I was flooded with emotions as I suddenly realized we were flying away from our team. This was my first cross country trip in a small airplane; for the next four days I would fly with a pilot in a Cessna 182 from Iowa, Wyoming, Oklahoma to Alabama. As a part of the “chaser” plane, I was en route to Rawlins Municipal Airport/Harvey Field in Wyoming while the team was taxiing down the runway at Heartland Aviation in Alliance, Nebraska.

The 35th Annual Air Race Classic (ARC) had officially started after a day’s delay. Due to the change, four route stops were cut out – almost 1,500 miles and Rawlins was one of them. We had scheduled an afternoon event there so we were on our way, but the team was on their way to Mobile, Alabama. We would catch up with them in several days at the terminus.

Their mission was to win; ours to educate young ladies about aviation and the history of the race.

We arrived at the airport that afternoon with plenty of time to prepare for our presentation. The fixed base operator manager and assistant greeted us very kindly. We walked inside of the facility and I was saddened to see a line of ARC books, postcards and hats stacked ready for the racers. A tremendous amount of preparation goes into planning for the air race – we’re talking years! These route stops have to be prepared for over 100 pilots and 50 planes arriving at any given time. The managers expressed their disappointment in the change but who can control the weather? I signed their guest book and took a postcard and hat as a souvenir.

Fast Forward

Lo and behold our surprise a couple of months before the start of the 37th Annual Air Race Classic, we were thrown a curve ball! Three of the four stops which had been omitted two years prior were added to this year’s race and Rawlins Municipal Airport was one of them! I thought back to that day and wondered what they did with all those hats… You see, the hat I picked up two years ago is the only hat I ever wear. It quickly became my favorite workout hat because it is made specifically for women.

This year’s ARC start was in Pasco, WA. The morning of June 19th, after a final briefing, we headed out to the airport. And once again, there were weather delays. I was set up near the runway with cameras… I was suddenly caught in a moment of deja vu. We waited… then we waited some more. The situation did not look good. Would Rawlins be cut out again?
Six hours later, the board announced the “official” start would be in Mountain Home, ID. There would be no official line up of the teams. As soon as they flew over the timing line in Mountain Home, the race would begin. Whew! Rawlins was spared.

Fayetteville

The sun beamed down on me four days later, the last day of the race. I stood on the ramp at Drake Field in Fayetteville, AR and waited for each team to arrive. This year I was very fortunate to have been asked to handle the public relations for all of the teams. As each landed, I took their pictures and video.

I stayed and talked to most as they unloaded their luggage and as time allotted. As one team was rumbling through several of their bags, one of the ladies took out a hat exactly like mine! The managers had kept those hats for two years and finally had the opportunity to hand them out to the racers. I shrieked out in delight as I quickly explained the situation and how I had the opportunity to visit the FBO that year. The pilot looked at me and handed me the hat. It made my day and reminded me how genuine these ladies really are.

The icing on the cake is when I received this letter in an email:

Dear Air Race Classic,

Even though we just had one fly by this evening (#30) all the volunteers had a blast bench racing and chowing down on burgers. We have several older pilots that don’t fly anymore that told me that today brought a special kind of a spark that they thought was long gone. Proof positive that you can ground a pilot and they can slowly forget the fun they used to have, but it only takes a few moments to rekindle the spark. Today we had four members of the 99’s helping that are in their late 80’s. Our timer that brought his motor coach out was especially excited today! He is on chemo so is not feeling great but you could just tell by looking at him that he was back to being the little boy again. I just wanted to thank all of the ARC members for the opportunity to participate! You have made several aviation enthusiasts in Rawlins very happy.

Rick Caldwell
Rawlins Stop Chair

Learn more about the air race at airraceclassic.org. Till next time.

Jasmine Gordon

Family Shopping

Besides being the humble writer of this column and dabbling in other forms of freelance writing, I also have worked a large portion of my life in retail.

Like any other job, retail has its ups and downs and its gives and takes. Working both in retail management and in the thankless trenches that lay behind counters and registers across the world, retail can either be a real drag or a dream job depending on where you are at and who you work with or under.

By far my favorite experiences in the field came when I worked for two different small families in too different convenience stores. One that I work part time for currently, and one that I worked at for many years ago in my twenties.

