Published: August 21, 2008 10:24 am            

Number, please ...

Life working the Daily Sun switchboard

Random, out-of-the-blue calls are frequent at the Daily Sun. It’s not uncommon for someone to call here wanting Channel 11 or Fox 4’s phone numbers. Rarely do they ask for Channel 5 or 8.

Or there’s the caller wanting the phone number for the White House. Yes, the White House. The caller wasn’t too happy with the information I relayed which was the address (I still remember that from third grade!). She wanted to speak with the president himself. She didn’t want to write a letter, as she wanted an immediate response and only the president would do. I tried to reason with her, to no avail, that he would not answer the phone even if I had the number.

Coming to mind now is the call last week from Mr. Wilson, who seemed surprised that I still worked here. (Yes, I’ve been here 11 years and it surprises me sometimes, too.) Now, mind you, I don’t know Mr. Wilson nor have I talked to him before to my knowledge. He asked if Betty still worked here. Betty Atkeisson hasn’t worked here in years. Then Mr. Wilson asked my last name. Finding out that it was McClanahan, he jumped to the conclusion that I was married to the former owner of McClanahan Rentals. Wrong again! Oy vey!

The mixed-bag of calls we get are numerous, and one call recently sent me on a search for something on the Internet, specifically the Navarro County Genealogical Society Web site. Ed Williams does a wonderful job of keeping the Web site updated. It is chock full of information, both old and new.

Even though I wasn’t looking for “law and order” hangings, that is where I ended with the search. The information was that the last public hanging in Navarro County took place on Jan. 31, 1902. Not long after this hanging, Texas passed a law prohibiting hanging. It was very interesting reading. That’s just one of the many things you can read about from the Web site.

Since I’ve mentioned the genealogical society, let me also point out that at 10 a.m. Sept. 13, the society will celebrate its 30th birthday, and the public is invited. The event will be held in the Civic Room of the Corsicana Public Library. The society was organized in August 1978, and the first slate of officers from that year will be presenting this anniversary program. I’m hoping to be there as this society has contributed much valuable information to many residents here as well as out of town, state and country. If you would like information on how to become a member, view the Web site at www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~txnavarr/ or call (903) 654-4810 and ask for the Liz Gillispie Genealogy Room. A volunteer will be glad to help you with information.

Several years ago, about five or more to be exact, one of the ladies at the library used the following recipe that I received from my sister for one of their “food” days. The library staff and volunteers have been known for years to have some really great “food” days and I was thrilled when I heard how much they enjoyed this recipe. You can enjoy it, too! Give it a try!



Earthquake Cake

1 cup flaked coconut

1 cup chopped pecans

1 package German Chocolate cake mix

1 stick soft margarine

1 8-ounce package cream cheese, softened

1 1-pound box powdered sugar, sifted

Spray bottom of 9-by-13 inch pan. Combine coconut and pecans. Place evenly in pan. Prepare cake mix as directed on package and pour on top of coconut-pecan layer. Combine margarine, cream cheese and powdered sugar. Spoon on top of cake mixture. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven about 45 minutes. (Cream cheese will sink to the bottom.)

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Camille McClanahan may be contacted via e-mail at camille@corsicanadailysun.com.

        

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