Prairie View Today

2008 is here and 2007 is out with all the hoopla of changes, scandals, winners and losers, and the launching of campaigns for the presidency of the United States of America.

In closing out 2007, let us also pause to honor and those who departed from our lives and give thanks to those who are still with us. As we are at the beginning of a new year and the ending of an old one, we often wish we could turn over a new leaf or have a fresh start. No doubt about it, there have been certain things we have said or done in this past year that we may not be proud of. Wouldn't it be great to just start over again? In reality you can have a fresh start. The New Year is still a blank slate. We are moving into uncharted waters, 2008 doesn't have any history for us; therefore, we have to make history. We don't know what the New Year is going to bring. We don't know what problems we are going to encounter or the changes that we will have to make. We don't know what blessings the Lord has in store for us. But whatever the New Year holds don't be afraid.

Let your God guide you down the path you may go. There are opportunities ahead of you to make a new commitment. You decide which path you are going to walk in this coming year. You decide what your priorities are going to be. You decide which direction you are going to take, each and every day.

The 10 traits from "Investors Business Daily" that has been helpful to others over the years. 10 Traits For Success: (1) How You Think Is Everything - Always be positive. Think success, not failure. Beware of a negative environment. (2) Decide Upon Your True Dreams and Goals - Write down your specific goals and develop a plan to reach them. (3) Take Action - A Goals is nothing without action. Don't be afraid to get started. Just do it. (4) Never Stop Learning - Go back to school or read books. Get training and acquire skills. (5) Be Persistent and Work Hard - Success is a marathon, not a sprint. Never give up. (6) Learn To Analyze Details - Get all the facts, all the input. Learn from your mistakes (7). Focus Your Time and Money - Don't let other people or things distract you. (8) Don't Be Afraid to Innovate; Be Different - Following the herd is a sure way to mediocrity. (9) Deal and Communicate With People Effectively - No person is an island. Learn to understand and motivate others. (10) Be Honest and Dependable and Take Responsibility - Otherwise, Numbers 1-9 won't matter.

Dec. 28 marked an important time in the life of Mr. James R. Muse, former Waller County commissioner, who celebrated his 101st birthday with the folks at the Tomball Nursing Center on Dec. 29. Several family members, including daughters Mary and Wilma were there to sing "Happy Birthday" to Mr. Muse. While I did not make it to the party, I got a chance that evening to visit and chat with him for a while. He was not as talkative as last year, but we manage to reminisce about the good old days and his love for mankind. Several attendants came by with cards and cheers for Mr. Muse, who is among the many Centenarians in the United States and Texas.

The race is on for primaries in Waller County and the Rev. Dr. Simeon L. Queen is the latest candidate to announce his candidacy for Waller County commissioner, Precinct 3. Queen's motto for this election is "the promise land is at hand, enter in with me." Other candidates for the position include Marie Herndon, a Waller Country realtor, and the incumbent Milton Whiting, who is seeking re-election. The concerned citizens of Prairie View will host a "Save Jones Defense Fund Banquet" on Jan. 19 at 6 p.m. in the Jones Elementary North Building on University Drive in Prairie View. Tickets are available for $30 (single) and $50 (couple). Proceeds will support the legal expenses associated with the civil and criminal litigation related to Jones Elementary. The planners are urging you to come out and support this very important event.

The city of Prairie View Mayor's 'Men of Purpose Forum' will be held Jan. 5 at 10 a.m. in Room 1A110 of Hobart Taylor Building at PVAMU. All concerned men and boys of the community and surrounding cities are invited to attend and take part in the discussions. For further information, contact Dr. James I. Kirkwood, program coordinator, at (936) 857-9145 or (281) 635-2975.

Waller ISD will hold its regular meeting on Jan. 8 in the WISD Administration Building, 2214 Waller St., at 7:30 p.m. unless a change is previously announced. All meetings are open to the public.

Congratulations to the honorable Judge Dwayne Charleston on his fifth anniversary as Precinct 3 judge in Waller County and to Commissioner Milton Whiting on his fourth anniversary as Waller County commissioner.

While many of us have a book inside of us, only a few usually take the plunge and put it in writing. Well, my home girl Collis Sherman Bell did just that with her latest "Pockets of My Heart" collection of contemporary poetry with engaging scenarios that allows you to reflect on your own family, friends and relationships.

Incidentally Collis recently recited a special one to Mrs. Esel Bell at her 80th birthday party. Collis, a 1977 and 1979 graduate of PVAMU, is married to Willie J. Bell Jr., the son of Willie and Esel Bell of Prairie View. They reside in Western Florida with their two children Willie J. III and Candace. Congratulations Collis, see you on the book tour!

