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Hale's Department Store to Close Doors After 56 Years

Hale's Department Store, a Floydada landmark, will be closing its doors at the end of this month.

After 56 years in business the family owned department store will no longer be a part of downtown Floydada.

Walton Hale opened the doors on Friday, Feb. 13, 1945. In 1955, after three years in the Air Force and the Korean War, Walt's son, Bill, came home and finished his personnel management degree at Texas Tech and went to work for his father.

Bill's son, Richard, joined his father at the store in 1977, and has managed the store over 15 years.

Bill's wife, Carolyn joined the store's operation in the early 70's after twin sons, Mike and Steve, had gone to college.

"My father passed away in May, 1993," said Bill. "Walt worked here in the store right up until his death. This is a third generation business now."

The business first opened up with a 25 foot store front on the west side of the square. "The lot we used to sit on is now empty and next to Script Printing," said Bill Hale.

"My father moved to Floydada in 1929 to open up J.C. Penney. He left Penney's in 1945 to open up his own business. J.C. Penney stayed until the 1950's and was bought by Beall Brothers (located where Duckwall's is now).

"We had to move to our present location in 1952 which increased our store front size to 50 feet. In 1965 we added the shoe store side, which increased our store front by another 25 feet. This building used to be the Star Cash Grocery Store."

Hale's is the last department store in Floyd County. Bill remembers in years past there had always been 3-5 department stores in Floydada. As the years passed the stores dwindled, but Hales Department Store has managed to make it through economic slumps and continue to serve the needs of Floyd and surrounding counties.

Since the first day it opened Hale's has carried a full range of clothing for the entire family plus shoes and home furnishings.

The Hales hope to have the business closed by December 31st and have put the building up for sale.

Carolyn says she is looking forward to retirement. "I just plan on doing what I want--things I enjoy. For years I've watched my friends go off for different outings and I haven't been able to join them because I had to work. Now I'll be going with them.

"We plan on staying in Floydada and being a part of the community," said Carolyn.

Richard is already planning a new career. He is currently enrolled at Texas Tech. He is taking the necessary education courses he needs and hopes to teach and coach.

Closing the family business has, of course, been an emotional change for the Hales.

"Speaking for my father, myself, and Richard, we have deemed it a privilege to live and raise our families in Floydada," said Bill. "The store enabled us to do that.

"I would like to thank our customers for their patronage throughout the years. We always tried to furnish the community with quality, fashionable merchandise at reasonable prices. We hope we were successful in that endeavor.

"It has been a pleasure to serve the community and we will miss seeing everyone on a regular basis at the store."

Junior High Students Support Marines

A group of Lockney 7th graders have chosen to learn about the "War on Terrorism" in a close and personal way. Every week the kids devote time to send handwritten letters or cards to "any Marine" on ships in the Arabian Sea.

Many of the youth, part of Ms. Lyles 3rd period, have been excited to receive letters back from appreciative soldiers.

The letter writing campaign began as an idea presented to the students after Ms. Lyles learned of a Lockney graduate, Marine Sgt. Chad Stapp, who was headed to the Mediterranean Sea and then possibly to Afghanistan.

"I asked all of my students if they would be interested in writing letters," said Lyles. "All of them were interested in being part of signing their names to cards, etc., but my 3rd period was the most excited about actually writing the letters.

"I believe they became closer to the issue because they were with me in the Library the day the World Trade Towers collapsed. We saw the 2nd plane go into the tower and we listened during the class period to the radio. We were all affected a great deal together as a class."

The first letters were sent off to the '97 LHS graduate, Chad Stapp, son of Randall and Virginia. Stapp then provided names of friends--Rob Marchant and Todd White.

Stapp, Marchant, and White, were all on different ships (but close together) in the Arabian Sea. The three Marines are part of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit.

Marchant is on the USS Bataan and Todd White is on the USS Whidbey. Stapp was on the USS Shreveport, but is no longer on ship.

Marchant eventually suggested to Lyles that the students address letters to "any Marine", and give encouragement to those who did not receive many letters.

The class was eager to follow through with this suggestion.

Although it is now hard to communicate with Sgt. Stapp, Marchant is still collecting letters. The letters are then given to the ship's chaplain and the chaplain then distributes them among the Marines.

Letters were sent and cards and pictures have started coming back. The pictures are put up in class for everyone to see.

