Monthly Archives: January 2015

Little Jimmy Dickens, beloved ‘Opry’ star, dies at 94

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jimmy-dickensCountry Music Hall of Famer Jimmy Dickens, the Grand Ole Opry’s most beloved and diminutive ambassador, died Friday at a Nashville area hospital. He was 94.

Mr. Dickens starred for decades on the “Opry,” where he was a vital part of the scene both onstage and backstage. His dressing room was an essential stop for performers on the show, and it was there that he held court for a variety of artists, some of whom came to the Opry more than a half century after Mr. Dickens’ 1948 debut.

He remained a vital performer throughout his life, last playing the “Opry” on Dec. 20, a day after his 94th birthday and five days before he would be admitted to the hospital after suffering a stroke on Christmas Day. He died of cardiac arrest on Friday.

Read more at The Tennessean

‘Beverly Hillbillies’ star Donna Douglas dead at 81

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Donna Douglas and Elvis in Frankie and Johnny.

Donna Douglas and Elvis in Frankie and Johnny.

Donna Douglas, the actress who won over TV viewers as Elly May Clampett on “The Beverly Hillbillies,” has died. She was 81.

The star’s granddaughter told TMZ Douglas died in her Louisiana home surrounded by friends and family.

The cause of death was pancreatic cancer, her niece told The Associated Press.

Douglas appeared “The Beverly Hillbillies,” a comedy about a backwoods Tennessee family who moved to Beverly Hills after striking it rich from oil on their land. for all nine seasons of the show and reprised her role in a TV movie reboot of the series in 1981.

As Elly May, she seemed blissfully unaware of her status as a bumpkin blond bombshell. Typically she was clad in a snug flannel shirt and tight jeans cinched with a rope belt, and she seemed to prefer her critters to any beau.

Chosen from more than 500 other actresses, Douglas said she felt at ease playing the role because, like her character, she grew up a poor Southern tomboy. Her childhood in Pride, Louisiana, came in handy when she was asked during her audition to milk a goat.

Read more at FOX News

One more problem with those electric cars

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It has recently been revealed that hybrid cars may not save you any money. Studies indicate that, when you factor in the price of the car and maintenance, it might take you decades to see any significant return. Even if gasoline prices were to reach $5 a gallon.

There is another problem which this surveillance video from December 30 shows. You might go so long between fillings that you forget where the gas cap is.

NOTE: I am aware that this is probably not a hybrid car. This is satire.

The 12 Days of Williams: May 2014

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43acb_4a26The national government jumped on the Arizona State Hospital after only one death while it was alleged that VA hospitals were allowing veterans to die. Daniel M. Dellinger, Commander of the American Legion, called for the resignation of VA Secretary Eric Shinseki. Sergeant Major barrasMartin R. Barreras, an Army Ranger from Tuscon, died from wounds received in Afghanistan. He was one of the men who rescued Jessica Lynch.

A seventeen-year-old girl unseated a Democrat to become the youngest legistator in the history of West Virginia.

The Supreme Court ruled in favor of Christian prayers at the start of city council meetings.

A professor at UC Santa Barbara allegedly threatened to to kill “Ted Cruz-Teabaggers.” High school text books found re-writing the Bill of Rights.

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The human-caused Slide Rock fire began about a mile north of Slide Rock State Park began. It would ultimately consume thousands of acres. The fire threatened evacuations from areas of Flagstaff and even Williams felt the effects of the fire. But there was one bright spot.

ADOT launched a new drivers license process and design. It was recently defeated by a Federal Judge who ordered Arizona to give licenses to illegal aliens.

The State Library of Arizona was nationally recognized as the Library of the Year.

Using distracting electronic devices while driving was made illegal by the Coconino County Board of Supervisors. They also banned the sale and use of consumer fireworks in the unincorporated areas of Coconino County. The Coconino Community College district raised property taxes.

A single vehicle accident seriously injured a person on Snowbowl Road. Coconino County Sheriff’s deputies investigated the murder of David Allen Christine.

kzbz-92-radioIn Williams, KZBX radio FM 92.1 continued to grow. You can listen online. The cars started coming through. First the Route 66 Fun Run.

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Staff Sgt. Lee

Williams began preparing to receive the annual participants of Run For The Wall. Run For The Wall arrived May 14. In the group was active-duty Army Staff Sergeant David Lee.

At the same time, a video of a secret Vietnam War Memorial went viral on the Internet.

The election season began with Mayor John Moore seeking a third term.

Bearizona Wildlife Drive Through park held a job fair to hire for the summer. They apparently required the extra help because bears have started using it as a hotel.

In crime news, the Cataract Creek Gang was spotted around Williams. The famous gang tends to arrive around spring and cause trouble throughout the summer.

Some of us did not have a Merry Christmas nor a Happy New Year

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IRAN – While you were passing presents amongst yourselves and hoisting a glass to a mythical baby with a 2015 banner, American hostages were languishing in an Iranian prison.

saeedAccording to his wife, Naghmeh, Pastor Saeed Abedini—who has been in prison for over two years and subject to harsh beatings for his Christian Faith—is in severe pain. The American Center for Law and Justice posted a portion of a letter he wrote which described his difficulty and how his Christian faith has seen him through.

The ACLJ was also gratified when Obama noted the plight of Pastor Saeed at the National Prayer Meeting held in Washington D.C. in February of 2014. In September, a UN panel “blasted” Iran over the imprisonment of Saeed.

Amir_Mirza_Hekmati_USMCPastor Saeed is not the only prisoner being held by the terrorist regime. Amir Hekmati, a former United States Marine, is also being held. Rumors have surfaced that the lawyer for Hekmati, Mahmoud Alizadeh Tabatabaei, was quoted as saying that a proposal was made for a prisoner exchange. It was allegedly sent from the Administration was sent to the Iranian government via the Swiss embassy. The rumor was denied by Washington.

Hekmati was born in Flagstaff, Arizona and served as a U.S. Marine from August 2001 to 2005. He obtained the rank of sergeant. He was a translator in Iraq but received no military intelligence training. He was arrested for spying.
JasonRezaian_739952c
Jason Rezaian holds dual American and Iranian citizenship and was working as the bureau chief for the Washington Post in Tehran since 2012. He was arrested in July for unspecified charges. According to his family, Iranian judiciary has held him without bail and access to legal representation.

According to U.S. State Department spokesman Jeff Rathke, the prisoner exchange rumor is false, but the U.S. does call for the release of American prisoners and to assist in locating Robert Levinson.

Robert Levinson was a former DEA and FBI agent turned private investigator who was in Iran allegedly researching a cigarette smuggling case. He was taken hostage, according to reports, by Iranian security forces on March 9, 2007 and has not been seen since.