Frog Gone

"And the frogs shall depart from thee, and from thy houses, and from thy servants, and from thy people." (Exodus 8:11)

Photo ftom Pinterest.

Second only to the courthouse, it is the most photographed structure in Kermit, Texas. It is mentioned in at least two travel books, this one and this one. And it's about to be painted over. And only a few of us, it seems, are sad about it.
From CBS7:
Posted: Friday, July 18, 2014 7:13 pm | Updated: 1:27 pm, Mon Jul 21, 2014.
by DeAnn Lopez

(Watch the video here.)

KERMIT - It seems that Kermit the Frog has over stayed his visit in one West Texas city.

The Muppets star's face was painted on the city's water tower nine years ago when Kermit came down to celebrate his 50th anniversary of being in the entertainment industry.

City officials have been planning Kermit’s departure for a little over a year now.

Even though it won't be cheap to paint over the Muppets star, it's a price they’re willing to pay to show their community pride.

Back in 2005, Kermit Texas was the first stop that Kermit the Frog made while on his 50th Anniversary World Tour.

As part of his visit, Disney was given permission to paint Kermit’s face on the city's main water tower.

But, in just a few weeks the high school’s mascot will be buzzing its way back on to the tower.

"It's been the desire of many citizens that we make this change," Mayor Jerry Phillips said.

The water tower isn't the only thing that Kermit the Frog left his mark on.

Kermit the Frog Boulevard, which runs directly in front of City Hall, will once again be named South Tornillo Street.

CBS7 photo.

During Thursday night’s city council meeting, council voted to re-paint not only the Kermit the Frog tower, but their other water tower, which is going to cost them $123,500.

But not all residents agree with council’s decision.

 "I kind of don't see the point of them wanting to recover the Kermit the Frog, we got a lot of attention even with the Kermit the Frog festivities that still go on, I mean the Kermit Celebration Days, which they call now,” Kermit resident Letecia Garcia said. “It brings in a lot of publicity for Kermit."

Long-time resident Jaime Morales says he can't wait until those paint brushes hit Kermit the Frogs face.

"I know Yellow Jackets has been up for the longest time, I came to school here (Kermit High), I was proud to be from this school, it doesn’t make sense why we would still have a Frog,” Morales said. “It’s time to let go and let our bee come back."

If all goes according to plan, both towers will be painted sometime in mid-August.

(I just found this: About a month after Kermit's visit in 2005, a UFO was reported near Kermit. Muppets from Space? - DK)

Bring the Marshmallows Part 2!

Liz and Robert are visible above.

My camera's battery was iffy here, so lucky for me that Creating Memories documented the entire homecoming parade and bonfire.  Be sure to see all 324 of their pictures.

 

Robert and a friend.

 

My shadow.

This was Kermit's first bonfire since 2010, due to burn ban issues.  This year, the county granted an exemption for one night only.

The football team arrives.

Of course, this is all entirely safe.  No one ever throws aerosol cans or bullets or anything in the fire.  Everyone acts responsibly.

Looks like a fire to me.  Yup.

 

 

Bring the Marshmallows!




From Winkler County News.

Click to enlarge.

The Yellow Jacket Through the Years

From Kermit on Tour.

Speaking of Yellow Jackets, here is an image I've been looking for. It's the 1958 Kermit Yellow Jacket mascot as painted by local artist Michael Vargas:

This somewhat poutier version appears on the wall of the high school basketball gym, which sadly is soon to be demolished:

In the 1990's and 2000's, a modern stylized version is used:

And beginning last year, this bee from the '60's has made a comeback, with the caption "Tradition Old School Style."

Is Kermit Getting Tired of Kermit the Frog?

(We at Frogtown have long celebrated the now-fading images of Kermit the Frog which first appeared in 2005 when he visited our town. See here, here, here and here. But some residents and former residents of Kermit may be feeling differently ... )

From NewsWest9:
Posted: Jul 24, 2012

From Kermit on Tour.

By Sylvia Gonzalez NewsWest 9

KERMIT - It's not easy being green in Kermit.

Several people in the small town of Kermit have taken to Facebook to express their disgust for Kermit the Frog. Some want to see him permanently removed while others like having the amphibian around.

"We were proud to be the fighting Yellow Jackets, we've never been the frogs," former Kermit resident, Allen Vinyard, said.

The Facebook page, Kermit Memories, has been seeing more comments than usual and it all revolves around Kermit the Frog. There are people who believe they're seeing too much of him in town.

Vinyard lived in Kermit during his school years, and even though he no longer lives there, he says its embarrassing the reaction people get when he reveals where he is from.

"It's insulting to me when I tell someone where I grew up and they say oh like Kermit the Frog, and I say no like Kermit Roosevelt, which the town was named after," Vinyard said.

Many of the residents that NewsWest 9 spoke to didn't have any negative feelings towards the frog, as a matter of fact they are proud of it.

Austin Williamson is the starting quarterback for the high school football team and he says when he plays in other towns he actually likes hearing comments about Kermit the Frog.

"I take it as a compliment because I want a lot of people to know what Kermit is, but you have to tell them what it is, what it actually is. It's more than just a frog. I think it is just a little design, there's nothing wrong with it just being there," Williamson said.

Some of the comments on Facebook read, "The stupid frog was nothing until some California hippies got lucky. Kermit, Texas is way more important than the stuffed sock."

Another one read, "death due to an allergic reaction to a yellow jacket."

Lane Nutt is a business owner and he says he uses the frog as a conversational piece.

