Widely disliked muleshoer Jarvis Dickle is murdered at his shop in Muleshoe, Texas, and Sheriff Asa Hunt investigates.

This book discloses the humorous and the sometimes controversial, if not curious, circumstances surrounding the naming of more than 700 Texas towns.

Randall Foster prefers to preach sermons, teach classes, raise funds, recruit members and make sure he visits church members before their surgery. Wants to be known for that, if anything a caring minister you can trust. Dreamer. Alas, if anything can go wrongit does. Not a short list of the wrong goingsexual misconduct chargesdivorce...congregational meeting to throw him outdouble-homicide indictment when a church member is found slumped dead in churchs front sanctuary pew. Didnt help the woman, four months pregnant, is his misconduct accuser and a noosed rope around her neck is from his pulpit robe. He has to reach up to touch bottom. Then the surprises begin. Not everyone is against him. Some figure shadows are evidence of light somewhere. He is sinkingfast. But not all is lost. An irascible secretarya dont let them get you church membera new fishing guideand a salmon-stalking sea lion make for the most unpredictable sliver of hope. Hell take it. Sinking? Yep. Drown? Not sure.

Readers met Charlene Charlie Goodnight Myers in the novella A Christmas Cactus. Now Charlie is Mayor of Brangus, Texas. When a Hollywood movie company comes to town, the citizens of Brangus cant wait to get into the action. Movie stars, mysterious strangers and a cruel director show up to enliven the plot. When a local socialite is accused of the murder of one of the movie staff, Charlie recruits her friends to help solve the crime. Readers will recognize Darci Tenant, Charlies wealthy best friend, and Manuela, now owner of Cowgirls and Curls beauty salon. The redoubtable Vessie Lou Culpepper and feisty Justine Longacre also pitch in to help find the killer. Along the way, Mayor Charlie works hard to take care of business for the zany eccentric citizens of Brangus.

About the Book In this haunting account, Marlowe J. Churchill investigates the secrets of a family tragedy from nearly 100 years ago. This mystery has haunted Churchill’s mother and was rarely discussed. Almost 100 years ago, the Hassell family suffered a major loss after the brutal murder of Susan Hassell and eight of her children, murdered by her new husband, George. The tragedy became a focus of people nationwide, outraging the people of Farwell where the violent crime was committed. This heartbreak caused serious emotional damage and is a fascinating story about the Texas justice system of 100 years ago. About the Author Marlowe J. Churchill is a retired newspaper journalist residing in Southern California with his wife. Being a father and grandfather, he is the author of many other works. During his writing career, Churchill has covered thousands of news events and has traveled worldwide on assignments.

To one extent or another, dealing with the news media is a fact of life for every American law enforcement leader. However, news organizations, although a pain at times, can aid law enforcement in a number of ways. This text avoids theory and the intangible and concentrates on the practicalities by exploring past troubled times and focuses on what cops and reporters have to offer each other. The “news” is defined and broken down into some of its technical, component parts. The secrets for establishing a mutually beneficial relationship with reporters are revealed, including the absolute necessity for credibility on the part of the law enforcement leader. Common sense policies and procedures concerning relations with the news media, and the importance of an effective Public Information Officer (PIO) is explored. The following topics are featured: newspaper journalism; the all-seeing eye called television; a look at what radio has to offer; Internet news; and what the Net can provide the police officer in twenty-first century America. The law enforcement officer will learn how to give an effective interview, produce news releases that will be used by the media, the art of leading a successful news conference, and the dirty tricks used by the occasional, unscrupulous journalist. Solid advice for overcoming this media misbehavior is given, which will prepare the leader for dealing with the media challenges found at the scene of a major crime, disaster, or other high-profile incident. Instructions for the responses required to recover from an episode of bad news is included, aiding the leader in how to inform the public of all good news that the agency generates. Each chapter concludes with a summary of vital points to remember, and a glossary of terms appears at the end of the text. A new chapter has been added on the topic of “fake news.” Law enforcement leaders need to understand what this phenomenon is and how to protect themselves from its negative effects. This how-to-do-it book is a troubleshooting guide that will enable the law enforcement leader to undertake any challenging media situation that is encountered.

Self-published collection of family stories, photos, and genealogy covering the first 91 years of Frances Gaddy Stegall's life in Texas.