The kids are all in agreement that they have enjoyed talking to the Marines.

"I enjoy getting to understand what they are going through," said Tyson Carthel.

The class says the Marines have told them they have a job to do and that it is "now or never."

The class said all the Marines they have heard from are in agreement that "they have to take care of it now or Bin Laden will do it again."

Now that the kids are getting to know the Marines they are now more concerned for their personal safety.

"I want them to know we think it is brave what they are doing," said Karina Salazar.

"I think we give them a little hope," said Matthew Aday.

"I want o tell them Good Luck," said Codi Wiley.

"They are in my prayers," said Kendra Hooten.

"I will be happy to include letters or cards from the community into our packages of mail," said Lyles. "We will be getting together a bundle for an 'after Christmas' surprise. If you would like to send a letter with us please bring it to Mrs. Cook at the Junior High School office.

For those wishing to send a letter to Chad Stapp, it should be addressed to: Sgt. Chad Stapp, MSSG 26 S4, 26 MEU Det, B Unit 74071, FPO AE 09502-4071.

Stapp Serving in Pakistan

Sargeant William Chad Stapp, of Lockney, was shipped out of Israel, November 27th, to Pakistan. The son of Randall and Virginia Stapp, Sgt. Stapp is a part of the Marine "Recon Special Forces."

Sargeant William Chad Stapp entered the Marine Corp October, 1998. He received his basic training at Camp Pendleton in San Diego, California.

After basic training, he was sent to Redstone Arsenal, Alabama for training and schooling as Ammunition Technician.

Stapp was sent to Okinawa for his year of overseas duty in April, 1999 at Camp Schwab. He also served part of this tour in Japan.

His next duty station was camp Lajune, North Carolina.

On September 20, 2001, Stapp left Camp Lajune on the U.S.S. Shreveport headed for the Mediterranean Sea. He has also served part of this tour on the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Bataan.

On October 1, 2001, Stapp was promoted to Sargeant. Sargeant Stapp was shipped out of Israel on November 27th to Pakistan.

OBITUARIES

E.J. KINSLOW

Funeral services for E.J. Kinslow, 88, of Denton were at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, December 4, 2001 at First United Methodist Church in Floydada with Reverend Tom Ballard officiating and Reverend Wendell Horn, pastor, assisting. Burial was in Floyd County Memorial Park under the direction of Moore-Rose-White Funeral Home of Floydada.

Mr. Kinslow died Friday, November 30, 2001 in Denton.

He was born on September 24, 1913 in Pottsville, Arkansas to the late Mr. Duffie Ewing Kinslow and Mrs. Verlon Ann Jones Kinslow. He graduated from Pottsville High School in Arkansas and attended Arkansas Tech in Russellville, Arkansas. He married Navolia Scott on March 22, 1939 in Russellville, Arkansas. She preceded him in death on July 26, 1999. He moved to California from Russellville, Arkansas in 1937, to Wolfforth in 1946, to Plainview in 1949, to South Plains in March 1954 and to Denton in 1995. He was a veteran of the United States Navy having served in the Navel Air Force during World War II. He retired from farming in the Spring of 1977 and was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Floydada. He was also preceded in death by a sister Dana Loveless.

Survivors include three sons, Barry Kinslow of Carrollton, Philip Kinslow of Houston, and Stephan Kinslow of Buda; three brothers, Robert of Kingsman, Arizona and Aaron Kinslow and Benn Kinslow both of Lubbock; one sister, Virginia Scott of Lubbock; seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

The family suggests memorials to First United Methodist Church, PO Box 719, Floydada, TX 79235.

MODESTA PERALEZ

Rosary for Modesta Peralez, 70, of Lockney was at 7:00 p.m. Sunday, December 2, 2001 at San Jose Catholic Church in Lockney. Funeral mass was celebrated at 10:00 a.m. Monday, December 3, 2001 at San Jose Catholic Church with Father Jim McCartney, celebrant. Burial was in Lockney Cemetery under the direction of Moore-Rose-White Funeral Home of Lockney.

Mrs. Peralez died Friday, November 30, 2001 at Mangold Memorial Hospital in Lockney.