Recently, the sad news that one of the former owners of the first family owned and operated stores I worked for, Karen Whitehead, had passed. Losing someone who played a role in your life always makes you reflect, and for me it made me reflect on just how lucky I was to work alongside two very different families that had one thing in common.

They had a heart and a soul, even in the soulless world of business.

In both stores I can recall many times that someone might be short for their milk or their bread or forgot a wallet going out the door to work and could not pay for their morning coffee or pack of cigarettes. The regular customers were always told that it was all right, they could take the items and pay us back when they could.

Try that at a chain grocery or convenience store and see how that goes, even if you are a big part of their customer base.

Another thing that is better about a family owned business or shop is that as your are working for an individual owner, any rule is bendable if need be.

For example: I might yet again be heading West, young man, but I will be going past Texas and into the desert. Because of circumstances beyond my control, this move has recently moved forward on the calender and I may have to leave in a hurry if I want to have things as I want them.

With a corporation, there would be strict time tables of notice and a procedure. The son of the store owner at the family owned establishment I work for today said it will be no problem, as his father would tell me to follow my heart and my soul and not worry about me not covering my last six days of work for my two week notice.

Shamefully, more and more small stores and family owned businesses are either forced to close or are bought up by the hungry corporations who will come in and make the former friendly places cold, sterile and totally devoid of anything that made working for a family great.

This edition of Fish Out of Water is dedicated to Karen Whitehead, a former boss and good friend. My thoughts and prayers also go out to her husband Phil and all of their children, especially Adrianna, Brittany and Karianne, who used to work with me, and in the process we have shared some wonderful times I will always treasure.

Rest in Peace Karen, we all miss you and the world went a little dimmer when you passed.

Conservative Club will disband, become part of Republican Club.

The Calhoun County Conservative Club held its last meeting on Tuesday, July 9, 2013. Since daytime participation is so difficult for the working citizens, it was decided that the Conservative Club would become a part of the newly formed Calhoun County Republican Club. The members voted to donate their fund balance as start-up funds for the new CCRC.

The organizational meeting for the Calhoun County Republican Club will be held in the Episcopal Church Community Room, (213 E. Austin Street, Port Lavaca), Monday, August 5, 2013. Food will be served from 5:00 until 6:00 p.m.; the business meeting will be held from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. Election of officers and by-laws will be accomplished at this meeting.

The club will meet the first Monday of each month, except September. The meeting will be held the second Monday in September because of the Labor Day Holiday. Public is encouraged to attend and plan to participate in the coming months.

August 9-11: New 2013 Sales Tax Holiday Dates

The recent passage of Senate Bill 485 (83rd Regular Legislative Session, 2013 [2]) changes the dates of this year’s annual Sales Tax Holiday to Aug. 9-11, a week earlier than previously scheduled. The law became effective immediately.

The Sales Tax Holiday gives Texas shoppers a break from state and local sales taxes on most clothing, footwear, school supplies and backpacks priced under $100. Shoppers can save up to $8.25 for every $100 they spend.

All sales of qualifying items made during the holiday period qualify for the exemption, including items sold online, or by telephone or mail. Lay-away plans can be used again this year to take advantage of the sales tax holiday.

Kenny is a terrier/pug mix about 3 years old. A sturdily built fella, he’s a lot of fun, a great family pet.

Libby is a honey colored Dachshund mix about 2 years old. She’s a small dog at 20 pounds but HUGE on personality. If she’s ever had a bad day we’ve never seen it as she’s bouncy and perpetually happy with everyone and just so darned sweet!.

Awww, so cute! Angelo is a very sweet puppy, a hound mix about 4-5 months old. He will probably be a medium sized dog when fully grown.

Maggie Mae is a terrier mix about 4 years old, house broken, likes other dogs but really LOVES people. She also really LOVES being inside with the AC keeping her cool for your further enjoyment of her company.

Come see Maggie Mae, Angelo, Libby, Kenny, and all the other animals at the Port Lavaca Animal Shelter, 201 Stringham Drive (across from the rodeo arena), Monday through Saturday, 10 to 2, or call the Calhoun County Humane Society, 553-8916. You can also view her and other animals ready for adoption on line at www.calhouncountyhumanesociety.org
Thanks and we’ll be waiting for you!