"In my business, I have lots of calls and they always make some comment about Kermit the Frog, it's kinda like a conversational piece, it doesn't bother me," Nutt said.

Nina Huda is a former resident of Kermit, who says the Facebook comments is just the beginning of what they plan on doing to get rid of the frog.

"We are going to be doing petitions and sending them to the City Manager's office," Huda said. Many residents say they're subject is clear. "Get rid of the frog," Huda said.



Robert in Uniform

 October 29 was the last home game of the year, and the junior high band (including Robert) got to march with the high school band for the very first time!



Homecoming

 In my day, guys didn't wear homecoming garters.  Now they do, in Kermit anyway.  This was the first year Robert wanted one.

Robert chased the bee (mascot) at the game.  Photo by Robert.  We wound up losing but we put up a good fight.

What's Wrong With These Pictures?

Think You're Having a Bad Day?

From NPR:

A New York City man survived after plunging 39 stories from the roof of an apartment building and landing on a parked car.

Witnesses and police say 22-year-old Thomas Magill tried to commit suicide by jumping from the high-rise at West 63rd Street on Tuesday. He landed in the backseat area of a Dodge Charger after crashing through the windshield.

Police said Magill was in critical condition and had suffered broken legs.

The car's owner, Guy McCormack, of Old Bridge, N.J., told the Daily News he's convinced that rosary beads he kept inside the Dodge saved Magill's life.

In December 2007, window washer Alcides Moreno survived after falling 47 stories from the roof of a New York City skyscraper.

OTHER VOICES:

• Things you get to read about yourself after you survive a 39-story fall.
• Alert reader Gazelle found this story about a pig that was raised by a dachshund.

• Speaking of unusual families, check this out.
• The ex-officer in the Kermit donut shop case pleads guilty.
• And a Kermit football game ends at halftime when a couple of transformers explode! Robert and I were there!

A New Kermit ... and Two Old Ones

This one really is new. It appeared about June 2008 on the front window of a local bar called Spanky's. It depicts Kermit the Frog as a Dallas Cowboys player.

We do love the Cowboys around here.
These two Kermits date back to the 2005 celebration. The building housed a bicycle shop at that time. It since closed, and a tortilleria recently went in. They preserved the window art though!

Omen?

From clintontracker.com:
Clinton Revels in Giant Win

Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton became a super fan of the New York Giants Sunday, reveling in their upset of the New England Patriots -- and even seeing an omen for her own political future.

"Super Bowl, Super Tuesday, we've got one down, let's get the other," said Clinton.
Clinton has said she's banking on the "New York team" to carry the day in football's biggest test, and in a mega-round of primaries next Tuesday. With their 17-14 win, the Giants held up their end of the bargain.

Clinton held a campaign rally in Minneapolis, but gathered with about 200 backers at a local sports bar to watch football's biggest event.

When New York scored the go-ahead touchdown with 35 seconds remaining, Clinton leaped up and high-fived some young people standing near.

"That was unbelievable," she said. "Oh my gosh."

Filing out of the room after the game, Clinton gushed to reporters.

"I'm so excited, I'm thrilled," said Clinton. "It was a fabulous game."

Her husband, former President Clinton, watched the game with New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson. Clinton cheered for the Giants and Richardson rooted on the Patriots as they watched the Super Bowl at the governor's mansion in Santa Fe, two days ahead of the state's Democratic presidential caucus.

Richardson spokesman Pahl Shipley said there was no talk about Richardson endorsing Hillary Clinton before Super Tuesday.

Out of the Playoffs

Kermit got bumped out of the playoffs by the Longhorns from Early, TX. Still, it was their best season in years and seemed to brighten the town's mood.

Odessa Permian is still in the playoffs, however.

If I was blogging in Early, I would call this blog The Early News or Birdtown or something. But I digress.

High School Football Update

Early on in this blog, I expressed the desire for the Odessa Permian Panthers to return to their "Friday Night Lights"glory days. Well, it seems that my wish has come true! Permian is going to the playoffs after their first undefeated season since 1991.

The Kermit Yellowjackets are also having a banner year, their best since 1985, and they are also headed into the playoffs with only two losses this year.

People and Things I Miss

Ecclesiastes 7:10 "Do not say, 'Why were the old days better than these?' For it is not wise to ask such questions."

Okay...what is this? Type a Scripture and then proceed to violate it? How rude!

As I may have mentioned before, I'm sort of an old guy. Here are ten examples of people and things I miss from days gone by:

1. My parents. My brother. Other family members who have passed on.




2. Captain Kangaroo. Mr. Green Jeans. Bunny Rabbit. Mr. Moose. The Magic Drawing Board. Dancing Bear. Ping pong balls falling from the ceiling. Spongebob can't hold a jellyfish to this show.




3. Odessa, TX Permian High School Panthers football team in their glory days. (My apologies to OHS alumni.) See Friday Night Lights.
   
   
   
   
   
   



4. Horned toads.West Texas once had them everywhere. We could catch and release a dozen in an hour. They were easily caught and had no natural defense except to spit. My dog never killed them deliberately; she just viewed them as toys, flinging them around until they quit moving. She probably contributed to their near extinction. Or maybe they were driven off by loud music. Which reminds me of a question we've all asked ourselves many times.



5. The fragrance of roses, before genetic engineering.



6. Dr. Gene Scott (1929-2005) . Rated PG.



7. Life before some people had cell phones.



8. A coherent train of thought. (My own.)



9. The butterfly formation at Caverns of Sonora, Texas. The only one like it in the world, damaged by unknown persons.



10.