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Taylor Alexandra Alison

Increased Support for Same-Sex Marriages

Same-Sex Marriages

Recent polls show surprising increased support 

Taylor Alison

taylora@harrisondaily.com

Published by the Harrison Daily Times:

For the first time, polls are showing increased support from Americans for same-sex marriages. November elections will prove what side America is on. The comparison between polls and votes are dramatically different.

Gay marriage has been a hot issue for politicians and religious groups over the past couple of years. TV shows have been more open about same-sex attraction acceptance. Religious groups are seeking explainations from their church authorities. 

Is it possible to stay true to your religion if you support same-sex marriages? This is the real questions that has many boggled.

According to an article on the CNN Belief Blog, the new southern baptist leader, Fred Luter Jr., openly stated his opposing views of same-sex marriage.

“I’m a man of the book,” he said. “I believe in the word of God. I believe in the Bible, and God has spoken about marriage. Marriage is between a man and a woman... no one can change that,” he said. 

Luter believes that the congregation can still love everybody, even those in the gay community and embrace them for who they are. 

A former Roman Catholic priest, Jim Smith, said he left his post with the church for many reasons including the church’s stance against same-sex marriage and other LGBT issues. 

In churches today, there are a few grey areas that are not clarified leaving the clergy to decide the best explaination for the congregation. Other churches, like the Catholic church have a doctrine that has been passed down from generation to generation. 

According to Paul Hartman, a Presbyterian elder, said religious embrace is helping fuel support for gay marriage. He believes this is the civil rights issue of the 21st century.

“Episcopalian, Lutheran and Presbyterian denominations have overturned centuries of tradition in welcoming openly gay clergy,” Hartman said. 

Reverend John Darnall from First United Methodist church of Harrison said that [same-sex marriage] is incompatible with Christian teaching. 

“I do believe we are called to minister in Christ’s love to everyone,” Darnall said. “We are to open our hearts to them even if we don’t agree with what they are doing.”

Interim pastor Jane Huffstetler from First Presbyterian in Harrison believes that [the church] is as divided as the rest of the world.

“There are some who are supportive and welcoming,” Huffstetler said. “There are others who are hesitant. We don’t close our doors. I recognize that we are the body of Christ.” 

“I recognize that I am enought of a sinner that I cannot point fingers at anyone,” she said. “None of us deserve it. We trust God’s spirit to lead.”

Other religions such as Buddhsim and Hinduism do not have an official position on the issue. Whereas, Islam forbids homosexuality and acts of homosexuality. 

Currently there are eight states that allow gay marriages: Washington, Iowa, Connecticut, Washington D.C., Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and New York. Eleven states allow civil unions and domestic partnerships. California recognizes same-sex marriages and Maryland recognizes out-of-state marriages.

In May, president Barack Obama announced his support for same-sex marriages. He was the first president, this election, to announce his support. Obama believes that gay and lesbian Americans should be treated equally and fairly. It did not take long for his campaign to launch their line of pro-LGBT t-shirts and bumper stickers, including baby onesies that say “my two dads/moms support Obama”. 

During the New York City Pride Parade on Sunday, a group marched with a banner with “New York is Proud of Obama” in large white letters. 

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney believes that marriage should be a traditional union between a man and a woman. It is more than a personally rewarding social custom.

Dictionary.com is being petitioned to change its definition of the word marriage. New Hampshire resident, Mike Raven, believes that the definition should be “two consenting adults, entering into a life-long relationship as husband and wife, husband and husband, or wife and wife, based on love and commitment.”

The current definition is “A. the social institution under which a man and woman establish their decision to live as husband and wife by legal commitments, religious ceremonies, etc.” and “B. A similar institution involving partners of the same gender: gay marriage.” 

Same-sex marriage is another controversial issue that many simply agree to disagree on. The polls will continue to change but what matters in the end are the votes. 

'Hacksaw' Jim Duggan

Mid-States Wrestling

Legends of wrestling returns to Harrison

By TAYLOR ALISON

Saturday, July 14th, Mid-States Wrestling will be hosting the 2nd Annual “Legends of Wrestling” event at 7:30 p.m. at the Brandon Burlsworth Youth Center. 

