Saturday's Internet Edition, July 31, 2010.
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| The Deridder, Louisiana Van Horn Fan Club members are (L to R) Rodney Tilley (property owner here), Willie Evans, and Delbert Hollis (graduate of VHHS). (Photo courtesy of Rodney Tilley) |
- “Never been treated in a better place….,” Willie exclaimed, as he began to tell his story. My co-worker, Willie, and I were in the throngs of doing nothing at the Deridder, Louisiana, “Addictive Disorder Clinic,” and we were exchanging stories. He was telling about the time in 1995 when he was moving from California to Louisiana, and on his way home, his Subaru station wagon blew an engine. He had his 3 kids in the back of the car, along with his cat, Oggie, and they were making their way back home. He was coming home to make a change for while in California he had lost it all. He had become hooked on drugs and alcohol and by this time, he was a full-blown addict, but just outside of Van Horn, Texas, his life took a turn around. It was the start of something new.
After having his car towed into Van Horn, he checked into a motel with his kids and their cat, but something was wrong. He knew from drug experiences of the past that he was losing control for he began to hear voices and they were calling out to him, “They are going to kill you.” “Don’t go there for you will never come out alive.” He knew he was in bad shape and asked the motel desk clerk if Van Horn had a mental health clinic or someone to help, but she replied that they usually just call the sheriff and she did just that. It wasn’t 5 minutes later that a policeman was at his door. Willie not knowing if he could trust anyone asked the policeman for his identification, which the policeman thought was funny since he was in full uniform, with a badge, a marked car, and a gun.
But much to his surprise, the officer, took him to the hospital where they began treatment and kept him for a 72-hour supervision. Willie states that he has never been treated that way before or since, for the hospital treated him with care, comfort, and respect. They helped to turn his life around.
The officer as well made sure his children were safe at the motel that night and the next day he brought them to the hospital for a visit. The authorities contacted his family in Houston and sent the children on the bus, onward to Houston, all fares paid. They even bought the children breakfast and with care and kindness they made sure they were safe on the road home. They also boarded his cat, Oggie, in Van Horn.
After 72 hours, Willie was better, and able to travel, and much to his surprise, they bought him breakfast too; and since his car was a total wreck, a bus ticket to Houston as well. As Willie states, “I have never been in a friendlier or kinder place in all my life than Van Horn, Texas.”
But the story does not stop there. Today, Willie is working at the Addictions Clinic, clean and sober for over 15 years. He is helping others who may also need a show of kindness and a heart of care. He is the choir leader in his local church and with a smile on his face, he tells the story of Van Horn, a step forward in his final recovery. His heart is new and his life renewed.
But there is only one question that continues to haunt him, “Whatever happened to Oggie, his big black and white Calico cat?” As the bus would not take the cat, Oggie was left behind, but Willie knows that if the people of Van Horn are as kind to animals as they are to people, then his cat is in good hands.
As Willie says, “I have never been in a place like Van Horn, Texas.”
Column One
By Dawn Simpson
Statistics show that some 1,000 World War II veterans are passing away each day. One of those who is very special to our family was one of those statistics last week. My brother-in-law, Gene Van Horn, received his ultimate healing, after a long battle with lung cancer. Those who did not know the Van Horns may wonder about the name being the same as our town. Gene used to have fun with it when he was in the hotel/restaurant business here, but actually there is nothing, that he could find, showing any family connection to the Major van Horn, who our town was named after.
In spite of the sad occasion that brought us together in Burnet, TX, it was great to see most of my family. Why do we wait for a funeral to have a reason to come together as a family? Another pleasant thing about the trip was seeing the wildflowers. I had forgotten just how beautiful the hill country of Texas is when the wildflowers are glooming. The bluebonnets were gone but there were many colors in shades of yellow and reds. If you have never seen the Texas Hill Country in the Spring, you really should try to plan a road trip there in April or May. Of course it isn’t quite as grand as our mountain scenery, but a different type of beauty.
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Occasionally we run articles written by Pastor Rodney Tilley. In this issue there is a great feature story that he sent us. I wanted to let you know just who he is and his connection to Van Horn. Fortunately for us, he and his wife are planning to move to Van Horn within the next year or so. They now live in Louisiana, where Judy is a nurse and Rodney is a Presbyterian minister and counselor. Last year they purchased property here in Van Horn, after deciding that this was where they were supposed to live when they retire. I will always appreciate what he told us was one of the reasons they picked Van Horn. He said, “I want to be in contact with people who are running away from something.” The property they purchased is the ‘Willis’ building and the lots across from the Christian Shelter.
The Tilleys will be in town over the Memorial Day weekend to prepare a place for their son to live here while he is doing an internship at our hospital. He is a doctor in the military. Maybe you’ll have an opportunity to meet them while they are here and give them a warm Van Horn welcome. They’ll be a real asset to our town for sure.
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
May 20th - Members of the Van Horn Volunteer Fire Department are slated to meet this evening at 7 p.m. at the Firehouse. Members of American Legion Post 508 will meet this evening at 7:30 p.m. at the American Legion Building on East Broadway.
May 21st- Nothing scheduled at press time.
May 22nd - Nothing scheduled at press time.
May 23rd - Attend the church of your choice today.
May 24th - The High School Spring Band Concert will be held today at 2 p.m. at Karen Young Memorial Auditorium. The Van Horn Lions Club is scheduled to meet this evening at 7 p.m.
May 25th - The Van Horn Rotary Club will meet today at noon at Chuy’s Restaurant. The Van Horn Junior High Awards Banquet will be held this evening at the CCVB beginning at 6 p.m.
May 26th - Nothing scheduled at press time.