On the subject of writing: I am pleased to share some points to help you as you take time to create your personal family history or spiritual journey. Here are the first two of 17 suggestions provided by Dr. Sylvester Shannon, a Presbyterian minister of Fort Belvoir, Va. Begin by writing (1) your birth: when, where, parents, surrounding circumstances, and conditions. (2)Your childhood: health, diseases, incidents, funny accidents, visitors in your home, etc. grandparents, relatives you remember, religion in your home, financial condition of parents. Embellish those points with personal anecdotes. You will find that at the end of the next 10-12 weeks you would have completed, what may be a best seller for the whole world to read.

By the way, if you have never had a mentor or personal coach, it won't hurt to get one now. This person can help you plan your course of action and stay with you through the implementation. You know the best tennis player, entertainer or golfer in the world all have coaches or mentors who helped them to success. Yet most people (who admire them) never even take the first lesson, and much less invest in a personal coach. Be different. Seek the support of a coach in your life? Best wishes! I look forward to your success.

A VIEW FROM THE HILL: In keeping with the new winning tradition, Congratulations to Coach Henry Frazier III, head football coach at PVAMU, on his designation as Coach of the Year by College Sporting News for 2007. Frazier, who led Prairie View A&M to its first winning season and most wins since 1964, is in his fourth year. He finished the year with a 7-3 record and a second place finish in the SWAC's Western Division. Frazier recently received a contract extension that will keep him on "The Hill" thru 2012. Also receiving CSN honors was PVAMU's linebacker Zach East, a 6-2, 230, senior from Houston.

Congratulations to the Prairie View A&M Lady Panthers basketball team on its recent win over the Rice Owls on Dec. 28, the first win for the Panthers over Rice since 1979, the series inaugural meeting. This was the final non-conference game for the Panthers which opens the 2008 conference season on Saturday, Jan.5, against the Lady Jaguars of Southern University into town. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m. at the William Nicks Arena. The men's PVAMU basketball team will take on the Southern University Jaguars at 7:30 p.m. Both teams will see action again on Jan. 7 against the Braves of Alcorn University in the W. J. Nicks Arena. The women's game begins 5:30 pm, with the men's game at 7:30 pm. Come on out and cheer the Panthers to victory.

Please continue your prayers for Ms. Claudia Hill, Mrs. Mary Kemp, and Mrs. Douglas Woolfolk, who stand in the need of prayer. May the peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge of God, through Jesus Christ! Have a great 2008. Also, please remember Mrs. Esel Bell in your prayers on the passing of several relatives this past week.

JANUARY BIRTHDAY GREETINGS TO: Vera Armstrong (1), Willie J. Bell III and Felecia Bell (1), Pearl Martin (1), Robert Williams (1), Helen Boyer (2), Doris Thomas (2), Alice Goode (3), Donald Sowell (6), Irene Reid (7), Gloria Richardson (7), Eddie Jessie (9), James Kromah (14), Gloria Holloway (14), Arie Yell (14), Eugene Armstrong (15) Gib Dungey (15), Mary Curtis (16), Madolyn Reed (17) and Hosie Anderson (19).

ON A CULTURAL NOTE, I am sure you knew that on: Jan. 01/01/1804 - Haiti gains independence from France; 1/1/1863 - President Abraham Lincoln signs the Emancipation Proclamation freeing the slaves in the United States; 01/02/1831 - William Lloyd Garrison began publishing "The Liberator" abolitionist newspaper, in Boston Mass; 01/02/15- Noted historian John Hope Franklin is born; 01/03/1624 - William Tucker, first black child born in America, baptized in Jamestown; 01/04/20 - The first black baseball league, the National Negro Baseball League, was founded; 1/4/85 Congressman William Gray is first African American elected chairman of the House Budget Committee; 1/5/11 Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity is founded at Indiana University; 1/15/29 The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is born in Atlanta, Ga.; 8, 1836-Fannie M Jackson, educator and first black woman college graduate in the U.S., was born on this date; 1/9/1866-Fisk University was founded in Nashville; 1/12/48 - The U.S. Supreme Court decision gives blacks the right to study law at state institutions; 1/12/71-The Congressional Black Caucus organized in DC; 1/13/13-Delta Sigma Theta Sorority founded at Howard University; 1/15/08-Alpha Kappa Alpha, first black Greek letter sorority, founded at Howard University and 1/16/20-Zeta Phi Beta founded at Howard University.

Until next week, in the words of the late great god-father of soul James Brown, "Get On the Good Foot because Papa's got a Brand New Bag!" in 2008. Keep the news, achievements, and recognitions coming to prairieviewtoday@iwon.com, fax (936) 857-5352, phone (936) 857-3272 or P. O. Box 2906, Prairie View, Texas 77446.

©Houston Community Newspapers Online 2008