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Brownstown-Sefton News

Brownstown VBS Schedules
• Brownstown First Christian Church – June 4-8, 6-8:15.
“Shipwrecked – Rescued by Jesus.” VBS kickoff carnival Sunday, June 3, 4-6 p.m.
• Liberty Christian Church – June 18 – 21.
“Shipwrecked – Rescued by Jesus.”
Tarzan, the Little Frog is back…
… and we think he is courting a little girl tree frog. He is again hanging around our back deck and often sings to us when we are out side.
As I was cleaning out our car last week, he continually made his little sounds nearby, keeping me company as I dragged a McDonald’s sack, candy wrappers and even a toothpick that was hiding under the seat.
He doesn’t show himself during these little concerts, but we can tell he is nearby, most likely under the deck.  
We suspect that he is courting a little girl tree frog, because when he makes a loud sound, another little critter answers him.
Last week, one was under my workroom window and serenaded me as I typed.
It was an encouraging, pretty little sound and, although others have recently told me they do not like to hear them, I do enjoy hearing them.
My sister correspondent, St. Elmo’s Anna Jean Rhodes, also had a little tree frog visit her one summer.
He had taken up residence in her metal rural mailbox in hot weather.  Although she carefully and set him free, she found he had returned to the mailbox. It was a mystery why and how he got in her mailbox.
It will be interesting to learn if he has returned this year.
A Bit of History
Some of our readers have asked about Tarzan’s name. Others remember the old “Tarzan of the Jungle” movies, which starred the world champion swimmer Johnny Weissmuller as “Tarzan” and also remember that he lived in a large tree house that had no walls, but did have a good roof.
Tarzan’s mate, “Jane” (played by Maureen O’Sullivan and later by Brenda Joyce); and a young boy, the only survivor from a plane wreck in the jungle and rescued by Tarzan, shared the tree house home, along with a chimpanzee named “Cheeta,” who added laughter to the jungle adventures.
Those who remember the old movies knew from whence “Tarzan”,  the Homestead Tree Frog,” got his name.
Please forgive my trek back in the past.
The “Tarzan review” probably seems far-fetched and corny to many, but it is actually a kind of a refreshing   and fun trek back to simpler times of the Vandalia Saturday afternoon matinees and the kid shows at the old “Liberty” (building still standing on Fourth Street) and the smaller “Lincoln Theatre,” which was located right across the street of the Statehouse. 
Lincoln was an appropriate name for the theatre, as Abraham Lincoln surely walked on the grounds the theatre was built on during his time in Vandalia, when he was making important and life-changing contributions to our American history.   
Popcorn Stand
And the town set up an outdoor popcorn stand on the corner of Fourth and Gallatin streets and put the late Garland Trowel in charge to make and sell the popcorn.
The popcorn stand soon became a very popular feature in Vandalia.
It was easily accessible to both theatre attendees and to pedestrians, and the  corner location also provided parking spaces for those traveling either north on Fourth Street or east on Gallatin street.
People would stop to buy Garland’s popcorn, whether they went to the movies or not.
The image of the little popcorn stand has now taken its place in our harvest of past memories, as the building was removed, probably unnoticed at the time.
But had it remained on the corner, it would always be a reminder of Garland Troxell and his freshly popped treat, probably at 5 or 10 cents a bag.
First Christian Church of Brownstown
Kaci Satterthwaite and children, and Vickie Hipsher   greeted the congregation of First Christian Church as it gathered for Sunday morning worship, the first one in the new church building.
They were led in songd of praise by Cathy Smith, Deanna Miller and Joann Strobel, accompanied by: guitars, Chuck Strobel and Walt Kinney; and drums-Kelsey Brands.
Emmalee Smith contributed special music. Nathan Brands delivered the morning message.
Also serving: Sunday school nursery, Bill and Cathy Smith; a.m. nursery, Tena Gould; toddler worship, Joann Strobel and Bonnie Shelton; Quest-4-Christ, Q-4-C team; and shut-ins-Don Lovett and Terry Smith.
 

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