C. A. Ching Construction, Inc.

Stepping foot into the World’s Championship Bar-BQue

Contest at the Reliant Stadium is a true experience.

The barbecue, the cowboy hats and boots, the music,

the funnel cakes…Is Texas a great state or what?

Houston-area glass, air conditioning, electrical, general

contracting and building supply companies were a

part of it all Feb. 26-28.

Team names included Hang-Em-High Kookers,

Chillin-N-Grillin, Men in Black, Cayenne Social Club and

The Beefy Cowboys.

The post office made us do it!

Notice anything different about our front page? It wasn’t our idea to put the mailing label above the masthead, but the U.S. Postal Service has issued new requirements for ALL mailed publications (newspapers, magazines, newsletters, etc.). If we didn’t put the mailing label above the masthead, our other alternatives were to put it along the top right side, cutting into our top right frontpage story or cutting into the left of our front-page GC. I talked to people at other companies and organizations that mail their publications, and many of them were as confused as we were. Even the mail centers and printer mail-house companies were confused. So I, and various mail centers, contacted the U.S. Postal Service, and we all got different answers: the post office personnel seemed to be as confused

as everyone else. Evidently the reason for this major change is that the U.S. Postal Service has 

acquired new mailing machines, effective the end of March. The confusion was due to “how” the mailed publication is folded, or if it mails flat, unfolded. The requirements are different in each case.

So, folks, just wanted to let you know that “the post office made us do it” after all these years. Most readers probably won’t care, but we liked our layout the way it was. Technology moves forward and everything with it. My guess is that a few years down the road, it will change again – possibly back to the way it was.

-Reesa Doebbler

A crane operator for 16 years, Jason Gattorman, owner of Houston-based G & J

Cranes Co. Inc., takes swimming lessons at his local YMCA three times a week.

“I have practiced freestyle swimming and the backstroke for two months,” Gattorman said.

“I thought it was kind of embarrassing at first because I had to wear neon yellow floaties.”

Gattorman wants to learn how to swim before he pursues his lifelong dream. I grew up in the wilderness of South Louisiana,” Gattorman said. “As a kid, I was very afraid of falling into the swamp

behind my childhood home. I am determined to overcome my fear of the water.” Since his crane business is doing so well these days, Gattorman recently decided to become a swamp tour guide

during the summer months.

He and his wife, Gilda, vice president of G & J Cranes, have made several trips back to the bayou country to pick a location for Gattorman Swamp Adventure Tour Company.

“I have never been afraid of alligators or crocodiles,” Gattorman said. “I always loved the ‘Crocodile Dundee’ movies. In fact, in 1988, I purchased a ‘Crocodile Dundee’ movie prop knife and hung it on

my mantel at home.”

This summer, Gattorman says he will purchase two 18-passenger high-speed airboats for the business. “Gilda and I are coming up with all kinds of ideas,” he said. “She went to the Culinary Institute of Ohio in the ‘80s and is an excellent cook. We thought we would serve alligator egg omelets during the morning swamp tour.” Gattorman says he will drive the airboat because he has so many years experience operating cranes. His uniform will be aviator sunglasses green striped overalls and a vintage alligatorvest.

“We want to get tourists close to alligators in their natural habitat,” Gattorman said. “One of the highlights of the tour will be when I get out and wrestle alligators.”

Gotcha! April Fools!

–ab