Seven big matches make up the night’s card with such local favorites as Gary Gram, “The Space Cowboy” Jason Jones, Big Bubba Hall, “the 7-foot” Doomsday, “Mr. Saturday Night” Michael Barry, Dustin Heritage, Jim Fallon, Stephen E. and many more. 

WWE Hall of Fame Wrestling Legend “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan will be walking with his signature 2x4 and an American flag to the ring, ready for action. Duggan began pro wrestling in ‘79 after he sustained a knee injury playing football with the Atlanta Falcons. 

“It seemed to work out better that way,” Duggan said about switching to pro wrestling.

He was the first to win the Royal Rumble in 1988. The Royal Rumble was originally a television special on the USA Network. 

Duggan later competed for WCW in later years winning the United States Championship and the Television Championship.

Duggan was diagnosed with early stages of kidney cancer in 1998. He did not go without a fight and beat the cancer and returned to the ring.

Duggan said he got his nickname “Hacksaw” from when he played football at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. He was known for hacking through the wedge. The nickname “Hacksaw” was created and transferred over to his wrestling career. He was recruited by Fritz Von Erich during a trip to SMU.

“It was a chance encounter,” Duggan said. 

Carrying a 2x4 became Duggan’s trademark when walking to the ring. His mentor Bruiser Brody told him to carry something he can use in the ring. 

His trademark yell “HOOOOOOOO!” is known throughout the lands, along with the “USA! USA!” chant. 

“Forget the feather boas and sequin robes,” Hacksaw repeated what Bruiser Brody told him. Brody carried chains to the ring.

Duggan said he enjoyed working with Andre the Giant. Duggan and Andre had a sold out match in Madison Sqare Garden. 

“He was a real giant,” Duggan said. “One of the most talented professional wrestlers in history.”

Hacksaw grew up in a Glen Falls, N.Y.  He studied Socioloy at SMU. He said that if he had not pursued wrestling he would have probably become a firefighter in his hometown. 

Duggan said that the hardest part of professional wrestling is the travel.

“At first it was glamourous, but then it became harder,” Duggan said. “It’s hard to leave my family.”

Duggan has been to every state in the union, every providence in Canada and 23 different countries. 

Duggan returns to Friday Night SmackDown and Monday Night Raw this past week. Duggan was featured on the first episode of Raw in 1993 and will be on the 1,000th episode on July 23, 2012.

Hacksaw was inducted into the Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2011 at Wrestlemania XXVII. He continues to compete in the ring and make several television appearances. 

“This is a big opportunity for wrestlers and fans to interact,” Duggan said. “Folks get to see a family-friendly environment. It’s not obscene like some of the TV programs.” 

Duggan said it would be nice to return to the area. 

The night will include three Hall of Fame inductions including Wrestling Legend “The Junk Yard Dog” , Adrain Steel, and “Pimptight” Kevin Lovejones. Both Steel and Lovejones competed in Mid-States Wrestling in the past years, both gentlemen passed away this last year, and their families will be in attendance to receive their Hall of Fame Awards.

After great success last August with the inaugural event, the 2nd Annual promises to be bigger and better, with more stars, and more action. Last year, the team of Jerry “The King” Lawler, Jason Jones, and Gary Gram managed to earn a win in the main event, sending the 500 plus wrestling fans in attendance home with a big smile on their faces.

Tickets are on sale now at Extreme Muffler and Music Games & More in Harrison. Tickets will also be available at the door the night of the event. General Admission is $15 and Reserved Seating is $20.

For more event info, sponsorships, and group rates you may contact Mid-States Promotions at (870)-577-7433.

The Last Standoff

Published by Harrison Daily Times:

Thirty years after the Haigler shooting — July 3, 1982, on the Highway 7 bridge over the Little Buffalo River — some people in Jasper remember it like it was yesterday. 

According to Ray Watkins, “There are many misconceptions with this story.” Watkins was the sheriff at the time of the incident. 

Watkins drifted in and out of his memory of that day. 

“I was working on my commode when I got the call. They told me there was a hostage situation on the bridge. 

