Santa Anna News

Cowtown, as we all know, is where the West begins. And a new exhibit at the Cowboy Hall of Fame in the Fort Worth Stockyards is a reminder of why.

Shirley Applewhite and Wes Clark talk to guests. STAR-TELEGRAM/RODGER MALLISON A uniform and some other items belonging to Major Ripley Arnold, the founder of Fort Worth, are on display as the Applewhite-Clark Exhibit previews at the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame.

To Texana collector Shirley Applewhite, Samuel Walker was a larger-than-life Texas Ranger, a courtly gentleman but ferocious frontier fighter killed in a battle against Mexicans in 1847.

Thinking stuff up is hard. You have to have characters, action, thoughts, sub plots, and so on.

Richard Kidder, in a worn waistcoat with a sword slung on his hip and a broad brown hat perched on his head, was illuminated by candlelight as he stood inside the Alamo.

I can't believe Jackie and I went to Edinburg and did not do any birding. We didn't even visit the World Birding Center.

Since publishing this post on the Battle of the Alamo and its several portrayals in movies and on TV, I've done a little more research especially into one of the battle's more controversial aspects- one which, to somebody who was once a coonskin hat-wearing five year old fan of Fess Parker's Davy Crockett, is one of the more interesting ones.

Houston Mayor Bill White is no stranger to the Alamo City. He grew up in San Antonio and graduated from Churchill High School.

Ray - or Santa - and Jean Findley. Santa Ray Findley sits on his porch awaiting visitors.

Well, Tennessee chutzpah, actually. In Texas. One of the TV movie networks has been showing the 1960 movie The Alamo , staring John Wayne as Davy Crockett quite a bit lately.

Funny what you think about when they are rolling you down the hall of the hospital to the operating room.

Here are the more than 160 historic figures required to be taught under proposed new social studies standards.

It's been noted that there aren't enough Hispanics representing in Texas' textbooks.

The Alamo is one of the most visited historic sites in Texas. ENLARGE A view of the outside of the east wall of the Alamo.

As America debates whether to send more troops to Afghanistan in the ninth year of a war for ends we cannot discern, a riveting new history recalls times when Americans fought for vital national interests.

As America debates whether to send tens of thousands more troops to Afghanistan, in the ninth year of a war for ends we cannot discern, a riveting new history recalls times when Americans fought for vital national interests.

I've always been a history buff at heart and more recently an avid gun enthusiast, but most importantly, a supporter of Second Amendment rights.

Beth Worley, who opened the Quilter's Patch 11 years ago with her friend, Rita Day, operates the long-arm quilting machine at the shop in Santa Anna.

The Enormous Mister Schmupsle by Joe Murray. This follow-up to Who Asked the Moon to Dinner? presents an alphabet adventure.

Originally published October 27, 2009 at 6:03 p.m., updated October 27, 2009 at 10:45 p.m. Corrections and Clarifications The Advocate wants to correct promptly any error in fact or clarify any misleading information we publish.