Luxury SUV - $50,000.
Custom wheels - $5,000.
Custom stereo - $3,000.
Seizing it from a drug dealer - priceless.

The Brazos County Sheriff’s Department is making a statement against drugs with this luxury SUV confiscated from drug dealers. When the Lincoln Navigator was stopped the bad guy had 175 grams of methamphetamines, marijuana, a set of scales and a handgun. This was no petty criminal, this man was also hiding out an escaped convict.

Once, many years ago, there was a little community of friends and family along the Brazos River. Across the river from Littlefield Bend in what was known as Gilbert’s Valley, they worked their farms, traded at the towns nearby, and warded of Indian attacks. People fell in love and were married, children were born and they even had their own school.

Slowly, one by one, people left. Today, not much is left of the Old Red Bluff community. Many do not even know it existed or know it by name.

But thanks to our ancestor, we do. I would like to share some it’s stories with you. It is told by a man who was born there, Embry Hatfield. His story of the family coming to Texas and early Parker - Palo Pinto County history is interesting.

I hope you enjoy it!

Have you ever heard of Old Rip, the horned frog?

The story goes:

In 1897 when the courthouse in Eastland Texas was built, Rip accidentally got caught in the construction. Thirty years later the courthouse was torn down and Old Rip was found sealed alive in the cornerstone!

Old timers were fond to recount tall tales that a horned toad could live 100 years without food or water. But this was totally unexpected.

Old Rip was reported in the news of the day and his fame spread through papers and news reels. Rip even went on a tour of the country and visited President Calvin Coolidge at the White House.

He lived the life of fame and luxury for a year until he finally froze to death during a very cold winter. Old Rip’s body has been preserved in a glass exhibit at the new Eastland Courthouse.