“I said OK,” Watkins remembers nonchalantly, he acted as if this was routine. “So I put my gun on and got in the car and drove down to the bridge.”

When Watkins arrived at the bridge he got out of the car and Keith Haigler leaned out of the side of the bus and said:             “Ray, leave your gun in the car and come over here I need to talk to you.”

“I couldn’t believe he knew my name,” Watkins said. “I walked back and forth the entire time and I could have grabbed a gun at any time.”

Keith told Watkins that he had voted for him to be sheriff in the last election. 

Emory Lamb, Keith Haigler’s self-proclaimed spiritual father, told Watkins he (Lamb) had no business being down there. He was afraid that they would shoot him and he would have died on that bridge, too.

“I told Lamb I do not blame him either, I wouldn’t have come down,” Watkins said. “We were trying to handle this situation with the two of them (Keith and Kate Haigler), we didn’t need a third.”

There were 25 troopers on the bridge behind the police barricade after the Haiglers had hijacked a Trailways bus and blocked the bridge. They were members of the Foundation of Ubiquity (FOU) and believed they would be resurrected in 3-1/2 days.

“If they were going to shoot someone, they would have shot me already,” Watkins said. “I thought, ‘What the hell’s their problem.’ 

“My instructions were to shoot in the right shoulders. When they got off the bus, they got down on their knees, because they thought we were going to shoot them in their knees. The last thing I thought was to shoot anyone in the legs,” Watkins chuckled.

Kate fired three shots out toward the crowd and then she went down. Then she shot the edge of the bridge; she shot Keith; and with the last bullet she turned the gun on herself. 

“She was still alive when I got up there,” he said. “She emptied that .38. If she would have fired one more shot, she would have killed him and she would have still been alive,” 

Lamb had had a motorcycle since he was 18. He rode a Harley Davidson Sportster, owned a hearse but did not belong to a motorcycle club, according to residents.

“Keith dressed like a Hell’s Angel,” Watkins said. “He didn’t even own a motorcycle. He was a look alike.” 

They leaned on those motorcyclists groups to try and get them to come into their organization, residents claim. 

“Emory Lamb was a pawn,” Watkins said. “He was just being used. Keith and Kate planned this whole thing.

“Keith and Kate were planning a big to do where lots of people were coming in and witnessing. About 15-20 people came in and danced and played music,” Watkins continued, “not enough to even cause a big disturbance for me to have to get involved.

“I was aware every time they had one. 

“They told me there would be 300 people for FOU Day, and I only saw four bikes,” Watkins laughed. “There was nothing to be concerned about.”

After the shootings, Kate’s mother came to Jasper from California trying to get all of the literature that was connected with F.O.U. but Watkins had destroyed it all. 

“That stuff is not going to help anyone, not even her,” Watkins said.

“It was a misunderstanding of the Bible. I told somebody to get me a Bible that day on the bridge. And I told Haigler there was nothing in there that said you had to die a physical death, it is a spiritual death. Lamb told me he could feel the earth shake when they came back. He could feel their spirits were there.

“The following year on July 3, I drove across that bridge around nine o’clock at night, there was a big square candle sitting there lit,” Watkins continued. “I picked it up and blew it out and drove straight to Emory Lamb’s with it. Lamb said he had nothing to do with and had no knowledge of it at all.”

Watkins said that Lamb got his name from coins he would hand out. The coins said FOU on them and the coins could be brought back to get a free soda. Watkins said residents started calling him ‘Fou’ after that.

Hubert Roberson, a resident of Parthenon, is the former county clerk who retired eight years ago. 

“Not a whole lot happens here but when something like that happens, it gets people’s attention,” Roberson said.

Roberson was the county clerk who signed the deed for Lamb’s property over to Michael Morris. Morris lived in the house while Lamb was there and took care of Lamb after his wife left. The land is currently owned by Benton Hudson, resident of Jasper. 

“His wife was afraid of him and that’s when she left,” Roberson said. “FOU came down every once in a while going to his store. It closed down and he isolated himself from the community.

“Katie worked in the back of the Ozark Cafe,” he said. “She would come out here and drink coffee with us.

