Thanksgiving… There are many stories about how this holiday had its beginnings. I happen to like the familiar story of our first Thanksgiving being the one involving Pilgrims, Puritans, and Native Americans at Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1621. They say it was prompted by a bountiful harvest that year. Another thing associated with Thanksgiving is the Cornucopia, The Horn of Plenty. Artist’s depictions of this show a horn shaped wicker type basket with all sorts of fruits, vegetables, and nuts spilling out of it. All gifts from the Earth. There are no turkeys in that basket. How the turkey became the traditional meat for Thanksgiving is something else I’ll need to research. Or perhaps some of you will enlighten me.

The Archer City Angel Tre program is giving members of the community a chance to help a child in need to have a better Christmas. The Archer City Angel Tree led by the Salvation Army has gone to a virtual format for picking an angel from out of the 120 angels currently set to receive a gift.

The Navarro Family played an important role in the early, formative years of Texas. Angel Navarro was an important early political leader in San Antonio, service that paved the way for his son. Jose Antonio Navarro, a leader of the Texas Revolution and in the early Republic of Texas, was inspired for a life of service by his father. In turn, he would inspire his own children and citizens across the state.

The Angel Tree is back at the Archer Public Library starting Monday, November 21st. Stop by during library hours to pick an Angel to shop for this year. Each Angel represents an underprivileged child in our community and includes their age and items from their Christmas wish list. If you would like to give but don't have time to shop, donations are also being accepted at the library. Come by and help make a child's Christmas merry!

The Holliday ISD School Board hosted a facilities finance workshop at its scheduled meeting on Monday, Nov. 14, in the elementary cafeteria.

Join the Archer Public Library as we honor Larry McMurtry's legacy with the dedication of a Literary Landmark in his name. The evening will include a panel discussion of Larry Mc-Murtry's life and work and a special screening from the Lonesome Dove miniseries. 6:00 PM Friday, November 18th at the Royal Theater in Archer City, TX. Doors open at 5:30 PM light refreshments provided.

The symbol Yin & Yang is so old that history does not tell us who first invented it or what it first described. We know it came out of China thousands of years ago. In modern times it is used to express opposites. Hot/cold, day/night, wet/ dry, good/evil, ect. This symbol shows that as Yin increases, Yang naturally decreases. Yet at the fullest point of Yin there is a tiny dot of Yang and vice versa. So the symbol also shows a balance between the two. I think Yin & Yang perfectly describes what we speak of when we talk about balance in Nature.

The Sheriff’s Office received 279 calls for service this past two weeks. As this report is being written there are 16 inmates and 5 being female in the Archer County Jail.

Join the Archer Public Library as we honor Larry McMurtry's legacy with the dedication of a Literary Landmark in his name. The evening will include a panel discussion of Larry Mc-Murtry's life and work and a special screening from the Lonesome Dove miniseries. 6:00 PM Friday, November 18th at the Royal Theater in Archer City, TX. Doors open at 5:30 PM light refreshments provided.

Dr. Ken Bridges is a Texas native, writer, and history professor.