison and set out to find a deer. Everything was going as plan- COMMUNICATIONS STAFF Hub Taylor and Kooter. Peg Champion,Vice President, Communications/ ned until Hub took his four- Publisher wheeler down an embankment, as Electric servicemen Terry Jones and Kaye Northcott, Editor Carol Moczygemba, Managing Editor he had many times before.This time Glen Vess have finished a job and are Martin Bevins, Advertising Director was different. As he began down the going north on County Road 1701. Louie Bond, Copy Editor/Writer rutted path, his rifle slid off the seat. “I was going slow and looking at Karla Cox, Communications Coordinator Sandra Forston, Communications Assistant Instinct took over, and Hub reached the pasture,” Jones said. “Glen had Barbara Hahn, Production Assistant for it. When he did, the heavy four- his head down looking for the map Karen Nejtek, Production Coordinator wheeler went up on one side and location of our next job. I looked Tracy Paccone, Communications Assistant Carol Powell, Graphic Designer turned over, pinning him and his over and my heart stopped.There Shannon Smithson, Food Editor/Proofreader rifle. Kooter’s reaction was faster: was a four-wheeler upside down, Cheryl Tucker, Field Editor/Website Manager He jumped to safety. and I could see a man’s leg sticking Subscription price: $15 per year for individuals ($3.72 per year to Hub was in a real fix.The rifle barrel out from under it.The leg was not member organizations of Texas Electric Cooperatives). $3 for individual was next to his face, and he could move moving at all.” copies of issues. Periodicals Postage Paid at Austin,TX and at additional mailing offices. only the upper portion of his right Jones stopped and backed up.Vess arm. Still, he was able to pull his knife flew out of the truck and went to the Texas Co-op Power is published monthly by Texas Electric out of his pocket and do the only man’s side. Cooperatives, Inc., the statewide association that represents 75 electric cooperatives. Texas Co-op Power’s website is thing he knew to do—he started care- “Sir, are you OK?” he asked. www.texascooppower.com. Call (512) 454-0311 or e-mail fully digging out the ground around “Yes, get this thing off of me,” the [email protected]. his face. man pinned under the four-wheeler POSTMASTER Send address changes to Texas Co-op Power It’s now 9:30 a.m. Cherokee County said.Vess lifted the vehicle enough (USPS 540-560), 2550 S. IH-35, Austin, TX 78704. Please Continued at far right, opposite page enclose label from this copy of Texas Co-op Power showing old LIVING address and key numbers. SAFE ADVERTISING Advertisers interested in buying display ad space in Texas Co-op Power and/or in our 30 sister publications in ‘Power surges, spikes and interference only other states, should contact Martin Bevins at (512) 486-6249. Advertisements in Texas Co-op Power are paid solicitations. enter my home on electrical lines.’ The publisher neither endorses nor guarantees in any manner any product or company included in this publication. Product satisfac- hat’s the myth; the truth is to the contrary. Electronics and appliances tion and delivery responsibility lie solely with the advertiser. Ques- Tcan be damaged by surges, spikes and interference from phone lines tions or comments about advertising in this publication should be and cable television lines, too. directed to Martin Bevins,Advertising Director. Surge protectors can be used to protect your electronics, but the pro- © Copyright 2004 Texas Electric Cooperatives, Inc. Reproduction tector must have cable and phone line connections as well. Keep in mind of this issue or any portion of it is expressly prohibited without that many satellite television units are equipped with phone lines that written permission.Willie Wiredhand © Copyright 2004 National can carry surges. Rural Electric Cooperative Association. Surges, spikes and interference are also created by other home equip- ment. Power tools, furnaces, air conditioners and even vacuum cleaners create disturbances that can damage your electronics. 4 TEXAS CO-OP POWER • FEBRUARY 2004 LETTERS Tamales Tasted Great to our children, not lie to them about We truly enjoy your magazine. I a make-believe elf. When children We want to hear from our readers. Send just made some tamales—some with discover their trusted parents have lied letters to: Editor, Texas Co-op Power, leftover Thanksgiving turkey (the Lola to them about Santa Claus, it will be 2550 S. IH-35,Austin,TX 78704. Please Peacock recipe) and some venison à la logical for them to reason, “If Santa include the name of your town and electric Gramma Rosie [Home Cooking, De- Claus is a lie, Jesus Christ must be a lie co-op. Letters may be edited for clarity and cember 2003].They’re both great. I also!” I will always be grateful that my length and will be printed as space allows. just happened to have some turkey and parents taught me the true meaning venison, but I’ll surely do the pork later. of Christmas. There’s always at least one great Dan Stanford, United Cooperative Services TEXAS CO-OP PRINCIPLES addition to the family recipe file in Continued Editor’s response: The article refer- each edition. I clip and send the red to in this letter did not appear in recipes around the country to our all local editions of Texas Co-op Power. for Jones to remove the gun.Then kids in California and Florida.Thanks! Read these and other articles you they righted the vehicle and freed Janet Phipps, FEC Electric might have missed on our website, Hub, who told his rescuers he was Editor’s response: We had a couple www.texascooppower.com.