“The news of the shooting reached Germany while it was happening here. My brother called my mother from Germany asking what was happening in Jasper,” Roberson said. “He knew before I did.”

Mary Olson and Emma Hickey remembered playing in the water under the Little Buffalo bridge during the shooting. They had their children playing in the river when the police came to inform them of the situation. 

Many of the state troopers and sheriffs have stayed in the Boone and Newton County area. Local residents said that Watkins did a great job in a situation that no one was prepared to handle. Nothing like this had ever happened before. Watkins said he did the best that he could do. 

Keith and Kate Haigler were members of the Foundation of Ubiquity (FOU). They hijacked a Trailways bus from Highway 65 to Jasper, then planned to be killed and resurrected 3-1/2 days later. They were wounded by State Police sharpshooters on the bridge, then Kate leaned over and fatally shot Keith and shot herself.

 EDITOR’S NOTE: Special thanks go out to the people at Boone County Museum, Bradley House Museum, the Genealogy department at the Boone County Library, the Newton County Assessor and Clerk’s office, the staff at Jasper High School and the great people I have met around the area who have donated time to help me out. 

The Tale of Two Witnesses

Harrison Daily Times:

     
     Many people only knew Keith and Kate Haigler as the people who died on the Little Buffalo Bridge. They were the ones who hijacked the Trailways bus. Others remember they were normal everyday people before this incident happened.

     Keith, 27, was born on October 4, 1955 and was originally from a small town in North Carolina. His father and mother were Nokomas “Nick” Haigler and Anita Todd Haigler. Keith graduated in 1973 from East Rowan Senior High School near Salisbury, N.C.

While he was in high school he lived at Nazareth Children’s Home in Rockwell, N.C. He lived there from 1970 to 1973.

    “We just assisted with whatever he would have needed at the time,” Cheri Peterson, development assistant at Nazareth Children’s Home, said. 

     An acquaintance from high school remembers Keith as “having a flair for comedy.”

    “He could be a tough kid, but he could also be quite friendly,” he said. “I remember him performing some silly comedy song at a student variety show in early 1973. He came to my home one night to rehearse it and try out his material me.”

     Keith enlisted in the Marines on Jan. 7, 1974, and served until April 2, 1976. 

     According to an interview done by the Lodi News-Sentinel, his father said that “the Bible always held a fascination for his son while he was growing up in Charlotte, N.C. Keith spent several years traveling around the country trying to convert people to Christianity and often talked about his frustration because no one would listen to him.”

    “He just new how happy he was with the Christian life, and he wanted to share it with others,” the acquaintance said. “I understand what he was trying to do.”

Keith focused most of his ministry on motorcycle gangs.

     He went to Jasper in 1977 looking for purpose. That’s where Keith met Emory Lamb, aka Daddy F.O.U. Lamb owned a general store that was located on the southwest side of the Jasper square. Lamb had printed several pamphlets that were filled with different verses of Scripture. Lamb charged people a quarter to buy these pamphlets. One day, Keith went in looking at the pamphlets. When Lamb, told him they were 25 cents Keith asked him how he knew it was worth that.

     Lamb let him take the pamphlet. Later on, Keith returned to pay the quarter. Keith swore to Lamb that he (Lamb) was the Messiah. Keith ended up living in a shed behind Lamb’s house. The Foundation of Ubiquity began shortly after.

     The cult met in a church located next to Lamb’s house. The church was made out of rocks carried from the creek that ran behind Lamb’s house and was put together with mortar. At the entrance of the church, there are rocks labeled with the different member’s names.

     Lamb considered Keith to be his spiritual son and, later, considered Kate his spiritual daughter. Keith talked about being one of the Two Witnesses in Revelations 11. He would not disclose who the other witness was but Lamb had said Keith asked him to be the other.

     Keith wanted to travel the United States to tell about the ‘messiah’ that was here on earth. Lamb was not interested in traveling or being the second witness. Keith began traveling, trying to get the word out through national coverage. He made it to California and that is when he met his partner in crime, Kate Clark.

