We certainly need a little good news after the past couple weeks of bad, so I am pleased to announce that Kristi Lyn Smylie of Owasso, Oklahoma, received the 2010 Young Bandsman Phi Beta Mu International Band Masters' Fraternity award for the State of Oklahoma. Kristi is a 2010 graduate of Owasso High School and is a freshman at the University of Arkansas. David and Donna Smylie of Owasso are her parents and T.D. and Leona Smylie of Blanco are her grandparents. Congratulations, Kristi Lyn! What a great honor!

And some other good news that I accidentally forgot to put in the column two weeks ago was that, on January 20, Bob Daughdril's grandson, Drew, and two of Drew's friends, Nick and Lucas (who served with Drew in Iraq) came to town to visit. Knowing how much three 20-year-old guys can eat, Bob took them to Ronnie's BBQ where a good time was had by all!