Hurricane Rita Seemed to leave the big city of Houston alone. A lot of folks were asking about Barney Nemec this weekend, but we have heard nothing. We assume that he is alright or we'd have heard from his family by now. Former Holabird resident Bob Taylor wasn't so lucky. He an wife Barbara Taylor live in Beaumont, which was under a mandatory evacuation. They found a motel along the Texas-Oklahoma border and paid $600 for a two night stay. That may sound like price gouging, but Bob and Barbara also had 5 dogs with them .

It has just been reported that Don Adams, star of the 1960s spy parody series "Get Smart", died yesterday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. The actor succumbed to a lung infection, though he had been in ill health since breaking a hip a year ago. He was 82.
Adams made a living as an artist in New York city before stumbling upon his niche: comedy. He began performing stand-up comedy in New York nightclubs and became half of a short-lived comedy duo. His talent for mimicry got him some spots on late-night talk shows and eventually landed him a role on Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts, an early television sketch comedy/variety show. After Talent Scouts, he became a regular on The Perry Como Show.
In 1965, comedy giants Mel Brooks and Buck Henry were shopping a series to the networks about a bumbling spy named and numbered Maxwell Smart and Agent 86. The show ran for five years and launched the Smart phrases "Would you believe?" "Missed it by that much!" and "Sorry about that, Chief" into the American lexicon.
Adams voiced the title character of the animated series Inspector Gadget, as well as the title character in the Tennessee Tuxedo cartoon series. He also starred in a sit-com called "Check It Out" as Howard Bannister, Manger of Cobb's Supermarket. It was favorite of our Publisher. When Don Adams asks his Heaven Father if he's going to hell, perhaps he'll say-well, you know

Once again the Reverend Jerry Hinkle of the Holabird Church of Universal Life ha been asked to speak at the Community Prayer Breakfast at the Thunderbird in Highmore next Saturday. The last time that Rev. Hinkle spoke, everyone complained that he didn't talk long enough. He intends to correct that with this engagement. His main topic will either be "Does Prayer Work?" or "Are We Living in the Middle Ages?" Either way, he'll find time for both topics. Questions will be welcomed, and hopefully answered, by the Reverend after his talking time. The community Prayer Breakfast is open to people of all faiths and genders. If one has no faith, they are welcome as well. It may be time for them to come to Jesus.

Well, Todd Epp seems to be less than enchanted with ABC these days. America's Broadcasting Company has brought back "Lost" and "Desperate Housewives" for another season, but he could care less. Perhaps he should write a parody of an episode and send it to the network. He has proven quite good at that in the past.

One show that is sure to tickle his fancy is "Commander in Chief". What's not to like? We have a liberal woman hiding behind the real POTUS until she becomes President in her own right. One suspects a certain former First Lady's exploratory committee financed the production of this show to see if she has a shot in 2008. By gosh and golly, she might, too!

ABC says that 9 VPs have become president, and the 10th will be a 1st. That's not entirely true. ABC tried to do the "Lady President" thing twenty years ago with a little show called "Hail to the Chief" with Patty Duke as Madam President, Ted Bessel as First Gentleman, and myself as the only viewer. The show lasted for only 7 episodes. "Hail" was played for laughs, and it was funny (to me anyhow). "Commander" is definite drama. I'll be watching, and I suspect Mr. Epp will be as well. I hope he stays tuned for Boston Legal so he can tell me what thy are doing wrong. I already know what it is. I wonder if he does. More on that tomorrow