     Kate was originally from the San Francisco area. Her mother, Ellie Clark, was the former mayor of Pacifica. Kate attended Terra Nova High School. She was an active member of the swim team.

Kate arrived in Jasper around 1979. She began washing dishes at the famous Ozark Cafe located on the Jasper square. Customers remember her as being “sweet” and “always doing good.” Many of the people who knew her could not believe something like this would happen.

     She became Keith’s second witness. Lamb joined them together on January 21, 1979. For 1,260 days they traveled together telling bystanders about the foundation and Lamb’s beliefs. The Haiglers told people about what they were planning to do in 1982, but no one believed they would take such drastic measures.

     The Haiglers printed flyers and paid for an advertisement to be put in the Newton County Times on June 8. The advertisement said, “Yep, It’s here. Attention 144,000. Where will you be on the 4th of July? The son of the son of man has risen. Brothers we will ride again. Jasper, Arkansas July 3rd-7th.”

Keith and Kate both dressed in motorcyclist attire, denim and leather adorning their bodies. Keith did not even own a bike but he planned to. Lamb had a Harley since he was 18 and dressed in denim and leather, as did his wife. The Haiglers lived with Lamb and his wife for eight months in 1980. 

    “They were beautiful young people,” Lamb said.

    After the death of the Haiglers, Lamb became isolated from Jasper. He had been asked to stay away from some restaurants; some service station operators said they would not sell him gasoline; and his wife lost her job washing dishes at the restaurant. Lamb received many threatening phone calls and more than 200 phone calls came from members of the news media asking to interview him.

    He tried to explain to the Haiglers that this was a spiritual death. In an interview in the Lodi News-Sentinel, Lamb said, “He repeatedly said the last three years he would be killed in mid-1982. He always said he was one of the witnesses mentioned in Revelations. I’ve always told him that something like that takes place in the mind. It doesn’t take place in real life.”

    Lamb said he knew nothing of the Haiglers’ plan and took no responsibility for their deaths. They had not been in Jasper prior to the plan. They had told Lamb they would be back around July.

    “If they would have told me about it, I would not have approved,” he said. “I am the long-awaited messiah that can let people know about the father that lives within me.”

     In another interview in the Lodi News-Sentinel, Lamb said, “All he told me was ‘Dad, I want some people to come in. The biggest thing in the world is about to happen and I want some people to see it,” Lamb said.

     Lamb closed his general store and isolated himself even more. He remained in Jasper until he died on March 10, 1995. His wife, Shirley Lamb, and his daughter, Angela, moved away. Angela graduated from Jasper High in 1983 and now is happily married in Iowa. Shirley later remarried and now lives in Iowa as well. Her second husband passed away in 2011. Lamb signed the his land over to Michael Morris in 1993. Morris took care of Lamb before he died of cancer. Lamb was cremated at Coffman Funeral Home in Jasper.

    The Haiglers’ last request was granted and their bodies were left on Lamb’s land until the three-and-a-half days were up. After they left the state Medical Examiner for autopsy, their bodies were respectfully sent to their parents. Keith was buried in the family plot at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Charlotte, N.C. Kate’s body was sent to Conway’s Roller-McNutt Funeral Home to be cremated. Her ashes were then sent to her mother in California. 

    In 2008, Keith’s father, Nick, was found dead in a dense part of the woods near Linwood Park in Gastonia, N.C. He wandered away from an assisted living home. For 10 days, more than 50 family members and friends searched for him.

    Keith wanted people to believe. He wanted people to know. But in the end, two young lives were taken for a lost cause. The purpose the Haiglers sought was shot down on a bridge in Jasper.

Tragic Death in a Small Town

Harrison Daily Times July 3, 2012:

Though this story is not romantic like Romeo and Juliet, it is just as tragic. It is the story of a couple trying to find meaning in life and somewhere along the road, they lost it. 

This year marks the 30 year anniversary of the deaths of Keith, 27, and Kate Haigler, 25. The story of a couple who were shot to death on the Little Buffalo bridge in Jasper. The Haiglers were followers of “Daddy FOU” a.k.a. Emory Lamb. According to reports, Lamb believed he was the Messiah because of a vision he had. F.O.U. stood for many things but most commonly referred to the cult name, Foundation of Ubiquity. 