She was born on August 13, 1931 in Realitos to the late Mr. Guellermo Rodriquez and Mrs. Ofelia Arellano Rodriquez. She married Santana Peralez on June 23, 1947 in San Diego, Texas. He preceded her in death on June 24, 1989. She moved to Lockney from Alice in 1960. She was a homemaker and a member of San Jose Catholic Church. She was also preceded in death by a daughter, Gracie Peralez; two brothers and two sisters.

She is survived by six sons, Jose of Maxwell, N.M., Juan Manuel and Daniel both of Lockney, Cruz of Victoria, Arnoldo of Plainview, and Rene of Athens; five daughters, Angie Vargas, Norma Rea and Maria Huerta all of Lockney, Anita Lopez of Victoria, and Jo Ann Rangel of Floydada; three brothers, Adan Rodriquez of Orange Grove, Roy Rodriquez of Lubbock, and Robert Rodriquez of Victoria; four sisters, Maggie Joslin of Victoria, Ofelia Guzman and Arlene Raissez both of Lockney, and Doris Delgado of Kyle; 44 grandchildren and 57 great-grandchildren.

The family suggests memorials to San Jose Catholic Church, 303 SE 4th, Lockney, TX 79241.

A VIEW FROM THE LAMPLIGHTER

 I may be wrong, and I probably am, but it looks to me like we are about to exchange one set of thugs in Afghanistan for another set of thugs in Afghanistan.

There was a time, not so long ago, that we looked with a certain amount of favor on the so-called Taliban. They were about the only bunch that could, and would, and did, bring a degree of stability to the country, following the long effort to oust the forces of the old Soviet Union, and following an ensuing bloody civil war.

We were in the thick of things, siding with about anybody that would oppose the Soviet Union. When the Afghans sent the Soviet Union packing, with our help, we essentially walked away and let the folks there fight it out. The group called the Northern Alliance lost that fight. They ended up in control of a small area next door to states in the Soviet Union, where they fell heir, one way or another, to weapons previously owned by the Soviets. They couldn't be subdued by the Taliban, nor could they conquer the Taliban. That's about the way it remained until we returned to the fray hunting for Osama bin Laden.

The Northern Alliance, as far as I am concerned, are a bunch of losers. Now, if we are not careful, they will end up in control, and Afghanistan will go the way of Palestine, constant warfare.

We started out originally to get bin Landen. That was expanded, quickly, to get terrorists everywhere and also to get those who might harbor terrorists. That's fine, but what is a terrorist? They are easy enough to identify when places like the World Trade center are bombed. But what of those folks in China who oppose governmental policies? What of those folks in Sudan who oppose policies of the government? A lot of people, myself included, would consider those brave souls as freedom fighters, somewhat like the freedom fighters who started the American Revolution. But the Chinese government looks upon opposition the same way the Sudanese government looks upon opposition. And what, pray tell, should we call those Sandanistas who employed terror to oppose, by warfare, the then legitimate government of Guatamala? A goodly portion of our own Congress, and American liberals generally, regarded the Sandanistas as heroic freedom fighters, while many of us regarded them as terrorists. Our readers may remember that situation: former President Reagan tried to help those who opposed the Sandanistas, and incurred the wrath of Congressional Democrats including then Speaker of the House, Jim Wright.

The same situation holds true in Palestine today, The Israelis bulldoze Palestine homes, confiscate farms, erect communes on Palestine soil, the Palestinians fight back, and are called terrorists.

Quite frankly, we don't know how all this will play itself out. The reason we look through the glass somewhat darkly is rather simple. As we have said many times, there will be no lasting peace until the Israeli-Palestine matter is settled satisfactorially, and we see no indication that will ever happen in our lifetime. The Israelis do not want peace to prevail, lest the annual cash infusion from the United States might be reduced, or even eliminated. As long as chaos prevails, the inflow of money from the United States will continue. The Israelis would be stupid to see that inflow stopped, and the Israelis are not stupid. We may be, but they are not.

We can, and I believe will, be successful in the hunt for bin Laden. We will be much better off, I believe, if we finish the job there, without bringing him back for a trial that would turn into a world-wide soap opera.

But even if we are successful, even if we get bin Laden, there will be no lasting peace until the claimed spiritual descendants of Abraham, both Jews and Muslims, learn to live on the same planet without war. And that's not likely.

BY THE WAY

Just a few tidbits to catch up.

First--I really want to thank our loyal subscribers and readers. If I could afford it I would hire some of you to be our proofreaders. There are at least two people in Floydada who read every single word of the paper.

