Pt. 2: The funeral

The following is an excerpt from “The Hall County Gangster: Raymond Ballew” by John R. Ballew.“Sir,I’m fixing to do one more thing that’ll guarantee my spot in Hell. I know you were lonely, sick and you needed help, but you’re goin’ to be layin’ next to my momma for eternity.

The Calcote family

I’d like to recognize the extended Calcote family who came all the way from Rowena in Runnels County.You may know that Rowena is the birthplace of a young woman who was the passenger in a car that missed a detour and plunged into the Salt Fork of the Red River, about six miles north of here.

Pt. 1: The funeral

The following is an excerpt from“The Hall County Gangster:Raymond Ballew” by John R. Ballew.3 p.m. Friday, Aug. 16, 1938 Raymond Ballew pulled his new, red Studebaker into the South Section of Fairview Cemetery in Memphis. He parked on the dirt road next to his father’s grave.

New choices for business owners

If you own a business and you offer a 401(k) or similar retirement plan to your employees, you’ll want to stay current on the various changes affecting these types of accounts. And in 2024, you may find some interesting new developments to consider. These changes are part of the SECURE 2.

‘The Germans are coming’

The war came home to Memphis in 1944.Cotton was king in Hall County, and all the soldiers left, volunteering to go fight the Hun. The problem was, the men left, but the work went on.The Memphis Compress needed hands to move and load bales of cotton for the war.

How is your retirement income taxed?

Once you’re retired, you will likely need to draw on several types of income for your living expenses.

‘The Heroes of Hall County’

My second book, “The Heroes of Hall County,” is going well and will be ready for the Hall County Reunion in September.I taught history for 25 years, and I always tried to show my students how history affected our area just as much as it affected New York City.

Remember all who sacrificed

As we prepare to celebrate Memorial Day 2024, I wonder, “exactly who should be honored?”The last Monday in May is a federal holiday set aside for “honoring and mourning the U.S. military personnel who died while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces.

Establishing culture and education

One should not be surprised in the early days of Wellington that the men were busy earning a living. Wellington women, in turn, became the driving cultural force of the town.

The Memphis onTNE Red!

Editor’s note: The following is a continuation of an excerpt from “The Hall County Gangster: Raymond Ballew” by John R. Ballew.Raymond sat in silence and watched the farmer looking at the radio, “Hell, Ben, you can keep the radio.