On July 3, 1982, the couple hijacked a Continental Trailways bus en route from Little Rock to Wichita, Kan. 

The couple boarded the bus at 8:15 a.m. in Little Rock. Around noon, the Haiglers ordered the bus driver to change course. The bus was headed toward Harrison and then to Kansas.

But when the bus arrived in Western Grove, the Haiglers pulled their pistols on the driver, Bill Carney, and ordered him to detour to Jasper. 

The bus stopped on the bridge over the Little Buffalo, and blocked it until police arrived. The bus contained 16 hostages, including the bus driver. When they arrived in Jasper, an unidentified woman was said to have passed out from the heat and taken to a nearby motel.

The Haiglers were dressed in denim motorcycle attire adorned with Harley Davidson and “FOU” insignia, buttons and rosettes. They each wore black leather fingerless gloves and each carried a revolver. A leather strap ran from the trigger to the wrist and helped guard against the possibility that someone would attempt to wrestle the gun out of their hands.

The remaining hostages stayed on the bus while Sheriff Ray Watkins tried to negotiate with the Haiglers. The Haiglers explained why they were there.

The couple was convinced they were called to be the “Two Witnesses” mentioned in Revelation 11. In verse 3, it says, “And I will appoint my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.”

Verse 4 continued, “There are ‘the two olive trees’ and the two lampstands, and ‘they stand before the Lord of the earth.” 

The couple made a deal with Watkins. They made it clear they did not intend to hurt anyone, but they would if their demands were not met. The Haiglers had two last requests. One, they wanted a television crew to interview them. They wanted to let everyone know who the messiah was. They threatened that after the initial two hour grace period, one hostage would be shot every 30 minutes until the crew arrived. The Haiglers’ drastic actions were an attempt to get more media coverage. 

Second, they wanted the police to kill them. The Haiglers tried their best to antagonize the police to get what they wanted. The couple knew that this was the day they had to die. After they died, they wanted their bodies to be moved to FOU’s land to stay until they were resurrected after the three and a half days. 

A friend of the Haiglers, Fast Eddie, acted as a go between for Lamb and the Haiglers. Fast Eddie secured FOU’s permission for the Haiglers’ bodies to be left on his land until after the resurrection. 

The television news crew arrived by helicopter at 2:35 p.m. The first group of seven hostages was released. After the interview by the television station, the Haiglers released the last eight hostages.

Keith told the newsmen that they had “witnessed in sackcloth” for 1,260 days spreading the message, that FOU, the long awaited “messiah,” was on earth. He said the two witnesses came together on January 21, 1979, when FOU joined he and Kate together. 

During the negotiations, then Sheriff Watkins drove to Lamb’s house in attempts to have him come down to negotiate with the Haiglers. Lamb said he believed Haigler had planned “something big” for the fourth of July weekend, but that the Haiglers had been out of town for nearly a month and he didn’t know the nature of their plans. 

“I tried to tell them that if they died today, their cause would die with them. They just wouldn’t listen,” Watkins said. 

After several hours of negotiations, Keith was ready to change course. He began to falter until Kate reminded him they had to die. She was the ring leader. Keith snapped out of his doubt and decided it was time to go. The couple stepped off the bus and the rest is history.

Watkins gave orders to the sharpshooters to shoot to wound. They had no intention of killing the couple. Watkins told shooters to aim at the shoulders, in order to make it difficult for them to pull the triggers on their guns. 

Police sharpshooters took their places when the couple advanced across the bridge. They took a few steps and then dropped to their knees. They continued shuffling forward while police shouted warnings to stop. They turned to kiss each other one last time and then continued their mission. 

They begged the cops to shoot them so they could rise in three and a half days, according to Scripture. This was the day and there was no turning back now.

Shots were fired, but there is speculation about who shot first. An officer said that the Haiglers raised their guns to fire and sharpshooters fired in defense. The sharpshooters’ goal was to shoot the Haiglers’ shooting arms. 

Sgt. Jim Thomas of the Arkansas State Police said before the shooting happened, officers tried to get spectators to step back to not get hurt.

