The Index-Journal from Greenwood, South Carolina • Page 35

Sunday, November 26, 1995 Entertainment The Index-Journal, Greenwood, S.C. 3C Readers aren't silent on school prayer COUNTRY MUSIC MEMO By Paulette Flowers and Otto Kitsinger Syndicated columnists DEAR ABBY By Abigail Van Buren Syndicated columnist A I Asleep at the Wheel: Keeps on rolling for 25 years now and its effect on the innocents caught in the crossfire. But it defies logic to conclude that the solution to this complex social problem is as simple as a moment of prayer in school. In conclusion: IF the principal about whom Mr. Buchanan wrote had allowed a moment for all to offer a silent prayer, I'd have no complaint; however, he still would have violated a federal law.

LOCALISMS The population (excluding military personnel) within a 30-mile radius of Greenwood is approximately 198,365, according to the Office of Economic Development This is an increase of 10.1 percent since 1980, compared to the state's 18.2 percent. During the 70s and 80s, South Carolina's growth exceeded both the U.S. and Southeast. DEAR ABBY: To continue the argument concerning prayer in school, and the actions of a school district in firing a principal who violated a rule banning it: I believe the principal should, indeed, have been disciplined, in whatever manner the superintendent and school board saw fit. Not for calling for school prayer per se, but for violating a school ordinance and, in this case, a federal law.

As for prayer in school, I should like to see a few minutes set aside for silent prayer. The word "silent" is important because prayers recited aloud are sure to offend some member(s) of the class whose religions call for a different kind of prayer from the one being recited. When there is silent prayer the pupil may or may not pray, as he or she chooses, but has the option of praying without offending anyone and with great satisfaction to him the board of education. I thought you were a citizen concerned with gang violence and all of its innocent victims. Mr.

Buchanan didn't stipulate what type of prayer should be allowed. Perhaps the principal allowed for a moment of silence for all to pray as they saw fit or not to pray, if that was their preference. Not bothering to find out, you arbitrarily sided with the school board. Shame on you, Abby. I thought you were more objective than that.

Prayer is preferable to guns and knives, any way you look at it! This will probably never make your column, but at least I hope you are aware of the poor taste you exhibited. Char LaRoque, Loyal Tacoma Reader DEAR CHAR: I can think of no one in this country who is not concerned about gang violence or herself and, I would venture to guess the Lord as well. Caroline K. in LA. DEAR CAROLINE: I received a flood of mail about my answer regarding the issue of school prayer some favorable, others critical.

Read on: DEAR ABBY: I was appalled by the answer you gave Gary Buchanan of Monson, concerning the school principal who was fired for allowing prayer in school. You said you sided with If a rolling stone gathers no moss, neither does a rolling wheel, and Asleep at the Wheel has been rolling for 25 years now. To celebrate, the Wheel has just released the aptly titled album, "The Wheel Keeps on Rrtlli'n' Zoo dating service may find perfect mate A little over a year ago, I put on my safari outfit and pith helmet from Banana Republic and devoted my time to researching how closely humans and animal kingdom would welcome. Not all animals travel in family units or packs or couples. Some of them are solitary.

It might behoove a leopard to put his assets into a computer, meet a potential mate, take her to dinner, and after a walk through the jungle, end up marrying her. If it doesn't work out for Ruby, she can always return to Phoenix and resume her career. She's a painter. When she seems in the mood, keepers at the Phoenix Zoo provide her with brushes, paint and a canvas. The going price for Ruby's work is $250.

If this works out, you'll never convince me that Sneezy and Gunda are not marrying Ruby for her money. I say she should hold out for a prenuptial agreement. ERMA BOMBECK Syndicated columnist dating computer. Out popped two names: Sneezy and Gunda, both of Tulsa, Okla. This union with one of two animal cowboys was enough to have Chuck Woolery Connection" of the 'Love MONDAY TUESDAY animals were connected.

I discovered that chimpanzees live 35 to 40 years and aged females seem to show signs of menopause. I didn't know how they documented this. Did a female wake up in the middle of the night and scream to her mate, "I don't know about you, Leroy, but I'm losing this fur I unearthed a garter snake who is a transvestite, a Jesus Christ bird who walks on water (what husband doesn't?) and a hippopotamus that has lips nearly 2 feet wide. Big deal. So do Barbara Hershey and Faye Dunaway.

