KissMe, leashed, lunged as we stepped out on Saturday afternoon. Red, yellow and black ribbons on a long slender slithering serpent summoned me to summoning RonTom and shove KissMe inside.
If a coral snake’s mouth should latch onto KissMe’s loooooong tongue, that long-bodied clown would be a goner.
(Our grandsons call him “Kissinator.” A front porch sign, with image of a dachshund reads, “Warning. Dog Inside Cannot Hold His Licker.”)
Some have no fear of the small-mouthed coral snake. (Indeed, Ron struggled to determine head from tail.) I say, “Tell that to the JPI construction worker who spent several days in the hospital in unspeakable pain after a coral snake latched onto his finger when he picked up a stack of lumber.” And, back in the late 1990s, antivenom was still manufactured.
If you need Snake Rescue, phone Rick Thomas, 512-393-1986.
For a venomous snake bite, call 9-1-1 and call the Texas Poison Center Network, 1-800-222-1222 to determine which medical centers have antivenom available. Texas Department of State Health Services says, “If possible, call ahead to the medical center so the antivenom can be ready when the victim arrives.”
The TDSHS website warns, “Extreme caution should be taken when bringing in a snake because even though the snake may be dead its reflexes may still allow the snake to bite.”
Working with a street key (water cut-off tool) and kitchen tongs to stop the snake slithering along the bottom edge of our planter box, Ron did not rescue Saturday’s venomous snake. Its head went into a medicine bottle.
Count me as one who has respect for the real and present, right here in Mountain City, “red and yellow kill a fellow.”
•••
Count me as one opposed to relinquishing ETJ to Kyle. Last week, many like-minded citizens sardined into the City Hall’s meeting room, front entry and back entry to express dissent. Wednesday, the day this paper gets printed, the results of a quick survey to Mountain Cityians (via the City’s email distribution list) will be presented at 6 p.m. at a public hearing at Plum Creek Golf Clubhouse.
Two former mayors, Beth Smith and Rick Tarr, expressed opposition at the council meeting. The prelude to Beth’s read-aloud-at-her-request letter caused the last portion of the body of her letter to exceed the 3-minute time limit. Click here to read Beth’s entire letter which starts with praise for the various entities involved and ends with her plea to the Council, “PLEASE do not vote to relinquish any of Mountain City’s ETJ!!!”
Kudos to Mayor Tiffany Curnutt. Lickitysplit, with a day off from her real job, she created the electronic survey incorporating concerns expressed at the council meeting and the council’s concerns for future options. Sometimes survey compilation and editing takes weeks. Mayor Cornutt will take time off to compile the results before Wednesday’s public hearing. She freely gives untold unpaid civic service hours. Thanks, Mayor Cornutt.
Back in 2001, after Ken Hiscoe resigned, the Austin newspaper ran an article about our little city out in the country that could not find anyone willing to serve as mayor.
I’m in need of tidbits. Ptom5678@gmail.com (subject: TIDBIT) or 512-268-5678. Thanks! Love, Pauline