After the first shots were fired, everyone scattered. 

Keith was shot in the right shoulder, while Kate was wounded in the left shoulder. Keith was wounded immediately and unable to shoot Kate. Kate rolled over toward Keith and shot him once in the chest. She turned her .38-calibre pistol to her chest and shot herself twice. Kate emptied her gun after firing into the air. 

Keith never once pulled the trigger on his gun and was left with a full clip. An ambulance crew from North Arkansas Regional Medical Center was ready at the end of the bridge. Once the couple went down, the crew rushed to see what they could do. 

Keith was pronouced dead at the scene and Kate was pronounced DOA when she arrived at North Arkansas Regional Medical Center in Harrison. Keith’s body was left on the bridge for nearly an hour awaiting the arrival of Newton County coroner C.J. Easley. Keith was pronounced dead at 5:15 p.m. 

Watkins, along with friends of the Haiglers, tried to persuade the Haiglers to rethink their decisions. Watkins was convinced that Lamb could have changed their minds. Lamb did not go to the bus because he felt it “was a police matter,” Watkins said last month. “I feel like I did the right thing. I’m at peace within. Other people have the right to believe what they want.”

“I don’t know if anyone could have talked them out of it,” Thomas said in an interview last month. “ They were so firmly wrapped up in their religious belief — that today was the day that they were going to die — they wanted to be shot. But their ‘Messiah’ didn’t want to get involved.”

The Haiglers bodies were sent to the State Medical Examiner and after the autopsy was completed, the bodies were sent to their parents.

 Lamb said that he tried to explain to the Haiglers that the death was a spiritual death, not a physical death. He later said that he felt the earth shake on the day of the resurrection. Lamb said he could feel the Haiglers were with them in spirit. 

The Haiglers, Lamb, Lamb’s wife and daughter apparently were they only active members of the cult. After the incident on the bridge, Lamb isolated himself and the cult died out. 

Thirty years later, the people of Jasper have a haunting memory of the day the Haiglers died. The Haiglers story made it to the Montreal Gazette in Canada to the Lakeland Ledger in Florida. But like Watkins predicted, their cause would die with them and it did. 




Published by Harrison Daily Times

Baby, I was born this way

The growth of homosexuality in today’s society is higher than it has ever been. Along with its growth, its appearance has become increasingly accepted in our culture. They are showing the world that they aren’t afraid of who they are.

I believe that we should accept people for who they are. We are to show them Christ’s unconditional love. It is not our duty to change them or make their life decisions for them.

Eight states and Washington D.C. support gay marriages and California recognizes out of state marriages. According to the 2010 Census, there were 131,729 same-sex married couple households and 514,735 same-sex unmarried households.

This past year, the military lifted the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy lifted the military’s ability to discriminate against gays from being in the military. Gays are now allowed to openly serve in the ranks.

Television shows, like Glee and Pretty Little Liars, have increasingly made it aware that being gay or lesbian is acceptable. The shows have couples that are in same-sex relationships and they show the process of coming out and the reactions of the parents and peers. Glee addresses the issues of teen suicide, bullies, and domestic violence.

These are just two of the shows that have paved the way for the turning point of the next generation’s acceptance. Every generation tries a little harder to push the boundaries and see what they can do to stand out more.

Generation-Y (the current generation of college age students) is seeking ways to stand out and be different. Advertising is targeted to making people feel unique in their purchasing habits.

By rejecting this way of life, we are rejecting people. They are people too! Homosexual teenagers suicide rates are at 36.5% according to statistics on Youth Pride, Inc. “Whether life’s disabilities left you outcast, bullied or teased. Rejoice and love yourself today ‘cause baby, you were born this way,” is what Lady Gaga had to say in her song Born This Way.

I believe that you should feel free to be who you are without judgment. I may not agree with what your lifestyle is like, but that is not my decision, it is the individual’s choice.

A famous quote by Liz Feldman said “It’s very dear to me, the issue of gay marriage. Or, as I like to call it: ‘Marriage.’ You know, because I had lunch this afternoon, not gay lunch. I parked my car, I didn’t gay park it.”