For those of you who don't know this--and I bet most of you don't--there are specific reasons for the numbers on the masthead at the top of the paper.

On the same line as the date we have a "volume" number and another "number". The volume number is the number of years the paper has been published (which is 105 years for us). The volume number changes January 1st every year. That is the only time it changes. Most people never notice it.

Two weeks ago, Tony Ricketts (the owner of KFLP) called and pointed out to us that sometime in September our volume number had changed from 105 to 106. He was filing papers and noticed this.

I couldn't believe it. Who looks at that stuff?

Well--at least one other person does.

The other "number" next to the volume is the number of weeks in the year the paper has been printed. In other words, Volume 105 Number 45, is the 45th week in the 105th year.

Tommy McIntosh came in not too long ago and told us we had fogotten to change our week.

My mouth dropped open.

It's kind of scary to know people are looking that close!

But--I really do appreciate it. For history's sake we really do try and get our numbers right every week.

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And -- speaking of readers.

We also have a loyal readership of our web page.

I get several compliments in a month from people thanking me for the web site--which is usually followed by a little complaint of it taking so long for me to upload the paper on the web site.

Two weeks ago I received a compliment from a woman on the web site. She said she was grateful because the web site kept her from having to subscribe. She just wished we could get the paper on the internet quicker.

That made me laugh.

For those of you who don't have any idea how we make our money here at the paper--here is a little clue.

Advertising keeps us in business. The only reason advertisers advertise is because of our subscribers.

No subscribers--no advertisers.

No advertisers--no paper.

No paper--no web site.

So--the web site will ALWAYS be later than the paper by mail.

Also the web site will not have all the news. The web site will also not have a lot of pictures.

If you want all the news and all the pictures--buy a paper.

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By the way, thanks to everyone who brings me all kinds of tidbits for my column or elsewhere in the paper.

I want everyone to know that sometimes you won't see the "e-mail" story in my column because I can't verify the story.

It is unbelievable what is sent over e-mail that is attributed to someone and that "someone" never said any such thing. It may sound very true and even though it is easily verified most people don't bother to verify the story.

I received a wonderful story that was supposedly told by Sen. John McCain. When I called the Senator's office I found out that although he had said "some of it" the rest had been added by people as it was passed around. The Senator's office sent me the original.

The other day I got a "great" e-mail about a speech that Oliver North had supposedly made during his Iran-Contra hearings.

It sounded very authentic.

It quoted a Sentor who was supposedly interrogating Oliver North. The Senator questioned North about his $60,000 security system he had put in his house to protect him from terrorists.

The Senator thought that was excessive. The Senator then asked North who the "terrorist" was that he was so afraid of.

North was quoted as saying, "Usama Bin Laden". North was also supposed to have said (15 years ago) that if it were up to him he would recommend an assassin team to eliminate Bin Laden."

The writer of the e-mail was making a point that the U.S. government knew about Bin Laden's potential threat years ago and did nothing.

It was pretty powerful reading.

I called up Oliver North's web page to see if I could reprint it and to make sure he said it.

He didn't say it--ever.

His web page had an answer from him concerning this e-mail. He had already received several thousand of questions from every state in the U.S. and 13 foreign countries concerning it.

North said he was questioned by committee counsel John Nields--not a senator.

His security system cost $16,000 not $60,000.

The terrorist was a Libyan--Abu Nidal. Libyan terrorists (dispatched from the "People's Committe for Libyan students in McLean, Virgina) were intercepted by the FBI on their way to North's house to kill him, his wife, and children. The family was subsequently removed out of their home to a military base and more than 30 agents were sent to protect them. The agents remained at his home until he retired from the Marines. The federal government spent more than 2 million dollars protecting the North family.

North said the terrorists sent to kill his family were never apprehended.

The e-mail quoted him as saying he was afraid of Usama Bin Laden. North said he never said he was afraid of anybody. He also said, "I did say that I would be glad to meet Abu Nidal on equal terms anywhere in the world but that I was unwilling to have him or his operatives meet my wife and children on his terms."

I thought all of that was interesting-the true stuff was interesting too.

Someone spent a great deal of time putting together a hoax to serve some kind of purpose. I don't know why someone would make up the story about Oliver North. I don't know what purpose that served--but for someone it was great fun to see it passed around as fact.

© 2002, Floyd County Hesperian Beacon

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