By Neal Murphy

“America’s First Documented Ghost” By Neal Murphy

April 11, 2025 - How many of you readers believe in ghosts? How many are on the fence about this? How do we reconcile accounts of ghost sightings by honest, reputable people who evidently witnessed a strange event? I have never witnessed a ghost sighting personally, but have, I believe, been visited by angels, but that’s another story.

Among the strangest ghost stories ever recorded happened in the unlikely state of Maine. I have nothing against Maine, but I do believe that if I were a ghost I would select a more populated area should I want to reveal myself.

"Camp San Augustine" by Neal Murphy

March 10, 2025 - Most of us older folk remember when San Augustine was the home of a German prisoner of war camp. This camp was hastily built in the spring of 1944 on the site that was the fair grounds for many years. The site is now the location of the Rodeo grounds and high school football practice field on state highway 147, just north of the high school.

“Favorite Hymns" by Neal Murphy

December 23, 2024 - The New Testament in the Bible tells us that hymns were sung by Jesus and the disciples. The word “hymn” from the Greek language is “hymnos,” meaning “songs of praise.” Hymns are different from Psalms according to Ephesians 5:19. Other than that not much is known about Christian hymns during the first three centuries of the Church.

“Call Me a Taxi” by Neal Murphy

December 10, 2024 - The comedian Don Rickles used to have a joke – “Call me a taxi. OK, you are a taxi..” It was usually good for a few laughs. However, if you are in need of a taxi around these parts you are out of luck. All this reminds me of an incident that happened back in 1987 to my wife, Clara.

"Texting" by Neal Murphy

December 3, 2024 - There is an old saying, mostly true, that says, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” My wife, Clara, recently proved an exception to that adage. She purchased a new cell phone, the one with all the bells and whistles. Not only does it make and receive phone calls, it takes still pictures, moving pictures, gets you on the web, and I assume will prepare dinner.

“A Few of My Unfavorite Things” by Neal Murphy

September 30, 2024 - I suppose that you could call this a partial list of my “pet peeves”. Webster defines the word “peeve” as – “A vexation, to cause to be annoyed or resentful, to irritate, to vex”. All of these feelings befall all of us at one time or another. The following are a few of my most irritating peeves:

“Booted, New Orleans Style” by Neal Murphy

September 23, 2024 - In the year 2000 my computer did not crash, nor did the world come to an end as was predicted by many people. However, I did visit the Crescent City in June for the very first time. I have lived within a four-hour drive but never felt the urge to actually visit the city until my daughter, Kay, called me with some news.

"Random Thoughts" By Neal Murphy

September 17, 2024 - I sometimes wonder about the thought, or lack of it, that goes into the making of signs these days. I have seen road signs and even warnings on medicines that don’t seem to make sense or just state the obvious. I think the fear of frivolous law suits has contributed greatly to all of this unnecessary information.

I have pondered the following signs over the past few years and settled on my own conclusions. Do you agree?

“The Blue Roof” by Neal Murphy

September 10, 2024 - In the late 1940s my dad installed a new composition roof on our house. For some reason he selected a dark blue color instead of the usual brown. Little did he know at the time that this decision may have saved a life.

I was in elementary school around 1944 and our family was eating breakfast that morning. Dad would be going to his job at the courthouse and Mom to her beauty shop. They would drop me off at the grammar school for a day of education. Just a routine day before us.

"Name That Kid" by Neal Murphy

September 6, 2024 - I have been told by my older relatives that I was still un-named a week after I was born. My aunt Margaret Woods apparently had pity on me, and finally gave me a name. My paternal grandmother was a Neal, so she hung that Sir name on me. I have wondered why my parents waited so long to give me a handle. Usually the expecting parents have a couple of names selected prior to the baby’s birth. It could have been that I was the last of three, so the new had already worn off by the time I came along as the caboose.

Shelby County Today

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