I believe that this embodies the issue at hand. Homosexuals don’t say heterosexuals. They are not another species. We all need to learn to respect each other and get over small issues and look at the big picture.

We are all the same. Take the time to get to know the people who are around you. Don’t simply judge on appearance, beliefs, or differences. These are the things that make us beautiful.  

Craving a Fast

Lent is a time where you give up something as an act to honor God. This might have been productive in the Old Testament times but since Jesus came, isn’t this how we are supposed to live every day?

I gave up soda once. By the end of that month, I craved soda more than anything else and I wasn’t even thinking of why I did it. Same when I gave up Facebook. Why do we try to give up something for 40 days when at the end of it we are craving it even more than before? Do we really know the reasons why we do things like this?

I am a Christian who does not celebrate Lent. My family never prompted me to do so. The family that I babysit for introduced me to the idea of Lent and when my little girl asked me what I gave up; I didn’t know what to say.

She gave up ice cream and her brother gave up soda. They told me over and over these were the things they gave up. They made sure I knew. They were so proud.

It was almost like a competition. People flaunt what they have given up. Doesn’t God tell us that when we fast, we should remain the same?

In Matthew 6:17-18 Jesus said “But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and you Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”

Think about what you are giving up and why you are doing.

As Christians, I think that this is the life we should live every day. If there is something we are willing to give up for 40 days, shouldn’t we be able to give it up for life? That’s a hard question and I don’t want to justify. But I think that things like these should be given up in moderation.

Over the years, loop holes have been created to make Lent “easier”. You can do this this day and this this day. In the end, we are twisting this season to fit our American wants and needs.

This is the way we should live every day to honor God. Not make a craving worse but take time to understand what our marvelous Lord did for us. That was his lifestyle.

A Flower Crown of Youth

Flower crowns. Princess dresses. Epic sword fights. Not a faerie tale, just childhood.

            Those magical days when Pluto was a planet. My favorite movies were on VHS tapes. Mismatched clothes were acceptable even at church. Wild tangled hair was not a big deal.

            What happened to the days when I begged to go outside? It was a privilege to get to run around barefoot with the grass below cushioning my every step. The freedom to do a cartwheel without caring what another person thought as I fell.

            At some point in my life, I lost what it meant to be a kid. As I walked around my yard the other day, I took off my shoes to feel the cool grass under my feet. I looked at a tree that was perfect for climbing but I thought better of it because I was in nice clothes. I wanted to throw myself into a cartwheel but quickly changed my mind in case someone was watching.

            When I was a kid, I longed to be always just a little bit older. I wanted to turn 10 to be in the double digits. Thirteen, so I could be a teenager. Sixteen, so I could drive. Eighteen, so I could vote and be considered an adult. Every birthday never seemed to be quite enough.

            Here I am at 21, begging to be five again. When a kiss on a scrape made everything better. When someone was always there to take care of you. When coloring was considered homework.

            At times it feels as if the world has told me to leave my childhood behind. What’s so fun about being an adult? I began to search Scripture to see what it had to say about my childhood dilemma.

             There are two Biblical truths that resonate with me in this issue. I am a child of God. I am allowed to have the heart of a child. In Matthew 18:3 Jesus says, “Unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven”.

            Children are dependent in nature. As the blossom into adults, they become more prideful and believe they can do everything on their own. Jesus calls us to humble ourselves. I recognize that I could not be the person I am today without Him.

Naturally, at times I try to do things on my own but ultimately realize I am going to fail. Jesus loves to hear from us. He wants to hear the inner workings of our hearts and He wants us to need Him.

There is another truth that is just as powerful. Like I said, when I was nine, I wanted to be ten, then thirteen and so on. Now is not enough.

I struggle to be content in where I am. Reflecting on the things I wanted so badly, like to be just another year older, have I ever craved so badly to be that much closer to Jesus? How often do I think of mundane wants and not what is truly going impact my life for eternity?

I need to learn how to depend on Jesus and be content with where He has me. It’s a powerful thing.

Take a second out of the day and let your hair down. Take your shoes off. Do a little dance.