Anyway, these stunning revelations are in my just published book, "All I Know About Animal Behavior I Learned in Loehmann's Dressing Room." A chapter that was never written is yet another scientific breakthrough to support my theory. Ruby, an elephant in the Phoenix Zoo who is seeking romance with a stranger, threw her name in a salivating. Can't you see Chuck sitting in a chair smirking, "So what did you think of Ruby when you first saw her?" "I thought she was fat," says Sneezy. "I wanted to sleep with her," says Gunda. "Sneezy, would you go out with her again?" asks Chuck.

He shrugs, "We don't have many virgin elephants to choose from." Ruby interrupts, "I don't think either of them can commit." Chuck asks, "Does that mean you didn't sleep with one of them on the first date?" Ruby says, "I didn't say that." "So, if you don't get pregnant," pushes Chuck, "what does that mean?" "I'm outta here," says Ruby. A computer dating service for animals should be something the Although it is often at the Wheel is celebrating 25th thought of as a Texas anniversary with a new album. From left are, swing band, its true Ray Benson, Tim Alexander, David Sanger, range shows on this David Earl Miller, Michael Francis and Cindy album from new Cashdollar. swing numbers like "How the West Was Swung," to a country version of Eric Clapton's "Lay Down Sally." There are also lots of new tunes, as well as a terrific instrumental, "Hightower," that features the jazz banjo of Beta Fleck and fiddle great (and former Texas Playboy) Johnny Gimble. The spokes in the Wheel have changed over the years.

Tim Alexander, David Sanger, David Earl Miller, Michael Francis and Cindy Cashdollar are the current members circling around the Wheel's hub, founder Ray Benson. Asleep at the Wheel started when Ray and his friends Lucky Oceans and LeRoy Preston teamed up as teenagers. "We were pretty primitive," Ray says. "We were playing hippie-country-western-rock." Then Ray heard Merle Haggard's 1970 album, "A Tribute to the Best Damn Fiddle Player in the World (Or My Salute to Bob Wills)." "It was like the Rosetta stone I'd been looking for. As much as I loved country music, the Nashville stuff didn't leave much room for instrumental solos and improvisation.

Suddenly, here was country music that incorporated both jazz solos and blues songs." Ever since, Ray and the band have combined new songs with old styles, and vice versa, to come up with music that is uniquely their own. Along the way, they have picked up numerous awards, including five Grammys. Their 1994 "Asleep at the Wheel's Tribute to the Music of Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys" picked up a total of three Grammys alone. For 25 years, Ray has stuck to his guns musically. "We represent, and have always represented, philosophically doing what you do well, regardless.

So we just kept doing it regardless of the fact that we haven't exactly been multiplatinum artists." Well, they may not have platinum records hanging on the wall, but the fans who show ud at their frequently sold-out concerts don't care. They know that when Ray sings, "Dance with the one who brung youSwing with the one who swung you. Life ain't no 40-yard dashBe in it for the long run," that's his promise and his commitment to the fans and to the music. Asleep at the Wheel has been rolling for 25 years, and they're not going to slow down anytime soon. But if you haven't jumped on their bandwagon yet, you can still catch up.

"The Wheel Keeps on Rollin'" would make a good start. QUIBBLES 'N' BITS Three Faces of Vince Check out Vince Gill's new really short haircut (and temporary limp from recent knee surgery) on TNN's "Vince Gill: Souvenirs" (Nov. 29, 9 p.m., ET). Then you can see "Vince Regular" react to old photos of "Vince Hippie" on TNN's "Ralph Emery on the Record: The Unseen Tapes" (Nov. 28, 8 p.m.

and 12 a.m. ET). The show features previously unseen footage, including photos of a long-haired and mustachioed Vince in his wedding photo with Janice. And don't miss Vince's current duet partner, Dolly Parton, talking about her personal experience with streaking. Santa's Helpers You can help make sure Santa makes it to the children in war-torn Bosnia if you fill a shoe box with gifts, label it for a boy or a girl, and mail it to Samaritans Purse, Route 4, Bamboo Boone, N.C.

28607. Then, when Ricky Skaggs, his wife, Sharon White, and Franklin Graham (Rev. Billy's son) go to Bosnia in December, they'll distribute the shoe boxes as part of "Operation Christmas Child." Rough Cuts Quote of the Week: "I usually have my band and a light show, so this might (stink)." Garth Brooks, before doing a few acoustic numbers for the audience after appearing as a guest on the TNN special, "Martina McBride: Full Speed Ahead" (Nov.30, 8 p.m. ET). Garth's new album, "Fresh Horses," went on sale Nov.

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